A flat or leaking tire can mean that you have a small cut somewhere on the tire's surface. To repair it, you must locate the problem, which is often caused by an object the car has run over. After finding the item responsible, a tire plugging kit can easily and quickly fix the damaged tire. These kits can be purchased at any auto and department store. It is important to remember that this is a temporary fix and further inspection by a mechanic should be conducted before embarking on any long-distance traveling.
Examine the tire closely for signs of what cut the tire. This will alert you to where the repair needs to take place. The offender may still be wedged in the tire, so look for nail heads, tiny pieces of glass or anything that would cause the tire to deflate. If you find the object, do not remove it until you are ready to fix the tire. Removing it before you are ready to repair it can case the tire to fully deflate and make the repair process more difficult.
Combine 1 tbsp. of dish detergent with 2 cups of water in order to find cuts that are extremely small. Pour the mixture over the tire, covering as much of the surface area as possible. The air being released from the cut will cause the soapy mixture to bubble. This will let you know exactly where you need to begin repairs.
Upon locating the cut, take the plug tool from the tire plug kit and cover the end with the enclosed plug and cement. Insert the plug into the cut, leaving around 1/2 inch of the plug exposed. Pull the plug tool quickly out. This should full secure the hole and stop any leaking air.
