Tire Size
This number, such as 225, indicates the width of the tire in millimeters.
What is the section width?
This patterned outer layer of the tire makes direct contact with the road.
What is the tread?
A proper patch is applied to this side of the tire to seal a puncture.
What is the inside?
True or False: A string plug alone, without an inside patch, is considered an industry-approved permanent repair.
What is False?
The primary reason for rotating tires on a vehicle is to promote this.
What is even tread wear?
This two-digit number represents the height of the tire sidewall as a percentage of its width.
What is the aspect ratio?
These steel or nylon layers sit under the tread to provide strength and stability.
What are the belts?
Before applying a patch, you must use this pneumatic tool to texturize the rubber for better adhesion.
What is a buffing wheel (or buffer)?
Repairs should only be performed on punctures located in this specific central area of the tire.
What is the tread area (or crown)?
After a technician finishes the rotation and lowers the vehicle, they must always perform this crucial final step to the lug nuts.
What is torquing them to spec?
The letter "R" in a tire size like 225/50R17 stands for this internal construction style.
What is Radial?
This rigid edge of the tire is reinforced with steel wire to create an airtight seal against the rim.
What is the bead?
This liquid chemical is applied to the buffed area to chemically cure the patch to the tire.
What is vulcanizing cement (or rubber cement)?
You should never attempt to plug or patch a puncture located on this specific part of the tire due to flexing.
What is the sidewall (or shoulder)?
Tires featuring these tread patterns must only be rotated front-to-back on the exact same side of the vehicle.
What are directional tires?
The final number in a standard tire size sequence indicates the diameter of this component in inches.
What is the wheel (or rim)?
This flexible portion of the tire bridges the tread and the bead.
What is the sidewall?
To ensure all air bubbles are removed from under the patch, a technician rolls over it with this specific tool.
What is a stitching tool (or stitcher)?
This T-handled tool is used to clean out and enlarge the puncture hole before inserting a plug.
What is a reamer (or rasp)?
In a standard rotation for a front-wheel-drive car, the front tires move straight back, and the rear tires move in this direction.
What is diagonally to the front (or cross to the front)?
A "P" at the beginning of a tire size sequence indicates the tire is built for this type of vehicle.
What is a Passenger vehicle?
This synthetic rubber inner layer prevents air from escaping in modern tubeless tires.
What is the inner liner?
This is the industry-standard repair device that features a patch with a rubber stem attached to the center.
What is a plug-patch (or combination patch)?
According to the Rubber Manufacturers Association, this is the maximum puncture diameter in inches that can safely be repaired.
What is 1/4 inch (or 6mm)?
When rotating a full-size spare tire into the mix, you use this specific rotation pattern.
What is a 5-tire rotation?