Guideline on Buying Tires How Tire Service Technicians Assess Issues | Page 10

The rubber insert is another important part of the tire repair process. For example, the rubber used in
the insert must be made of a vulcanizing material or a rubber stem that's been previously cured. The
insert, if it doesn't meet those standards, can't be used in the repair process. The rubber insert is used to
seal the space where the injury rests inside a tire's inner liner. Different types of repair units are made
for use in tire repair, but these units always meet the standard of repairing tire wounds under a quarter-
inch to three-eighths of an inch in diameter (about 6mm to 10mm).
The inner liner of the wounded tire receives this reinforced repair unit. This helps strengthen the
formerly injured area. The design of the tread area (the grooves in the tread) also gets completely
redone, but this happens after the raw rubber is cured. A thorough section repair on a wounded tire
lasts for a long time—and professional tire service technicians can spot the difference between a good
and bad job.