How Vulcanized Repairs Can Save You Money

A damaged bank account is the first thing most farmers think about when they spot a damaged tire. Or how the search for a decent used tire is going to waste time you don’t have. Don’t worry: NTS Tire Supply can help you with both these problems. 

In reality, your damaged tire may still be good thanks to vulcanizing technology. Vulcanizing repairs can save your operation hundreds or thousands of dollars in tire replacement costs.

If for some reason a vulcanized repair isn’t a good fit for your tire (we cover the reasons below), we have a pretty good idea where you can find a quality used tire from a reputable seller. But first, let’s take a look at the 3 types of vulcanized repairs.

‍1. Section Repairs

These repairs involve the most severe type of tire damage—cuts through the tire’s cords. Section repairs include sidewall, tread face, and shoulder reinforcement. To perform this repair, our vulcanizer grounds or bevels out the damaged area. The inside of the cut is then layered with new ply. Next, the cavity is filled with new rubber from the outside. Then, a high-pressure heat cure forces the rubber tightly into the cavity to complete the repair. Our success rate for section repairs is about 95%. 

• Section repairs generally last the life of the tire under general use and pulling conditions.
• We recommend using Orange Armor tire sealant to completely guard against future leaks.
• Tires with section repairs are not recommended for high-load applications. Examples include combines, grain carts, or the front axle of loader tractors. 

2. Spot Repairs

Spot repairs address external tire damage that does not involve the tire’s cords. Examples include sidewall cuts, chipped lugs, shoulder cracks, and bead damage. During a spot repair, our vulcanizer grounds or bevels out the damaged area and fills the outside of the cavity with new rubber. A high-pressure heat cure then forces the rubber into the casing and repairs the tire. Our success rate for spot repairs is over 99%. 

• Tires with a spot repair can resume service in any application. 
• Some tires that have had a bead repair will require a tube to return to service. 

We recommend using Orange Armor tire sealant to completely guard against future leaks.

3. Stripping

Under the demands of agricultural use, the inner lining of a tire can thin to the point where the cords become exposed. During the stripping process, our vulcanizer applies a layer of new rubber to the inside of the tire, then bonds the new rubber to the casing with a high-pressure heat cure. Our success rate for stripping repairs is nearly 100%. 

Trust an Experienced Vulcanizer with Your Tire Repair

You should choose your tire repair person the same way you would choose a mechanic—go with who you trust based on the company’s experience and reputation. We’re fortunate to have Gary, our vulcanizer, who performs hundreds of tire repairs each year. 

If you have a damaged tire, your first step is to contact us to see if we can fix your tire. Even though we can repair some of the nastiest-looking gashes, not every tire is repairable. A tire is unrepairable if:

• It has a cut (through the cords) within 2 inches of the bead. 
• It has a cut that’s over 7 inches long. 

Once you contact us about your repair, we’ll let you know what the next steps are. For example, we might need some pictures of the tire to determine if a fix is possible.

Tire Unrepairable? You Can Still Save Money with a Used Farm Tire

If we determine that vulcanizing can’t save your tire, your next step is a used tire. NTS Tire Supply has thousands of used tires in stock at any given time, so check if we can source a suitable used replacement before you look at a new one. We have everything from like-new tires with factory blemishes (that don’t affect performance) down to low-tread tires that you could mount for one more season before you invest in a whole new set. 

Every used tire we sell undergoes a complete inspection, inside and out. We look for anything that could impact the performance of the tire—weathering, casing issues, odd tread wear, etc. Can you say the same for a tire you  might find on Craigslist or another online retailer?

Black Gold Warranty: Used or Repaired, You’re Covered

Every tire we sell (or repair) is covered by our Black Gold Warranty. Bringing in a tire for a vulcanized repair? You’re covered. NTS Tire Supply stands behind every repair job with a full 2-year warranty. In the rare case that a repair fails, we’ll redo the job free of charge or refund the full cost of the repair.

We also stand behind every tire (or track) we sell: a practice that has attracted loyal customers since the 1980s, when we first started selling used tires. If a product fails within the first 30 days after installation or 6 months after purchase (whichever comes first), NTS Tire Supply will offer free replacement, repair, or the full purchase price back including labor.

Read More: NTS Tire Supply covers every used tire we sell with our Black Gold Warranty.

Have a damaged tire? Contact us today and we’ll discuss your repair options. And if you need a used tire or want to upgrade the performance of a machine on your farm with a set of new rubber, our tire experts will work to find the best options for your operation. We’re here to help drive your farm forward.