Keeping tires in good shape and free from any cracks and damages is important for ensuring safety while driving and prolonging the lifespan of your tires.
So if you’re researching ways to repair damages and improve the strength of your vehicle’s tires, you may be wondering – what is tire vulcanizing? Well, here is everything I’ve found out on this topic!
What Is Tire Vulcanizing?
Tire vulcanizing is a chemical process that hardens rubber and is frequently used to repair cracks, tears, and punctures in tires. Most local automobile service centers offer tire vulcanization services for $10-$30. However, vehicle owners can also perform the vulcanization process themselves using DIY kits that cost anywhere from $2-$15 per kit.
If you want to learn more about how tire vulcanizing works, how much does it cost to vulcanize tires, and much more, keep on reading to find out more useful facts and tips!
Who Invented Tire Vulcanization?
Charles Goodyear invented the vulcanization process in the mid-1880s while doing experiments to improve tire tubes.
Although this process received heavy criticism in the beginning, people eventually came to appreciate the benefits of vulcanization in the manufacturing and repair of tires.
How Does Tire Vulcanizing Work?
The vulcanization process involves sealing and repairing punctures, cuts, or gashes in tires under extreme pressure and heat.
Vulcanization can be done in three different ways:
1. Section Repair
The section repair method is used to deal with severe damage such as cuts and tears through the cords of the tire.
In this method, both inner and outer layers of the tire are first beveled and filled with rubber patches.
After that, sulfur is applied under high pressure and temperature to permanently seal and harden the patches.
2. Spot Repair
Spot repair can only be used to repair external damage including sidewall tears, cracks, and bead damage, and is not suitable if your tire’s cords are also damaged.
In spot repair, the surface of the damaged area is filed, evened out, and filled with a new rubber patch in the presence of sulfur or another curative under high pressure and temperature.
3. Stripping
Stripping involves adhering a thin layer of rubber to the inner surface and vulcanizing it with sulfur under high pressure and heat to form a permanent seal.
This method is primarily used to repair the inner surface of the tire, where the cords have been exposed due to extended wear and tear.
What Is Vulcanizing Fluid?
Vulcanizing fluid is a rubber-based, fast-drying liquid that is used to repair tires and tubes, which works by forming strong chemical bonds (of sulfur) with the tire patch at normal room temperature and pressure.
Afterward, once it has dried after application, the seal between the tire and patch becomes permanent and air-tight.
How Do You Use Vulcanizing Fluid?
Here are the steps you should follow to properly apply vulcanizing fluid for your tire repair:
- Clean the damaged area properly to remove any dirt, dust, or other particles
- Apply vulcanizing fluid to the entire damaged area and allow it to dry until its texture becomes smooth
- Remove the thin foil attached to one side of the tire repair patch
- Apply the patch on the damaged area and gently press it down
It should be noted that the drying time of the fluid is affected by its temperature and thickness. To compare, a thin coating will dry in five minutes, but a heavy coating can take as much as fifteen minutes to dry.
Is Rubber Cement The Same As Vulcanizing Fluid?
Although you can use both rubber cement and vulcanizing fluid to repair your tire, there is a slight difference in their composition and in how they function.
Rubber cement is made from elastic polymers (latex) and solvents (hexane or acetone), whereas vulcanizing fluid uses sulfur as the main compound for bonding with the tire’s rubber.
Additionally, rubber cement is not strong enough to achieve long-lasting results from vulcanization, whereas vulcanizing fluid makes a permanent and strong seal.
Does Vulcanizing A Tire Work?
Vulcanizing a tire is an excellent way to repair and strengthen your tire since vulcanized rubber lasts a lot longer than natural rubber.
In fact, vulcanized rubber becomes ten times stronger than natural rubber due to the cross-linking of sulfur and other metallic oxides with the rubber.
Because of this, manufacturing companies often use vulcanized rubber to produce tires as well, making it quite suitable for tire repairs.
Is It Safe To Vulcanize A Tire?
Although it is safe to vulcanize a tire, you should avoid doing so if any of the below conditions apply, since the repair will not be effective or long-lasting:
- The punctures on the tire overlap with old patches
- The holes are larger than one-quarter of an inch
- Punctures are less than 16 inches apart from each other
You should have your tires inspected by a professional mechanic if you are not sure whether it is safe to vulcanize a tire.
How Much Does It Cost To Vulcanize A Tire?
You can expect to pay between $10 to $20 for vulcanizing a damaged tire, though the cost also depends on the size of the tire and the extent of the damage.
However, keep in mind that vulcanizing a tire with a sidewall tear usually costs more (up to $30) because the sidewall is integral to the tire’s strength, rigidity, and structure.
Where Can You Get Your Tire Vulcanized?
You can get your tire vulcanized from any local automobile repair shop, and you can also visit nearby service centers of any of the following automobile chains:
- Goodyear
- Walmart
- Valvoline
- Jiffy Lube
- Firestone
Can You Vulcanize A Tire Yourself?
You can vulcanize your tires at home using DIY Vulcanizing Patch Kits, but keep in mind that it is only suitable for very small tears or cuts.
Additionally, the process becomes more complicated if the tires are heavy-duty or commercial, or if you have no prior experience with tire repairs.
You will find the following items in most DIY Vulcanizing Patch Kits:
- Tire Marker
- Scuffer/SandPaper
- Rubber Patches
- Self-Vulcanizing Fluid Bonds
- Buffer
If you’d like to purchase a vulcanizing patch kit, you can do so from stores like Amazon, Walmart, or even your local Auto Parts store for around $2-$15 per kit.
If you want to learn more, you can also check our posts on what are XL tires, what are all-season tires, and what are highway tires.
Conclusion
Tire vulcanizing is a chemical process used to repair cracks, tears, and punctures in tires to prolong the life of your tires.
Tire vulcanizing is a highly effective method for repairing tires, and vulcanized rubber is even used by manufacturers to produce durable and long-lasting tires for rough usage.