In this course, we’ll discuss the procedures, tools, and special techniques used to perform a proper one-piece puncture repair on sound suppression tires, focusing on Tech’s uniseal Ultra repair designed for electric vehicles (EVs).
Sound suppression tires are specifically designed for electric vehicles to reduce road noise for a quieter cabin through the use of a sound deadening foam material. This foam and the adhesive used to secure it to the tire’s inner liner create unique challenges for repairs.
Proper Tire Inspection
The first step in the repair process is to remove the tire from the wheel and thoroughly inspect it, looking for any non-repairable conditions, such as excessive tread wear, inner liner separations, or underinflated conditions.
Evaluate the Injury
While evaluating the injury, it’s important to remove any object that punctured the tire and to take into account the type of adhesive present, as it will impact the repair procedure. For sound suppression tires, a small amount of foam also needs to be removed around the entry.
Prepare the Injury
Depending on the type of adhesive present, the inner liner may need to be pre-cleaned before buffing to ensure proper adhesion of the repair unit. The injury area is then buffed and prepared for the repair unit installation.
Apply Vulcanizing Fluid
Vulcanizing fluid is used to prepare the injury channel and ensure proper lubrication for the repair unit installation.
Install the Repair Unit and Return to Service
The Tech uniseal Ultra repair unit is installed, and if necessary, the tire’s inner liner and foam are sealed to complete the repair process before remounting the tire to the wheel and returning it to service.
For more in-depth details and specific steps for each stage of the repair process, refer to the complete Tech sound suppression tire puncture repair course.
What are sound suppression tires designed for?
Sound suppression tires are designed for electric vehicles (EVs) and contain a special designed sound deadening foam material that helps reduce road noise for a quieter cabin.
What are the non-repairable conditions for tires?
Non-repairable conditions for tires include injury greater than a quarter of an inch for passenger tires or 3/8 of an inch per steel body ply truck tires, a tire that has been run flat or shows underinflated conditions, tire inner liner separations, tire casing separation, excessive tread wear, exposed body plies or cables, deformed bead or exposed fabric steel, ozone cracking, and damage from impacts.
How do you prepare the injury in a sound suppression tire?
To prepare the injury in a sound suppression tire, the first step is to remove a small amount of the sound deadening foam from around the entry using a sharp knife. Then, examine the adhesive under the foam and proceed with the repair based on the type of adhesive present.
What is the next step after preparing the injury in sound suppression tire?
The next step after preparing the injury in a sound suppression tire is to apply Vulcanizing fluid to the injury channel from both the inside and the outside of the tire. The fluid should be worked into the injury using a spiral cement tool and must be allowed to dry completely before applying the repair.
How do you install the repair unit in a sound suppression tire?
To install the repair unit in a sound suppression tire, the protective poly covering must be removed from the stem of the repair unit, and Vulcanizing fluid needs to be applied to the black tapered area of the stem. The repair unit is then inserted into the injury channel and stitched down to remove any trapped air between the repair unit and inner liner of the tire.
What is the final step in returning the tire to service after repair?
The final step in returning the tire to service after repair involves remounting the tire to the wheel, balancing the tire and wheel assembly, installing the wheel assembly to the vehicle following proper procedures, and relearning the TPMS system if necessary.