Some flats can be fixed with a simple patch, others require a boot. For those not familiar with the term, a boot is commonly used to cover a tear in the sidewall of a tire. A patch can work well for a small hole in a tube that does not cause much damage to the tire, but if the hole in the tire is large enough, or if the tire tears, the tube will protrude when filled with air. Boots are not really meant to be a permanent solution, they are meant simply to get you home or to a shop where you can get a new tire.
Some companies like Park Tool sell tire boots, but reader Al sent along a simple hack for making your own. All writes:
My hack is cutting old road tires for tire boots. It works really well on tubeless set ups because of the sealant you can not use a sticker type boot or patches.
Step 1 Cut bead with good diagonal cutters
Step 2 Cut beads out with scissors
Step 3 Now cut large, medium or small boots out of tire snake. Boot goes in side of tire held by tube. This works really well with MTB tubeless cuts.
Also good for covering chain stays or top tubes.
Tailwinds to you,
Al
You can also use money to solve the problem, but not in the way you might think. If for some reason the video below does not play click here.
How to Boot a Tire for Bike Maintenance -- powered by ehow
If you are on the road and have a problem with your tire bead tearing, see this old post for a temporary zip tie solution to get you home. And for possibly the most creative hack we have ever received for preventing a flat altogether, see this classic bike hacks post.
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