Hi Guys

Would something like this be okay to use to patch small punctures in tires?

https://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en

Or should I stick to bike shop patches?

Jeremy

Should work fine - as long as you intend to fix holes in tubes rather than 'tires'. The kits at bike shops usually have patches that are more tapered at the edges so they have a smoother transition. In theory that would prevent feeling a little bump from the patch as the tire spins - but in practice I've never noticed that even with untapered patches.

Two main things to watch for when patching tubes with regular glue-on patches:
1) prepare the surface well - use the sandpaper or grater to get a good clean surface and make sure it's dry and free of any oils
2) let the glue dry well before applying the patch - the glue should no longer be tacky when you press the patch in place.

That would work fine but those little kits are wasteful. Go to a farm or hardware store and get a small box of patches and a small screw-top can of glue and you are good for several years. The brand I use is Monkey- something. Most people carry spare tubes. When you have a flat you swap out the tube then fix it in the comfort of your home. I do carry those small patch kits made for bikes as a backup, but I rarely use them. Once you open a tube of glue it will quickly dry up.

Thanks guys, yeah sorry prathmann I meant in the tubes

I never thought about going that way sknhgy what type of glue would I need? just a normal rubber cement?

The ones I use are called MonkeyGrip Chemical patches, 1-1/4" small round. 40 to a box. The glue is called MonkeyGrip Universal Cement - for use with chemical patches, cold patches, boots, and plugs. It's in an 8 oz can. The patches and cement will be right together in the store.

Cheers Sknhgy, I appreciate it

I've used Monkey Grip, too, and they work fine--but carrying that big can of cement is a pain, and I haven't found a way to keep smaller amounts from hardening. A couple of bike shops here will sell patches in bulk, 25 or 50 (I forget; haven't bought them in awhile) to a package, and large-ish (2-ounce?) tubes of cement separately. I have 25 or 30 flats a year, and it saves money and shopping trips.

Patch kits from the bike store are cheaper than that Canadian Tire kit. I pay $2.50 for a small Rena patch kit. I replace it every two years. Buy the smallest cheapest patch kit you can find if you are unlikely to use all of the patches.

Those patches are appropriate only if you're running Canadian tubes. Otherwise, the types of patches sold at the LBS are thinner, stretchier, and have thinned tapered edges, all of which make them a better more reliable choice for patching bike tubes. Buy them at the LBS, or in bulk on-line.

Thanks guys, yeah I did get some from the bike shop.

Also Looigi, Canadian tire is a store here. Its a big box hardware store and automotive parts and supplies.