Tire Patch

(PICTURE: Tire patches.)

I admit that I know nothing about cars. I've read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and I can also state that I don't know a thing about motorcycles or motorbikes for that matter. One thing I've found interesting out here though is that when you pop your inner tube, you don't necessarily need a new one. In fact, most of the time you just get a tire patch. The process of fixing a tire goes something like this:
1. The mechanic finds the hole, often using a bowl of water to see where the air bubbles come out.
2. He files the hole.
3. He puts a tire patch on the hole and does some more filing.
4. He burns the patch a little bit.
5. He files more with a machine.
6. He fills the tire up with air and you're on your way.

Despite having trust in the mechanic who patched our tire, we got a new tire a few days later just to be on the safe side!