Abstract: A tire repair method includes assembling a harness having straps, a first (or outside) air bag and a first (or outside) heating pad, placing a tire having an area in need of repair so that the repair site is over the heating pad and the tires axis of rotation is parallel to the harness straps, then inserting a second (or inside) heating pad and a second (or inside) air bag on the inside of the tire, and finally putting in place a pair of complementary mandrel halves of the same size. These mandrel halves when in place overlie the repair area of the tire and the other items of equipment. Each mandrel half includes a top surface (which is placed in proximity with a tire bead), a convex outside surface which generally has the same contour as that of the inside of the tire sidewall, a flat inside surface, a bottom surface which is preferably convex, and two ends.