Flat Tire Repair: Cost And Common Concerns
We’ve almost all been there that crushing moment when you either notice a flat tire on your vehicle or feel the telltale bumpiness and lowering on one side of your vehicle.
Although inconvenient and annoying, flat tires are a fact of life. Flat tire repair doesn’t have to be stressful, as long as you act quickly to mount your spare and either get the flat fixed.
Replace The Tire If Necessary
Unfortunately, there are areas of the tire that cannot be repaired, such as the shoulder and the sidewall. In both of these locations, there is too much flex and movement and a plug-patch will not hold. Also, if the puncture is in the tread but the hole is larger than a quarter inch, it cannot be repaired safely. Whether due to location or size, there are times that a tire repair is not possible and the tire must be replaced entirely.
Dont take a chance driving with a nail in your tire. Have a professional inspect and repair your tire as soon as you can.
Example Of A Plug Or Replace Tire Dilemma
Below is a picture of a nail that punctured my 22-inch tire. As you can see, its very close to the sidewall. The tires have 19,000 miles on them. Similar low profile tires have a tread life of around 20,000 25,000.
I tried to take out the nail and automatically heard a hissing sound. As a result, I took it to my local auto repair shop to see if I could get it plugged for $20.
He responded, The nail is too close to the side wall to have it properly plugged. We recommend getting new tires.
I was disappointed with what I heard, but I told them to go ahead and order two new tires anyway because safety first. The puncture happened during the rainy winter season.
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Can You Repair Tires That Have Existing Repairs
Repaired tires can often be mended again if the damage doesn’t compromise a previously repaired area. For example, if you have a nail-in-tire situation, you may be able to do a quick repair if the puncture location doesn’t overlap with a previous tire injury and the repair was done properly. If it does overlap, you will likely need a replacement.
Thread The Plug Tool & Physically Insert The Tire Plug
Once the hole is reamed, you’ll see another tool the looks like a needle. Take your plug and crimp it between the end.
Now youre ready to seal the hole once and for all! Take your plug threaded needle and insert it into the hole. Push it in with some force until there is only a little bit of the plug left sticking out.
Then you should be able to yank the plug tool out of the tire and the plug should stay in the hole. Also, trim the end of the plug that is sticking out as close to the tire as you can.
One other thing to keep in mind is its not a good idea to put multiple plugs or patch on a tire. If you have patched the tire once already if it gets another hole, just get a new tire at that point. Don’t compromise your safety!
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How Does A Nail Puncture Your Tire
How is it that a nail lying flat on the road was able to puncture your tire in the first place? The answer is that you are just plain unlucky. A thousand other cars could have run over the nail on the road, and it did not end up puncturing their tires.
It is crucial to meet a few conditions before you finally say that the nail punctured a tire. If it happens to you, then you were just unlucky to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
On the other hand, its also possible that someone purposely punctured your tire. If thats what youre suspecting, then it is advisable to report the incident to the nearest police station.
What Causes Flat Tires
Flat tires can be caused by sharp objects in the road, like nails, screws, knives, broken glass, industrial debris, or a stick that has been dislodged from a tree and sticking up at an inconvenient angle. Although this may seem like a long shot that your car would drive over one of these items, since most of them are so small, it is very difficult to spot on the road before driving over them.
Some other causes of a flat tire are overinflation, collisions, hitting a curb, a failed valve stem, extremely hot or cold weather, potholes, and vandalism. It might seem like an oxymoron that overinflating can cause flat tires, but they impact your vehicles performance, and cause the tires to wear unevenly. If your tires wear unevenly for long enough, this can cause tire issues and flat tires. The worst-case scenario shows that overinflation can destroy your tire from the inside.
Potholes can also lead to a flat tire, due to the rough terrain of the road. Swerving and missing the pothole can cause even more problems, like veering off the road or into another lane, so you may choose to just drive over the pothole instead. Sometimes, your rim is bent by the pothole. A bent wheel can cause your tire to slowly lose air. This needs to be straightened by a professional, along with getting the alignment of your wheels diagnosed and fixed.
Although there are many causes of a flat tire, small objects like nails and screws are very common. The solution for this flat is a tire patch.
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You Can Only Plug Your Tire In Certain Circumstances
The first thing you should consider when plugging a tire is if its safe to install a plug in the first place. There are specific cases when its safe to use a plug. Outside of these scenarios, driving on a plugged tire could be dangerous to you and other drivers.
Depending on the size of the puncture, the extent of the damage, and the tread of your tire, you may not be able to repair the tire with a plug. The size of the hole must be no larger than 0.25 inches and must be located on the tread of your tire. If the puncture is on the shoulder or sidewall, then you will need to replace the tire.
The angle of the puncture also makes a big difference in the effectiveness of a plug. Ideally, the nail or object that punctured your tire went straight in. This would make a repair fairly straightforward. However, if the tire was punctured at an angle, the plug will have a hard time completely sealing the punctured area. Take note of how the nail or screw looks and the angle that it entered the tire.
The age and quality of your tire is also an important factor in whether or not it can be plugged. If the tread on your tire has been worn below 2/32 of an inch, then your tread is too far gone to be plugged. If youre wondering how you can measure this, 2/32 of an inch is the amount measured by the classic penny test. Make sure your tire passes the penny test before you even thinking of plugging it. If it doesnt pass the test, then its probably time for a new set of tires anyway.
Searching For Recommended Air Pressure Information
Read your vehicle owners manual or look for the information placard on the door jamb. There you will find both the maximum load/inflation and the recommended amount.
Its crucial that the tire load index is the same or exceeds the index you see on the placard. The information on the load index can be found on the sidewall of the tire as a part of its code.
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How To Repair A Nail In My Tire
Getting a nail stuck in your tire ranks high on the list of the most inconvenient things to happen to your car. The nail often will just stay in the tire, causing the tire to slowly lose air until it goes flat. If you don’t repair the tire, you will end up having to get a new one. Luckily, repairing a tire with an embedded nail can be done at home with the right tools and equipment, saving the money it would cost for a repair at a service station
Step 1
Locate the nail in the tire. You might need advance the car a few inches at a time until you spot the nail.
Step 2
Pull out the nail with pliers. Stab the tire with the spike-shaped rasp to open the size of the puncture and get through the entire tire. According to CarsDirect.com, you need to stab the tire a few times to clean the hole out.
Step 3
Place the black cord halfway through the needle-like spike. Cover the cord with as much rubber cement as possible.
Step 4
Place half of the needle into the tire so the cord enters the hole. Pull the needle out quickly so the cord gets stuck in the hole. There should be some cord hanging out of the tire. Cut the excess cord away with a razor so it is even with the edge of the tire.
Re-inflate the tire with the air compressor. Make sure you don’t overfill the tire.
References
Hitting A Nail While Turning
Another common scenario occurs when drivers turn sharply, as a long upward-facing nail can get embedded in the sidewall under the perfect conditions. However, this is uncommon and probably not the reason why you have a nail in your sidewall.
How to Avoid
Be careful how you turn, and avoid making abrupt maneuvers near construction sites. Driving straight and true is the best way to avoid sidewall damage in these areas. Avoid driving on dirt anywhere near a construction site, as uneven terrain increases the risk of a sidewall puncture.
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Additional Costs To Expect
- Aside from these average price to fix a flat tire, you ought to set yourself up to pay for any extra costs like the wheel adjusting method. So on the off chance that this administration is excluded with the totality of the flat tire repair cost, you need to pay $6 to $20 per wheel.
- Also, in the event that you are loaded in a street due to your punctured tire, you need to get some assistance from a towing organization. So in the event that this will be the situation, you need to pay an additional expense of $35 to $125 or all the more relying upon your area and the kind of your vehicle. However, in the event that you are member of a roadside assistance plans, the towing and establishment of the extra tire will surface eventually will be free of charge. In the event that you are interested in this arrangement, you have to pay $15 to $360 a year relying upon the level of administration included.
One place that you can check the average price to fix a flat tire is your nearby car repair shop. Most places that repair vehicles will likewise offer tires and you may locate the set that you require at a bargain. Regularly, a repair shop will run an advancement on a specific brand of tires or a specific size. On the off chance that there are a few diverse repair shops in your general vicinity, then you might need to check with everyone of them to see which one has the best arrangement.
Expert Flat Tire Repair & Tire Patch
Nothing is worse than rushing out the door in the morning, trying to get somewhere on time and seeing a flat tire. Thankfully, the highly-trained tire repair experts at Mavis Discount Tire are ready and able to quickly patch your tire and get you back on the road!
Looking for reliable flat tire repair near you? Find a Mavis Discount Tire location in your area and schedule an appointment online, or call .
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How To Remove A Nail From Your Tire
Those that already have a nail in their tire will be pleased to know that it is fairly easy to remove a nail from a tire that it has punctured.
First, arm yourself with a kit that is specially designed to patch up holes in your tires. This kit could also be sold as a plug and patch kit which are always readily available in auto shops and car outfitters. These kits are handy to have in your arsenal even before you may have suffered from a punctured tire as the plug part of the kit allows users to fill the hole that is there when a nail is removed. A tire plug kit will ordinarily come with a number of items in each pack they will be tire plugs, an insertion needle, and a rasp tool.
When you have your kit, take out the nail with a pair of pliers from your toolkit. You may have to remove your tire to get better access to the nail. It may not come out easily so be prepared to tug as hard as you can. However, if you are really struggling, you can try to use a screwdriver or a similar item that has a sharp or pointed end to it. If you need to use a screwdriver, you will need to run around the edge of the nail head to loosen it slowly until you can finally use your pliers to pull the nail out.
Then, when you have finally managed to remove it, follow the instructions on your kit to plug the hole as best you can and then patch it so the plug remains safe. In the main, each kit will have a slight variation of the following steps:
The Danger Of Driving On Plugged Tires
Ive heard that its not very safe to drive on a plugged tire. Is that true? Why is repairing or replacing a damaged tire a better option than plugging a tire? What are the dangers of driving on a plugged tire?
Weve all been there before. You wake up or walk to your car after work, only to look down and see a flat tire and a nail sticking out. You dont have time to take your vehicle into an auto shop and need a quick fix. Its a small nail, so you plug your tire and go on with your life.
You only meant for the plug to be a temporary solution until you could get the tire replaced. Then life happens, and its a few days before you can get a new tire. Those few days turn into months, which can quickly turn into a year. You may start to ask yourself if its really safe to drive on a plugged tire.
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Average Tire Puncture Repair Cost
Tire puncture repair cost is not as expensive as you may fear, but it will take some time out of your day. On average, tire puncture repair will cost you between $10 and $20. The repair will involve getting the tire patched. Some tire dealers will repair a punctured tire for free if you purchased your tire from them. It is really a nice service to have at your disposal, and it makes you want to do business with them again.
Patch or Plug
It is possible to plug a punctured tire on your own. Tire plug repair might cost you a few dollars less, but chances are you’ll have to get the tire patched anyway. Plugs are just stopgap measure. With a nail, tire repair costs about the same. There may be slight additional labor charges, but that is not likely.
Wheel repair cost is typically minimal. If you have to replace the tire, it will be more expensive, but a simple patch usually will only set you back $20 at most.
How Much Does It Cost To Patch And Plug A Tire
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For example, Walmart charges $10 to repair a flat tire, or it is free if the owner purchased the Road Hazard Warranty at $10 per tire when buying tires at Walmart Pep Boys repairs flat tires for free for members of its Rewards program and Discount Tire offers free flat repair, no
Furthermore, how far over can you patch a tire? If there’s more than one puncture, you likely can get the tire repaired if the punctures are at least 16 inches apart. Otherwise, it’s time to buy a new tire. If the tire has sustained serious damage in a crash, such as big cuts or tread separation, it should be replaced, not repaired.
Consequently, can you patch and plug a tire?
Repair the tread with a plug, and repair the lining with a patch. Repairs cannot overlap. A plug by itself, or a patch by itself, is not acceptable. But a safer tire repair, done to the RMA standards, can give you thousands of miles more use from your tire.
Can I plug my tire into Walmart?
Yes, they will plug your tire.
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