When Can A Tire Be Repaired Instead Of Replaced
Youll save money anytime you can repair a tire instead of replacing it, but heres the caveat: In some cases, it might not save you money in the end. Its better to have an expert assess tire damage, even if you just ran over a nail. If you take chances, the tire could blow out and/or damage your suspension. Can a tire be repaired instead of replaced? AutoFix says yes it can under the following circumstances.
Is The Tire Leaking Air
If the puncture isnt leaking yet, or if the leaking is very minor, you should be able to drive a short distance to a tire shop or mechanic. But first, check the tires air pressure and fill it up to a safe level at a gas station, if necessary. Dont try to remove the nail.
If the tire wont hold air, or if the leaking is rapid, youll need to change it out before driving to get it repaired. You can do this yourself, or you can call roadside assistance to help.
How To Plug A Tire And Quickly Fix Your Flat
If you’ve got a flat tire, you may be able to save money by repairing it with a plug instead of buying a new tire. This guide shows you how to make this simple, inexpensive repair in about 15 minutes. First, check to see where the puncture is. If it’s in the sidewall, do not plug the leak. Your tire’s sidewall is under different strains and pressures than the part that makes contact with the road. Plugging a sidewall can result in a blowout, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Get a tire repair kit. You can get these at any auto parts store and many department stores that sell auto maintenance supplies, like Walmart. The price should be less than $10. Or try this Dynaplug tool.
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Why The Plug/patch Combination Is Best For Punctures Repairs
Kal Tire recommends one of two methods:
- the two-piece patch/plug combination
- the one-piece patch/plug combination
Technically, the two-piece plug/patch combination is required for a puncture if the injury angle exceeds 35 degrees. The injury can be no greater than a 1/4 inches for passenger tires and no greater than 3/8 inches for light truck tires.
At Kal Tire, when we repair tread punctures, we use both plugs and patches simultaneously as recommended by the Rubber Manufacturers Association.
Industry Standards For Tire Repairs
The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association and Tire Industry Association standards:
USTMA Tire Repair Basics
- Repairs cannot overlap. A rubber stem, or plug, must be applied to fill the puncture injury and a patch must be applied to seal the innerliner. A common repair unit is a one-piece combination unit with a stem and patch.
- Not all tires can be repaired. Specific repair limits should be based on recommendations or repair policy of the tire manufacturer and/or type of tire service.
- NEVER repair a tire that has an existing, improper repair the tire must be scrapped.
- A plug by itself or a patch by itself is an unacceptable repair.
- NEVER perform an outside-in tire repair or on-the-wheel repair.
TIA Tire Repair Basics
Additional Tags
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Have The Nail Removed And The Tire Fixed
An often overlooked aspect of tire repair has to do with the steel belts inside the tires layers. When the tire is punctured, water, snow, and moisture can eat away at the steel belts and cause corrosion. This can compromise your tire and the belt might end up letting go and cause the tire to shimmy. Have the puncture hole repaired using a combination plug and patch, which is the only approved method of tire repair.
Can The Tire Be Repaired
The nails location plays a big role in whether a tire can be fixed, but its not the only factor. If the tire has already been damaged repeatedly, or if its worn out, youll need to get a new tire.
Repairing a tire may involve removing it from the wheel and then installing a plug and a patch. The plug fills the hole made by the nail, and the patch acts as a pressure seal to keep the air inside the tire. Some shops may use only a plug while others may use just a patch. Once the repair is made, the tire is put back on and balanced, and you can be on your way.
If you have to buy a replacement tire, youll want it to match the brand and size of the others already on your car.
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Helpful Precautions And Preventive Measures
As mentioned earlier, you need to fulfill many conditions for a nail lying down on the road to puncture your tires. However, remember that it does happen quite often, and you cannot predict when it will happen to you.
Fortunately, there are certain things that you can do to prevent getting a flat tire due to running over a nail:
Can You Repair A Run Flat Tire
Durable run-flats, such as Bridgestone DriveGuard tires, can often buy you a little more time in a flat tire situation. But if driven on with less than 15PSI, they may not be repairable. To prevent this issue on run flats and otherwise, avoid driving your vehicle if you have a flat or are low on air.
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How Can You Tell If Your Tire Has A Screw Or Nail Puncture
When you begin experiencing tire issues, it can be hard to pinpoint the source of the problemespecially if you are not a professional mechanic. You might find yourself wondering, Does my tire have a nail in it, or is it something worse? Here are some clear indicators that you have a nail or screw in your tire:
Five: Enlarge The Hole
If the hole is larger than a pencil, skip this step. If not, grab your tire-repair kits reamer, and use it to enlarge the hole until it is roughly the size of a pencil.
If you have a very small hole, this will be difficult at first. Install the reaming tool by slowly screwing it into the tread while applying downward pressure. Otherwise, just push the tool into the hole all the way up to the handle, then yank it out. Repeat until the hole is large enough that you can insert and remove the tool without much effort.
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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.
Yes There Is A Right Way And A Wrong Way To Repair A Tire Puncture
I am fortunate that my business is located on a major thoroughfare, which most of the time leads to a steady stream of potential new customers. Often, the ask involves inflating their tires or performing a hasty repair on a tire puncture. While I am eager to introduce myself and my services to new customers, Im afraid I aggravate many of them by refusing to repair their tires. Its not that I dont want to help them. But I want to do it properly and that requires more than the five minutes that they have allotted. Which brings me to my real point. Whats the difference between the two most popular tire repair techniques, a tire plug and a tire patch? And did you know one is illegal? Well, its sort of illegal.
The proper way to repair a puncture is to demount the tire from the wheel and then thoroughly inspect the condition of the inner liner. Keep in mind that driving on a flat tire for a block or two will usually cause sufficient damage to the inner tire liner, rendering it garbage. Once the technician determines that the tire is repairable, they must prep the inner tire surfaces according to industry guidelines and use an approved stem/patch along with vulcanizing compound, effectively sealing the injury from the inside out.
Your automotive questions, answered.
Any light you can shed on my dilemma would be greatly appreciated.
Theo
Thanks.
Lari M., Victoria
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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!
How Do Nails And Screws End Up In Tires
One common question we get from customers is, How do screws puncture tires? Whether from roadside construction or tool-filled trucks, nails and screws end up on the road far too often. What confuses drivers most is how they end up in tires. You might think your tire would roll over nails and screws on the roadso why is this such a common problem? There are a few reasons why tires and nails so often clash on the road:
- Road shoulders: Nails and other hazards often live on the shoulders of the roads. If you pull over or veer off course for even a moment, your tire is likely to find a hazard waiting. Additionally, nails on the bumpy shoulder of a road do not lay very flat, making it easier to penetrate your tire.
- Tires kicking up nails: Nails can find your front tires after being kicked up by a vehicle in front of you. Driving with a little extra distance between cars can help keep your vehicle protected from these kinds of hazards. Meanwhile, nails can easily find your back tires after being kicked up by your front tires.
- Driveways and side streets: Nails can be surprisingly common in drivewaysespecially when visiting a home that was recently renovated. Your tires might also be more prone to obstructions if you live in an area with lots of construction.
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Examine If There Is Anything Out Of The Ordinary On The Tires Surface
Carefully jack your car up enough that you can spin the wheel using your hands. Carefully examine if there is anything out of the ordinary on the treaded surface of your tire. Usually, the head of a nail that punctured a tire would be somewhat shiny as the road surface would have ground it down to the bare metal. With that said, look for anything shiny.
Insert The Plug Strip
- Slide your plug insertion tool slowly into the hole in your tire. You’ll need to press really hard to get the plug into the hole.
- When the plug is inserted deeply enough that only about an inch of it is sticking out of the tire, carefully pull the handle of your plug insertion tool straight up. The slot in the end of the tool’s eyelet should allow it to slide free, leaving the plug in the 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.
Check Your Tire Pressure
Always keep a tire pressure gauge in your vehicle. You should check your tire pressure every other time you fill your fuel tank. If the tire is significantly lower on pressure than it should be, put your spare tire on, or have a mechanic do it for you, and have the tire with the nail in it professionally repaired or replaced as soon as possible. If the air pressure is only slightly low, top it up and bring your vehicle to a tire repair shop to have it fixed properly.
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How To Repair A Punctured Tire
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Did you know that you can repair your punctured tire, and not have to spend all that cash buying a brand new tire? If you’re prepared to get a little greasy and do the legwork yourself, you can find yourself back on the road and enjoying the drive-in on time.
Punctures On The Shoulder
All tires have two main tread sections. The tire’s contact patch is the centermost portion of the tread between the outer tread channels â the circumferential grooves in the tires. The tire’s shoulder is the area between the outermost channels and each sidewall.
The tire shoulders not only endure a lot of stress, they also have a slight curve to them, making them unsuitable for patches or plugs. If your puncture is in the shoulder, the tire is not repairable, making your only option a new tire.
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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.
Chapel Hill Tire Local Patching And Flat Repair Services
When you find a nail in your tire, the experts at Chapel Hill Tire are here to help! Our local mechanics have the tools and experience needed to get your tire fixed in no time. Best of all, we offer coupons, deals, and special discounts for our customers. With our everyday low and transparent prices, you can get affordable, high-quality tire flat repairs without any surprises. Chapel Hill Tire proudly serves the greater Triangle area with our 9 locations across Raleigh, Durham, Apex, Carrboro, and Chapel Hill. You can make your appointment here online or give us a call to get started today!
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Can You Drive With Nail In Your Tire
Driving with a nail in your tire is a risk. Even if the affected tire is currently holding its pressure, the nail could shift into a position that lets air escape, or fall out altogether. This could result in a flat tire, or even a blowout.
Its simply not worth it to drive anywhere but right to a mechanic, or a tire repair shop. And if the tire is in bad shape, put the spare on instead.
Unsafe Tire Repair Methods Persist Despite Strong Evidence Of Dangers
Despite eight figure verdicts and public safety campaigns by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration highlighting the dangers of improper tire repairs, repairs, suppliers continue to market and sell plug-only repairs kits. Likewise, tire repair shops continue to use these improper repair methods.
This web page discuss tire repair techniques, the relative safety of those various repair methods, tire repair litigation and some of the reasons these unsafe methods persist.
Safe and Unsafe Ways to Repair a Tire
Most people discover that their in-service tire may have a puncture after noticing that their tire is flat or low on air.
There are three common ways to repair a punctured tire: A plug-only, a patch-only repair or a combination repair. The patch-only and combination repairs require the technician to demount the tire from the rim to examine the inside of the tire for damage and repair it from the inside. The plug-only repair does not. When tire rubber has been punctured, the hole tends to close up when the puncturing item us removed. Therefore, unless there has been damage or the puncturing object is still protruding from the tire, it can be difficult to locate the puncture through a visual examination only.
Tire Repair LitigationWhy the use of Improper Repairs Persists Despite Clear Warnings
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