Flat Tire: Repair or Replace?

Most drivers have had at least one flat tire in their driving history. If you have never had a flat tire, then consider yourself lucky!  But if you have had one, it is important to understand the best way to address your damaged tire and determine if it can be repaired or needs to be replaced.

In this blog, we discuss ways to recognize if your tire is damaged beyond repair when you are unfortunate enough to get a flat tire.

Is your tire really flat?

A flat tire can be a scary thing – especially if it happens while driving your vehicle.   If you are driving and your Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) illuminates on the dash or you hear a flapping sound and the vehicle seems lower or uneven, immediately pull over to a safe location.  Once you are safely off the road and the vehicle is in park, visually inspect all of your tires:

• Are any of the tires lower than the others?
• Are there any objects (such as nails, screws, or pieces of metal) protruding from the tire treads?
• Are there any objects protruding from the sidewall?
• Do you hear a hissing sound of air coming from a tire?
• Does the sidewall of the tire have a black band or stripe?

If you do not see any unusual signs on any of the tires but your TPMS is still lit when you turn on the engine, this may indicate a flat tire on the horizon.  Always make sure not to continue driving at high speeds, or long distances until you address what may be wrong.

If the tire is indeed flat, contact roadside assistance or replace the damaged tire with the spare.  And remember when driving on the spare-recommended speed should not exceed 55 mph.

At this point, safety is your number one priority as you do not want to continue driving with a partially or fully damaged tire.

Repair or replace?

Punctures can be repaired, while any cut or sidewall damage must be replaced.

It is definitely advisable to have your damaged tire inspected by a trained service professional.  At Shade Tree Garage, we will examine your tire and determine if repair is an option.  If not, we can replace your tire for you to ensure you are driving safely.

Important considerations for determining if the tire can be repaired vs. replaced are as follows:

• The cause of the flat: How your tire was damaged is important to the extent and severity of damage.  For example, if your tire is flat due to a curb strike or if it was punctured by a lengthy piece of metal.
• The location and depth of the damage: Where your tire is damaged is also important when deciding if it can be repaired or needs to be replaced.  If the damage is on the sidewall, then replacement is necessary.  Also, the depth of the damage may be a factor in repair or replacement.  Typically, the deeper the puncture, the greater the damage.  Upon further inspection, a service professional will be able to know if the tire can be saved.
• The wear and tear of the tread: Some flats may be the result of extensive wearing on the tread that has exposed the tire.  In this case, regardless of the damage it would make sense to replace the tire.  Remember the penny rule, if you can see most of Abe Lincoln’s face when putting a penny in the tread upside down, then the tread is significantly worn down.
• The tire may not be at fault: You can be losing air at the “bead” of the rim or from the valve (where the air is added).  A leak check of the tire will determine the cause of losing air.

Tire Repair

If a tire is repairable, the service professional will patch the puncture.

• A tire plug is done by inserting a plug into the hole or damage from the outside of the tire to block the leak. Note:  A plug is not an approved repair for permanent use and tire manufacturers and Shade Tree Garage would not recommend a plug.
• A tire patch is done from the inside of the tire, which means that the service professional needs to remove your vehicle’s tire from the rim to patch it on the inside.

Discuss the options with your service professional to choose the best method for repairing your tire and keeping it safe for a longer period of time.

If you have any issues with your tires, contact us today at Shade Tree Garage to schedule a tire inspection.

When it comes to your tires, always put safety ahead of anything else!