What Is Flat Tire Repair

Whether you're running late for work or adventuring far from habitation, flat tires always seem to come at the worst times.

Though they can be inconvenient, the skilful affair about flat tires is you tin can often go tire repair service instead of replacing them. Because a new tire can cost $50-$150, and a flat repair commonly runs $five-$40, there are significant savings in opting for tire repair instead of replacement.

To help you lot better understand the tire repair process, we've outlined the master means you lot can fix a punctured tire, their pros and cons, the tires you can't repair, and issues that may cause a flat tire.

Tire Repair Options

There are several tire repair options when you run over a smash or other debris that punctures your tire. While all these repairs will reseal the tire, they aren't equal in quality, safety, and longevity.

Tire Sealant

Tire sealant is the simplest apartment repair method. It involves injecting a pressurized sealing chemic through the valve stem — just like inflating your tires — and letting the sealer fill the puncture. Some sealers fifty-fifty have enough pressure in the tin can to inflate the tire too.

There are also tire repair kits, which include a sealant, a portable inflator, and other useful tire repair tools. Some new cars even include these kits in place of a spare tire.

Tire sealants are for emergency use only, and yous should never consider information technology a permanent repair. After sealing the tire, immediately bulldoze to a repair facility to have the tire inspected and properly repaired or replaced.

When you get to the shop, make sure to warn the technician that there'due south sealant in the tire. Without this warning, the technician could end upward with a massive mess of sealant on the flooring.

Tire Plug

A tire plug is another basic flat tire repair method. The Plug is essentially a piece of cord coated in unvulcanised rubber.

To install a tire plug, you remove the detail from the tire that caused the puncture, then ream the pigsty to smooth out the pigsty and widen it slightly. You then place the string in the plug tool — a large, needle-like tool — and printing information technology through the pigsty. Finally, pull the plug tool out slightly — just enough to gratis information technology from the plug — and remove the tool from the plug, leaving the plug behind.

Once you bulldoze the vehicle, the heat volition vulcanise the condom and seal the pigsty.

A tire plug has a few benefits. First, it's a quick repair that doesn't require dismounting the tires from the wheels. Information technology'southward also generally less expensive, and yous can do it yourself in a pinch.

However, a tire plug is not a permanent repair. Plugs are designed for temporary use only because they have a tendency to leak and can slowly work their style out of the pigsty at high speeds. Besides, plugs can allow water to seep in and cause the wheels and the steel bands that concord the tire in place to rust.

Tire Patch

An internal tire patch is another style some car repair shops fix flat tires.

To complete a tire patch, the technician must remove the tire from the wheel and advisedly use a grinder to remove any burrs or stray steel belts, and to create a rough surface for the patch to attach to. The technician then glues the patch over the puncture, uses a small roller tool to smooth it out, and applies a patch sealer. Due to the tire patch'south self-vulcanising properties, it will permanently affix to the tire in one case it heats upwardly from normal driving.

A tire patch is superior to a plug because in that location's no gamble of it flying out at high speeds. Plus, it creates a more reliable seal because it covers the hole and its surrounding surface area.

However, patches are mostly more expensive because they are more time-consuming and crave the technician to balance the tire. A standard patch also doesn't fill the puncture, leaving the potential for leaking downward the road.

Tire Patch-Plug

A tire patch-plug is nearly tire manufacturers' preferred mode to repair punctures. A patch-plug is a small, circular, safety patch with a mushroom-like plug mounted in the center. This allows the technician to plug the hole and patch the surrounding area, creating the nigh reliable repair.

A patch-plug goes on similar to a patch, but the technician may need to drill the puncture to widen information technology so the plug fits through. The technician then glues the patch-plug into place and pulls the plug outward from the exterior of the tire to ensure a expert seal.

In one case the tire is mounted and inflated, the technician volition cut the plug's length to friction match the tire'southward tread depth.

The key benefit to a patch-plug is it offers the most secure, longest-lasting repair. When done correctly, a patch-plug volition last the life of the tire with no leakage.

The downside is it's a time-consuming procedure and amongst the about expensive puncture repairs.

Limitations of Tire Repair

Not every tire puncture is repairable — patches and plugs have their structural limitations. Hither are some cases where the tire is simply unrepairable.

Big Punctures

Regardless of the type of tire repair service you choose — plug, patch, or patch-plug — the maximum diameter puncture you can safely repair is 6 mm. Anything larger risks leakage, which tin can result in more serious bug downward the road.

Punctures on the Shoulder

All tires have ii main tread sections. The tire's contact patch is the centermost portion of the tread between the outer tread channels — the circumferential grooves in the tires. The tire's shoulder is the expanse between the outermost channels and each sidewall.

The tire shoulders not only endure a lot of stress, they also accept a slight bend to them, making them unsuitable for patches or plugs. If your puncture is in the shoulder, the tire is not repairable, making your just option a new tire.

Punctures on the Sidewall

The tire's sidewall — the vertical face up on each side of the tire — is not rigid enough to back up a plug or patch. This section bends and flexes to enhance ride condolement and handling, but this flexing volition cause any patch or plug to get discrete.

For this reason, sidewall punctures are not repairable.

Tires With Bereft Tread Depth

While you can repair a tire with simply about any tread depth, liability is an issue well-nigh automotive shops take seriously. If they repair a tire with under 1.half dozen mm of tread depth, and your tire blows out the next day due to its low tread, the repair shop may exist held liable.

And so, many auto service facilities will recommend a new tire in these instances.

Special-Use Tires

While a tire patch is perfectly fine in most tires, fifty-fifty winter tires and tires with high speed ratings, specialty employ tires aren't repairable. These would include dedicated racing tires or drag slicks.

Other Causes of Apartment Tire

Punctures are the most common reason for flat tires, but they're far from the only reason. Here are some other causes and how to rectify them.

Tire Pressure level Monitoring System Sensor Leak

Tire pressure monitoring systems aren't mandatory in Canada all the same, only information technology's common to come across them on vehicles. These systems often use a sensor inside each tire that connects to the valve stem and detects the tire pressure.

Over time, the O-rings on these sensors and their valve stems can fail, resulting in a leak. A technician can fix this by removing the tire and sensor, installing new O-rings, and reinstalling the sensor and tire.

Valve Stalk Leak

The rubber valve stem — the safety stem you fill up your tires through — deteriorates over time or tin exist damaged, resulting in a leak. A tire service technician tin fix this by removing your tire, installing a new valve stem, and reinstalling the tire.

Cycle Damage

Occasionally, you can hit a pothole as well difficult or run into a adjourn and curve or crack the wheel, starting a leak. In some cases, a wheel specialist may be able to fix the issue. Usually, a new or a skillful used wheel is the best solution.

Clutch Won't Leave You Flat

When buying a pre-owned vehicle, information technology's of import to go one with quality tires to ensure your vehicle remains in acme shape for years to come up. At Clutch, Canada'south first 100% online car-buying experience, all our vehicles go through a 210-point inspection and a reconditioning process that includes checking the tires and replacing them if needed. Nosotros replace all tires with under 4mm of tread depth, far exceeding the legal limit of 1.5mm.

For added peace of mind, nosotros also offer the Clutch Protection Plan. This plan not only covers all your vehicle'due south major mechanical and electrical components, it likewise includes unlimited-kilometre tire and rim coverage. This coverage includes flat repairs, tire replacement, and more than at no cost to you lot — not even a deductible.

Set up to experience Clutch? Check out our online pre-owned inventory, choose a vehicle that suits your needs, and have it delivered. You tin can even merchandise in your old machine online when y'all buy your new 1 from Clutch.