How and When A Flat Tire Can be Repaired

New tires are most often a predictable expense and comes with the responsibility of keeping and maintaining a car. That doesn’t make the cost to buy new tires and have them installed any more appealing. With proper driving and care, a decent set of tires can last many thousands of miles without issue, offering plenty of value along with the safety they can deliver.

Real disappointment comes with flat tires. Misfortune can strike at any point, even on the first day of driving on a new set of tires (we’ve seen it happen!) We’ve pulled all sorts of debris out of tires, such as nails, screws, metal shards, rebar, antlers – you name it, we’ve probably seen it.

The first question we always get asked is if the flat tire can be repaired, and there are several factors that will determine the answer to that question.

Puncture location

It would be ideal if the puncture site is on the tread of the tire, as opposed to the sidewall. The sidewall is constructed differently than the tread of a tire.  The tread has steel in it, whereas the sidewalls are glued making the tread more forgiving to punctures.

Puncture size

A puncture more than roughly ¼ inch is difficult, if not impossible, to plug. Large gashes or anything that isn’t essentially caused by a nail/screw reduce the possibility of being plugged.  

Other considerations

There are other considerations that can factor into whether a tire should be repaired. In all honesty, one plug in a tire is pushing one’s luck enough; two or more can be seen as a tempt of fate. Other considerations include overall tire condition. If there is a puncture as well as significant damage around the puncture site, it may impact the integrity of any repair. Similarly, an older tire with less tread, significant tire wear and/or age may be a bad candidate for a repair.

Our professional opinion

After assessing the above-mentioned factors to answer whether or not a flat tire can be repaired, we form our professional opinion that, above all else, takes into account the safety of our customers. We want our customers to be as safe as possible. If we can make the repair, we will. If we can’t, we’ll let you know. At the end of the day, your tires are one of the most important components of your vehicle and if your tire is compromised, your safety is compromised.

BBack Car Care offers tire inspections with every service and has years of experience repairing tires. We also offer competitive pricing on tires should you need to replace a flat tire due to a puncture.

If you are losing air pressure and need to have your tires looked at, or experience a flat tire, give our service desk a call or request an appointment online today.