Is a tire safe after patching?

No matter how much work and care you put into maintaining your vehicle, there’s always going to be a caveat—you may know what’s under the hood, but you never really know what’s on the road.

The hazards of the road are many, and they come in all shapes and sizes. If you’re cautious, alert, and safe, you can avoid many pitfalls that you come across. But there will always be small, sharp objects that can slow you down and cause damage to your tires.

That damage isn’t always the end of the line for your tire, though. Under the right circumstances, a patch or a plug can give your tire new life and get your back on the road, saving you time and the cost of a brand new tire.

Here are three questions to ask when evaluating whether or not your tire needs to be patched.

How quickly can you address the problem?

Like many maintenance concerns with your vehicle, timing is everything with a deflated tire. But in this case, your timing needs to be immediate if at all possible.

Standard tires should never be driven while low on air, especially if they’re all the way flat. This will cause scuffing to the tire’s inboard and outboard sidewalls, which could lead to having to replace the tire completely rather than patching or plugging the leak.

What kind of damage, and how big is it?

The next thing you need to find out is whether you’re dealing with a cut or a puncture.

If it’s a cut, you’re going to need a new tire unless the cut is ¼ of an inch or less. This is because cuts can sever the steel cords within the tire, which give the tires their strength. Patching a cut of this caliber would prevent an air leak, but it wouldn’t restore the tire’s strength.

If you’re dealing with a puncture, though, you may be in luck. Tire patches are designed to repair round holes, after all. Again, ¼ of an inch or less is the sweet spot for repairs; anything over that size in diameter is too big of a puncture.

Where is the damage located on the tire?

Size isn’t all that matters for repairing a puncture, though. You’ll also need to make sure the damage is within a specific area on the tread face of the tire, between the outer grooves (no closer than two inches of the sidewall, if your tire doesn’t have circumferential grooves).

If the puncture is on the sidewall of the tire, you’ll need a replacement. The sidewall of the tire flexes often while you drive, and one flex too many will loosen the patch. The same logic goes for the shoulder, which flexes the most of any part of the tire.

If your tire meets these requirements, congratulations, you may save a trip to the mechanic and a few bucks. If you are patching the tire yourself, though, you will have to de-mount the tire from the rim so you can see the inside of the tire as you repair it. And remember, you should always follow your kit instructions.

(Note: Because tires are the single points of contact to the highway and having issues can cause detrimental results if not corrected soon and properly, we recommend letting a tire specialist inspect your tire if you are unsure of the magnitude of the damage or the best way to fix it.)

The path of life is full of surprises, and so are the roads you travel across the cities and the countryside. Every driver knows that no matter how carefully they drive, the most unexpected thing can happen. Tire problems are common and you may need to patch it instead of replacing sometimes. How long can you drive on a patched tire? It will last for years if you take proper care of the tire and not being harsh on the vehicle by speeding up. Also, the fixing will last long if it’s done by someone professional.

A visit to your mechanic is always inevitable whenever you have a puncture in your tire. However, because the state of your car tires largely determines your safety on the road, other issues like tire sidewall cracks, thin tread depth, excessive wear, etc., may necessitate a tire service as well.

When it comes to a puncture in one of your tires, it can sometimes be difficult to decide whether to patch or replace your tire. Check out the pros and cons of patching vs. replacing and when you should repair or replace a damaged tire.

Pros of Patching

• Patches are often the cheaper option
• All four of your tires will continue to wear evenly as they have the same tread depth.

Cons of Patching

• Higher safety risk compared to replacing
• Patching can only be done once

Pros of Replacing

• Increased traction
• Better performance
• Increased safety

Cons of Replacing

• Replacing tires is often the more expensive option
• Replacing only one tire can lead to uneven wear due to different tread depths

When is Patching or Replacing a Damaged Tire Ideal

Deciding whether to patch or replace a tire depends on several factors.

• The severity of the damage
• Puncture position on the tire
• Tire repair history
• Tread depth

Patching a Damaged Tire

Tire replacement can be expensive. It need not always be the go-to solution whenever you have a flat tire. Patching a tire, if expertly done, can last for seven to ten years.

Several tire damages can be fixed with patching. Examples include:

• Puncture that lies within the puncture repair area. This is the center part of the tire that’s about 1 to 1.5 inches from the shoulders.
• Puncture that is less than ¼ inch

Replacing a Damaged Tire

There are incidences where patching won’t be enough and settling for a patch could compromise your safety. Instances where a replacement is necessary include:

• Puncture occurs on the sidewall or the shoulders. These areas are considered outside the puncture repair area.
• Puncture is more than ¼ inch
• Puncture is adjacent or overlaps a previously repaired damage
• Thin tread depth
• Excessive wear or cracks on the sidewall

When it comes to your tires, it’s always advisable to consult a seasoned mechanic to examine the extent of the damage and recommend the best solution.

At Custom Complete Automotive, we offer high-quality patching and replacement services on damaged tires. To learn more about our tire repair services, or for more information regarding any of our other auto services, contact us today!

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