Flat on car's tire: is it patchable?

[StageLeft]

I got a flat on a tire that had a lot of life left to it. A screw punctured directly into it around the middle of the tire. Is it likely that a tire shop could repair it?

 

[MegaVovaN]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I got a flat on a tire that had a lot of life left to it. A screw punctured directly into it around the middle of the tire. Is it likely that a tire shop could repair it?

I think, yes. My folks was on a rental jeep in the desert, ran over a dry cacti, punctured tire...then some good souls repaired it.

 

[mattocs]

Yes. Easy repair at any tire shop.

Also, that Slime stuff they sell at Walmart or any auto store works really well. I had a nail hole to close to the sidewall that they would not fix, so I used it, and it has been great for months. The bottle said its guaranteed for two years.

 

[shortylickens]

The slime works well, so do those brown plugs with the awl.

I dont know anybody who actually rips apart a tire and puts a patch on the innertube.

 

[0roo0roo]

many tire shops will. ~20 dollars for a patch.
depends on diameter of puncture of course.
slim works for a while. i wouldn't rely on it, plus it costs near the price of a real patch
i think they do patch it from the back and rebalance it at the shop..better than a simple plug which is temporary. something about water possibly getting in and eating your belts= separation=bye bye u

 

[xanis]

The same thing happened to me in my senior year of high school. I got some kid in a tech class to patch it for free and it's been holding, but you could take it to a gas station or repair shop and get it done for ~$20.

 

[0roo0roo]

http://autorepair.about.com/library/a/1a/bl028a.htm

 

[DrPizza]

Some tire shops will even do it for free. "Hey, remember us next time you're purchasing new tires." It takes less than 5 minutes to do if you're using the plug with the awl. A lot of people recommend not spraying one of those liquids inside the tires. IIRC, some of the warranties on tires are voided unless a patch is put on from the inside (at least, that's what was explained to me by someone selling me tires at some point in the past.) However, I've never known anyone to have a problem with one of the plugs.

Also, for what it's worth, for anyone who is diligent enough to carry a set of emergency things in the car: tow rope, jumper cables, flares, reflectors, etc., I highly recommend one of those patch kits and a bike pump. Heck, the patch kits are only a couple dollars; well worth it to have in the glove box. You'll need a bike pump or need to be lucky enough to be next to a gas station with air. I've found that I can patch and inflate a tire in less time than it takes to put on a spare tire. (Only because it's sometimes a pita to get the spare tire out of the vehicle, especially when it's under the vehicle, as it is on two of our vehicles.)

And finally, this thread belongs in the garage forum, so I'm moving it there.

 

[bruceb]

In most cases, as long as the hole is not in or very close to
the sidewall, it is fixable. And the cost of $20 sounds about
right for most areas. Personally, I prefer a shop like EuroTire
who does the patch from the Inside of the tire .. More effective
that way, but a properly done plug job will also hold. Inside
patches are best for high performance cars & tires.

 

[StageLeft]

Walmart did the tire and a new valve stem (you know how they love to do those. It was $2.50 so I wasn't sure) for $12.96 total. Tires is remounted now. I had originally been of the impression that patched tires were crap but people said the same about bike tires and my current inner tube I'm using on my bike has three patches, all holding perfectly so far, though that is diff from a car.

Dr Pizza said don't patch the sidewall! I believe a tire shop wouldn't try that, so don't do it at home.

I had already bought new tires but had yet to mount them, so they'll sit in the garage.

Thanks!

I'll look into a plug kit next time--seems pretty decent, although I only get holes in tires every several years on the car.

 

[0roo0roo]

they wouldn't even try patching a sidewall or anywhere near the edge, too much liability issues.
i've had patches last the life of the tire, they work fine.
i wouldn't use a plug kit for anything other than a temporary fix. if water does start corroding your steel belts..its bad. plus plug failure is just a hassle, tire patching is just too cheap a service to bother with a plug.

 

[Squisher]

Discount tire will fix flats for free.

I think they do this on the chance that people will bring their flats and they'll refuse to fix it if it's within 3/4" of the sidewall or in the sidewall and then they'll sell them a tire.

In the last ten years they've started and stopped this program a few times. For the last couple of years they have been doing it, though. YMMV give them a call.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
The slime works well, so do those brown plugs with the awl.

I dont know anybody who actually rips apart a tire and puts a patch on the innertube.

Considering we all use radials these days, I'm not surprised.

Places do still patch from the inside (and it IS the way to go), but it's not all that common.

 

[Jeff7]

Old thread, relevant post.

I got a flat now, and I'm using a spare at least for a few days. I've got no idea what punctured it or where it is; I've not had time to inflate it and coat it with soapy water. Finals are coming up, and I've got way more work than I can do in the time I've got left.

Do I just find a tire place and go ask if they fix flats? Are they going to do anything special that I couldn't do myself? I don't want to pay some place $20 to use a $5 plug patch kit. (Or however much they cost.)

The tire's got a lot of tread on it, so I definitely don't want to have to replace it. But I also don't want to spend almost enough to buy a new tire.

 

[Zenmervolt]

EDIT: I really should look at dates on threads.

On a side note, this is happening lately at all the forums I visit, old threads are coming back to life. It's the threadpocalypse!

ZV

 

[StageLeft]

Thread is not THAT old. I did even think of this tire again.

BTW, I just had two $118 nice tires from tirerack put on my car. Dealership said that they were not round. They were put on but noted I may get vibrations. They were 39 and 44 out of roundess instead of the normal limit of 18--according to the guy. Is this meaningful? If I get vibrations, tirerack will have to pay for my sh*t because homey don't play that.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
EDIT: I really should look at dates on threads.

On a side note, this is happening lately at all the forums I visit, old threads are coming back to life. It's the threadpocalypse!

ZV

I brought it back for my own question, rather than starting another tire-patch thread.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Thread is not THAT old. I did even think of this tire again.

BTW, I just had two $118 nice tires from tirerack put on my car. Dealership said that they were not round. They were put on but noted I may get vibrations. They were 39 and 44 out of roundess instead of the normal limit of 18--according to the guy. Is this meaningful? If I get vibrations, tirerack will have to pay for my sh*t because homey don't play that.

More likely it will be the tire manufacturer because out of round on a new tire is a manufacturing defect. You'll probably have to go through a warranty claim.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
EDIT: I really should look at dates on threads.

On a side note, this is happening lately at all the forums I visit, old threads are coming back to life. It's the threadpocalypse!

ZV

I brought it back for my own question, rather than starting another tire-patch thread.

Sorry, I missed that. Yes, just take the tire in and ask if they can patch it. They should be able to find the hole and tell you if it's possible or not.

ZV

 

[Jeff7]

What does it usually cost for the diagnosis and repair? Some say free, some say not.

Ideally, I would of course like a repair that'll last at least as long as the tire itself is usable.



As you can probably tell, I've never had a flat tire before.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
What does it usually cost for the diagnosis and repair? Some say free, some say not.

Ideally, I would of course like a repair that'll last at least as long as the tire itself is usable.



As you can probably tell, I've never had a flat tire before.

I had a puncture fixed at walmart for about $20. I did walk in with the wheel (they will probably charge to take it off, but I'm not sure) and it took maybe 20-30 minutes shopping around and they fixed it.

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: mattocs
Yes. Easy repair at any tire shop.

Also, that Slime stuff they sell at Walmart or any auto store works really well. I had a nail hole to close to the sidewall that they would not fix, so I used it, and it has been great for months. The bottle said its guaranteed for two years.

Remind me not to ride in your car... If a puncture is close to the sidewall you should replace the tire. Yes, it's relatively pricey but well worth the safety.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Bignate603

Originally posted by: mattocs
Yes. Easy repair at any tire shop.

Also, that Slime stuff they sell at Walmart or any auto store works really well. I had a nail hole to close to the sidewall that they would not fix, so I used it, and it has been great for months. The bottle said its guaranteed for two years.

Remind me not to ride in your car... If a puncture is close to the sidewall you should replace the tire. Yes, it's relatively pricey but well worth the safety.

Meh...if it was a small hole and he doesn't corner hard, it should be a big deal.

If a blowout causes you to crash, you shouldn't be driving.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
What does it usually cost for the diagnosis and repair? Some say free, some say not.

Ideally, I would of course like a repair that'll last at least as long as the tire itself is usable.



As you can probably tell, I've never had a flat tire before.

It's cheap, very cheap, and sometimes free especially if you take the flat to where you purchased the tires from. Normally the retailer offers free flat repair.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: mattocs
Yes. Easy repair at any tire shop.

Also, that Slime stuff they sell at Walmart or any auto store works really well. I had a nail hole to close to the sidewall that they would not fix, so I used it, and it has been great for months. The bottle said its guaranteed for two years.

And for good reason. The sidewall flexes A LOT more than the tread surface and bears the load of the vehicle. That "patch" job you did will fail, possibly catastrophically. Saving $95 isn't worth the risk in my opinion.