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Tire Repair
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What is the proper procedure for repairing a tire?
Any tire found to be under inflated should be removed from the wheel and inspected thoroughly on both the outside and inside surfaces. Puncture repairs should be done using a patch on the inside tire surface and solid material inserted into the hole to prevent moisture damage to steel tire cord. Puncture repairs should only be done in the tread area of the tire that is reinforced by the steel belts. Sidewall damage is usually too severe to repair. Tire repair should be done by experienced and trained technicians only.
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How can I determine if a tire is repairable or if a flat tire has structural damage that could be dangerous?
Some evidence of structural damage is visible on the outside of the tire and some can only be seen on the inside. External factors would include cuts and snags where the cord body is exposed; unnatural bulges that indicate damage to the cord body; severe non-uniformity in the tread or sidewall; or a band of abrasion to the sidewall caused by rim chafing. An internal examination of the tire is critical when assessing the repairability of a tire. Often the injury is larger or more extensive on the inside of the tire. Also damage can occur to the tubeless liner when a tire is run under inflated. Judgments on tire repairs are best left to trained tire professionals. The safest course of action is to install the spare tire and take the flat tire to a full-service tire facility for evaluation.
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Can I have a puncture repair done using a plug?
The term “plug repair” normally means the insertion of rubber or fibrous material from the outside of the tire. Central Tire concurs with the Tire Industry in condemnation of this practice. Insertion of a plug without demounting and inspecting the inside of the tire may cause severe structural damage to be missed. It is also possible that an improperly inserted plug will miss the hole or improperly seal the inner tubeless liner. This could allow air to leak into the cord body and create a casing separation or sudden catastrophic tire failure. Finally any puncture repair should have a repair unit or patch installed on the inside of the tire. Plug repairs may be permissible on small non-highway use tires such as lawn/garden, wheel barrow, etc.
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Should I use a puncture sealant and aerosol inflation product (i.e. Fix-A-Flat) in a flat tire?
Central Tire strongly opposes the use of this material. Many under inflated tires incur structural damage that is not visible unless the tire is demounted and inspected. Inflation by any means could result in sudden explosive tire failure while being inflated or operated on the highway. Also some aerosol inflation products use flammable substances such as propane as the propellant. This is explosive and has resulted in serious injury and death. A puncture sealant material will also damage an Active Tire Pressure Monitor Sensor necessitating replacement of the sensor (see question 12). Always advise tire personnel if you have used any type of sealant material in a tire.
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What happens to the speed rating of a repaired tire?
This issue is determined by the tire manufacturer who made the tire and set the speed rating. In most cases the speed rating of a properly repaired high-performance tire is reduced to the standard P-Metric speed rating of 112 miles per hour. Consult the tire manufacturer warranty for specific limitations and recommendations.
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