Tyre Fix

What is Tyre Repair?

Tyre repair refers to the process of replacing a faulty tyre with a new one or simply repairing a tiny puncture. While it sounds like a job anyone with two hands can handle, it’s recommended to go to a shop that specializes in repairing tyres to ensure that you get your problem solved completely.

Years ago, car owners frequently dealt with the superfluous hassle of repairing their tyres due to the quality. Thanks to the manufacturers and present day technology, tyres are meant to withstand even the worst conditions on the road. While this holds much truth, it is not uncommon for people to find themselves needing to have their tyre(s) repaired due to weather or other hazards on the road.

How Much Will A Tyre Repair Run You?

While a tyre repair won’t cost you an arm and a leg, it will cost you a bit of your time. If you’re looking into having a puncture repaired on a tyre, you’re looking at spending on average between $10 to $20 dollars. The size of the puncture makes a huge difference and will determine the amount you will spend on getting your tire repaired.

Tyre Repair Basics.

Today’s tyres are engineered to last, so a puncture doesn’t have to mean replacement. But how do you know when is repair an option? What steps are involved?

We recommend consulting with a trained technician and considering repairs as long as damage is restricted to the tread area only and therefore the puncture injury is not any greater than 1/4 inch (6mm) in diameter.

When repairing a tyre, keep in mind the following criteria:

• Tyres must be removed from the rim/wheel assembly and inspected for all possible damage—including damage to the inner liner.
• Tyre repairs cannot overlap with other repairs.
• A rubber stem, or plug, must be applied to fill the puncture injury and a patch must be applied to seal the inner liner. (A plug alone is an unacceptable repair.)

How are Car Tires Patched?

A nail or a screw on the road can totally ruin your day by giving you a flat tyre. It may seem like this isn’t a really big problem. However, if you don’t take the steps necessary to fix it quickly, it will cost you a lot more than getting your damaged tyre serviced.

Should you continue to drive with an underinflated tyre, you will lose the ability to handle the vehicle properly, so the risk of getting into an accident will increase. The fuel efficiency will be significantly reduced. In addition, driving with a flat tyre may damage both the tyre and the wheel itself beyond repair. Therefore, it will cost you a great deal of money to fix the problem if you don’t take care of it right away.

There are two things you should do immediately after you pull over and see that your tyre is damaged:

• Replace the flat tyre with a spare.

This is only a temporary measure as spare tyres are different in shape and are less efficient than standard ones. Please note that many manufacturers provide spares that are smaller in size. Read the manual in order to learn how to make your drive safe when using a spare.

• Fix the flat.

There are several methods you can use in order to fix a punctured tire. Some tire fix kits will even allow you to perform a quick repair while on the road, but first you should decide whether you want to fix it on your own or have a professional to do this for you.

Tire Repair Process.

1. Remove tyre from the rim.
2. Thorough inspection of both the inside and outside of the tyre, although a tyre may appear to be a simple fix from the outside, the bottom half of the nail could have caused potential damage to the interior sidewall.
3. Once deemed repairable, trim the puncture area of damaged cables to clean and stabilize the area
4. From the inside out, pull a rubber stem through the puncture area sealing off the inside of the tyre.
5. From the inside, buff the puncture area then apply special vulcanizing glue.
6. A patch is then installed on the inner liner over the puncture area causing a chemical reaction.
7. Tyre is then mounted back on the rim, inflated to the proper tyre pressure and the repair is checked for leaks.
8. This procedure takes 60-90 minutes to be done properly.