Can a Car Tyre Be Repaired?

Sometimes, our car tyres get punctured. This is the sad and frustrating reality of owning a vehicle. Of course it is cheaper, and certainly more environmentally friendly, to have your type repaired should this occur. This is especially true if you have just recently had the tyre replaced and are unfortunate enough to have punctured it again. 

 

So, can a car tyre be repaired? Well, that depends. In certain circumstances, a tyre can be repaired: saving you time and money. Other times however, tyres need to be replaced. Mechanics or tyre repair centres will assess the following criteria before determining whether your tyre needs to be repaired or replaced: 

If the puncture in the centre portion of the tyre (middle three quarters) then it may be able to be repaired. If it happens outside of this area (near the tyre’s sidewall) then it usually cannot be repaired. The sidewall carries the largest load when you drive, and the repair process could damage the sidewall. This is dangerous, and thus a mechanic will advise you to replace the tyre. 

The tyre repair centre should check the condition of the tyre. If the tyre has reached the end of its natural life, and has a puncture, then it is highly likely that it will need to be replaced. If the minimum amount of tread has been exceeded or the tyre is in poor condition, most reputable centres will advise you to replace the tyre rather than repair it. 

Can you fix a car tyre puncture if you own runflat tyres? This is another common question we are asked, as runflat tyres have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. Runflat tyres, unlike regular tyres, are designed to be driven on in the event of a puncture. This gives the driver a short window to get home or to the nearest garage, rather than being stuck at the side of the road. The downside is that runflat tyres, unlike some regular tyres, cannot be repaired if they are punctured. It is difficult to tell if the structure of a runflat tyre has been damaged if it has been punctured, which makes them dangerous once they have been compromised. Because of this, reputable centres will advise you to replace the tyre. 

If you are coming to a mechanic and asking ‘’can a car tyre be repaired?’’, they will, before anything, examine the size of the puncture. Your puncture may well be in the middle three quarters of the tyre, but if it is larger than 6mm in diameter then it will need to be replaced. Small punctures that are centrally located and caused by nails or other small sharp items can often be replaced. Larger punctures, unfortunately, cause irreparable damage to the tyre and compromise vehicle safety. 

We hope that any one who wondered ‘’can you repair a punctured car tyre?’’ now has an answer. In short, tyres can be repaired if they meet certain requirements. The puncture will need to be small (less than 6mm in diameter), located in the middle three quarters of the tyre and not be a runflat tyre. Moreover, the overall condition of the tyre must be up to the legal standard for a repair to take place. If your tyre fails on any of these criteria, it is likely that your mechanic will advise you to purchase a new tyre. Whether you are arriving asking ‘’can you fix a slow puncture on a car tyre’’ or not, the tyre will be assessed against these criteria. 

 

If you are looking to replace or examine your vehicle’s tyres, visit our dedicated page or give us a call on 01787 540 001. One of the team will assess your tyres and advise you on the best course of action.