When to Choose Tire Patching or Replacement

Did you hear a strange rumbling noise while you were driving and had to pull over, or did you
walk up to your car to find you had a flat tire? Flats can have several causes including:

• Nails or screws in the road
• Potholes
• And other sharp objects

A fact of life is that driving around Kansas City will inevitably lead to a flat tire from a
puncture at some point. The question is: do you need to find a tire repair shop to replace the
tire or repair it? With a few variables at play, let’s look at when you should repair or replace your flat tire.

Tire Patching

To sum up before we dive in: if a tire is in good condition and only has a small
puncture less than 1/4″ wide in the tread, it can be replaced.

Here are some things to consider when you want to fix the issue with tire patching.

The tread on the tire: the less tread on your tire, the worse
condition it’s in; this can lead to more frequent or more severe punctures and leaks.

Has the tire been repaired before: In some cases, a tire can be
repaired once before and there will be no issue if you bring it into a tire repair shop for another flat.
However, in order to be repaired, the new leak cannot be too close to a previously repaired leak as it degrades
the quality and lifespan of the tire quickly, leading to another flat down the road in a shorter amount of time.
You also cannot exceed two repairs on the same tire.

Is the damage to the sidewall or shoulder of the tire: If the answer is yes,
then you will need to replace the tire entirely as damage to these areas cannot be fixed. Let’s look at that in
a bit more detail now.

When to Search “Tire Shops Near Me”

As mentioned earlier, a major factor in the tire repair vs. replacement debate is the
quality of the tire’s tread. An age-old trick to test your tire’s tread is to put a penny in the groove. If
Lincoln’s head doesn’t dip below the tread line, it’s time to replace the tire. If you get a leak with low
tread, absolutely replace the tire.

If there is a nail or a leak in the sidewall or the shoulder of the tire (effectively
where the tire starts to change from flat to curved), you’ll need to replace the tire as these locations cannot
be patched.

If your tire has been patched twice already, or if the new leak is within 16 inches of
a previous patch, the tire cannot be salvaged, and you’ll need to get a new one.

Bonus point: If you notice a bubble on the side of your tire, say, from hitting a pothole a
little too hard because you didn’t see it, absolutely replace your tire. If your tire has a bubble and you
continue to drive on it, you could face a blowout on the road. Please take it to a tire repair shop before
disaster strikes. If you experience a flat or a blowout, always call a reliable towing service to
get you to a nearby tire shop.

Tire Patching When You Need It

If you’re near Kansas City or Olathe,
KS, and need a tire repair shop, come by our service center to have your vehicle looked at and fixed up.
Our expertly trained mechanics can help determine if your tire can be repaired or find a suitable replacement
quickly to get you back on the road in no time. Contact us today to schedule
an appointment or call us at (913) 324-7300 for more information about tire patching and replacement.