3 Tips For Saving A Damaged Tire

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Tires can fail in a surprisingly large number of ways, some more severe than others. While it's never fun to find yourself trapped by a bad tire, not every tire emergency means that a costly replacement is in your future. In many cases, you may be able to repair your tire, saving you plenty of money and helping you to get back on the road more quickly.

Unfortunately, it's also easy to make the wrong choices in a tire emergency and cause more damage. Repairing a tire under these circumstances can be more costly or even impossible. These three tips will help you deal with a roadside tire emergency safely without ruining a tire that may still be recoverable.

1. Never Drive on a Flat

Tire shops need to follow several procedures to determine if your tire is a good repair candidate. Tires with excessive damage or damage in specific areas will be unsafe, even after a repair, so you'll need to replace them. In particular, tire technicians need to determine if your tire's internal structure is still intact and safe.

Causing damage to your sidewall is the easiest way to turn a repairable tire into a lost cause. Driving on a flat tire, even for just a few minutes, can destroy its internal structure and force you to replace it. If you're hoping to save money by repairing your tire, avoid driving on a flat. In the long run, calling for roadside assistance will be much cheaper than a half-mile drive to the nearest air pump.

2. Don't Make Temporary Repairs

You can find many repair kits in any automotive parts store or big-box retailer. While these kits may be safe to drive on for a while, they don't qualify as an approved repair tire. When technicians repair a tire, they need to confirm that your tire is free of other defects, excessive repairs, or unapproved repairs. These straightforward plug kits can make your tire ineligible for future professional repairs.

In general, it's best to avoid making temporary emergency repairs unless you're sure that you'll be replacing your tire soon. If you intend to keep your tire for the long run, leave it to the experts instead of trying to fix the problem yourself.

3. Schedule Repairs As Soon As Possible

You might be okay with adding air to your tire every few weeks, but a slow leak can worsen over time. Driving on a tire that's losing air can be dangerous and may ultimately result in damage that's too severe to repair. Even worse, you may inadvertently damage the sidewall or internal structure by waiting too long between air pump visits.

If you want to repair your tire and continue to use it for many thousands of miles, it's best to schedule an appointment with a tire service as soon as you notice the problem. This approach minimizes the likelihood that you'll cause more damage and helps ensure you get a safe and permanent repair.

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28 December 2021

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