As one of Scotland’s leading mobile tyre fitting companies this is a question we hear pretty much every day from our clients.
Nowadays, many punctured tyres can be patch repaired and will last years longer than they would in the past. However, there is a limit to what can be repaired and when the time comes for a completely new tyre to be installed.
Tyre repair from www.mobiletyres.co.uk/ can be a great way to save money by avoiding the cost of a completely new tyre, but our experts will only carry out a repair if judged safe to do so and there will be no detrimental impact on the safety of the vehicle.
In this article, we will run through some of the key factors that determine if a tyre can be repaired or if they need to be replaced.
Where the puncture is located
This is perhaps the most important factor determining if a tyre can be repaired.
In order to comply with British Standard (BSAU159), tyre repairs can only ever be carried out on the central ¾ of the tyre, away from the sidewall which can be compromised by nearby punctures.
Fortunately, the vast majority of punctures occur on the bottom of the tyre, for obvious reasons, so you will usually find that your puncture is indeed located in this region.
The process of repairing a puncture in the minor repair zone involves using an air drill which is completed fine in this area but has the potential to damage the sidewall if you get too close. This raises the risk of bulging, blow-outs, and other serious safety concerns.
How large the puncture is
As a general rule, and one reinforced by BSAU159, only punctures that are smaller than 6mm in diameter should be repaired.
This is large enough to cover most common punctures made by nails or screws but tyres that have been gouged or slashed by something like scrap metal will have to be replaced.
Is the tyre generally in good condition?
We will only ever attempt to repair a tyre if the puncture is the only issue affecting its roadworthiness. For example, tyres with a tread depth of below 1.6mm are illegal, whether they have a puncture in them or otherwise and should not be used on the road.
Similarly, if there are any bulges or exposed cords in the sidewall of the tyre, it can no longer safety by used.
One of the lesser know reasons why a tyre might not be safely repairable is if there have been multiple punctures already in the tyre. Tyres should never be repaired more than twice, even if both previous puncutres were smaller than 6mm and within the minor repair zone as this risks compromising the structural integrity of the tyre and the sidewall and the risk of a blowout rises significantly.
Get in touch with us today if you have any questions about tyre repair or tyre replacement.