Tyre repair
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Tyre repair
How much does a tyre repair cost?
Your tyres are made up of several layers including a durable outer tread layer and an inner liner.
The inner liner is like the tyre tube on your bicycle, keeping pressurised air on the inside.
The tyre valve stem allows compressed air to enter, the seals to prevent it from escaping. The tyre bead is thick and stiff, sealing your tyres onto your wheels.
If any of these parts are compromised, your tyre can go flat. It could be a nail that punctures through the tread, cracking in the sidewall, the tyre valve stem doesn’t seal, or corrosion on the tyre bead.
If your tyre keeps losing air or going flat, you’ll need a tyre repair.
What is a tyre repair?
A tyre repair restores the tyre’s integrity to hold air.
If there’s a puncture through the tyre and its lining, the tyre needs to be removed from the rim and properly fixed. A plug-patch combo is the proper repair.
If the leak is from the bead area, it’s likely due to corrosion. The technician will remove the tyre from the rim, grind the surface clean, then liberally apply tyre sealant on the rim before reinstalling the tyre.
If the valve stem is leaking, a new one is installed.
Symptoms of a tyre leak
- As you’d expect, a flat tyre is the most common symptom of a tyre leak.
- The steering pulls to one side.
- The suspension may feel softer than usual.
- The bottom of one tire is bulged out more so than the others.
How is the tyre repair performed?
- A technician locates the hole with soapy water.
- The hole is reamed to clean it, and the inner liner is prepped with a rasp.
- A liberal dose of rubber cement is applied to the area where the patch will rest, then a plug-patch is inserted.
- The plug fills the void in the tyre and provides some sealing.
- The patch is then pressed against the inner liner, completing the seal.
- The tyre is re-installed on the rim and rebalanced.
Tips to remember
- A sidewall puncture in your tyre is unrepairable. The sidewall and tyre shoulder area flex a great deal so tyre patches would quickly come loose. Instead, your tyre will need to be replaced.
- Impacting a curb or hitting large potholes can crack your rim where the tyre bead seals. If you’ve hit something and your tyre is now flat, you may require additional repairs above and beyond a tyre repair.
- Tyre patches alone and tyre plugs alone are not acceptable tyre repairs. The only approved tyre repair is the combination plug-patch style.
Why it’s important to have your tyre repair completed
A flat tyre never happens when it’s convenient. You can avoid a completely flat tyre in many cases by acknowledging the symptoms.
If you drive on a very low or flat tyre, you’re likely to damage the inner lining and sidewall. The result is a tyre replacement where a repair would have been sufficient previously, meaning an increased cost.
As well, operating your car on with a leaky tyre can be dangerous. Traction is reduced and your car handles differently when a tyre is low on air. You may also avoid being stranded roadside with a flat.
If you’ve read this far, you obviously care about your car. A lot. So next time you need a service, repair or inspection, visit AutoGuru.com.au.
We let you search and book from over 1600 qualified mechanics, who eat car troubles for breakfast.
