Waiting on the side of the road with a flat tire is no fun. Once you have the spare tire on, you want to go straight to the local tire shop and see if they can patch the flat tire. How much does it cost to patch a tire? Is it better than installing a tire plug?
In this article, I will estimate the cost of a tire patch. I will look at all of your repair options for tires so you can select the best option for your situation.
What Causes Flat Tires?
Flat tires are caused by various road debris such as nails, screws, knives, broken glass, industrial debris, or a stick that has been knocked off of a tree into an inconvenient angle.
While it feels ridiculous that your car could possibly drive over one of those listed items since they are all so small, they are extremely hard to see on the road before driving over them.
There are other causes for a flat tire such as overinflation, collision, hitting a curb, a failing valve stem, hot or cold weather, potholes, and vandalism.
It may seem slightly oxymoronic that overinflating can be a cause of flat tires, but they absolutely impact the performance of your vehicle and the tires wear unevenly.
If your tires wear unevenly for a long period of time, this can create a range of tire issues and flat tires. In a worst-case scenario, it is possible for overinflation to destroy the tire from the inside.
Another common source of flat tires, can stem from potholes, which can take on the form of rough road conditions. Swerving to miss the pothole can lead to an even worse outcome, like losing control from the sharp turn and swerving off the road or colliding with another vehicle in another lane, and instead choose to drive on or over it.
Sometimes, you can damage (bend) the rim with the pothole. A bent wheel can sometimes cause you to slowly lose air in the tire. The wheel should not be bent and needs to be straightened by a shop, as well as getting your wheel alignment checked.
The causes for a flat tire can seem endless, as the most common source of flat tires is simple, small nails and screws you may run over. The solution for this flat tire is obtaining a tire patch.
How Much Does A Tire Patch Cost?
The average cost for a tire patch is $30 to $60 depending on your area and the size of the hole. There are some areas that have higher labor rates. You can also do the patch yourself if you have the tools.
To keep the cost of the tire repair down, don’t drive on a flat tire. If you do, it won’t just be a patch, it could lead to a tire replacement.
On average, it will take the mechanic 15 to 20 minutes to patch your tire, and if you are using a plug you can expect it to take a maximum of 5 minutes. So it is just easier to fix it before it’s too late.
Is it safe to drive on a patched tire?
It’s completely safe to drive on a patched tire, if the conditions are correct. In fact, this is the method of repair in most instances.
But if you drive aggressively or tend to speed often, you may wish to replace the repaired tire instead. For the minimal cost involved, it’s probably not worth risking your safety.
Tire Patch vs. Plug
How do you choose between the tire patch and the plug? In several states now, the method of repair has become a two-layer safety approach by plugging and patching. This repair method gives two-layer protection according to US Tire Manufacturers Associations (USTMA) and Tire Industry Association (TIA) law; as such, the repair is viable under most state and federal regulations.
If the tire has small puncture that is wholly round, it may be legal and viable to plug the tire instead, in your state or country. A plug is normally just a bit cheaper because the tire is not dismounted to complete the repair.
But no repair should be made if it needs to be repaired near an existing repair or if the repair itself is made near the tire’s sidewall.
How Long Will a Tire Patch Last for?
The professional patch should allow for the tire to run for whatever normal life is left. If you had many years left, you could expect the patch to last for the same amount of time.
However, in cases, as tires approach their wear limits and should be due for replacement, you may wish to replace the tire without notice of patching it. Because it doesn’t make any fiscal sense to patch, then in the matter of a few months patch, you will just be buying a new set of tires.
What to Do with a Flat Tire?
1. Act Immediately.
Once you know that you have a flat tire, you want to act quickly. Look for a safe place to pull off the road and stop the vehicle.
Driving on the flat tire can cause more damage and you certainly don’t want to cause an accident. Once you find a safe spot to park, turn on your hazard lights so that other motorists know you are stopped.
2. Put on a Spare Tire.
If you have your spare tire, it’s time to use it. Slow, careful driving on the spare tire is recommended.
If the type of car you have doesn’t have a spare or a kit to puncture a tire, you will need to call someone for roadside assistance. In that case, it’s usually going to end up as a tow for your car unless the tire can be repaired as you bring your vehicle back in.
I also have seen some car manufactures use a tire puncture kit and a pump with tire sealant as opposed to spare.
This may sound great if you tell someone the use of sealant is to seal a small puncture, but I know what kind of hatred for sealants exist based off of my experience because they create a mess inside the tire and therefore it takes longer to repair the tire, making a repair more difficult.
3. Go to Your Local Tire Shop.
Short of owning all of the equipment to demount the tire, you will need to go to your local tire shop. For the best overall safety on the road, a professional is best to put a patch on the tire.
If the puncture is small, you could also consider putting a plug in the hole as well. You can do at home with the right skills and materials.
How to Patch a Tire?
#1. Locate the Hole.
When looking for the hole in the tire, you can find the hole right away if the nail or screw has not come completely out and is still sticking out of the tire. If you cannot find the hole, you will need to perform the soapy water test.
Mix up some dish soap and water in a spray bottle. Fill the tire with air and start spraying the solution over the tire. You will know when you have covered the leak because bubbles will be coming out of one spot.
#2. Take the Tire off.
Once you remove the tire from the vehicle, you will want to remove it off the metal rim if you are going to patch it. Pull out the valve stem core with a removal tool. This will release all the air pressure from the tire.
Then, you need to break the bead between the rim and the tire with a tire spoon and hammer. You have to do both sides of the tire before the tire will come off the rim. If you plan on using a plug to repair the tire, you do not need to take the tire off the rim, but make sure you follow your state law as it pertains to tire plugs.
#3. Patch the Tire.
Create a clean surface from the inside of the hole with an air die grinder or use sandpaper, you want to get all of the sides roughed up and clean so the patch will adhere. You should use compressed air to blow out any debris inside.
After that, you want to put the vulcanizing cement on the surface of the tire that was buffed. This cement keeps the moisture from the atmosphere from getting inside the hole. Allow the cement to set up until it is generous. Remove the sticky plastic side of the tire patch and you will want the sticky side to contact the inner part of the tire.
You want to place the sticky side of the tire patch over the hole, this will make sure the sticky material sticks to the inner surface of the tire.
To ensure the patch is sealed tighter, you may use a roller. The roller can press any air bubbles which may have been trapped. Allow the patch to cure completely before you move on.
#4. Put the Tire Back On.
Without damaging the patch apply dish soap to the bead of the tire to assist with installing the tire over the rim. Using the tire spoons, you will slide the tire over the rim.
Replace the valve stem core with a new one. Put in the proper air into the tire, which is usually on the inside of the drivers door jam.
You can spray the patch with soap and water again to see if it is leaking. Lastly, you can slide the wheel back on the car and install the lug nuts. You’re done!