Nobody wishes to sit along the side of the road with a flat tire; however, it happens. And because you want to get back on the road for the lowest amount of money possible, you may be weighing your repair options. This may lead you to ask – can you patch a hole in the sidewall of a tire?
While there are many tire punctures that can be repaired, there are certain ones that should not be. In this guide, I discuss when and when not to repair a tire. I also discuss whether a patch is a better option to repair than a plug.
Can You Patch a Hole in the Sidewall of a Tire?
No. If there is a leak or hole in the sidewall, patching or plugging it should never be an option. Sidewall repair should never be performed as it could hinder the integrity of the tire and ultimately leave you predisposed to a potentially dangerous situation on the road.
A repair on the sidewall will be more likely to fail because the sidewall flexes. Your safety will be more compromised the faster you travel, or the higher the temperature, with regard to the operating temperature of the vehicle.
A sidewall patch can lead to tire blowouts and leaks. Therefore, many well-known tire shops will not provide this service.
The best option when dealing with a damaged sidewall is to simply replace the tire, even if it is only a small nail. Yes, you will pay for the replacement tire upfront—it may cost you more than you would like to spend. But, what will the price be if you get into a life-threatening accident because a tire blew out? There is no way to compare.
On the positive side, southwalls are not nearly as often damaged as tread. So, it’s likely your tire may be repairable. If you are uncertain whether a tire is repairable or not, a professional tire shop is always the right decision.
What is a Tire Patch?
A tire patch is a piece of rubber with an adhesive backing, which adheres to the tire and seals the puncture.
Tire punctures can also be repaired with tire plugs, which are strips of material that get coated in a rubber material before they are pushed inside the hole in the tire. The plug creates a seal to the inside of the tire and controls the air loss.
Patches are typically much stronger and more secure than the tire plug. However, patches do take more effort to apply than a tire plug. Many tire shops will use a hybridized tire plug and patch design where they use both in the repair to provide for a better repair.
What Causes a Hole in the Tire Sidewall?
#1. Impact.
Impact is the leading cause of damage to tire sidewalls. Every single one of us has encountered a curb by either running into it or scraping along it. Turning sharply or going off the road where the rubber on the sidewall makes contact with asphalt and not the vehicle is another potential impact and puncture for a tire.
There are other impacts that can occur beyond that, but protection tires encounter down the road can include too hard of a pothole hit, or debris flying up in to the sidewall. All of these represent a puncture hazard.
Then there is always the chances of a punctured tire in the event of a car accident, so it is wise advice to look the vehicle over if impacts the vehicle at the very minimum.
#2. Improper Inflation.
The tire must be inflated properly for the tires ability to hold the weight of the vehicle. The underinflated tire does not have the adequate air pressure to support the weight of the vehicle.
Conversely, having too high of tire pressure can be a problem too with sidewalls. Excessive pressure in regards to sidewalls is a blow out or puncture from excessive stress on the sidewall.
The proper psi for each location of a car tire is plainly on the label inside the driver side door jamb. If unsure of what proper psi that would be, any tire shop near you is willing to help, since many would do air if needed.
#3. Old Age.
Tires that sit idle are likely to experience tire dry rot. This is even more likely when the tires sit in the sunlight.
Another factor that leads to tire degradation is age in general. If the tire has aged into double digits, it’s probably a good time to consider replacing the tires. Once a tire reaches five years old, you should start regularly looking at the condition of the tires.
#4. Overweight.
Your car tires only intended to have a specific amount of weight on them. You can find this information found in the owner’s manual or in the driver’s side door jamb.
If you exceed this weight, you will cause excess pressure on your tires. The excess weight will break down the tire sidewall and tread, causing a puncture or blowout.
#5. Defects.
There is always a chance, even if it is slight, the tires that were placed on the vehicle were placed on the vehicle with manufacturing defects. This is not typically the case, but it has been known to happen.
To prevent this, you want to be careful about what tires you place on your car. It is tempting to put the cheapest tires that are available on your car, especially if you don’t have all of the funds available. But the savings are no comparison to having tire failure and a crash.
When Can a Tire be Repaired?
Punctured tires can only be patched or plugged if they meet the following conditions. Some people will try to repair them under other conditions but it isn’t always the right thing to do. Any reputable tire shop will only patch or plug a tire if it meets the following conditions:
- It is in the tread area. The puncture cannot occur in the sidewall part of the tire. In fact, the puncture must be roughly 1″ from the tire sidewall to be safely repaired.
- It is 1/4″ or less in diameter. The size of the repair cannot exceed that.
- It is a 45-degree angle or more.
- The tire also doesn’t have an overlapping repair.
- The tire was not run flat, causing damage to the sidewall.
If these conditions cannot be fulfilled there should be no repair. The only safe option would be to replace the tire. Depending upon the condition of your other tires, you may also need to replace more than one tire to match.
However, if these conditions are met, you can fix it. Follow the advice of most tire shops, which is to use a patch-plug kit for the best patching job for your tire repair.
How Long Does a Tire Repair Last?
If you plug the tire properly and care for it, a repair using a tire plug could last seven to ten years. In fact, a tire plug is built to last a minimum of 25,000 miles. Proper tire plug repair is done when the tire tread and material are sealed together properly.
Patches in the right condition can last a little longer than plugs and are generally the more dependable option. Patches could last the life of the tire if the fix is performed correctly.
If you have a patch done by a sketchy shop or you have the patch in an undesirable area, you will end up with bigger problems and it won’t last long.
Ideally, you would do it all. It is a good idea to combine the two for an excellent repair. Use a plug and patch for the most thorough repair possible.