How Can You Tell If A Tire Is Unpatchable?

Flat tires can be a big problem, but many drivers want to know if they need to replace the tire or if they can fix the puncture. Tire repair is a complicated subject, and only a few kinds of punctures can be repaired safely. 

Buying new tires may cost more, but depending on where and how big the puncture is, it may be much safer than using patches or plugs. With this guide, you will know, How can you tell if a tire is Unpatchable? And then, you can figure out if your tire needs a patch or a new one.

Table of Contents

• When Can A Tire Not Be Patched?
• Why Can’t You Patch A Tire Shoulder?
  • Nail In The Shoulder Of The Tire
• Why Can’t A Tire Sidewall Be Patched?
• Tire Patch vs Plug: Which Is Better?
• Some related FAQs.

When Can A Tire Not Be Patched?

You can fix a tire by putting a patch on it when a tire is flat. The above damage is caused by being pierced by a sharp object or by the wall not being able to stand up to friction from both the body and the road surface, which wears away the thing.

In these situations, instead of buying a new one, many people choose a cheap repair that still works well. So, How can you tell if a tire is Unpatchable? Here are some occasions. 

• The hole in the tire is too big.
• Punctures are in the shoulder area.
• When It got stuck by a meteor.
• Run-flat tires.
• Other issues include too many tears, and the wear cannot be concealed.

What Tires Are Unpatchable?

Poor tire repairs might have deadly consequences. Ask your service technician if the repair method follows industry best practices. 

The tire should continue to provide thousands of miles of safe and dependable performance when a puncture is within the industry-established limitations and is appropriately fixed. Here are some common examples of what tires are unmatchable.

• Puncture repairs of tires are limited to the middle of the tread area. The tire cannot be repaired if the shoulder or sidewall has holes or other damage.
• A tire must be scrapped if the injuries are near enough that the repairs would overlap or if they are straight across from one another.
• Never fix tires with a 14-inch or bigger tread puncture (6mm).
• Tires that have lost all their tread depth or worn down to the tread wear indicators on the tire shouldn’t be fixed.
• Not every tire can be fixed. Specific repair caps should be determined by the tire manufacturer’s guidelines or repair policy and the type of tire servicing.

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Why Can’t You Patch A Tire Shoulder?

Most tire repairs are only made in the middle of the tread. When you get a hole in the shoulder or sidewall, the tire can no longer be fixed.

When you drive the car, the shoulder and sidewall are made to bend a lot. This means that their construction is not as strong compared to the tread face. So, if these parts get damaged, you must throw away the tire and get a new one.

It’s worse when you end up getting an irregular patch too. Air is likely to keep leaking, or even worse, and the exact tire could blow out or get a bulge. This could put the person driving the car in danger.

Nail In The Shoulder Of The Tire

If the hole is on the shoulder or sidewall, you shouldn’t plug it in. Just think about having a professional fix it. Another thing to think about is the angle of the hole. If the nail goes through the tire at an angle, it will be hard to fix it right. So, buying a new one or getting support from a technician is good.

Why Can’t A Tire Sidewall Be Patched?

Tires for cars and small trucks can’t be fixed if they get a hole in the sidewall. How can you tell if a tire is Unpatchable when having damage to the sidewall? Let’s see:

Tires have wires that run across the tire’s tread, the part that helps make contact with the road. But these cords aren’t on the sidewall. So, there’s no way a plug could fit into that hole. The patch won’t work, and the hole will keep getting bigger.

When you fix a sidewall puncture, your tire loses its integrity. Even if you put a patch over a hole in the sidewall, your tire can no longer perform at its best, which means it isn’t safe.

Even at slow speeds, your tire could now blow out, putting everyone in your car and the cars around you at risk of getting seriously hurt. So, If your tire has a hole in the sidewall, the best thing to do is to get a new one.

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Tire Patch vs Plug: Which Is Better?

When you get a flat tire, you have two options for repair: tire patch or tire plug. So, which is the better choice? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each option. 

Tire patches are strong and durable, making them ideal for repairing larger holes or tears in your tire. They are also permanent, so you won’t have to worry about the repair coming undone. However, tire patches can be more difficult to install than tire plugs, and they usually require the help of a professional. 

Tire plugs, on the other hand, are much easier to install yourself. They are also less expensive than tire patches. However, tire plugs are not as durable as tire patches and may need to be replaced more frequently. 

So, which is better?

Patches are better than plugs for larger holes, holes close to the sidewall but not all the way through, and holes that aren’t perfectly straight. Note that if you want to fix a tire’s sidewall, a patch won’t work, and you’ll probably need to buy a new one. If the hole is close to the sidewall, don’t patch it.

How can you tell if a tire is Unpatchable? There are a few occasions that it is unable to patch a tire. The hole in the tire is too big. Damage in the shoulder area, When It got stuck by a meteor and Run-flat tires are the main reasons for unmatchable tires. Other issues include too many tears, and the wear cannot be concealed.

Some related FAQs.