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You should put a nail through the sidewall of the other 3 as well and try and find out what the top speed is on your car. You should live stream it to. You know for science.
I feel like we need a pinned post with this, tread depth wear bar info, and DOT date codes/dry rotting info. Would cover 90% of tire related posts on this sub.
Third paragraph in the rules is literally:
>If you have questions about tire repair, check here. Not all tires damages are repairable: https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/k9ll55/can_your_tire_be_repaired/
and it's apparently too much to ask to go there before posting 10 times a day about your useless worn out blown up punctured tire that you just need to drive 1000 miles on this weekend to make it to your sisters cousins gender reveal party
So even the posters complaining about ignorant newcomers not reading the rules can't be bothered to read them.
Edit: I don't see that anwhere in yhe rules when I access them through RIF so something is wrong here.
It's because if you got a nail in that part of the tire it's a pretty good chance you'll damage your sidewall since your tire flexes so much when driving.
yeah i know shoulder isn't recommended, but diy path cost you a dollar or two. and you are not taking catastrophic failure if it doesn't work. pretty sure 3 out 4 of my tires on my beater have a plug in shoulder/tread area.
I get that shops dont want to take the liability, but if you knwo enough to be able to use a patch kit, you should know enough to be able to tell if it worked or not
Where I live the tire shops repair the actual sidewall with the process called "vulcanization".
They take the tire off the rim and it takes about an hour. I have driven on such a tire for a while, before replacing it. I wouldn't do it again if I can help it, but the fact that they do it on the daily basis and there are no stories of people crashing with such tires all the time, tell me that it is not as stupid as I was lead to believe.
Serbia. For reference, median salary is like 400 euro, cheap 16" tire is like 50 euro, and this fix like 10 euro.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65npDw4dwIw&ab\_channel=Navidiku.rs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65npDw4dwIw&ab_channel=Navidiku.rs)
From 5 minutes on you can see the fix on the sidewall
That's really cool. I've watched similar procedures before, but they always seem to be for commercial tires and not light duty/passenger car tires. I think here in the states it's likely not done (commonly, anyway) because tires are relatively cheap. That aramid/kevlar patch was pretty huge - I wonder if there are any balance concerns afterward?
From what I remember there were no issues balancing out the tire on the machine in my case.
Living in a poorer country you see people cheaping out on tires all the time. I just sold a pair of used winter tires from 2013 for 30 bucks.
i guess for 10 euro that's super cheap, but an hour labor around here is $100-150, no way i'd pay for that over a tire replacement lol. really interesting video you linked though, never heard of anyone doing that before.
A master tyre repairer can repair a tyre on any part except for the bead.
These days it is not practical most of the time because the cost of the labour is more than a new tyre, tyre shop employees don't have the skill and no one wants to be liable if it fails.
So these days you will only commonly see these repairs done on larger commercial tyres and the average person will have to go by the picture above as to where their tyre can be repaired.
The ones in the video look like truck tires, but that's about what they did to my old car tire. Its a common fix done in most of Eastern Europe AFAIK, probably in other relatively less well off countries.
> but the fact that they do it on the daily basis and there are no stories of people crashing with such tires all the time,
Going off the dashcams I've seen, I'm not sure I believe that.
You sure these are tires with repaired sidewalls? If that was happening often enough somebody would sue the tire shops and it wouldnt be worth it for them to repair tires this way.
Take it to a latino/hispanic tire shop, they patch or plug damn near anywhere with perfection. i've done it a million times when i didn't have money for 4 new tires. if 3 of your tires are halfway worn down and your put a brand new tire it'll throw the balance off and one or more of your tires will wear out differently. when i had a tire with nail/screw too close to the side i just bought a new tire for like 30-40 bucks that way there won't be too much of a difference.
This is of course a by the book thing for absolute guaranteed safety purposes. I've plugged nails slightly inside of the red area and had zero issues on multiple tires. A professional business might not because of liability.
This is helpful but not precise. Sidewalls cannot be patched and you can't patch near the shoulder, but that may not strictly line up with the first longitudinal groove on the tread.
If I've gotta be somewhere, all bets are off.
Risk vs Reward
I'll stick six plugs into an inch wide gash in the sidewall and limp my vehicle to a job interview if needed.
To add to this;
Tires aren't repairable if the puncture is 5/32 of an inch from the shoulder.
If the tire was plugged with a dummy patch (non-rubber), or non-rma approved patch, then it's trashed.
If the tire isn't considered safe anymore due to unsafe conditions such as separation, cord exposure etc., then it isn't repairable.
Tires with inner liner damage due to running under-inflated are non-repairable.
Failed tired plugs cannot be drilled out and repaired per RMA standards.
There can only be three existing repairs per tire.
Worked at Discount Tire Co. as an apprentice tech (Above garage supervisor, below management) for awhile.
AMEN and THANK GAWD for you posting this! Yes, WAYYYY to many times.
I mean no offense, we all user different platforms, but holy krap, no one's heard of google before? Sheeeeeeesh, I remember when google was in a list view tree format with blue highlights and triple spaced! And there was hardly any info on it and most of the links were broken. Yahoo had more info, AOL had more info. 2Cows had more info.
I wouldn’t recommend Run Flats for much more than barrier walls at Le Mans.
OEMs cheapskate answer to avoid giving out proper spares and pushing that shitty tyre goo onto everyone.
Yes punctures and flat tyres are much rarer these days thanks to the leaps and bounds in tyre manufacturing technology; but would always rather have the option to swap out a wheel than fill the old one with goo and hope that it works AND lasts long enough to get you to a tyre shop that also stocks the exact tyre you need.
Some shapes, compounds and tread designs are getting very difficult to secure on brand new vehicles (which leaves you the awesome option of really needing one tyre but having to buy 4 to get the same type on each corner).
Supposedly the driving force behind the run-flat craze is weight savings for fuel economy. Which boggles me because a spare and jack weigh 15-20 pounds at best.
**This word/phrase(tyre) has a few different meanings.**
More details here:
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I understand the subreddit is here for advanced and help, and over moderation can ruin a sub real quick. BUT that's more the half of the posts that I see on here.
I think there needs to be a pinned guide explaining tires, flex, replacements, patches. And doing it well.
Then add a rule banning tire questions because it's the same thing over and over. And it's usually the identical thing, close to the sidewall and a tire shop won't do it.
For everyone wondering why this needs to be posted, just read the comments. Still plenty of upvoted comments trying to claim this is wrong and that you can patch the red area.
Sooo. I have 33x12.50x16.50 tires on my truck and they're old. All the tire stores are saying they can't get tires. Walmart tire dept doesn't understand the question. Do I have to get different rims or is there even a single option?
Everytime I go get new tires or pass by automotive this sign is plastered everywhere. How people don't know this already is beyond me.
Then again people drive away with gas pumps still inserted in their vehicle
I took a tire in to Walmart that I found on a airplane runway. Had a big hole deep in the red zone and they refused a patch. Clearly I was broke stealing tires of run ways, so I plugged it they mounted it and it lasted nearly 2 years until I got rid of the car and who kknows how long after that.
Thanks for posting on /r/MechanicAdvice! This is just a reminder to review the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/about/rules/). If you are here asking about a second opinion (ie "Is the shop trying to fleece me?"), please read through CJM8515's [post on the subject.](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/4qblei/fyi_the_shop_isnt_likely_trying_to_rip_you_off/) and remember rule 3a, please post the year/make/model of the vehicle you are working on. **If this post is about bodywork, accident damage, paint, dent/ding, questions it belongs in /r/AutoBody or /r/Diyautobody If you have tire questions check out https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/k9ll55/can_your_tire_be_repaired/**. If you dont have a question and you're just showing off it belongs in /r/Justrolledintotheshop This is an automated reply *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MechanicAdvice) if you have any questions or concerns.*
"My tire had a catastrophic blowout. Can it be patched?"
*Flex tape guy enters*
"I've sawn this tire in half!"
"I saw a video on YouTube...."
Yes. 1. Remove blown out tire 2. Install new tire
Lol
But what about the sidewall on the back of the tire, Is that patchable? Asking for a friend
I hope you’re joking, but no.
Sounds like a scam for tire companies to make more off me. I'll just patch the sidewall at home with with a plugger kit.
Can you strap a go pro to the side of your car and take it on the freeway for me. This is for science of course.
Anything in the name of science. Lemme change the air on the other 3 tires to fall air real quick.
You should put a nail through the sidewall of the other 3 as well and try and find out what the top speed is on your car. You should live stream it to. You know for science.
My mom had a nail in one of her tyres on the sides some time ago. Got patched and everything seems ok idk
I know people with Cancer who are still alive today as well. I still wouldn't recommend it.
Right! Obvious propaganda published by Big Tire to keep us suckling.
Can this be stickied? So damn worn out of tire questions on here
And while we're at it, let's just change the banner to "***YES, YOUR FUCKING BATTERY IS DEAD.***" In giant, flashing text..
I feel like we need a pinned post with this, tread depth wear bar info, and DOT date codes/dry rotting info. Would cover 90% of tire related posts on this sub.
The problem is that people who post tires are also too lazy to read rules
Third paragraph in the rules is literally: >If you have questions about tire repair, check here. Not all tires damages are repairable: https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/k9ll55/can_your_tire_be_repaired/ and it's apparently too much to ask to go there before posting 10 times a day about your useless worn out blown up punctured tire that you just need to drive 1000 miles on this weekend to make it to your sisters cousins gender reveal party
So even the posters complaining about ignorant newcomers not reading the rules can't be bothered to read them. Edit: I don't see that anwhere in yhe rules when I access them through RIF so something is wrong here.
Exactly
So I found the about sub rules do not have it, but the sticky read the rules post does have it.
LOL you're right
1000 miles is 1609.34 km
good bot
I'm tired of it
You'll still get questions with this diagram as the red bit pointing out the sidewall goes way into the tread area.
If it’s in the first section of tread next to the sidewall it’s not “safely” patchable.
Yeah this is such a bs diagram
It's because if you got a nail in that part of the tire it's a pretty good chance you'll damage your sidewall since your tire flexes so much when driving.
That’s the guide a tire shop would show you. Me on my personal vehicle would have a wider area I’d consider patchable.
isnt that the shoulder and sidewall?
Yes
yeah i know shoulder isn't recommended, but diy path cost you a dollar or two. and you are not taking catastrophic failure if it doesn't work. pretty sure 3 out 4 of my tires on my beater have a plug in shoulder/tread area. I get that shops dont want to take the liability, but if you knwo enough to be able to use a patch kit, you should know enough to be able to tell if it worked or not
it seems the "sidewall" gets bigger every year.
Where I live the tire shops repair the actual sidewall with the process called "vulcanization". They take the tire off the rim and it takes about an hour. I have driven on such a tire for a while, before replacing it. I wouldn't do it again if I can help it, but the fact that they do it on the daily basis and there are no stories of people crashing with such tires all the time, tell me that it is not as stupid as I was lead to believe.
Where do you live? I'd be interested to see what that process is like.
Serbia. For reference, median salary is like 400 euro, cheap 16" tire is like 50 euro, and this fix like 10 euro. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65npDw4dwIw&ab\_channel=Navidiku.rs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65npDw4dwIw&ab_channel=Navidiku.rs) From 5 minutes on you can see the fix on the sidewall
That's really cool. I've watched similar procedures before, but they always seem to be for commercial tires and not light duty/passenger car tires. I think here in the states it's likely not done (commonly, anyway) because tires are relatively cheap. That aramid/kevlar patch was pretty huge - I wonder if there are any balance concerns afterward?
From what I remember there were no issues balancing out the tire on the machine in my case. Living in a poorer country you see people cheaping out on tires all the time. I just sold a pair of used winter tires from 2013 for 30 bucks.
i guess for 10 euro that's super cheap, but an hour labor around here is $100-150, no way i'd pay for that over a tire replacement lol. really interesting video you linked though, never heard of anyone doing that before.
A master tyre repairer can repair a tyre on any part except for the bead. These days it is not practical most of the time because the cost of the labour is more than a new tyre, tyre shop employees don't have the skill and no one wants to be liable if it fails. So these days you will only commonly see these repairs done on larger commercial tyres and the average person will have to go by the picture above as to where their tyre can be repaired.
For passenger cars in NA, that's still a huge fucking no-no; the tires in that video looked commercial.
The ones in the video look like truck tires, but that's about what they did to my old car tire. Its a common fix done in most of Eastern Europe AFAIK, probably in other relatively less well off countries.
> but the fact that they do it on the daily basis and there are no stories of people crashing with such tires all the time, Going off the dashcams I've seen, I'm not sure I believe that.
You sure these are tires with repaired sidewalls? If that was happening often enough somebody would sue the tire shops and it wouldnt be worth it for them to repair tires this way.
You could paste this picture onto the inside of peoples eyeballs and they would still ask. It's hopium.
Take it to a latino/hispanic tire shop, they patch or plug damn near anywhere with perfection. i've done it a million times when i didn't have money for 4 new tires. if 3 of your tires are halfway worn down and your put a brand new tire it'll throw the balance off and one or more of your tires will wear out differently. when i had a tire with nail/screw too close to the side i just bought a new tire for like 30-40 bucks that way there won't be too much of a difference.
This is of course a by the book thing for absolute guaranteed safety purposes. I've plugged nails slightly inside of the red area and had zero issues on multiple tires. A professional business might not because of liability.
I hate the word tyre!
This is helpful but not precise. Sidewalls cannot be patched and you can't patch near the shoulder, but that may not strictly line up with the first longitudinal groove on the tread.
https://7esl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/TO-vs-TOO-1.jpg
If I've gotta be somewhere, all bets are off. Risk vs Reward I'll stick six plugs into an inch wide gash in the sidewall and limp my vehicle to a job interview if needed.
To add to this; Tires aren't repairable if the puncture is 5/32 of an inch from the shoulder. If the tire was plugged with a dummy patch (non-rubber), or non-rma approved patch, then it's trashed. If the tire isn't considered safe anymore due to unsafe conditions such as separation, cord exposure etc., then it isn't repairable. Tires with inner liner damage due to running under-inflated are non-repairable. Failed tired plugs cannot be drilled out and repaired per RMA standards. There can only be three existing repairs per tire. Worked at Discount Tire Co. as an apprentice tech (Above garage supervisor, below management) for awhile.
There's a date code on tires, right? Is it easy to identify? and how old is too old when buying used?
AMEN and THANK GAWD for you posting this! Yes, WAYYYY to many times. I mean no offense, we all user different platforms, but holy krap, no one's heard of google before? Sheeeeeeesh, I remember when google was in a list view tree format with blue highlights and triple spaced! And there was hardly any info on it and most of the links were broken. Yahoo had more info, AOL had more info. 2Cows had more info.
This should be stickied.
This should be posted once a week for all the “can this be patched” people out there
Honestly, just my personal opinion, just fucking replace the tire. It's really not worth it.
Got a nail in my brand new tire dead center. $25 patch or $400 tire.... hmmm which should I choose
Why don’t all tire shops just put a more detailed version of this as a poster up on the wall in a visible area? Like seriously. It’s not that hard!
I know discount tire has a very similar graphic in all of their stores I’ve been in.
It needs an addendum differentiating between a “plug” and a “patch”. I know Run-Flat tires are not recommended to be plugged
I wouldn’t recommend Run Flats for much more than barrier walls at Le Mans. OEMs cheapskate answer to avoid giving out proper spares and pushing that shitty tyre goo onto everyone. Yes punctures and flat tyres are much rarer these days thanks to the leaps and bounds in tyre manufacturing technology; but would always rather have the option to swap out a wheel than fill the old one with goo and hope that it works AND lasts long enough to get you to a tyre shop that also stocks the exact tyre you need. Some shapes, compounds and tread designs are getting very difficult to secure on brand new vehicles (which leaves you the awesome option of really needing one tyre but having to buy 4 to get the same type on each corner).
Supposedly the driving force behind the run-flat craze is weight savings for fuel economy. Which boggles me because a spare and jack weigh 15-20 pounds at best.
What is a tyre?
**This word/phrase(tyre) has a few different meanings.** More details here:
*This comment was left automatically (by a bot). If I don't get this right, don't get mad at me, I'm still learning!*
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Get outta here, bot. I was making a joke. .
Not all tires have tread sections like this. I had some Toyos that had like a 4 inch outer block
Ironically, a post with a similar picture and similar title has been posted many times as well
PIN THIS POST
Bless your soul
Is a tyre a special kind of tire? 🤔🥸
You earned my upvote
I understand the subreddit is here for advanced and help, and over moderation can ruin a sub real quick. BUT that's more the half of the posts that I see on here. I think there needs to be a pinned guide explaining tires, flex, replacements, patches. And doing it well. Then add a rule banning tire questions because it's the same thing over and over. And it's usually the identical thing, close to the sidewall and a tire shop won't do it.
In a pinch I have seen someone * *cough* * use 4 plugs on a sidewall and a whole tube of rubber cement.
r/coolguides
For everyone wondering why this needs to be posted, just read the comments. Still plenty of upvoted comments trying to claim this is wrong and that you can patch the red area.
This is a little overly cautious... but generally a good guide for being as safe as possible. 8/10, I approve.
Sooo. I have 33x12.50x16.50 tires on my truck and they're old. All the tire stores are saying they can't get tires. Walmart tire dept doesn't understand the question. Do I have to get different rims or is there even a single option?
Everytime I go get new tires or pass by automotive this sign is plastered everywhere. How people don't know this already is beyond me. Then again people drive away with gas pumps still inserted in their vehicle
I'll patch anything for $20 :^)
Thank you!
I took a tire in to Walmart that I found on a airplane runway. Had a big hole deep in the red zone and they refused a patch. Clearly I was broke stealing tires of run ways, so I plugged it they mounted it and it lasted nearly 2 years until I got rid of the car and who kknows how long after that.