They also are reinforced with steel belts that help the tread surface remain flat and stay in better contact with the pavement. Tire punctures can be patched in the center part of the tread because this area flexes very little compared to the sidewalls.

Sidewall Punctures Are Not Safe To Be Patched The stress and strain are too much for adhesives to hold up for an indefinite amount of time. Not only that, but the forces a tire is subjected to during cornering are even greater.ĭue to their required flexibility, a tire patch will eventually fail in this location. Tire sidewalls stretch and flex with every revolution of your wheel. Illustration Of Patchable Area Sidewall Punctures Tires are often repairable, but safety is the primary concern when determining if a tire can be repaired. Other situations that can not be patched are damage from driving on a flat tire, very worn tires, damaged tires with tread separation, broken belts, or dry rot.įinally, a run-flat tire should not be patched if driven on when uninflated or significantly underinflated.

Also, larger punctures or multiple punctures that are too close together may not be able to be patched. When Can A Tire Not Be Patched? A tire can not be patched if the puncture is in the sidewall or shoulder area of the tire. Your local tire professional will always make the safest choice to ensure that not only are you safe, but they won’t get sued if the unthinkable were to happen. Liability is the main reason your local tire shop will not repair borderline patchable flat tires.

Can you patch run flat tires