A repair that actually holds
A puncture is only properly fixed when two things happen: the hole is sealed from the inside, and the channel the nail made through the tire is filled. A string plug pushed in from the outside, the kind sold in roadside kits, fills the channel but doesn't seal the inner liner. It can get you home, but it's a temporary fix. Moisture can work its way into the steel belts, and the plug can loosen over time.
The industry-standard repair is a plug-patch. The tire comes off the wheel so the inside can be inspected, the liner is prepped, and a combined plug and patch is installed that fills the puncture and seals the liner in one piece. Then the tire is remounted, balanced and checked for leaks.
Can my tire be repaired?
Not every flat can be fixed safely. These are the rules a repair has to meet:
- Tread area only. The puncture must be in the center tread. The shoulder and sidewall flex too much for a patch to hold, so damage there means a replacement.
- Small punctures. Roughly 1/4 inch (about 6 mm) is the upper limit. Larger holes, cuts and gashes can't be repaired.
- No overlapping repairs. A new puncture too close to an old repair, or an old repair in the wrong spot, rules the tire out.
- Not driven flat. Driving on a tire with little or no air can shred the inside, often leaving rubber dust or a crease on the liner. That's why we look inside before making the call.
- Enough tread left. A tire close to Virginia's 2/32 inch minimum isn't worth repairing.
If it can't be repaired, we'll show you why and price a replacement, either new or a quality-inspected used tire matched to the tread on your others. If money's tight, ask about financing.
Run-flat tires are a special case
Run-flats, common on BMW, MINI and some Mercedes-Benz models, have reinforced sidewalls that let you keep driving after a puncture. That's useful on the highway, but it also means you can't always tell how far or how fast the tire was driven with no air. Some tire makers don't allow run-flat repairs at all, and others allow one only if the tire wasn't run at low pressure. We'll go by the tire maker's guidance and what we see inside, and if a run-flat isn't safely repairable, we'll tell you.
Slow leaks: finding the real cause
Losing a few psi every week isn't always a nail. When a tire keeps going soft, we check the usual suspects:
- Small punctures from screws, nails or glass that are hard to spot until the tire is submerged or sprayed.
- Bead leaks where the tire seals against the wheel. Corrosion on alloy wheels is a common cause.
- Valve stems, which crack and harden with age. We fit a new one where needed.
- Wheel damage. A bent or cracked wheel from a pothole can leak at the rim. We'll show you what we find so you can decide on the next step.
Keep in mind that tire pressure also drops in cold weather, roughly 1 psi for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit. A tire that's low on the first cold morning of the season may just need air. One that keeps dropping has a leak.
Just had a flat? Here's what to do
- Pull over somewhere safe and put your hazards on. Driving on a flat can destroy a tire that was repairable and damage the wheel.
- Fit the spare, or use the inflator kit if your car has one instead. If you used tire sealant, tell us. It has to be cleaned out before a repair, and it can gum up the tire pressure sensor.
- Compact "donut" spares are for short distances at reduced speed, often 50 mph. The exact limit is printed on the spare. Spares lose air sitting in the trunk, so check yours now and then.
- On run-flats, stay within the speed and distance limits in your owner's manual and come straight in.
- Call or text (804) 297-6350 with your tire size or a sidewall photo, and we can check for a replacement before you get here in case the tire can't be saved.
Bought a replacement tire online? We mount and balance customer-supplied tires too.
Open seven days in South Richmond
Flats don't keep business hours, so we're open Monday to Saturday 9am to 7pm and Sunday 10am to 5pm. We're at 812 Richmond Hwy in South Richmond, minutes from I-95 and downtown. Walk-ins are welcome and same-day service is often available, or you can book online if you'd rather plan ahead.
Ready when you are. Call or text (804) 297-6350, or book online and we'll come back with a quote and a time.