Tyre Punctures - can it be repaired?

It happens to the best of us - you’re out driving when suddenly you realise, you have a punctured tyre. Can it be repaired?

If you’ve ever experienced a flat tyre, you probably know what kind of thoughts are running through your mind. ‘How long will it take to get back on the road?’. ‘Can my punctured tyre be repaired?’. We’re here to help explain things for you. It’s always good to know when a tyre is or isn’t repairable. Where on the tyre the puncture occurs will be the determining factor.

A punctured tyre can usually be repaired if…

The puncture occurs between the tyre’s shoulders (the central portion of the tread area) and is less than 6mm in diameter.

A punctured tyre may not be repairable if...

The puncture occurs in the tyre’s sidewall because the sidewall is crucial to the structure and performance of the tyre. Damage that happens to the sidewall of your tyre means you will need to put on your spare and buy a brand new tyre.

A deep puncture can be an indicator that the tyre is damaged on the inside, affecting its function and the general safety of your vehicle. In this kind of instance, the puncture wouldn’t be repairable.

If your vehicle is fitted with a set of Run Flat tyres these may or may not be able to be repaired depending on how long they were driven on whilst flat.

What causes a tyre puncture?

Small objects, such as a nail or screw are often the cause of a punctured tyre. If this is the case, the hole is usually tiny, causing a slow puncture. Whilst small punctures don’t typically mean severe damage, it still needs fixing straight away. A slow puncture can cause a tyre blowout, which you want to avoid at all costs.

What’s involved in a puncture repair?

All tyre repairs should be completed by a qualified technician. At Marks & Wallings, we can assess the damaged tyre to work out exactly where the puncture is, and whether or not there’s any internal damage. This is done by removing the tyre from the rim, allowing for a thorough inspection of the damage.

In instances where a repair is possible, the tyre must be patched from the inside and the hole filled. The patch works to reseal the inner liner to restore air containment and the plug (inserted through the puncture hole) prevents moisture and other foreign objects from entering the tyre.

If you’re ever unlucky enough to experience a puncture, Marks & Wallings are here to assist. Give us a call on (02) 9807 1000 to arrange an inspection of your punctured tyre. Where possible, we will repair your punctured tyre and in instances where this isn’t possible, we can supply and fit a new tyre to get you safely back on the road in next to no time.