A nail in your tyre does not always mean buying a new one. Whether it can be fixed depends on where the damage is and how the tyre was driven on.
Most punctures are caused by a nail, screw or sharp stone picked up on the road. Many of them can be repaired safely and cheaply. Some cannot, and driving on a badly repaired tyre is a real risk. Here is how tyre fitters decide.
The repairable zone
Tyre fitters in Ireland and the UK follow the industry standard BS AU 159. In simple terms, a car tyre can usually be repaired when:
- The hole is in the central three quarters of the tread, not near the edges.
- The damage is no bigger than about 6mm across, which covers most nails and screws.
- The tyre has not been driven on while flat, which damages the inside wall.
- There is still legal tread depth left and no other damage, bulges or old repairs too close by.
When a tyre must be replaced
- The puncture is in the shoulder or sidewall. The sidewall flexes constantly, so a repair there will not hold.
- There is a cut, tear or bulge rather than a clean hole.
- The tyre was driven on flat for any distance and the inner liner is damaged.
- The tread is already close to the 1.6mm legal limit, so a repair is not worth it.
In those cases we fit a new or part-worn tyre on the spot instead.
What a proper repair involves
A safe repair is not a quick plug pushed in from outside. The tyre comes off the wheel, the inside is checked for hidden damage, and the hole is sealed with a combined plug and patch from the inside. The wheel is then refitted, balanced and set to the right pressure.
What about tyre sealant kits?
Many new cars come with a sealant kit instead of a spare. It can get you a few miles to safety, but it is a temporary fix. Tell your fitter you used sealant, as it has to be cleaned out before a proper repair is possible.
Mobile puncture repair
You do not need to drive to a garage on a flat. With mobile puncture repair we come to your home, work or roadside, inspect the tyre and either repair it or replace it there and then. We cover Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow, 24/7.
Call 085 196 9572 or send a photo of the damage on WhatsApp and we will tell you straight away whether it looks repairable.