Why does it always seem like you only get a flat tire when you’re in a hurry? Sometimes it happens when you walk out to your vehicle to head off to work and and you notice your tire went flat overnight or your rushing to your children’s school to pick them up and notice you’re vehicle is pulling to one side and is a bit sluggish as a result of a low air pressure or even worse, your driving down the 10 freeway and get a blow out. At Perez Auto Repair of Phoenix we know how inconvenient a flat tire can be. Tires can go flat for a lot of reasons, including a leaky valve stem, punctures, a damaged wheel or just old worn tires. If you experience a flat or your tire is low on air, bring your vehicle to a safe stop as soon as possible without jeopardizing your safety or the people around you. If you’re stuck on the side of the road, turn on your hazard lights and raise your hood if it’s a safe place to exit your vehicle. Once you are safely situated, you can then change to your spare tire, try a tire sealer/inflator or call for a tow truck. If your tire is flat don’t try driving for even the shortest of distances on a deflated tire because it can damage your tire beyond repair and destroy your rim.
Unfortunately not all tires can be patched or repaired, even if they just have a simple puncture. Here are a few examples of why some tires can’t be repaired.
The Puncture Isn’t in An Area They Can Patch
In order to repair a punctured tire, the puncture can’t be more than 20% away from the treads on the sidewall. If your puncture is to close the sidewall and is repaired, this can compromise the structure and is unsafe to travel on. Auto repair shops need to keep you safe, and they all follow industry standards and will not repair a puncture too close to either sidewall. Even if it’s a close call they won’t patch it to protect your safety and themselves from any liability.
The Tire May Have Other Issues
Even if you just have a simple puncture there are several reasons your mechanic can’t just patch the tire. If your tire is too old or worn beyond the tread wear indicators or if your tire has uneven wear and any of the metal parts inside are visible or your tire has a bubble, a tear, or a chunk of road debris stuck into your tire, it is unrepairable Unfortunately, if your tire wasn’t safe before the puncture, the tire shop won’t and can’t safely try to repair it.
If You Drive To Far With A Flat
Today’s tires have a very complex inner structure for the sidewall that isn’t designed to support a vehicle’s weight when not inflated. Sometimes you can get away with driving for a very short distance with a flat tire – meaning a few feet, not a couple blocks blocks. Driving just a few minutes on the flat will not only destroy the sidewall structure in your tire, but you may also need to get a new wheel to go with that new tire.
Run Flat Tires
Most auto repair shops don’t and shouldn’t repair a run flat tire that has been punctured. Although, run flats are designed to get you to a repair shop or safely home within a certain distance with a common puncture, they’re not designed to be repaired or continue in service after having been driven when deflated. As a regular practice we don’t normally recommend run flat tires.
If you think you need new tires or may have a slow leak or are not sure and would like to have your tires checked, contact Perez Auto Repair online via phone 602-269-3576 or stop into our facility located at 429 S. 35th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85009. Always keep your vehicle in good condition and ensure the safety of yourself, your loved ones, and those around you!