Tire puncture

[JustinVGT]

I found a screw in my tire last night. Luckily my tire is still holding it's pressure, but I'm being careful with it. I went to three shops today to get it fixed. The first didn't have equipment to work on 18"+ wheels, so I had to go elsewhere. Next place was too busy today. The third was going to repair it, but when they looked at it, they said I'd have to replace the tire. The screw is right on the edge of the tread, maybe 1/4" from the sidewall. They said the tire must be replaced. I had no problem with that, I'm sure they are right but can someone else confirm this? I might try to post a picture tonight. They then looked up replacement tires for me and their cheapest was $190. I told them that's more than I wanted to spend and that my current tires cost $100 from Tirerack.com. He had some attitude and made some snickering comments to the mechanic when they lowered my Vibe and gave me my key. I'm not heading back to them to have my new tires installed. I know the Kumhos are inexpensive, but they are not crappy tires. I did a lot of research before I bought them over 20k miles ago and they have excellent reviews; better than tires that cost twice as much. They have also performed very well for me. I checked tirerack.com and they are selling them for $95 each. I'll probably order them and have some local shop install them, just not this Merchants in Reston, VA that I went to.Can someone confirm that having a puncture within 1/4" of the sidewall requires replacement? I remember asking about those tire plans back when I ordered these. I ended up not, but now I think I should have. Later,

[Mase]

The areas near the sidewall produce the most flex/friction and heat. Having a puncture in that area can seriously degrade the integrity of the tire. It's kinda hit and miss as far as tire failure goes. Some may be able to ride it out for the life of the tire but then in some cases, the tire may give out while doing 70mph on the freeway.I would personally get it replaced. Next time, consider purchasing a road hazard coverage plan.

[Mavrik]

also the patch won't stay secure if its bent across the inside of the tire and then up the sidewall... the movement of the tire will cause it to eventually break free.

[GMJAP]

Quote, originally posted by Mase »I would personally get it replaced. Next time, consider purchasing a road hazard coverage plan.FGVI - (For GenViber's Information) Discount Tire will sell replacement certificates (road hazard coverage) on the OEM tires that came with your car.

[JustinVGT]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »also the patch won't stay secure if its bent across the inside of the tire and then up the sidewall... the movement of the tire will cause it to eventually break free.That's exactly what I had a feeling would be the problem. I called up another tire place and got their opinion as well. I just ordered two replacement Ecsta ASX tires from Tirerack.com for $95 each and should be delivered tomorrow. I'll be taking them to this other shop I spoke to for installation. They order from Tirerack, but their price is $145 for each ASX tire. He told me to just order it online and bring them in for installation. I tried to get the hazard plan on the two, but they require you buy four tires in order to purchase the plan. So, hopefully my luck will be better next time. This is my first puncture ever and I've been driving for 7+ years so far.

[Mavrik]

Seems like your getting a new set of wheels. Cool I've only put one nail into a tire (also not repairable because so close to side wall) on my 96 Sunfire GT... been driving for 9 years now. I'm sure it will catch up to me lol.

[BOZACK]

I have seen punctures such as you described patched and plugged. Of course the shop did not guarentee it will hold. But in all cases, but one, they held. I don't know how it will hold with the lower profile tires but wouldn't the stiffer side walls not flex as much as higher profile tires?

[binary]

There is no law about patching tires - but the shop has to make a judgement call about safety. At 1/4" you can patch/plug it - but most shops will not, for fear of lawsuts and such if it lets go. It's not a great place to put it, and frankly - it would be a wise choice to just get a new tire. But I'd done patches that close and they've outlasted the tire - so YMMV Kumhos? You got good treads man - don't let the grease monkeys get you down. I had a shop make fun of me for ordering from tirerack back in the day... so I went to the alignment shop across the street - told them about TR, they are now a TR dealer and the other shop is out of business.

[JustinVGT]

Those grease monkeys at that Merchants shop don't know how to treat a customer. I was planning to just buy my tires and bring them in to them to be installed, that was until they made the snickering comments and got an attitude. Also, the mechanic either didn't know how to drive a stick shift well at all or he was just fooling around and reving my engine like crazy through out the parking lot to the garage. I was in the waiting room and heard my engine, so I got up and sure enough, the jack a$$ was screwing with my car. There probably aren't that many people on here that know of this shop, Merchant's in Reston, VA, but I just want to warn people about taking your car there. Terrible customer skills and screwing with customer's cars, not a good thing, plus I'm sure they were in violation of codes for disposing/containing chemicals. There was green fluid puddled and streaming all in the parking lot and there was A LOT of it, not a small spill.I just called Sears and they are installing my tires tomorrow. I checked the status of my tires from tirerack and they have already arrived at my regional UPS hub and are being delivered right now. Sears is a tirerack dealer. Back when I sold cars, our dealer would get tires and wheels through Sears from tirerack at a discount. That was before I bought my current set of wheels/tires. I was surprised that they sell the ASX tires for $145 each, but he told me to just order them directly through tirerack.com for $95 and bring them in. So, everything should be fixed tomorrow. I don't like driving around with a screw in my tire. It is holding it's pressure just fine still, but it will be nice to not worry tomorrow.

[JustinVGT]

I got my new tires installed last night after work at Sears. They did a great job, didn't scratch the wheels, and they could drive my car without slipping the clutch like crazy and they didn't fool around with my engine like the immature Merchant's jacka$$. Tirerack is also great since I ordered my tires Wednesday afternoon and they were waiting for me at my apartment when I got home yesterday (Thursday). Their standard UPS ground delivery is so fast because they have several warehouses around the country. Second time ordering from Tirerack, first time with Sears, both are great . Glad to have some new tires installed. Now I'll probably have to replace the rear in the next few months since the tread is wearing out.

[tnpartsguy]

Actually there ARE rules about repairing tires, and unless the shop doing the repair wants you (or your descendants) to own their shop, they better follow them. (1) You can't do a repair on a puncture that is not on the flat of the tread. (2) Even those repairs done to the tread require breaking dow the tire, and installing a radial patch (think of it as a patch with a plug attached).What has brought about these rules? People getting killed by improper repairs, and shops getting sued. Michelin has excellant information on their website about tire replacement and repair, if anyone is interested.BTW: KUMHO makes a very good tire, just because it's Korean, and not very well known doesn't make it a '68 Nissan ( ).

[binary]

Quote, originally posted by tnpartsguy »Actually there ARE rules about repairing tires, and unless the shop doing the repair wants you (or your descendants) to own their shop, they better follow them. (1) You can't do a repair on a puncture that is not on the flat of the tread. (2) Even those repairs done to the tread require breaking dow the tire, and installing a radial patch (think of it as a patch with a plug attached).What has brought about these rules? People getting killed by improper repairs, and shops getting sued. Michelin has excellant information on their website about tire replacement and repair, if anyone is interested.BTW: KUMHO makes a very good tire, just because it's Korean, and not very well known doesn't make it a '68 Nissan ( ).Are these rules published and enforced (aka laws or court rulings)?I agree there are some common sense involved with repairing a tire - but never was I made aware of laws created that detailed how or where a tire can be repaired.