One of the problems you can encounter when traveling by car is a punctured tire. Using a patch is a fairly common option to work around this issue.
Yet, if the hole is in a position like a tire wall, the problem becomes much more complicated because it is likely that the defensive position will not be patched.
So, how close to the sidewall can a tire be patched? A distance of 6 mm or more from the tire shoulder is required to fit a patch. In other words, if a crack is closer than 6mm, there’s almost nothing you can do about it!
Tire Sidewall Overview
First, let’s learn about sidewalls and how to identify them on your tires.
The wall is the rubber part from the outer edge of the rim to the road surface. This part also has the largest area, is the most flexible, and continuously deforms under loads when moving.
How Close To Sidewall Can A Tire Be Patched?
As you know, the car’s wall is in a particular location, so it is pretty challenging to troubleshoot the hole here.
Manufacturers also recommend that you not choose the patch option if the spot is on the side of the vehicle or too close to this position. Then, how close to the sidewall can a tire be patched.
You cannot use the patch if the hole is close to the wheel with a gap of less than 6mm. In addition, you should note that if the hole is more significant than ¼ inch, the patch should not be used. In this case, if the patch is small, it cannot cover the hole, causing the wheel to deflate still when moving.
On the contrary, using a large patch can make the wheel more bulky, difficult to move, and unsafe.
Fix Sidewall Damage
Other Related Questions
To better understand the problems that occur with the tires and how to overcome them effectively, you can refer to the following information.
We’ve put together some frequently asked questions that may help answer your questions on this topic.
Plug a flat tire: Is it possible?
People are often concerned about whether it is safe to plug or patch a flat tire.
These two options are pretty standard in repairing or overcoming the problem of flat tires caused by rolling nails or other sharp objects.
The manufacturer still recommends that you better replace the tire with a new one when there is a problem because repairing with a plug or patch when a flat one is not a safe solution.
Yet, the cost of new tires is not cheap, and if you have this problem often, it is a big problem. So, many drivers use a plug or patch when a wheel is punctured.
There is a limit to the number of nails or patches on a product. You can use this option to temporarily fix the problem if you find a few small holes. If the wheel has many large holes or previous patches, it is best to replace it with a new one.
For a detailed guide, check out this video:
How close can a tire patch be to another patch?
The gap between patches is also a topic that people are very interested in. When traveling on the road, you may encounter a flat one many times.
As you know, when the tires have had previous patches or punctures in close locations, it is better to replace them. In case
Can you patch a tire on the side of the road?
In the case of a puncture on the tire side, the use of stickers is unlikely to have as much effect as you think.
The reason is that its wall adhesion is so thin that relatively few materials can adhere. More specifically, damage to the sidewall will seriously damage the structure of a wheel.
The solution to this problem is to insert an extra tube inside the wheel to ensure that you can still turn the whole thing.
How fast can you drive on a patched tire?
A patched one will not achieve the same speed and performance as it once was. Therefore, the optimal level you can expect from such a version will not be more than 85 mph. Of course, this is just the limit that many manufacturers recommend, but you should not overdo this limit.
Can you patch a tire with 2 nails in it?
The answer is yes! It’s just that the gap between the two punctures is at least 16 inches, and you might seal them with two large patches.
According to many manufacturers, the maximum number of times performed is two times. If more than that, it’s time to get a new one.
Conclusion
As such, a puncture in the side of the vehicle is a unique location where patching is not an optimal solution in this case. It would help if you changed to a new tire to ensure safety when traveling.
Thank you for following this post!
The writer repeats ‘puncture on the side of the vehicle’ where ‘sidewall of the tire’ would be more accurate. Also, it is hardly surprising that ‘[A] manufacturer still recommends that you better replace the tire with a new one when there is a problem’. That is simply a matter of economics. The manufacturer makes nothing if a $30 repair solves the problem and would much prefer the consumer to spend $150, a good portion of which the manufacturer would enjoy. Even better, suggest replacing tires in pairs so the balance is between $30 patch versus $300 for two new tires installed.
I agree. My tire shop wouldn’t repair anything unless it was within the tread area. After complaining they ended up repairing a small hole about 1/4″ from edge and it has held fine for hundreds of miles. Any “only within the tread area” rule is to sell tires.
Same. I patched a whole in my tire with a plug over a year ago. But over the last several months it developed an every so small leak requiring topping off with air about once a month. I just took the wheel/tire into the shop to have them repair it the right way and they immediately said “nope, too close to the sidewall”. I swear it is about an inch away from the edge of the tread. Then he proceeded to try offer a new tire for $355.00 installed. Yikes!
I told him the tire was only a couple of years ago…he looked at the date code and said “3 years old”. Which is true, but come’on…it’s February of 2023, he’s splitting hairs.
At this point I figure I’m just going to spray some fix-a-flat in there to seal what little holes remain from the inside. It’s their problem when the shop bitches about replacing it next time, it’s their fault they wouldn’t patch it!