It has certainly happened to every driver at some point: a flat tyre. Usually it is just a nail or a splinter of glass in the tire, for example. But even the smallest object in the tire is still a foreign body that has damaged the surface of the tire rubber. Normally, the following rule applies: leave the foreign object stuck in the tire and visit a nearby workshop as quickly as possible. Here, specialists can take a closer look at the mishap and then decide what to do. However, the tire does not always have to be completely replaced. If you do not get an appointment in a workshop immediately and therefore have to continue driving with the tire in which the foreign body is stuck, you should definitely check the tire pressure regularly. Normally, no air can escape here as long as you leave the foreign body stuck. Nevertheless, you should be on the safe side and keep an eye on the tire pressure.
In any case, a replacement or repair will have to take place soon. But who fixes it? Do specialists from a workshop have to do this job or can I do this work myself? In the following we want to deal with these questions in more detail.
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When exactly does it make sense to repair the tire and when should a new tire be fitted?
If this is a tire that has not been used for a long time and has a remaining tread depth that can still be driven for a long time, it makes sense to have the tire repaired. However, if you find out that there is hardly any remaining tread on the tread of the tire, then buying a new tire makes more sense. However, you should keep in mind that a tire should never actually be replaced on its own. Tires are either completely replaced or axle by axle. A tire repair also makes sense if no further repairs have been made to the tire to date or the damage is only superficial and does not exceed a certain extent.
However, if there are cracks or other damage in the tread that are larger than 4 mm, you should refrain from repairing them. Remember that your safety is at stake here and in the event of a dangerous road situation, your life may depend on the condition of the tires. If your vehicle has high-speed tires marked with the code V, W or Y, we strongly advise against repairing a flat tyre. If the tires are regularly exposed to high speeds, they run under a completely different load, which should ensure that the tread is in perfect condition.
What costs come to me for a tire repair?
Arriving at the workshop, the damaged tire must first be removed from the vehicle in order to be able to inspect it better. Warm or hot vulcanization is then usually used for repairs. This process costs the experts up to two hours of work and will cost around 50 euros. Cold vulcanization, which is used to repair a simple nail hole, can cost up to 25 euros.
Is it also allowed to repair a tire yourself?
Basically, it is allowed to repair a tire yourself. However, you should know the following here: if you dare to repair a tire yourself, you should be aware that no specialist workshop is allowed to carry out repairs on this tire afterwards.
If you wish to make use of emergency sealants to fix the punctured tire for the time being, you are welcome to do so with the help of a roadside assistance kit. But in the long run you will have to buy a new tire because, for technical reasons, a workshop can no longer repair a tire that you, as a layman, have previously repaired in a makeshift manner. So if you reach for a breakdown kit and want to repair a defective tire with emergency seals, you should be sure of yourself and have the necessary basic knowledge.
sealant or butyl round cord – does that fix the damage?
If you dare to repair the tire because you have the necessary know-how and a breakdown kit, you can fall back on various options for repairing a tyre. When you buy most of today's vehicle models, a roadside assistance kit is already on board for emergencies. If this is not the case, you can easily purchase one either in an online shop or in a specialist workshop. Usually you don't have to pay more than 30 euros here.
But how is it usually repaired? If your tire only has a small hole, for example caused by a nail, a certain sealant from the set can be sprayed onto the affected area. This seals the hole from the inside. But other items, such as the butyl round cord, are also particularly popular for repairing minor damage within a very short time. And always remember: all of these are only temporary solutions, so the damage to the tire is not permanently repaired.
The conclusion and a tip from CarTipsandmore: For every driver, the idea is absolutely horrific: a tire bursts while driving. After such a breakdown, there is no way around having the tire completely replaced, preferably in pairs on the affected axle. But minor punctures, such as a nail digging into the tire tread, can also be repaired. Now the question arises: do I repair it myself or do I let professionals from a workshop do the job? Specialists in a workshop are of course the more expensive choice, but you know that you can rely on specialist work and that you will not have any trouble inspecting the tires later during the general inspection. If you would rather save a little money, you can do the work yourself with the help of a breakdown set. However, you should always be aware here: You absolutely need the necessary know-how and CarTipsandmore recommends you a comprehensive breakdown kit to do your job well and continue to be safe on the road. Once you have put your hand to the tyre, no workshop is allowed to repair the tyre. Also: every patch of a tire is only temporary. A tire change has to be done one way or another if you want to continue to be safe on the road.