Skip to content
  • Home
  • Autos
  • Audio
  • Bikes
  • Batteries
  • Detailing
  • Oils
  • Parts
  • Questions
  • Roof Boxes
  • Scanners

How close to a sidewall can a car tire be patched?

Written BySteve Riley Hours Updated on21/04/2023

Deciding on the best method of repairing a punctured tire is dictated by the location of the leak as well as the size and extent of the damage. Proper tire repair is vital. It could be the difference between a catastrophic accident and a life saved extension of a tire’s life span and a premature end to it.

In patching a car tire, the cardinal rule to be observed is that no patching must be done on the sidewall or the shoulder areas (the shoulder is where the tread and the sidewall connect). Industry guidelines dictate that tires damaged on the sidewall must be replaced without any further attempt to put them back on the road. However, punctures that are on the tread area can be repaired, if they do not touch on the shoulder of the tire.

Why punctured sidewalls should not be repaired.

28/09/2023 5:55 am
  • GlueTread Adhesive 3-Pack Additional Glue for GlueTread Sidewall Puncture Tire
    GlueTread Adhesive 3-Pack Additional Glue for GlueTread Sidewall Puncture Tire Repair Kits for Off-Road Vehicles Rubber to Rubber Adhesive
    • 3 Pack of (2 grams) GlueTread adhesive and applicator tips for use with any GlueTread puncture repair kits.
    • GlueTread puncture repair kits come with adhesive but if you require more adhesive this 3 pack is available for purchase.
    • GlueTread adhesive is ideal for any rubber to rubber applications.
    $ 6.95
  • Black Tire Glue with Patch, Sidewall Emergency External Tire Repair
    Black Tire Glue with Patch, Sidewall Emergency External Tire Repair Kit, Puncture Repair Anywhere for Tubeless Tires Rubber for ATV UTV Off-road Vehicles Car Motorcycle Tractors Van Trailer Lawn Mower
    • ✅【Easy to use】No need to disassemble tires,Simply clean the damaged area of the tire and apply glue to quickly repair it.
    • ✅【Short curing time】After applying glue, press tightly for 30 seconds to complete the initial curing and complete curing time is 24 hours. The damaged part of the
    $ 19.99

Especially when the tires are still in excellent condition, most drivers try to compromise with their dealers on having punctured sidewalls repaired. No professional tire repair dealers will be willing to repair these kinds of damages at whatever cost.

  1. Repaired sidewalls are an unnecessary risk.

The functionality of a sidewall is relatively and majorly different from the functionality of other tire parts. The tread of the tire is the one that is in touch with the road and is well reinforced to handle the pressure, by a mix of both authentic and synthetic fibers. The Sidewall prevents air from escaping the tire and provides lateral stability especially when the vehicle is in motion. The material used to make the sidewall is much softer and absorbs more pressure from the constant movement.

Driving around with a patched or damaged sidewall is putting the tire at risk of blowout that can cause tragic accidents. It puts you and other road users at risk.

  1. Patches will not hold on the sidewall.

Patches will simply not stick to the tire sidewall, no matter how fast or slow the vehicle’s speed is. Spending money and time having a tire sidewall patched is just an exercise in futility because it will not hold. In case you decide to take your chances and decide to patch your sidewall injury, your tire will not perform as expected. The eventuality of driving on a patched sidewall, as mentioned earlier, is disastrous.

Identifying damaged sidewall.

When driving, learning to listen out for leaks and their most common causes, while in motion is a vital skill that could save you from dangerous situations. Regularly servicing your car is a good start towards identifying threats to your tires and more so, damaged sidewalls. Different kinds of injuries could affect your sidewall.

Regular Puncture.

Slow leaks or sudden blowouts caused by foreign bodies like nails, screws, and metals are the most common types of injury to tires sidewall. There will be punctures, gashes, and cuts caused by these objects. There is no compromise here; the tire must be replaced when any of these occur. Besides direct punctures, other causes of sidewall blowouts include under-inflation, over-inflation, overloading, overly worn-out tires (probably due to age) or manufacturers' defects.

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) helps in tracking the pressure when inflating tires so that one stays within recommended limits. It sends alerts to the driver when leaks occur so they can sort them out immediately.

Loading a car beyond its stated capacity will cause the wheels to overheat, especially at high speeds. The maximum load capacity of every vehicle is indicated on the side of the door and you must be careful not to exceed it. An overload and exceeded tire inflation is a perfect recipe to tear apart a perfect tire sidewall.

Bubbles and Bulges on the sidewall.

Both bubbles and bulges are common sidewall damages caused by damage to the inner liner of the tire and will put the tire at risk of a blowout. They are caused by direct impact from potholes, debris, poor tire installation, rail crossings and in some cases, poor tire structure from the manufacturers' end. Once you notice a bulge or bubble on your sidewall, do not drive on it but have it replaced immediately.

Cracks on the sidewall.

Cracks will start to appear on a tire sidewall, mostly as the tire ages. Environmental factors, mostly the sun and extreme heat and chemicals used to clean the car are some of the elements causing cracks on the tire. Industry standards require that tires with cracks be replaced once they start showing.

Age Cracks are not an immediate risk. Over time, they could be a cause of concern as they expose the structures below the surface and could put the tire at risk of a blowout. It may be wise to check with your dealer on recommended measures once the cracks start appearing on the sidewall. If the cracks are severe, then replacing the tire is inevitable.

Avoiding sidewall tire blowouts.

Taking good care of your tires is essential in their preservation. Blowouts are not guaranteed but you must take caution to support your tires' lifespan.

  • Driving on proper roads.

Avoid roads that could pose a hazard to your tires, porthole roads, roads under construction with too much debris lying around and off-road terrain without suitable tires. They are capable of damaging not only your tire sidewall but also more severe damages like separating your tire from the rims. Avoid hitting against curbs and pavements which causes bubbles and bulges.

  • Replace old tires.

As soon as tires get to their recommended manufacturers life span, have them replaced. Do not wait until they are showing outward signs of aging as this could be extremely dangerous. Replace them with new tires and have your dealer check them for proper installation. Have your dealer advice you on the recommended depth of tread for you to replace at.

  • Maintain moderate speed.

Do not over speed, especially if driving a loaded vehicle. Check your TPMS constantly to ensure tires are within the correct inflation and confirm the weight of your load to ensure it is within the recommended capacity.

  • Tire service and inspection.

Form a service regime with your dealer to have your tires checked for correct alignment, balancing, rotation, installation and wear and tear updates. Damages that are not outwardly visible but are under the surface will be easily detected by the professional repair agent. Do not negotiate and stick religiously to your tire service routine.

There are repair hacks that one can use to fix a damaged sidewall in cases of extreme emergency, to help you get to a service station.

A boot fix is one way to do it, where a big chunk of rubber is stuck inside of the sidewall in a puncture. It does not hold long and is also risky.

Vulcanizing is another hack. It is a more complex procedure that should only be done by a well experienced professional. It involves taking out the rubber inside the tire and affixing a way stronger patch. It may hold a while longer than a boot fix but again, is not a temporary measure in repairing the sidewall.

As long as punctures are on the tread area, do not ground your vehicle but have a patch installed to keep you going. Remember to keep your tires in tip-top condition to get the best of service out of them.

28/09/2023 5:55 am
  • GlueTread External Patch Kit - for Tubeless Tires - No
    GlueTread External Patch Kit - for Tubeless Tires - No Need to Remove Tire - Kit Includes Enough Material to Patch 4 Tires - ATV Sidewall Repair Kit
    • EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR TIRE: Repair existing tire by repairing slices, or punctures in your off-road tire. GlueTread products are more cost effective than buying a brand new tire.
    $ 23.94 -8%
  • GlueTread Sidewall Repair Kit - Patch Sidewall of Your Tire
    GlueTread Sidewall Repair Kit - Patch Sidewall of Your Tire - Kit Includes (1) 4"x4.5"x3/16 Patch, (4) Pieces of Sandpaper, Adhesive & Instructions
    • EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR TIRE: Repair existing tire by repairing slices, or punctures in your off-road tire. GlueTread products are more cost effective than buying a brand new tire.
    $ 24.00

Related posts:

Sorry No related posts.

Jaguar-XJS-problems-and-fixes
Autos

Jaguar XJS problems and fixes

If you are a Jag-lover, then you can relate to the Love-hate relationship we all bear...
Read More Jaguar XJS problems and fixes
29/01/2020
Categories Autos
TagsCars
The Best AGM Battery for car audio
Batteries

Best AGM Battery for Car Audio

How to choose the best Battery for your car audio system...
Read More Best AGM Battery for Car Audio
20/03/2020
Categories Batteries
TagsAudio Systems, Batteries, Deep Cycle Batteries
zx-6r-vs-r6-which-is-the-better-superbike
Bikes

ZX 6R vs. R6 – Which is the better superbike

 ZX 6R vs. R6 Many people who own superbikes live for the thrill of fast speeds....
Read More ZX 6R vs. R6 – Which is the better superbike
21/02/2020
Categories Bikes
TagsKawasaki, Yamaha
Questions

P1000 code – Causes, information & Fix

 The P1000 error code is commonly found in Ford and Jaguar vehicles. It indicates different things...
Read More P1000 code – Causes, information & Fix
05/05/2020
Categories Questions
TagsEngine Codes
Questions

Car cooling system: Which is better – coolant or water?

Many car owners have thought of putting water in their cooling systems instead of coolant, especially...
Read More Car cooling system: Which is better – coolant or water?
13/03/2020
Categories Questions
TagsCar Cooling
driving-an-old-car-what-are-the-risks-and-challenges-involved
Questions

E85 Gas: Is It Good For My Car

Is it beneficial to use E85 gas in my vehicle? With a continually increasing demand for...
Read More E85 Gas: Is It Good For My Car
28/07/2023
Categories Questions
TagsFuel

Affiliate Disclosure

We are an affiliate. We hope you like our recommendations! Just so you know, we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this website. Thank you for using our links, it helps to grow our website.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Statement

© 2023 MotorBeast Motorbeast.Org

Manage your privacy

To provide the best experiences, we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.

Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time, including withdrawing your consent, by using the toggles on the Cookie Policy, or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen.

Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Statistics

Marketing

Features
Always active

Always active
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
Manage options
{title} {title} {title}
Manage your privacy
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
Manage options
{title} {title} {title}
Scroll to top
  • Home
  • Autos
  • Audio
  • Bikes
  • Batteries
  • Detailing
  • Oils
  • Parts
  • Questions
  • Roof Boxes
  • Scanners
Search