You’ve parked your vehicle only to return and find one of your tires is flat; you've picked up a nail on the road. We've all been there! Now what?
Check your tire pressure to ensure air is not leaving the tire rapidly. If the tire pressure is low, you should put on the spare tire until you can get your tire repaired or replaced. If the tire pressure is only slightly low, you can head over to the repair shop.
Can the tire be repaired? Puncture location and severity of damage are the deciding factors. Punctured tires will likely need to be replaced if:
- Puncture is larger than ¼ of an inch or 6 mm.
- Multiple punctures that are less than 16 inches apart.
- Puncture is on the sidewall or shoulder of the tire. (Sidewalls flex on a tire when you drive. The strain from that flexing eventually can cause a repair to loosen up. A weak spot in the sidewall will be more prone to a blowout).
Some punctures aren’t simply holes; they can result from gashes or cuts. When whatever damaged the tire caused the gash or cut, it possibly also cut the cords that strengthen the tire. If you have a sizeable cut or gash in your tire, it should be replaced.
Ask your service advisor the best course of action when you have tire damage. Front wheel drive and rear wheel drive vehicle tires should be replaced in pairs, with the new tires on the rear axle. Four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles should have all four tires replaced. Tires with mismatched sizes can cause expensive differential and transfer case damage.
Count on us for your tire repair and replacement needs.
Eureka Brake & Automotive <br/>707.443.2122 <br/>eurekabrake.com
Revised from content contributed by NAPA Service Assistant