Can I Drive Long Distances With A Patched Tire

Can I Drive Long Distances With A Patched Tire?

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Can I drive long distances with a patched tire? This is quite a popular question asked by those who are skeptical about the safety of driving with a patched tire. When the car tire becomes flat, one of the quickest ways to get out of such a situation would be to use a tire patch. However, there is the question of how long you can drive with a patched tire.

Highlights:

  • Well-patched tires are functional for any distance and road type.
  • Improper patching can lead to catastrophic consequences and accidents.
  • Excessive patching weakens the tire, increasing the risk of flats and leaks.

Can I Drive Long Distances With A Patched Tire

so, how long can a patched tire be driven for? When a tire is patched, yes, it may not be the same as a new tire, but it will be as functional as the other tires on the car. It can be driven for any length of distance, on any type of road, and by any kind of driving style.

When not done properly, a tire patch could result in catastrophic consequences such as the explosion of the tire which could result in a terrible car accident that puts your life and that of other persons on the road at that time in considerable danger. 

So, before concluding on whether it is okay to drive with a patched tire for a long distance, the question that needs to be answered is how well the patch was done and how many patches have been carried out on that particular tire. 

Flat tires are a common problem, perhaps the commonest tire problem there is. If you haven’t experienced one yet, it’s likely to happen to you any time soon. It usually does not give any warning sign and tends to occur at odd places and at odd times.

However, a flat tire is not the end of the world and does not necessarily imply the need to have the tire changed. A more cost-effective approach will be to have it patched.

With the improvement in science and technology, tires are made in a way that affords them some form of ability to resist being easily punctured.

However, certain hazardous objects such as sharp glasses, nails, and others can still cause considerable damage to the tire. 

There is therefore the need to learn how to handle a punctured tire, the correct guideline on how to patch a punctured tire, how safe it is to make use of a patched tire, and how long a pat the tire will serve you. This and many more related issues are covered here in this article.

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Is it safe to drive long distances with a patched tire?

Speaking about safety, there is an increasing number of car accidents and some of these are caused by preventable factors.  These statistics demand that every car owner or driver learn about the various causes of car accidents on the road and consciously avoid them.

Some of these accidents are related to tire problems, especially when the car tire explodes. The driver losses control of the car, swerving into the wrong lane and colliding with oncoming vehicles or going off the road and running into stationary objects such as a tree, a parked vehicle, or similar objects.

So, how safe is it to drive a long distance with a patched tire? Is this one of the causes of tires exploding on the highway and consequently resulting in terrible accidents?

There is no blame on those who do not trust the idea of patching a flat tire and would rather replace the tire with a new one irrespective of the cost burden, however, a patched tire is not a time bomb waiting to explode as others may have you believe.

When done properly, there is no difference between a patched tire and the other tires in terms of functionality and duration of service except for the fact that you are aware of the patchwork done on the tire. 

When one of the rear tires goes flat for example, if you decide not to have it patched as a result of your distrust of the process, then you may have to prepare to buy two new tires at the same time as this is the recommendation.

One of the rear tires should not be an old tire while the other is new. The two should ideally be changed at the same time to ensure they balance each other and a smooth driving experience.

 The cost of Tires, similar to other car parts has continued to rise almost regularly. Therefore paying for two tires at the same time may not be budget-friendly. Thankfully, the distrust some drivers have for patched tires is simply based on hearsay and not experience. 

In my years of driving, never have I been caught unaware by a flat car tire. Yes, this usually occurs suddenly without prior notice, but having my patch kit, potable pumping machine, and other tools handy have always help to be avoid getting stranded in an off place at an odd time. 

Between attempting to fix a flat tire with a patch or driving with it that way, there is no doubt that the few minutes spent in fixing the tire is a much more cost-effective option. The highest distance a flat tire should be driven should be finding a suitable parking space off the road and no more.

Driving with a flat tire is considered reckless as this puts the tire as well as the rim with the flat tire at risk of even greater damage.

There are however instances in situations where you have no other option but to get a new tire. Take for example, when the puncture, cut, or tear sustained by the tire is considerably large, this rules out the option of repair. The more severe the damage is done to the tire the less likely the chance of begin effectively repaired.

The possibility of repair also depends on the part of the tire that is punctured. If the puncture is sited in a place such as the walls of the tire, although some persons may successfully repair this, there is a greater risk of the tire exploding via this weak link later on. This is therefore one of the contraindications for repair. Such tire should preferably be replaced with a new one.

How long can I drive with a patched tire?

When one or more of your tires are patched, such tires are generally considered weaker than those without patches. There is therefore the need to learn about how long the patched tires can be driven. 

The criteria for making a conclusive statement on this issue include two things; how well the patchwork was done and the number of patchworks done on the tire.

In terms of the quality of the patchwork, its simplicity allows everyone to carry out the process on their own without needing the assistance of a professional. It is a simple repair process and can single-handedly be handled by the person driving the car without assistance from a second party.

However, irrespective of how simple the process is, if not done properly, it could cost you dearly. 

When a tire has been patched up to about 3 consecutive times, it should not be driven for a long distance as its chances of getting flat are higher than those with a lesser number of patches. The more the patches the weaker the tire and the more likelihood of getting flat. 

The patched area in a tire can over time become weak and bring about a spontaneous flat tire. The leak could occur via the patched area.(Read Also:Will Tire Pressure Light Fail Emissions?)

Most times when a car is parked especially for a long time, there is a high tendency for the tire to load air over time, particularly a car tire with multiple patches.

What is the right way to patch a tire?

Here we are going to cover the instructional guideline on the right or correct method for patching flat tires that will ensure safety. The distrust most persons have for a patched tire and why they would rather spend on new tires than have their tired patched most likely stems from a bad patchwork done for them in the past which leads to a recurrent flat tire moments later or led to an explosion of the car tire.

Rather than relying entirely on the help of a professional mechanic, it helps to learn about the correct method of fixing up a flat tire, this is because a flat tire can be experienced anywhere, sometimes far away from civilization, especially if you are the type that engages in adventurous trips and picks nicks

So, here is how to use a patch to fox up a flat tire

Step 1

Using the appropriate tools, the bolts on the tire are unscrewed and the tire is removed from the wheel axle. It is deflated and removed from the rim.

Step 2

Both the interior and the exterior of the tire is them inspected for signs of picture, cuts, or tears. Water can also be used to trace the presence of a puncture via effervescence.

Step 3

The area around the puncture site should be thoroughly brushed and scrapped to increase the adhesion property of the patch to the tire.

Step 4

A vulcanizing cement is used on this scrapped part as well as the patch itself

Step 5

The patch is finally placed on this area and a sealant is used to make it airtight. The tire is fixed back onto the rim and both are mounted in the wheel axle and bolted properly. It is inflated and the jerk removed. You should be ready to hit the road at this point.

Can I Drive Long Distances With A Patched Tire – Conclusion

You do not necessarily have to buy a new tire and spend that much money simply because you experienced a flat tire. Learn the proper method of applying a tire patch or take your tire to a professional if you wish to drive with the tire for a long distance. 

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