How Close To the Sidewall Can A Tire Be Patched?

Unlike tire sealant, tire patches are not advertised as being a quick tire puncture solution because of the stress of having to first unmount the tire.

It is however a desirous method of fixing a punctured tire because of the efficiency at which it accomplishes this. could there however exist part or parts of the tire where the patch is helpless against the puncture hole? This is what we are here to find out.

So, how close to the sidewall can a tire be patched? This distance ideally, should not less be than 6 millimeters. Chances are the part of the tire you have taken as the sidewall is the crown or shoulder. To make sure we are both on the same page as to where the sidewall is on a tire, a brief description of the sidewall will be given here to create a mental picture of it.

So, let’s start from the known to the unknown. There is a good chance you are already familiar with the part of the tire with the tread pattern.

This is hardly unnoticeable; well, this part forms the road surface of the tire. It is responsible for the tire’s grip on the road and suffers the effect of the frictional force created between the tire and the road.

The second surface is the shoulder of the tire, this part is at the edge of the crown and forms the delineating junction between the crown and the sidewall.

Following the shoulder on the lateral aspect of the tire is the sidewall, the focus of this discussion. It is unique in structure and design and does not have contact with the road. As such, it is safe from the wearing effects created by frictional force on the tread area.

The sidewall is the preferred site for the tire specifications such as the type of tire, the size of the tire, and the speed and load ratings of the tire amongst others. this is fair because the sidewall is not a road surface and will not get worn out over time. these inscriptions are therefore safe and will remain visible even in an old tire.

Compared to ordering a brand-new car tire, the patch is undoubtedly a much cheaper option. Here in this article, there will be a detailed evidence-based discussion demonstrating why it is safer to let go of a tire with a puncture on its sidewall and have it replaced with a new one than to attempt the repair which will place your life and those of others in jeopardy.

At the end of this article, for those who ensured to go through it till the end, you will come to the realization that is cheaper to get a brand-new tire when this is compared to the cost of the risk and danger involved with a patched sidewall. Listen to your tire manufacturers regarding the dos and don’ts of tire usage and repair.

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How safe is a tire patch on the sidewall?

As the saying goes “a blind man does not roast Bambara nut badly more than twice”. This African adage talks about a blind man who has had two experiences of roasting Bambara nut badly.

Although he is blind, he is unlikely to repeat the same mistake for the third time as he may have learned from his mistake and therefore taken note of how long is enough to get the nuts done.

The same principle applies to drivers or passengers who have had the unfortunate incidence of a tire blowout. such a person is unlikely to take the tire’s health for granted. Therefore, once talked to about the risk of patching the tire sidewall and how this could potentially lead to a

Blowouts on highways and the resulting accidents commonly associated with these are on the increase, partly because of drivers who have on their car’s tires with a bulging sidewall, patched sidewall, and other similar life-threatening tire conditions.

Most car owners will do everything to escape spending much when it comes to car maintenance. This will bring them to consider substandard qualities and take unnecessary risks of repairing the sidewall damage even when the tire manufacturers directly preached against such. When this goes wrong, the same amount of money or money is spent on the resulting damages.

Try all you want not to have the tire replaced, some situations are simply beyond what can be fixed with a patch. Sidewall damage and a hole in the tire too large for the patch do not fall under what you could say “just put a patch over it”. It is written all over such situations as a cry for tire replacement and not a forceful attempt to redeem the irredeemable.

The tires are to the car as legs are to animals and humans. Aside from bringing about mobility, tires also have to bear the weight of the car. This function falls mostly on the sidewall.

Whenever you load up the car with luggage in the trunk or with numerous passengers, take a look at the tires and observe how this causes the sidewall to bulge out. This shows that it bears the weight and will likely suffer first from the consequences of overloading the car before any other part of the tire.

Why do manufacturers discourage patching a tire on the sidewall or close to it?

Who best to inform you about how to manage your tire problems other than the manufacturers of the tires themselves? Whenever you need to inquire about the tire, specifications, issues, and how to fix them, your first point of contact should be the tire manufacturers or the dealers.

Yes, experience is regarded as a source of knowledge, this does not however make you an expert. Be sure not to take to heart the advice of some of the car users out there.

there is no disagreement amongst tire manufacturers about the risk of repairing the sidewall with a patch. This is primarily because the sidewall is not of the same material and is built as the crown or other parts of the tire.

You do not have to be a tire expert to notice the visible differences between the sidewall and other parts of the tire. By feeling the sidewall with your bare hands without any tools, you will be able to tell how flexible it is relative to other car parts. This is so that it can deform and reform while bearing the weight of the car and other passengers or luggage in the car.

how well it sticks to the tire and how well the patch sticks to the repaired area dictates how dependable such repair is.

On the sidewall, the patch due to the composition of the sidewall is unable to stick firmly to it and therefore may bring about leakage. Water from a wet road could as well get through this patch and can corrode the wire rings which ultimately destroy the tire.

What are the instances when a tire puncture cannot be patched?

Not all tire damage will require that you have the tire changed. In most instances, cheaper solutions such as a tire patch, plug, or sealant can be explored as a temporary fix.

Given how sudden flat tires occur, you are most likely to be caught unaware and unprepared financially. This affects your decision and makes you want to go for the affordable option of fixing the tire, rather than getting a brand new one.

There is a limit to how many times the tire can be patched. When patched more than twice, your tire will likely start getting flat without any new hole. The tire is simply weak following the many patches especially if these patches are located close to each other, not more than 16 inches apart.

When on the sidewall, on the shoulder, or less than 6 mm away, no matter how tempting, your expertise or similar factors, a brand-new tire is better in this situation than a tire patch.

However, when faced with the option of driving with a flat tire, no matter how slowly this is done, the tire and rim may suffer a huge amount of damage. Therefore, in such a situation where you do not have a choice other than having to drive with a flat tire, you may go ahead and fix the sidewall only temporally.

What are the possible causes of sidewall damage?

The sidewall is comparatively less frequently damaged when compared with the road s

For example, when the car is driven through a pile of trash or debris on the road, there could be a nail, screw, or tree branch which could cause the sidewall damage.

Similarly, the speed bumps and potholes pose a considerable threat to the sidewall, especially when the driver is such that drives recklessly and rarely slows down for a pothole or speed bump.

Is sidewall damage fixable?

Rather than going ahead to describe how a patch can be applied to the sidewall hole, I would rather stress the above explanation of the risk such repair puts you in.

However, if you wish to go ahead with this, there same steps of applying a patch to the tread area can be followed. This involves bringing down the tire, identifying the hole, cleaning it, and applying the patch with cement and with sealant.