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Tire Repair

It's easy to forget about your tires, until one of them needs repair. Here are a few important things you should know about tire repair and extending the service life of your tires.

Tire Repair

First, think about all the abuse your tires take:

• Hard impacts with curbs
• Driving over road debris
• Extreme operating temperatures
• Last-minute braking and jack-rabbit starts
• Under-inflation

They can all take a heavy toll on your tires’ exterior condition and service life. That’s why it’s so important to have your tires inspected regularly for signs of damage. Of course, if you should ever need tire repair, you can always count on the experts at Smalley Automotive.


Because of the constant stresses your tires are under while they’re on the road, punctures, rim leaks, and other problems must be fixed properly and as quickly as possible. Any lingering damage weakens the integrity and reliability of the tire and could affect the safe operation of your vehicle.

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Proper Tire Repair

Not every type of tire problem can be repaired. Sidewall damage, for instance, cannot be fixed. Here are some other facts about proper tire repair.

• A tire repair can only be made between the “tread shoulders.” That’s the tread surface that meets the sidewall.
• Puncture damage can only be reliably repaired if the hole is straight through the tire surface (not jagged or at an extreme angle) and 1/4” in diameter or less.
• A proper tire repair must include “filling the injury” with a vulcanized rubber plug or the combination of a patch and a plug. The repair must also seal the tire’s inner liner. In addition to stopping the release of air, the plug stops the migration of moisture, and the patch supports the plug.
• All repairs must be executed from the inside of the tire. Plugging a mounted tire from the outside is not recommended.
• Repairing a tire by using an inner tube or sealant is not acceptable.
• When a radial tire has been damaged to the point where the steel cords are exposed to the elements, it must be repaired as soon as possible so that moisture is not allowed to migrate along the belt package and cause further damage.

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Don’t Try This at Home

While you may choose to change and rotate your own tires, tire repair is not a job for the do-it-yourselfer. One of the leading causes of tire failure and casing rejection during the retread process is a faulty repair. And, according to a survey in Tire Business magazine, 46% of tire failures are caused by improper repair procedures. The experts at Smalley Automotive have the know-how, the equipment, and the professional repair supplies needed to do the job right and ensure the safe operation of your tire.

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Storing and Protecting Your Tires

This recommendation comes from

Dunlop Tires

Because tires are highly engineered products made from a variety of materials, they should be protected from overexposure to heat, light, moisture, ozone and deformation while they’re being stored.

Remove the tires from the vehicle, place them in plastic bags, and stack them in a cool, dark place. Tires lose air over time, and leaving them on a vehicle and in contact with the ground for an extended period can result in permanent flat spots.

If you protect your tires while they’re off your vehicle, you’ll extend their service life and decrease the chances you’ll need a tire repair once the tires are re-mounted.

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