Tyre issue

Evenstevens

I had a flat tyre recently on a Grande Fiat Punto. There was a nail in the tyre and to my shame had to use my insurance company service to get it changed. The guy advised the spare tyre is a full working tyre that doesn't need to be replaced and is fine to drive on for the long term. I brought the car to a local garage this week to get old tyre replaced but the guy there said that it just needed a repair not replacement and he fixed it in about 5 mins. What I just want to see is if that is normal procedure. Just seemed very quick and I'm just wondering if I should have just bought a new tyre outright? Always feel like I'm going in blind to mechanics as I just don't really know much about cars. Thanks

gerard2210

No need for a new tyre. They repaired the puncture that all that was needed.

Atlantic Dawn

Yes a standard nail going in to the area of the tyre that touched the road will be normally just plugged and will be good as new. If the puncture was on the sidewall of the tyre it would be dangerous to fix, also if the tyre was over 5 years old it might be best to replace it as the rubber would be degraded.

Evenstevens

Ok thanks for that. It's older than 5 years so maybe should just bite the bullet and get new one thanks.

Yawns

Once it's not in the sidewall, it's fine to repair. Usually only cost about €5 to do so. If you have a full size spare wheel in boot, then it's fine to switch to that and continue as normal.

If you have a space saver, it's fine to switch to that but it's recommended to drive at no faster than 80 I think and change it when possible with a full size tyre.

There's also a can of Tyreweld you can get in Halfords. You spray it into a flat tyre via the the tyre valve and once you've used the can, drive slowly for a few mins to slosh it around the tyre. It plugs the gap and inflates the tyre as you drive slowly. After a few mins it's good to go. It's supposed to be able to be washed out of a tyre for repair but I've never used it so can't vouch for it. A lot of new cars these days come with a can of this instead of any spare tyre at all tho.

FishOnABike

Most small punctures on an otherwise good tyre can be repaired with a plug. It doesn't even need the tyre to be removed from the wheel rim. A nail or screw will usually cause a small easily repaired puncture hole.

Del2005

Evenstevens wrote: »

Ok thanks for that. It's older than 5 years so maybe should just bite the bullet and get new one thanks.

Don't worry a tyre place can't let you leave with an anyway dodgy tyre without informing you, the person from the insurance has similar responsibilities. They have to tell you if it's too old, close to the legal limit etc. If the tyre was dodgy they'd have tried to sell one, there's more profit in tyres than punctures.