Punctured Tyres
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There is never a convenient time to get a puncture in Darlington or Stockton. It could prevent you from getting to that important business meeting or stop you in your tracks on the way to a party. It’s a frustrating experience, no more so than when the tyre that has picked up the puncture is practically new. But the debris that litters roads in Darlington & Stockton isn’t biased and a nail in the road can puncture a brand new tyre just as easily as a well-worn one.
When you get a puncture in Darlington or Stockton it’s understandable that you’d want to try and repair that tyre rather than replace it. Particularly if that tyre is not that old. The Auto Care Group will always try to repair a punctured tyre but there are instances when this just isn’t possible.
Will my punctured tyre Repair?
The Auto Care Group in Darlington & Stockton’s puncture repair policy reflects that of the British standard (BSAU159). This standard defines the requirements for safe minor tyre repair and its proximity to the sidewall. To remain compliant, British Standard Tyre Repair Rules for cars and vans are only permitted in the central 60% to 70% of the tyres nominal width (known as ‘Area T’). This percentage differs depending on the size of the tyre.
Size of the damaged area
Just because the puncture has occurred in the minor repair area, doesn’t necessarily mean it can be repaired. British standard BSAU159 also defines the maximum size of the damaged area in order to carry out a safe repair. So if the diameter of the damaged area is larger than 6mm, a repair should not be attempted. This means it may be possible to repair a tyre that has been pierced by a nail or a screw. But if the damage is caused by a larger item such as a bolt or other debris, the tyre may need to be replaced. This also means that tyre damage such as splits, cuts and gouges cannot be repaired.
Procedure for repairing a punctured tyre in line with (BSAU159)
Step 1
Remove the tyre from the wheel and have one of our experts thoroughly inspect it both internally and externally. If any serious tyre damage is present, then the repair should not continue.
Step 2
Locate and mark the damage, taking out any foreign object that has caused the damage.
Step 3
Drill the puncture hole from the inside of the tyre using a 6mm carbide mill cutter.
Step 4
Repeat the process, now from the outside of the tyre inwards, ensuring once finished the drilled hole feels resistance free on the mill cutter.
Step 5
Buff the inner liner to roughly 5mm beyond the marked area using an appropriate domed buffing rasp. Make sure that any raised ribs are left flat after buffing.
Step 6
Remove dust and extraneous material including wire particles, buffed rubber and fluffed cords.
Step 7
Apply a specialist vulcanising accelerator solution to the puncture channel and buffed area.
Step 8
Insert the combination tyre repair patch and plug into the drilled hole.
Step 9
Pull the combination tyre repair patch and plug outwards until the entire patch is flush with the inside of the tyre.
Step 10
Roll the reverse of the patch using a corrugated tyre stitcher. Roll from the centre of the patch outwards to remove any air bubbles, making sure the entire patch has solid contact with the buffed inner liner.
Step 11
Seal the combination tyre repair patch and plug base and buffed area still exposed with an inner liner sealant.
Step 12
Cut the stem of the combination tyre repair patch and plug flush with the remaining tread of the tyre, after first mounting the tyre back onto the wheel and reinflating to the correct pressure.
Why Can’t my Punctured Tyre be repaired if its outside the Minor Area
So why can’t the sidewall of the tyre be repaired? The sidewall is the part of the tyre which sustains the most load when the tyre is in use. While drilling and plugging the tyre is safe when used in the minor repair area of the tyre, the process could potentially weaken the structure of the sidewall if carried out in the major area. The sidewall also endures the most flex in the tyre. This means a repair patch applied to this area is far more likely to detach as a result of this increased movement. This will result in failure of the repair.
Because the sidewall is not part of the minor repair area it is important that you do not drive on a flat tyre (unless it is a runflat tyre). This is in order to maximise the chance of repairing it. Without the air pressure to keep its shape, the tyre sidewall will be pinched between the wheel rim and the road when driving. This will cause excessive damage to the tyres sidewall. Even if your puncture is located in the minor repair area, if you drive on the deflated tyre it may not be repairable. This is due to additional damage sustained to the tyre sidewall. Tyres ran flat usually cause shredding of the internal sidewall.
Why Can’t My Punctured Runflat tyre be repaired?
Runflat tyres have reinforced sidewalls. Which means they can be driven on for a short time after picking up a puncture. Allowing you to make it to safety.
Runflat tyres have obvious safety benefits as the tyre is still able to be driven on. In the event of a puncture this allows you, the driver, to stay in control of the vehicle. This isn’t to say runflat tyres do not need air. In the unfortunate event of a puncture you should seek help as soon as possible. When a runflat tyre picks up a puncture it’s hard to tell if the structure of the tyre wall has been compromised. Or if the punctured tyre could have been driven on for an excessive amount of time or at unsuitable speeds (over 30mph) but the added strength of the runflat tyre can mask this damage. For this reason, we cannot carry out minor repairs to runflat tyres as the tyre may no longer be safe to use.
Legal Condition of the tyre
Every time we carry out a tyre repair we also check the general condition of the tyre to make sure it is fit for repair. The legal limit for tyre tread in the UK is 1.6mm. This has to be across the central ¾ of the breadth of the tyre tread. If the remaining tread is less than 1.6mm anywhere around the entire circumference of the tyre or the sidewall exhibits bulging or exposed cords then a repair should not be attempted. It is against the law to drive a vehicle with tyres below the legal limit. It’s also a major safety risk. Besides the increased risk of a blowout, the braking distance of your vehicle will increase as tyres become heavily worn. In Wet conditions braking performance deteriorates still further.
For puncture repairs in Darlington & Stockton and free tyre checks call in to your local Tyre & Auto Care Group. We are located in Darlington (Darlington Tyre & Auto Care) and Stockton (Teedsale Tyre & Auto Care)
We also stock all major brands and sizes and carry out Mobile tyre fitting, Brake Repairs, Car and van Servicing, Air Conditioning, Wheel Alignment, MOT Testing, Exhausts & Clutches
For Puncture Repair in Darlington contact us on 01325 488855
For Puncture Repair in Stockton contact us on 01642 676667
