How long does a car tire patch last


"How Long Does a Patch Last in a Tire?"

Ask Your Mechanic: "How Long Does a Patch Last in a Tire?"

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 2018

Some of us can remember the days before tire plugs and a patch was the most common repair for a punctured tire.  But times have changed and patches are not the only fix for flat tires. For those lucky few whose tire repairs required a patch or plug rather than a complete tire replacement, you might be wondering "How long does a patch last in a tire?"

First, it's important to understand whether your tire needs a patch, plug, or to be replaced completely.

A tire plug is a sticky, expandable substance that gets stuffed in a hole in the tire from the outside and is wedged in until the air stops leaking out. The plug should easily stay intact well enough to re-inflate the tire and get safely to a repair shop. 

Most tire repair specialists feel there is a better option for plugging tires. It's called a radial patch. Radial patches are specifically designed to repair radial tires which are used on most of the vehicles on the road today. Patching a tire with a radial patch can take about 20 to 30 minutes while installing a plug takes only a few minutes and usually can be done while the tire is still on the car.  Often, it is necessary to vulcanize the tire patch, a process which uses heat and curing agents to reinforce the rubber of your tire.

Secondly, how long does a patch last in a tire? 

On average, tire experts predict that a proper plug and patch can last from seven to ten years. Although tire patches can last a long time, a tire should never be patched more than once.  It can negatively affect the speed rating and potentially cause blowouts.

Whenever your tire becomes punctured and requires a repair, consult your tire service center and let them determine what type of repair is needed and what is best for the life of your tires.

Want to know more about how to save your tires?  Contact our ASE Certified technicians at Phil's Service today for more information about tire repair and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves residents in the community of Killeen, TX, and surrounding area.

Wondering how long does a patch last in a tire? To find out more about tire repairs you might need to save your tires, Contact tire experts at Phil's Service

Some of us can remember the days before tire plugs and a patch was the most common repair for a punctured tire.  But times have changed and patches are not the only fix for flat tires. For those lucky few whose tire repairs required a patch or plug rather than a complete tire replacement, you might be wondering "How long does a patch last in a tire?"

First, it's important to understand whether your tire needs a patch, plug, or to be replaced completely.

A tire plug is a sticky, expandable substance that gets stuffed in a hole in the tire from the outside and is wedged in until the air stops leaking out. The plug should easily stay intact well enough to re-inflate the tire and get safely to a repair shop. 

Most tire repair specialists feel there is a better option for plugging tires. It's called a radial patch. Radial patches are specifically designed to repair radial tires which are used on most of the vehicles on the road today. Patching a tire with a radial patch can take about 20 to 30 minutes while installing a plug takes only a few minutes and usually can be done while the tire is still on the car.  Often, it is necessary to vulcanize the tire patch, a process which uses heat and curing agents to reinforce the rubber of your tire.

Secondly, how long does a patch last in a tire? 

On average, tire experts predict that a proper plug and patch can last from seven to ten years. Although tire patches can last a long time, a tire should never be patched more than once.  It can negatively affect the speed rating and potentially cause blowouts.

Whenever your tire becomes punctured and requires a repair, consult your tire service center and let them determine what type of repair is needed and what is best for the life of your tires.

Want to know more about how to save your tires?  Contact our ASE Certified technicians at Phil's Service today for more information about tire repair and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves residents in the community of Killeen, TX, and surrounding area.

Ron Phillips

Ron Phillips

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How Long Does A Tire Patch Last

Have a flat tire? Wondering if you should replace it or get it repaired? While a patch is not the same thing as buying a brand-new set, it is a much cheaper option.

Everyone knows flats are a part of owning a car, but not everyone knows how to fix this problem. Driving on a flat is not an option, and using your spare is not long-term. If you want a durable option for cheap, a tire patch is the way to go.

But how long does a tire patch last? Will a DIY fix last the same amount as a professional patch job? Before deciding to get your tire patched, read this guide on tire patches.

The Short Answer

A patch and plug repair can last around seven to ten years if installed correctly by a professional. A patch by itself will not last as long but is more reliable than driving on a spare. 

Types of Repairs and How Long They Last

The answer to ‘how long does a tire patch last’ depends on the type of repair. Here are the most common types of patches or repairs:

Patches

There are many ways to repair a damaged tire, as long as the damage is not too bad. A patch is one method that works for leaks or small gashes anywhere in the center of the tread area. It will close a hole by sealing the rubber. 

A patch can last 7-10 years if repaired by a professional. The Tire Industry Association emphasizes professional repairs are safer since technicians have the training and tools to complete the job efficiently.

Plugs

Another way to repair a tire is to use a plug. This method is much less reliable but is a good option if you need to get somewhere to do a better repair. A plug repair can last up to 25,000 miles.

Patch-Plug Repair

Yet another way to fix your flat is to do a patch-plug repair. This repair combines both a patch and plug to create a long-lasting solution. This method is better and safer than either getting your tire patched or plugged.

Are Patched Tires Safe to Drive On?

A patched tire should be safe to drive on for a reasonably long time. However, a patch-plug combination repair will be even safer to drive on for more extended periods. Be aware that doing the repairs yourself could make it unsafe to drive on.

Having the repairs done by a professional is the best way to guarantee safety. Repairing it yourself until you can get it to a professional is fine if you cannot see a professional right away. Using your spare until then is also a safe option until you can get the tire repaired professionally.

Is a Patched Tire Good as New?

The answer here depends on how old the tire is when you get it repaired. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends buying new tires every six to ten years, regardless of tread wear and repairs. This means that a patch repair will only make a tire as new as before the repair.

If you have to repair a fairly new tire, a patch and plug combination done by a professional should make it good as new. However, if done incorrectly, it may need replacing very soon. So make sure you get your repairs done professionally!

Is a Patch Permanent?

While a patch can last a very long time, it is not a permanent solution to a flat. For a more permanent solution, get a plug and patch combination repair. A combination of the two repair methods can last up to ten years, which is when you should replace all tires regardless of wear and tear.

How Quickly Does a Patch Dry?

Patches will dry instantly. However, a proper repair should take at least thirty minutes. The reason is that with a proper repair, you have to take the tire off the vehicle to inspect it for further damage.

If it takes less time than this, then the procedure is incorrect. Make sure the person performing the repair checks both the inside and outside tread for damage. Otherwise, you may end up having to get another repair.

Bottom Line

What repair method is best for you? Before buying a new tire to replace your flat, make sure you consider these cheaper options. As you can see, choosing which repair to get is not exactly straightforward.

When asking how long a tire patch lasts, it depends on the type of fix. A repair could last for a decent amount of time, although the patch or patch-plug repair would last the longest. Both methods cost about the same amount, so you don’t have to worry about money when choosing which repair is best for you. Whatever you decide, make sure you get your tire repaired as soon as possible!

Hernias, punctures, cuts: which tire damage can be repaired and which cannot

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  • Hernias, punctures, cuts: which tire damage can be repaired and which cannot

Author: Kirill Savchenko

“Chief, you've got ten minutes of work to do, the hole is nothing! Well, come up with something . .. ”Every tire fitter has probably heard such words. Alas, not all tire damage can be repaired ...

But the situation can be reversed. A wheel pierced by protruding reinforcement may be repairable, while a small cut will write off the tire for scrap. Experienced tire fitters believe that it all depends on the point of damage and the object that caused it.

Most often, drivers encounter punctures in the tread area of ​​a tire. It is not always possible to detect it immediately. If in the days of tires and chambers the wheel lost pressure at the slightest puncture, then tubeless tires are much more reliable in this regard. A nail or self-tapping screw usually closes the puncture site, preventing air from escaping quickly.

With such a "plug" you can sometimes drive for months. The tire can lose pressure minimally without arousing suspicion. At the same time, an attempt to pull out a noticed nail on the way is likely to turn into a problem. In this case, the only recommendation is to pull out a foreign object only in a tire shop and repair the wheel.

In most cases, tread punctures are sealed either with special harnesses (some for temporary use, some for permanent use) or patches from the inside of the tire. Even damage caused by massive pins can be repaired. The main thing is that a piece of the tire along with the cord is not torn out.

In the latter case, the hole is filled with raw rubber, vulcanized, and a special cord patch is placed on the inside. But this will only be a temporary measure. In addition, such repairs are not cheap, and purchasing a new tire can be both more profitable and safer.

In addition to the plaster, cord “fungi” are also used. Lubricated with glue, the “fungus” is inserted into the puncture from the inside of the tire, then the excess part of the “leg” is cut off from the outside.

On the other hand, a cord patch can seriously help with side cuts. And car owners meet with them quite often. But here there are several nuances. In a roadside tire shop, the cut will most likely not heal. You need to contact a company with specialized equipment, primarily vulcanization.

And one vulcanizer is not enough here. Cord patches should be with a certain number of layers, designed for strictly defined damage sites and of a suitable size. And again we are talking about the nuances.

If the cut is in the shoulder area of ​​the tire, then it is often impossible to repair it properly. The tire fitter who offered such a service is at great risk, even if he claims that he will weave a piece of new cord with his hands and vulcanize it. There are no miracles in this situation, but in any case, the last word belongs to an experienced specialist.

Low-profile tires with a tread height of less than 50% of the width are difficult to heal side cuts. That is why, in the case of using a car on roads with a possibility of tire damage, it is better to put those that are higher. They are much easier and cheaper to repair.

By the way, what appears to be a cut at first glance may not be one. If the sidewall of the wheel catches on something sharp, and a tear forms on the tire without damaging the cord, then this is called a pinch. It does not carry momentary danger and does not require any complex repairs.

However, if a piece of rubber remains, then it is glued with ordinary superglue. If not, you will need raw rubber and a vulcanizer. It is impossible to leave the cord bare: under the influence of moisture, it can collapse, which will lead to the complete loss of the tire.

One of the most common and fatal tire defects is swelling or simply "herniation". Despite the absence of open damage to the rubber, such a wheel will be scrapped ahead of schedule. The fact is that when the sidewall is hit, the threads of the tire carcass break. Even if the swelling is very small, sooner or later the bump grows in size, and this is already fraught with an explosion of the wheel at speed.

However, some hernias can be repaired, but this is again a temporary measure. Masters can put cord patches even in the tread area. But only on condition that the distance from the sidewall to the swelling is more than 40 mm. If less, the tire is not subject to further operation. By the way, on low-profile tires, hernias, for the most part, are not repairable - both on the tread and on the sidewalls.

One of the major tire problems is caused by unprofessional repairs. Moreover, the owner most often does not know about it. We are talking about damage to the bead ring, as a result of which the tire does not initially hold the specified pressure.

Eventually the bead ring begins to push out of the rim. At high speed or under heavy load, such a wheel can be disassembled, which again threatens the car with a loss of control.

This damage can be repaired provided that the wire ring or base is not damaged. Special technologies for such repairs are not provided, but experienced craftsmen use the so-called "cold" or chemical vulcanization using a two-component sealant. The resulting mass covers places where there is no rubber on the bead ring. The main condition is to wait three days before mounting the tire on the disc.

As for Run Flat tires, according to the instructions of most manufacturers, they are not subject to repair. In extreme cases, you can use a bottle of special pressurized sealant that comes as a repair kit.

Comment of the expert of the company "SHINSERVICE":

Alexander Golubev

expert "SHINSERVICE"

First of all, we recall that most tire manufacturers do not recognize handicraft tire repair. It is considered a sign of external influence and changes in the design of the tire. Such a tire automatically voids the warranty. This does not happen if tire repairs are carried out in specialized, authorized tire brands services. Note that almost all major tire brands give their own extended warranty, according to which in most cases the repair is free, at a discount, or the product is generally replaced with a similar one, depending on the conditions of the program.

Based on our experience, we can note that in most cases damage in the bead area and in the shoulder area is not repairable.

I would also like to draw attention to the fact that most low-profile tires have high speed indexes (V and above), and even after professional repair they will not be able to be used in the previous modes without restrictions. Therefore, we strongly recommend changing the tire in all cases, except for tread punctures.

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Expiration date of car tires, manufacturers' opinions

Consumer disputes over the age of tires have not subsided for several seasons. Buyers are excited that the warranty period for tires is limited to 5-6 years according to GOST, and after the expiration of this period, the rubber becomes unusable.

Is this really the case, read this article.

Shelf life of tires

Manufacturers of most brands on their products set Shelf life is 5 years and service life is also 5 years .
The shelf life of a tire is the period during which it retains its performance when properly stored.

The end of this period does not mean that the tires have become unusable . A shelf life of 5 years is given by manufacturers because, by law, they cannot set a shelf life higher than the service life. Tires over 5 years of storage cannot be called damaged or defective, their technical characteristics may be slightly reduced. American researchers argue that the period of storage of "shoes" must be at least 10 years. Experts from Germany are sure that it cannot exceed 6 years.

Tire expiration date

The expiration date of tires is the warranty period during which the manufacturer is responsible for the quality and condition of the tire if it was used for its intended purpose without violating the operating rules.

According to Russian legislation (GOST 5513, GOST 4754-97) , the service life of tires is 5 years from the date of manufacture.

How can I find out the date of manufacture of tires?

You can find out the age of tires by a special DOT code. Tires manufactured after 2000 in the DOT code contain two pairs of numbers, where the first pair indicates the week number of the year, and the second pair indicates the year. Earlier tires before 2000 have 3 numbers in their composition, where the first two digits are the week number, and the last one is the year (see the transcript in the photo).

Determination of the average shelf life of a tire according to GOST and operating conditions.

- The symbol ZR denotes tires for high-speed cars. They are recommended to be used at speeds over 240 km/h. up to 6 years

- Tires with the H symbol are used at a maximum speed of 210 km/h. within 5 years.

- The sign S symbolizes the maximum permissible speed of 180 km/h. and operational period of 4-5 years.

Manufacturer's estimated shelf life

Most tire manufacturers do not agree that tire life is limited to 5 years. Each company has its own opinion on this matter. We analyzed several of them and the information they posted on their official websites.

Michelin

The French tire manufacturer Michelin has become famous for its active fight against the perception of the rapid aging of tires as a perishable product. Her information campaign "Tires Are Not Bananas" created a lot of noise in the automotive environment. According to the representative office, several test trials were carried out in Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Germany. As a result of testing, no difference was found between new tires and tires stored for 3 years. They were tested for various characteristics such as rolling resistance, high speed durability, etc. Tires with a year life were approximately equal in performance to 10-year unused tyres.

Michelin focuses the attention of car owners on the fact that tires are not a perishable product, their shelf life is not as important as the service life is important, starting from the date the tires are installed on the rims. It is from this moment that the tire is subjected to all tests: pressure, temperature changes, wear, contact with uneven and sharp coatings, etc.

Continental

On the Russian official website of Continental, we found the following information on the expiration dates of tires.

“When a tire is stored in the correct position and under the recommended conditions, it will not lose its original balanced performance for 5 years from the date of manufacture of the tire.

A properly maintained, unused tire less than 5 years old can be sold as a new tire and used normally.

Continental recommends replacing all tires (including spares) with a sidewall date greater than 10 years.

Nokian

The following information is posted on the Nokian official website:

“Tire life is not defined by law, but tires can only be considered “new” if they have been manufactured within the last five years. The recommended service life of tires is six years and the recommended maximum period is 10 years.

The opinion of our specialists, based on many years of experience, coincides with the opinion of manufacturers: the shelf life is 5 years + the service life is up to 10 years. Moreover, more "adult" tires, in our opinion, are of better quality.

To keep tires as long as possible, they are stored in compliance with all rules and recommendations. The main condition is a cool, ventilated, darkened room away from oils, paints, ozone, and heat sources.

Tire storage conditions

Rubber products tend to lose their performance over the years. To prevent and slow down this process, manufacturers add polymers to the rubber compound. They prevent oxidative processes that occur due to the interaction of protectors with oxygen and ozone.

The following are the main conditions for the proper storage of tires in accordance with GOST 24779-81:

  • Maintaining a constant regime without sudden jumps, slight temperature fluctuations from -30°С to +35°С are allowed;

  • Provide a low humidity level of 50-80% in a dry, ventilated cool room;

  • Avoid direct sunlight, use darkened hangars, shield heat sources;

  • Keep away from sources of heat;

  • Tires should not come into contact with corrosive, copper materials.

  • Avoid kinking, loading or positioning on an uneven surface.

  • Avoid contact with oils, organic solvents, acids, alkalis, fuels and lubricants on the tire surface. It is forbidden to lay tires on a wet and dirty surface.

  • In the warm season, when storing tires outside, they should be covered with light-tight material and raised above ground level to ensure ventilation and prevent the occurrence of the greenhouse effect.

  • Storage on reflective, light and heat absorbing surfaces is prohibited.

  • Keep away from chemicals, oils, paints, open flames, electric motors that produce ozone.

  • Used tires must be washed and dried.

  • Tires without rims should be stored upright.


The service life depends on many factors: the load on the car, the quality of the roads, the driving style, the distance traveled, tire damage, etc. To increase their service life, follow these rules:

How to increase tire life:

  1. Check tire pressure every 2-3 weeks. With reduced pressure, tire wear increases by the equivalent of a % reduction. For example, a 15% reduction in pressure can result in a 15% reduction in service life. Inflated tires are less scary.

  2. The wear of the front tires is always significantly higher than the rear ones, so it is recommended to swap them after some time, carefully watching the direction of the tread pattern and the direction of rotation.

  3. Proper alignment of tires in relation to rims. If the direction is not the same, then performance is significantly reduced.

  4. To prevent damage to the sidewalls of tires, avoid close proximity to curbs and high ledges.

  5. Wash off dirt from the surface of the rubber and from deep grooves with special cleaning agents.

  6. Adhere to an even driving style without harsh brakes and quick starts.

  7. Do not overload the car beyond the norm. 20% excess weight leads to a 30% loss of tire life.

  8. Keep the wheels balanced and check the alignment angles annually.


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