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Your Nearest Store:

7980 S Broadway
Littleton, CO
303. 515.7308


Most stores are open nights and weekends

Directions

Store Hours:

Day(s) Hours
MON-FRI: 7:00am-7:00pm
SAT: 7:00am-6:00pm
SUN: 9:00am-5:00pm
CHRISTMAS EVE: 7:00am-4:00pm
CHRISTMAS DAY: Closed

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FIRESTONE HAS BEEN THE NATION'S LEADING TIRE PROVIDER FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY.

FLAT TIRE REPAIR, TIRE PATCHES, AND MORE

It's a tough road out there, and your tires bear the brunt of potholes, broken glass, nails, screws, and anything else that can puncture a tire. Firestone Complete Auto Care's flat tire repair services are the best in the business. We've been repairing tires since 1926, and we take pride in repairing America's tires. When tire damage strikes, come to Firestone Complete Auto Care–the tire repair shop you can trust.

If you suspect something is wrong with your vehicle's tires, don't hesitate to come into a Firestone Complete Auto Care near you. If your Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) light is on, you've hit something on the road, your tire is losing air, or maybe something just doesn't feel quite right, bring it in. One of our expert technicians will take a look and tell you if you need to repair or replace your tires.

Driving on a damaged tire can lead to additional (and more costly) rim damage and repairs, so it's best to have your tires examined at the first sign of trouble. The solution might be as simple as needing one of our patch plugs if the tire puncture is addressed early on. In other cases, a leaking valve stem or valve core may need to be replaced with a new one or the TPMS sensor needs to be reprogrammed or replaced. Visit your nearest Firestone Complete Auto Care, and we'll take care of you and your vehicle tire repairs.

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Tire Services Available

Tire Repair & Patching/Plug

Tire Repair & Patching/Plug

If your tires still have life left in their tread and are not over 10 years old, Firestone Complete Auto Care maybe be able repair or patch & plug them to get you back on the road quickly. Keep in mind not all tire damage can be patched if the puncture is too big.

Tire Replacement

Tire Replacement

Over time, the tread on your tires wears down, leading to compromised traction on the road and potentially dangerous driving conditions. Tires generally need to be replaced every 25,000 to 50,000 miles, depending on vehicle manufacturer recommendations and driving habits.

Tire Rotations & Balancing

Tire Rotations & Balancing

When you have your tires rotated, you help increase the life of your tires by helping reduce uneven wear. Most vehicle manufacturers recommend a tire rotation about every 5,000 miles or at the manufacturer-recommended mileage. Tire balancing helps ensure weight is evenly distributed around your tires. It's necessary about every 5,000 miles or as recommended by your manufacturer. Balancing can lead to a smoother ride, less tire wear, and reduced strain on the drivetrain. When you think tire balancing, think safe, smooth, and efficient driving.

Wheel Alignments

Wheel Alignments

It's best to have your alignment checked every 6,000 miles or twice a year. Even one misaligned wheel can cause the steering wheel to be off center and can lead to premature wear and tear on your vehicle over time. Keeping everything properly aligned ensures a smoother ride for you and a longer life for your tires.

Flat Repair

Flat Repair

A flat or leaking tire can leave you stranded on the side of the road or lead to a situation where you lose control while driving. Take care of flat or leaking tires as early as possible to extend tire lifespan and ensure your tire doesn't leave you stranded.

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Flat tires rarely happen at ideal times. Let Firestone Complete Auto Care help you with these answers to frequently asked flat tire questions.

Should I Change a Flat Tire Before Coming In for Tire Repair?

To ensure a safe drive that doesn’t damage your rims or create more expensive repairs, change your flat tire with your spare tire before coming into your local Firestone Complete Auto Care center for flat tire repair.

What If I Replace Just One Tire?

It’s tempting to replace just the tire that's damaged, but replacing one tire at a time can present challenges down the road since the one tire will have a different tread depth and thus different accelerating, braking, and cornering abilities than all of the others.

Why Do I Keep Getting Flat Tires?

Few things are more inconvenient than a flat tire —except back-to-back flat tires. Learn the reasons why you keep getting flat tires and what you can do to help prevent flat tires from deflating your spirits!

What Is Pothole Damage?

If your vehicle hits a pothole in the road, you may experience steering and suspension system misalignment and/or damage, tire punctures, bent rims, and more. When your vehicle experiences a sudden jolt from a pothole run-in, timely inspection is highly recommended.

Pothole damage may not be obvious right away, but it can wreak havoc on your entire car if it’s not addressed quickly and fixed right the first time. If you've had a recent run-in with a pothole, head to your local Firestone Complete Auto Care for a Complete Vehicle Inspection to check for any issues.

What Is a Tire Plug vs a Tire Patch?

A tire plug is a quick fix for a tire that's leaking air from a nail or similar object that has punctured the tire. A tire plug fills the hole of the tire but is not reliable without a tire patch and not recommended to use alone. A patch is applied to the inside of the tire to further prevent an air leak and helps hold the plug in place. This allows a tire with ample useful life left in it to hold air reliably and keep you on the road for longer. 

Can You Repair a Run Flat Tire?

Run flat tires allow you to drive on a flat tire for a limited time with lesser risk than non-run flat tires. A Run Flat tire could be repaired if a nail or object is caught before tire damage occurs. However, if the tire is permanently damaged, it is required to replace a Run Flat tire with a new one.

Why Is My TPMS Light On?

The Tire Pressure Monitoring System light will illuminate if tire pressure is too low or part of the TPMS system has malfunctioned. Important TPMS warning light behavior:

  • Solid — A solid indicator light means one or more tires is operating at an unsafe pressure. Tire air pressure has dropped below the 25% OEM recommendation placard pressure. The recommended tire pressure is most commonly listed on a sticker inside the driver's door. If there's no sticker on the door, you can usually find the specs in the owner's manual.
  • Blinking — A blinking indicator light means the TPMS has malfunctioned. One or more sensors may have failed or lost communication with the vehicle's onboard diagnostics.

Learn More About Tire Repair

Tire Repair Services

Looking for the closest flat tire repair shop? Come to Firestone Complete Auto Care for a tire plug & patch or other tire repair service today!

Read More

Tire Rotation

Regular tire rotations can help prevent uneven tread wear and help your tires last longer. Schedule a tire rotation appointment at a Firestone Complete Auto Care near you today.

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Tire Tread Depth

Knowing when to replace tires is as easy as measuring tire tread depth. Learn more about this important measurement and visit Firestone Complete Auto Care!

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Auto Care Tips & Advice

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Tires

What to Look for When Buying Winter Tires

Nov 14, 2022

Need a fresh set of winter tires but don’t know what to look for? We have you covered. Read on to learn about tread patterns, tire compounds, ratings, and more!

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Tires

Everything You Need to Know About Wheel Backspacing and Offset

Sep 19, 2022

What is backspacing in wheels? What about offset? Are they the same or completely separate things? Firestone has the answers you're looking for. Learn more.

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Everything You Need to Know About Tire Balancing

Aug 19, 2022

What are the symptoms of unbalanced tires, and do yours need balancing? Learn everything you need to know about this often-overlooked aspect of car maintenance.

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Tire Repair, The Right Way
Tire Repair, the Right Way

We know what to do to fix tires the first time, every time. After all, your safety rides on your tires being in good condition.

Free Repairs Come Standard

If your flat tire is repairable, we’ll fix it for free on most non-commercial passenger cars and light trucks.

Most Tires Fixed in No Time Flat

We’ll get your tires repaired as fast as possible. Just come by any Les Schwab location or make an appointment online.

Tires Made as Good as They Were Before

Every year, we mend more than 1 million tires. We guarantee that each repair will last the life of the tire.


How Does Flat Tire Repair Work?

    The Best Tire Value Promise® Limited Warranty is provided for free as part of Les Schwab’s World Class Customer Service and is valid for the original purchaser of the new passenger and tubeless light truck tires listed on the original invoice (“Covered Tire(s)”).

    Whatever the road throws at you, from potholes to nails or other road hazards, you have peace of mind protection that we will repair or replace your Covered Tire for its remaining value under the terms of this Best Tire Value Promise® Limited Warranty. Our workmanship is guaranteed for the life of your Covered Tires.

    Les Schwab provides tire protection for Covered Tires with non-repairable damage due to normal road hazards (“Tire Protection”). If a Covered Tire is eligible for Tire Protection, you are entitled to one of the exclusive remedies listed below. Normal road hazards are unexpected contact of a Covered Tire with objects on the road that are not a normal part of the road surface, such as rocks, nails, potholes, unexpected debris, or glass

    EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES: If a Covered Tire is eligible for Tire Protection, fails to conform to the limited warranty for tread life, or fails due to defects in manufacture or materials, Les Schwab will provide at its election one of the following exclusive remedies:

    A. If a Covered Tire eligible for Tire Protection incurs non-repairable damage during the first 25% of tread wear, Les Schwab will replace it free of charge. After the first 25% of tread wear, Les Schwab will provide a pro-rata adjustment consistent with section (C).

    B. If a Covered Tire wears to a tread depth of 2/32nds before the mileage indicated in the limited warranty for tread life, Les Schwab will make a pro-rata adjustment based on the original purchase price, excluding Federal Excise Tax, multiplied by the pro-rata adjustment. The pro-rata adjustment is 100% less miles of service divided by the mileage indicated in the limited warranty for tread life.

    C. If a Covered Tire fails due to defects in its manufacture or materials during the first 25% of tread wear, Les Schwab will replace it free of charge. After the first 25% of tread wear, Les Schwab will make a pro-rata adjustment based on the original purchase price, excluding Federal Excise Tax, multiplied by the pro-rata adjustment. The pro-rata adjustment is the percentage of remaining tread down to 2/32nds. Except as set forth in section (B), a tire worn down to 2/32nds tread depth is not a Covered Tire.

    D. You may elect to receive an adjustment in the form of cash or a credit applied to the purchase of new tires at any Les Schwab Tire Center.

    WHAT IS NOT COVERED BY THE LIMITED WARRANTY FOR TREAD LIFE: The limited warranty for tread life does not cover services, damage or wear due to any of the following: misuse or abuse, misalignment or tires out of balance, over or underinflation, repairs, off road use or use on unpaved roads, use on commercial vehicles, campers, or trailers, excessive loading, vehicle accidents, or tire contact with curbs, poles, garbage bins or other similar items on or off the road surface.

What Kinds of Tires Does Les Schwab Tires Fix for Free?

    All repairable flats on passenger and tubeless light truck tires listed on the original invoice are fixed free of charge for the life of the Covered Tire through 12. 00 inch size cross section. Lock ring and tube type wheels are not included.

How Long Does a Flat Repair Last?

    Proper flat repair is like a graft. The patching material used gets chemically bonded to the tire tread and is intended to make your tire as good as it was before the flat. It’s no more likely to need repair again than the other tires in your set that haven’t gone flat. The repair will last for the life of the tire but in the unlikely event there is an issue, we will fix it for free.

How Does Les Schwab Fix Flat Tires?

    We use the industry standard approach called plug and patch. We clean up the hole in the tread, get any debris out, plug the puncture with rubber and plies and patch the tire. We also reset the TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system).

How Long Will It Take?

    From the time the vehicle gets into the repair bay, the work takes 15 to 20 minutes on average. It just depends on the wheel, the size and the tire type. Flat repairs are done first come, first served, so there could be additional time involved if there are others ahead of you.

    There could also be more time required if it’s a self-sealing tire or you’ve used an aerosol fix-a-flat kit. Then we have to clean out the sealant gunk and dry the inside of the tire as part of the process. We also clean the TPMS sensors and verify they haven’t been damaged by the spray.

    Come by any Les Schwab Tires for free flat tire repair. Find a store.

what can be repaired and what can't? / September 21, 2017 — read articles on Wheels

Another season of changing shoes is approaching. And you may remember that on one of the tires after the last winter/summer there is a jamb - a small bump. I don’t want to run to the store for the sake of one new tire. We understand. Or maybe it looks even better if repaired?

Yes, not every wheel that has met with a nail, rebar sticking out of the ground or a sharp stone on the road is considered damaged. Everything, of course, depends on the scale of the damage and its location on the tire itself. Some are easily repaired, while others are simply impossible to do - the tire can only be sent to the trash.

Bump or bulge

A bulge on a wheel, referred to by drivers as a bump or bulge, is the most common tire sidewall defect. It appears due to a collision with an obstacle or after falling into a pit, more often at high speed. The threads of the sidewall carcass are easily damaged by impact, and the tire at this point can no longer hold the load and air pressure - swelling appears. A small bump sooner or later turns into a big one, and driving with such a defect is dangerous - the wheel can shoot at any moment. At high speed, this is fraught with loss of control, departure from the road and a rollover.

The quality of roads in Kazakhstan contributes to the appearance of bulges on tires

Some types of bulges are repairable, although this is a temporary measure. Not a single patch can restore the factory rigidity. Ideally, change the tire.

Special cord patches can extend the life of a tire with a herniation, even if the swelling has appeared on the tread. The sidewall is a different story. If the swelling appeared at a distance of more than 40 mm from the side, it can be repaired. If not, then the wheel needs to be replaced. Blisters on low profile tires are most often non-repairable.

For maximum safety when riding with a repaired bump, insert the tube. This is an inexpensive and reliable solution. On our market, you can find cameras made in China and Russia, the latter are slightly more expensive, but also of better quality.

Side cut

The elimination of a side cut is a serious operation, therefore, as in the case of a bump, you will have to go to the professionals. We need cord patches, fortunately in our time they are of different sizes and with a different number of layers. And if you do it wisely, then you can't do without special tools and vulcanization.

A cut, by the way, cannot be healed in all cases. If the gap is in the shoulder area of ​​the tire, it is unlikely that anyone will undertake to repair it, since no guarantees can be given here. However, our Kulibins take on even the most difficult cases, cutting out parts of the sidewalls from the tires and even weaving the cord on their own.

Tire overhaul. We would not put such a wheel on ourselves

Low profile tires can be repaired, but more difficult. A tear in the sidewall is easier to seal on tires with a medium or high profile.

Sometimes a cut is confused with a pluck. This is when the outer layer of the sidewall caught on something sharp, a tear formed, but the frame itself remained intact. There is nothing wrong with that, although the drivers at the tire fitting company successfully repair the cut, for which they take it accordingly.

If a piece of rubber remains on the sidewall, then glue it with ordinary superglue (101st). If it came off, then it is better to cover it with raw rubber and vulcanize. Leaving the pluck bare is not recommended, because the tire carcass, often consisting of a metal cord, will quickly corrode.

In Europe, defective or used tires are perforated before being sent for scrap to prevent their resale and possible operation. But they don’t know that we have such holes on the sidewall patched once or twice

Destruction of the side ring

Cuts and hernias are not the only possible damage to the side of the tire. You can also spoil the side ring, in the process of changing shoes, for example. If it’s for garlic, then such a tire is already dangerous. Sooner or later, the tire pressure and the load in motion will start to squeeze the rubber off the rim - a wheel explosion can occur.

This ailment is repaired if the wire ring - the base - is intact. There are no special technologies and materials to correct this particular problem, but most often craftsmen use a two-component composition for chemical (also called cold) vulcanization. After mixing, the mass is pressed into a fat-free damage. Compound manufacturers recommend waiting 72 hours before mounting a tire. Of course, our masters do not pay attention to this condition - they put the tire right away. And it’s good if the wheel is flat because of this at night in the parking lot, and not on the road.

If the side ring tears are barely noticeable, but the wheel still deflates, then you can use a special liquid - a bead seal designed to seal a tubeless tire.

These seals have been used in motorsport for some time. In particular, in the American Formula D Drift Series, drivers used compounds to keep the tire on the rim even with minimal tire pressure. Now they are banned.

Pay attention to the left rear wheel of the Nissan Silvia S13. Due to too low pressure, it was literally taken off the disk under load

Wheel puncture

Every schoolchild has faced this problem when patching the inner tube of his bike after hitting something sharp. Repairing a car tire puncture with your own hands will also not be difficult even on the road. But for this you will need a pump (or compressor) and a universal tire repair kit with harnesses. All this is sold at any car market or gas station.

Repairing a tire on the side of the road with harnesses

The process is simple. If we are talking about the front wheels, then in most cases the wheel can not even be removed, it is enough to turn the steering wheel in the right direction, find the puncture site and carry out repairs. First, the hole is cleaned with a helical awl from the set. The tourniquet itself is smeared with glue and tucked into the eye of the awl, after which it is inserted into the tire hole. With a sharp movement, the tool is removed, and the tourniquet remains in place and clogs the hole. The tails are cut with a knife, but not at the root, it is recommended to leave about 20 mm. The tire is inflated and checked.

Sometimes a nail or self-tapping screw clogs the hole by itself, remaining in it. If you see a hat in a tread, do not rush to pull it out. While the pressure is holding, move to vulcanize. And sometimes they drive with a screw in a tire for weeks.

Repair of a puncture at a tire shop

Punctures are also repaired with harnesses at a specialized service, although among professionals such repairs are not considered long-term. After a few months, the flagella dry out and can let air through. There are more advanced methods like cold and hot vulcanization. The latter is more reliable. In this case, the hole is sealed with an elastic patch, and the funnel from a foreign object is filled with a special compound. After that, a vulcanizer is put on the tire, it heats up the rubber and solders it.

In addition to the plaster, the puncture is also repaired with special cord fungi. Craftsmen process the puncture site: drill it and treat the surface with a tool to roughen it. Then the repair area is lubricated with glue (it is also called cement) and a fungus is introduced. This is done from the inside of the tire. The cap of the fungus is rolled, and the excess legs are simply cut off from the outside.

Puncture repair with sealant

With the advent of tubeless wheels, and later run flat tires, many automakers began to abandon spare wheels. Instead, repair kits with compressors are supplied with the machines. A repair kit is essentially a bottle of pressurized sealant. Later, such spray cans began to appear on the shelves of ordinary car dealerships.

This method has not taken root in the CIS, because the condition of the roads makes it necessary to have at least a stowaway in the kit, but it can also be considered as a method of repair on the road.

The car must be jacked up and sealant must be pumped into the damaged wheel through the nipple. Next, you should spin the wheel, then pump it up, lower the car and drive a few hundred meters. If the tire tightness has not been restored, repeat the procedure.

Retreading

For commercial vehicles, cutting the tread with a special device (regrower) is a common thing. Moreover, such tire retreading is provided by the factory (marked REGROOVABLE on the sidewall) to increase the service life. But there are entrepreneurs who undertake to deepen the grooves in tires for passenger cars. But they are not intended for such an operation. Often used tires for sale are “refreshed” in this way. Be careful!

What is the threat?

The worst option is that the retreaded tire will shoot out on the road, as the master can damage the undertread layer when deepening the grooves. Such a tire will not be able to hold pressure at some point. There will be a boom! At best, the tire will indeed last a little longer, but is the game worth the candle? We think it's not worth it.

How is cutting done?

A regrower is used to cut the tread. Roughly speaking, this is a large soldering iron with interchangeable tips of various shapes. It goes through rubber like a knife through butter.

If the tire is for passenger cars, then it is worth taking on a regrower only in one case - when part of the tread pattern was welded with "new" rubber during repair. This is where threading comes in handy in order to restore the grooves and symmetry of the tread.

What does the SDA say about car tires?

Vehicle operation is prohibited if:

- tires have a residual tread height of less than 1.6 mm;

- tires have punctures, cuts, ruptures that expose the cord, as well as delamination of the carcass, delamination of the tread and sidewall;

- tires in size or load capacity do not match the car model;

- tires of various sizes, designs (radial, diagonal, chamber, tubeless), models, with different tread patterns, winter and summer, studded and non-studded, new and restored, are installed on one axle of the car;

- Tires retreaded according to the second repair class are installed on the front axle.

What is a second class repair?

This is the case when the carcass of the tire has been restored after serious damage. A side cut (or tear) is a serious damage to the tire carcass.

More on the topic

  • How foolish they are at the tire shop
  • Selection of winter tires: how to find the best option?
  • What the letters and numbers on your tires warn about

Articles on the operation and maintenance of tires

Category: Operation and maintenance

Article reading time: 5 minutes

Bookmark this

A car tire has a complex structure and a specific rubber compound that protects the tire from impacts and retains its shape under high loads. The design of the wheel consists of several strength frames - metal wire and nylon thread, they keep the rubber on the trajectory during intense and dangerous driving.

Any kind of damage can result in negative consequences that will affect driving safety and stability on the road. And if the majority of punctures can be repaired in the service or repaired by oneself, then the side cut of the tire often forces one to resort to a complete tire replacement. Riding on damaged tires in the usual mode is extremely dangerous. How to fix a tire so that you can ride comfortably without consequences, and is it possible to seal or repair a cut tire? We will answer these and other relevant questions for motorists in this material.

Sizes and types of side cuts

Modern service centers can repair a tire after a front or side puncture. You can repair a tire, thanks to the universal set of a motorist, with your own hands. It is enough to seal the hole with a special tourniquet.

Is this type of damage dangerous and should it be replaced? Only the master can unambiguously answer the question, having studied the lateral damage. The specialist will determine the nature of the puncture that needs to be repaired and offer a complete tire replacement or repair. It is inexpedient and dangerous to close up a large puncture, due to which the tire is deformed.

To determine how to close a side cut, you need to study the type of damage:

  1. Longitudinal cut that can be repaired and sealed if the seam does not exceed 35 mm.
  2. A cross section that can be effectively repaired if the joint is no larger than 25 mm. Such restrictions are associated with severe damage to the threads. It is more difficult to seal and repair a tire with your own hands.

Sealing a cut on a tire is much more difficult than a normal repair, so it is often necessary to perform an involuntary tire change. Repairing the wheel is impossible due to side wires and threads that break under side load. Taping and repairing lateral damage will not help repair the threads. Any obstacle or potential contact with a bump at high speed will have the adverse effect of bursting the tire due to the load, resulting in a dangerous loss of control.

A side puncture is less dangerous than a longitudinal cut. However, not every defect requires replacement. Masters will be able to repair tires if the deformed area placed along the carcass threads does not exceed 50 mm. The possibility of repair is also available if the side cut located across the tire threads is less than 30 mm. However, we do not recommend doing repairs in this case with your own hands. To preserve the protective properties and avoid possible negative consequences, it is necessary to use professional equipment.

Side cut hazard

Should cuts be repaired? A popular question for motorists who are faced with a choice is whether to seal a defect or replace a wheel. The possible consequences of cuts scare car owners, but do-it-yourself repairs are more attractive because they are cheaper than buying fresh tires.

To avoid dangerous consequences, sealing small and large side cuts is prohibited if you need to repair more than 10 cords and close up a hole larger than 30 mm. It is possible to repair tires for passenger cars with a side cut of the tire if it is a shallow scratch.

Driving with a cut in a tire is not safe. The degree of risk depends on the nature of the damage and the experience of the specialist who will seal the seam. Before sealing the hole with your own hands or entrusting a restoration to a specialist, you should examine the lateral damage. Manufacturers recommend replacing tires if it is necessary to seal 20 mm or more. However, if it is possible to change a wheel, the opportunity should be taken as soon as possible. Since even a small defect is dangerous during the trip. During operation, a hernia is formed, which explodes if timely replacement is not made. If you drive on a tire with a side cut for a long time and do not do repairs in the service or with your own hands, there is a high risk of getting into an accident.

In order to strengthen the structure of tires, manufacturers add several layers of metal cord to models. Also on the market there is a fabric cord, which includes fibers from nylon, which allows you to increase the strength of rubber. Therefore, in order to seal the tire in the service or repair it yourself in case of a puncture, it is necessary to use high-quality materials. If the recommendations for replacement are not followed, there is a high risk of dangerous and unpredictable consequences.

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How to determine if a tire can be repaired

To accurately assess the effects of tire deformation, before repairing a tire, contact a specialized center. The masters will figure out whether it is possible to continue driving a car or whether it is worth replacing the rubber. The main inspection criterion is the width of the seam that needs to be repaired. It should be borne in mind that it is dangerous to close up and seal holes with a width of more than 40 mm with rubber mixtures.

If the craftsmen decide to restore the tire and make a patch, then the restoration process includes the following steps: