Tyre Care, Puncture Repairs, and Safety
Punctures repaired properly, rotations, pressure checks and the plain-English guide to knowing when your tyres need replacing. Most of this we will do while you wait.
PUNCTURE REPAIRS
Not Every Puncture Can Be Repaired and That Is Not Us Upselling
There are national standards governing what can and cannot be safely repaired in a tyre, and we follow them. It is not a judgement call, and it is not negotiable, because a failed repair at highway speed is a serious crash.
| DAMAGE | REPAIRABLE? | WHY |
|---|---|---|
| Nail or screw in the central tread area, under 6 mm | Yes | The crown of the tyre is thick and reinforced. A proper internal patch plug seals it permanently. |
| Puncture in the shoulder or sidewall | No | These areas flex constantly. No repair will hold, and the tyre must be replaced. |
| Large gash, cut or split | No | Structural damage to the casing cannot be safely repaired. |
| Bulge or bubble in the sidewall | No | Internal cords have failed. The tyre is at risk of sudden blowout and needs replacing immediately. |
| The tyre runs flat for any distance | Usually no | Running flat destroys the internal structure even when the outside looks fine. |
| Multiple punctures close together | Assessed case by case | Repairs must be a minimum distance apart to be safe. |
We do a proper repair with the tyre off the rim, inspected inside for hidden damage, cleaned, and a combination patch plug fitted from the inside. We do not do external string plugs as a permanent fix, because they are not one.
When do tyres need replacing?
Four things to look at. Any one of them can mean it is time.
1. Tread Depth
The legal minimum in WA is 1.5mm, but wet grip falls away well before that. Most tyres have wear indicators moulded into the grooves, when the tread is level with them, you are at the limit. Plan replacement around 3mm.
2. Age
Rubber hardens and cracks with time, not just use. The four-digit code on the sidewall gives the week and year, "2419" is week 24 of 2019. Over about ten years, replace it regardless of tread. This catches out caravans and floats constantly.
3. Uneven Wear
Both edges worn means under-inflation. The middle worn means over-inflation. One edge only means alignment. Any of these means something else needs fixing too.
4. Visible Damage
Cracking, cuts, bulges, exposed cord, or anything embedded in the tread. Bring it in, checking costs nothing.
Free While You Wait
Pressure checks, wheel nut retorques after a fitment, and a quick look at anything you are worried about. Just drop in during business hours.
3. Uneven Wear
Both edges worn means under-inflation. The middle worn means over-inflation. One edge only means alignment. Any of these means something else needs fixing too.
4. Visible Damage
Cracking, cuts, bulges, exposed cord, or anything embedded in the tread. Bring it in — checking costs nothing.
1. Tread Depth
The legal minimum in WA is 1.5mm, but wet grip falls away well before that. Most tyres have wear indicators moulded into the grooves — when the tread is level with them, you are at the limit. Plan replacement around 3mm.
2. Age
Rubber hardens and cracks with time, not just use. The four-digit code on the sidewall gives the week and year — "2419" is week 24 of 2019. Over about ten years, replace it regardless of tread. This catches out caravans and floats constantly.
When do tyres need replacing?
Four things to look at. Any one of them can mean it is time.
MAINTENANCE
Making a Set of Tyres Last
01
Check Pressures Monthly
Cold, before driving. Use the placard in your door jamb, not the number on the tyre. Under-inflation is the number one cause of premature wear, and it costs you fuel at the same time.
02
Rotate Every 10,000 km
Front and rear tyres wear at different rates on every vehicle. Rotating evens it out and can add thousands of kilometres to a set. We can do it during a service.
03
Get the Alignment Checked
Annually, after hitting anything hard, and always after suspension work or a lift. Bad alignment will scrub out a new set of tyres in a season.
SAFETY
Warning Signs You Should Not Ignore
- Vibration through the steering wheel at a particular speed — usually balance, sometimes a damaged tyre.
- The car pulling to one side on a flat road — alignment, a dragging brake, or uneven tyre wear.
- A bulge or bubble in the sidewall — stop driving on it. Fit the spare and bring it in.
- A tyre that keeps going down over a week or two — a slow leak from a valve, a rim seal or a small penetration. It will get worse.
None of these cost anything to have looked at. Call in.
Repairs and Care Questions
How much does a puncture repair cost?
Ask us for a current price. It depends on the tyre and the vehicle. It is always dramatically cheaper than a new tyre, which is why it is worth bringing it in rather than driving on a slow leak until the tyre is ruined.
How long does a puncture repair take?
Usually while you wait, if we are not flat out. Ring first and we will tell you honestly how the day is looking.
Is a plug from a repair kit good enough?
As a get-you-home measure on the roadside, it is better than nothing. As a permanent fix, no. The tyre needs to come off the rim so the inside can be inspected for damage you cannot see from outside and repaired properly.
Can you fix a tyre with a slow leak but no obvious nail?
Yes, we dunk the wheel to find it. Slow leaks are often the valve, corrosion on the rim seat, or a tiny penetration you would never spot. All of those are fixable.
Got a Puncture or a Tyre You Are Worried About?
Bring it in. Looking at it, it costs nothing, and it is nearly always cheaper to sort early.
