Oh no, it’s happened. You’re driving along, and you park your car, and then see a slow leak coming from one of your tires. A small puncture has formed in your wheel. Typically, this can happen by a nail or screw that has come off of the road and lodged itself into your tire. Flat tire – day ruined. Fortunately, the tire patch cost is not high or unbelievable when compared to other options.
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Although this might not seem like a huge problem, this can turn into a bigger deal if it is not fixed quickly. This can cause future probes with servicing your damaged tires, and the flat tire can harm the rims if you drive on it for too long.
If you drive with an underinflated tire, you can also lose the ability to properly handle the car, seriously increasing the risk of a crash and harm to any other passengers. The fuel efficiency will also be reduced due to the harder effort the tire has to put forth. Lastly, driving with a flat tire can damage the tire and the wheel – beyond repair. It will cost you a great deal of money to fix one, or more, of these problems if you don’t address the tire leak right away.
Therefore, fixing a nail or screw that has punctured your tire with an easy and inexpensive solution is the best choice – the low tire patch cost can be influential in your decision to use a patch repair.
What Causes Flat Tires?
Flat tires can be caused by sharp objects in the road, like nails, screws, knives, broken glass, industrial debris, or a stick that has been dislodged from a tree and sticking up at an inconvenient angle. Although this may seem like a long shot that your car would drive over one of these items, since most of them are so small, it is very difficult to spot on the road before driving over them.
Some other causes of a flat tire are overinflation, collisions, hitting a curb, a failed valve stem, extremely hot or cold weather, potholes, and vandalism. It might seem like an oxymoron that overinflating can cause flat tires, but they impact your vehicle’s performance, and cause the tires to wear unevenly. If your tires wear unevenly for long enough, this can cause tire issues and flat tires. The worst-case scenario shows that overinflation can destroy your tire from the inside.
Potholes can also lead to a flat tire, due to the rough terrain of the road. Swerving and missing the pothole can cause even more problems, like veering off the road or into another lane, so you may choose to just drive over the pothole instead. Sometimes, your rim is bent by the pothole. A bent wheel can cause your tire to slowly lose air. This needs to be straightened by a professional, along with getting the alignment of your wheels diagnosed and fixed.
Although there are many causes of a flat tire, small objects like nails and screws are very common. The solution for this flat is a tire patch.
What To Do In The Case Of A Flat?
If you think you have a flat tire that can be repaired easily by the low tire patch cost, then you need to follow a few steps first to ensure you make the right decision.
Make Sure The Tire Is Flat
First, be sure that you actually have a flat tire. You can do this by checking the air pressure in your tires once your tire pressure light comes on in your dashboard. Low tire pressure can be a sign of a slow leak in your tires.
Differing temperatures of outside air can influence the amount of air pressure in your tires, so you don’t want to remove the tire just yet. You should inflate the tire, and then look for anything that can cause a leak, such as a small hole or tear. If you press your ear to the tires, you can sometimes hear the sound of escaping air. If you see a small spot that has been punctured, then the inexpensive tire patch cost might be your best bet.
Change The Flat
The first option you have after determining that your car tire is actually flat is to change the flat yourself, or apply the tire patch. Having a tire pressure sensor can also aid you in determining if your tire really is flat – this will help you gauge what you need to do next. Here are a few steps you can follow if you need to do a full change of the tire.
First, you need to turn on your caution lights to warn other drivers. Second, find a safe spot to pull over or park. Third, loosen the tire lugs without removing them completely. Fourth, jack up the car if possible and remove the flat tire. Next, you need to get the spare from the trunk of your car and place it into position. Then slowly lower the car using the jack. Lastly, tighten the lugs to ensure the wheel stays on tight.
If you don’t feel comfortable changing a tire on your own, then you shouldn’t use this method. You can check and see if there are small holes in your tire that can be easily repaired with a tire patch, especially due to the low tire patch cost.
When To Use A Tire Patch?
If you view your tire and you see that the hole or puncture is less than ¼ in diameter, then using a tire patch is the best way to go. Not to mention, the tire patch cost is significantly lower than other tire repair options.
Next, you need to make note and consider the location and place of the puncture. If the puncture is between two of the tire treads, then it is a good option to use a tire patch. However, if the hole is to the shoulder or the side of the tire, then using a tire patch can cause internal damage, since you will have been ignoring a bigger issue. This can require replacing a tire, which is a much higher price than the low tire patch cost.
Last, you need to check the tire’s overall condition. If the puncture lies in the repair zone, then you are good to go – right? Wrong. If the tread measures 3/32 of an inch or less, then you shouldn't choose to use a tire patch to fix the tread, despite the inexpensive tire patch cost.
To determine what kind of tread you have, you can use a tire gauge or the tire tread indicator bar. By determining what type of tread width your vehicle uses, you can determine if the tire patch is right for you.
How Long Do They Last?
After placing a tire patch for tires that are greater than 4/32 of an inch, you have just chosen an inexpensive option to repair your damaged tire. This fix can be expected to last the lifetime of the tire. This enhances the benefits of using a tire patch – besides the low tire patch cost, you also get a long-time guarantee and fix regarding the issue.
Cost Of Tire Patches?
Most companies and auto stores charge approximately $25 for a tire patch and rebalance. If you are fortunate enough to catch a puncture early, the repair shop should only charge you between $15-$30. Some chains of stores can charge only $20 or less, and some even have a tire patch cost of nothing. Some businesses might even offer a free service if they sold you the tires, making the tire patch cost relatively free.
In addition, some mechanics might determine that they need to add tire sealant to the bill, which will only cost an average of $10-$15. Be sure not to drive to offer on the sealed tire, since it will only last around 50-100 miles. If you don’t want to repair your damaged tire, there are other disposal methods and recycling activities you can do with the old tires of your vehicle.
Too Big To Use A Tire Patch?
The mechanic will be able to tell if the hole is too big to use a tire patch. Most suspension systems that auto body shops are accustomed to dealing with work best with matching tires in the front and back. Because of this, experts recommend changing all four tires, or two in the front or two in the back, at the same time to avoid unevenly wearing out the tire treads.
The average prices for fixing a flat tire depend on the type of car you have, and are only important if the tire patch cost isn’t the only thing you’ll have to fix on your trip to the mechanic. Although the tire patch cost is the least expensive option, along with the tire plug, replacing a tire might be necessary if it has sustained serious damage.
Median Tire Prices
The lowest tire price involves the sedan or hatchback, with the median tire price for a sedan being $137. The next model which has the same price for the tire repair is the minivan model of car. The next in terms of cheapest is the SUV, with a repair price of $162. Fourth on the list is a pickup truck, with $175 worth of repairs. The most expensive option in terms of the median tire price is the sports car with a price of $187.
If you find that your car tires don’t need replacing but just a patch or plug, you will be astounded by the low tire patch cost in comparison to the higher median tire prices of the aforementioned models.
Plugs vs. Patches
Tire plugs are another method you could choose. Even though tire plugs might cost a little bit less than the overall tire patch cost, they might not do the job as efficiently as the tire patch. Plugs are a temporary measure that doesn’t last as long as the patch. Keeping your car in working order and performing repairs can help you get top dollar if you decide to later sell your car.
Benefit of Plugs vs. Tire Patches
Some users will say that plugs are the cheapest and quickest option. A plug can be a convenient choice for those that have broken down, and need a quick fix to get back on the road. Newer plugs are also more technologically-sound to have improved the tire stability, in comparison to the older models.
Limitations of Plugs vs. Tire Patches
However, there are limitations to the plug methods. When the hole is near the sidewall many experts say you should get a tire patch, since the plug can’t fully eal off the damage. If the puncture isn’t straight, a patch works better for the diagonal holes and slashes.
In addition, experts say that a plug shouldn’t be applied without a patch, unless the shop specifically takes off the wheel to inspect the problems and damage done. A poor valve stem can cause the wheel to start leaking. A thorough diagnosis and inspection of the damaged tire can help catch some additional damage that the plug method might not notice otherwise. The best solution is to combine a plug with a patch to stabilize and fix the puncture hole.
Do-It-Yourself Tire Patch Cost
A do-it-yourself tire repair kit generally costs between $5-$20 for the simple tools, gear, and plugs required. If you get a larger kit with a sealant and pump to reinflate the tire after being flat, this will run about $20-$50.
What If You Don’t Want To Pay For The Tire Repair?
If you find that your tire is going to require more than just a simple tire patch repair, then you might not be willing to pay the cost of a tire repair, replacement, or complete alignment shift. If you have let the problem go on too long, you could have damage to your tire’s rims, and other tires along with the initial problem tire.
Despite the tire patch cost being very low, the cost of the subsequent issues that come with not fixing the original problem is much higher. You might not think that your vehicle is worth the repair costs. If your car is in a run-down condition, then you might have better options for you.
Consider selling your car to a junk dealer for some money towards your next vehicle.e remove all of the non-metal components from your vehicle and sell them for a quick buck. This includes the electrical and audio systems within the vehicle.
Now, bring your car to a reputable location like CashCarsBuyer for a fair quote, trustworthy service, and excellent customer reviews. CashCars can purchase your junk car from you, and give you some money to put towards your new, safe, and stylish vehicle!