Repair or Replace the Tire: What to do in the Event of a Puncture?
Repair or Replace the Tire: What to do in the Event of a Puncture?
Repair or Replace the Tire: What to do in the event of a Puncture? Of course, there is nothing quite as unpleasant for a driver as finding a flat tire while getting ready to go on vacation, or even having to stop because of a flat tire while on vacation. it drives flat on the highway. But we have to consider ourselves lucky about what people had to face in the 1950s. Since then tire technology has evolved so much that even standard entry-level tires guarantee a certain level of resistance, not to mention. Tubeless or Run flats tires.
The different types of punctures
Foreign body: the introduction of debris into the tread can cause pressure loss at varying speeds.
Incorrect pressure: Contrary to popular belief in tires, underinflation is riskier than overinflation, as driving with underinflated tires can severely damage the internal structure of the tire and increase rolling resistance. The risk of a puncture is then increased and difficult to diagnose.
How to deal with a puncture?
This is not a wheel replacement article, but we will try to give you the most useful information on how to behave.
Often it is quite tempting to pull over as soon as you feel the first vibrations from the steering wheel, or when the steering becomes difficult to control. What you may not know is that it would be safer to accelerate slightly to regain traction BEFORE you pull over.
Anti-puncture spray
You can repair a tubeless tire using a puncture spray if the damage is limited. The spray contains foam that will fill the gap left by the debris.
First of all, you will need to locate the exact location of the puncture and remove the debris from the tread before injecting the contents of the spray through the valve. A moderate driving speed after such a repair is strongly recommended.
The spare wheel
If the previous attempts have failed, you can resort to the spare tire. If you want to be able to rely on your spare tire, be sure to check the pressure regularly.
To change a wheel, the first step is to apply the brake and engage a gear to make sure the car will not move during the operation.
Start by loosening the bolts, jack up the car with your jack, and finish loosening the bolts to remove the wheel. Place the spare tire and start tightening the bolts. Once the car is back on the ground, apply torque to the bolts to make sure the wheel is secure.
The spare tire should not be considered a normal wheel, and the speed limit of 80 km / h should be observed. Never use a spare tire permanently.
How to check that a tire is correctly repaired?
Unless you are equipped with a tubeless tire repair kit and actually know how to use it, a visit to the repair shop seems like the best option.
Some unscrupulous mechanics may try to fix your car for crazy sums of money, so beware!
This is what you should be concerned about when it comes to tire repair:
- The damage caused by the object is assessed and checked
- The inner liner seal is repaired and made airtight
- The hole through which the object entered the tire is filled
In order to assess the extent of the damage, it is important to remove the tire from the wheel. In fact, the damage that appears to be repairable from the outside may turn out to be unrepairable when observed from the inside.
Just using a cap may not be enough, as it does not guarantee that air does not escape from the tire. Finally, only the use of a patch is not sufficient because the humidity of the air could still reach the steel belts and damage them.
Once punctured, the interior lining should be cleaned, polished, cemented, patched, and coated to ensure that its ability to hold air has been restored.
“Run-flat” technology
These are tires originally designed by Michelin (PAX) which are now found in all major brands. They have reinforced rubber on the sidewalls which makes them so stiff they can withstand the weight. the vehicle, even in the event of a puncture.
Even in the event of a puncture, driving is still possible at a speed limited to 80 km / h. Run-flat tires are indicated by white markings on the sidewalls which depend on the manufacturers.
Mistakes to avoid when replacing a tire
Can you replace run-flats with standard tires?
Absolutely yes. However, please note the following:
- You must be equipped with a puncture kit and a spare wheel.
- If your vehicle has been customized to run on Run flats, the use of standard tires may have a negative influence on the balance and alignment of the tires.
Can you replace standard tires with run-flats?
No, this is not possible because:
- You must be equipped with a pressure control system (tpms) due to the self-sustaining sidewalls.
- Since Run flats tires are heavier than standard tires, they will negatively affect the performance of the car.
- Flat tires should always be mounted on flat wheels with deeper angles to prevent the tire from coming off in the event of a puncture.
Can I only replace the tire that is flat?
On the same axle, you are legally required to have two tires of similar size and wear, as well as similar tread patterns. In practice, this means that most of the time you will have to replace two tires at the same time, even if only one is damaged.
When it comes to four-wheel drive, it is better to replace all four wheels in order to avoid mechanical problems with the anti-slip system. You can only replace one tire if the other three are, in practice, new.
