How to Repair Tire Sidewall Damage
- Buy a Tire Plug Kit and Rubber Cement. The first thing to do is buy a tire plug kit and a tube of rubber cement. ...
- Check the Damage. Check the tire sidewall damage once again and remove the culprit using pliers. ...
- Roughen the Hole’s Surface. ...
- Thread the Plug Strip. ...
- Apply Rubber Cement. ...
- Insert the Cement-Coated Plug Strip. ...
- Refill the Tire with Air. ...
How to repair a sidewall on a tire?
What Causes Tire Sidewall Damage?
- Aging. Once a tire is past its service life, which ranges between 6-10 years depending on the model, you will start to notice signs of wear.
- Underinflated Tires. Tire wear patterns, such as those seen on the sides, are signs of poor inflation. ...
- Overloading. ...
- Poor Driving. ...
- A Case Of Vandalism. ...
Can I repair a blown sidewall in my tire?
If you experience sidewall tire damage, we recommend that you DON’T drive with your car or even REPAIR the tire. We recommend that you REPLACE the tire. The materials and the components that are used to construct the sidewall of your tire are not the same as the materials that are used to craft the tread of the tire.
Can You patch the sidewall of a tire?
Yes, you can patch a minor hole in the tire’s sidewall using a plug kit and a rubber cement that comes with it. However, enthusiast drivers and tire experts do not recommend it for safety reasons. The Tire Industry Association expresses that you must not repair any damage on the tire’s sidewall.
Can sidewall damage be repaired?
Technically, sidewalls can be repaired. In most cases, you can find someone willing to repair a sidewall. However, these repairs are not typically very effective and do not last very long. Even when repaired, you never know when your tire’s sidewall will give out again, potentially leading to a blowout and accident.
Tire Sidewall Damage: What Exactly Is It?
As earlier hinted, tire sidewall damage is any physical problem affecting your tire’s sidewall. This tire part extends from the shoulders to the point where it touches the rim. It is a large area, which is also soft, making it prone to wear.
What Causes Tire Sidewall Damage?
A crucial area to look at is the tire sidewall damage causes. The following are some of the pointers behind this type of tire degradation.
Is It Safe To Drive On A Tire With Sidewall Damage?
A quick look at tire sidewall damage Reddit discussions, you get a clear answer to this question. No, you can’t and shouldn’t drive on damaged tires. Instead, get a replacement. A cheaper option is to repair the damaged part, though it is a temporary solution. For instance, if you decide to patch it, it may open up after handling some distance.
Final Thought
Tire sidewall damage is a common occurrence on many vehicles. It is a sign of aged tires or poor driving. If you notice a degradation of this tire part, go for an immediate replacement. This article touches on this subject, with impressive giveaways on how to deal with tire sidewall issues.
Why do tires rot?
If you do not drive your vehicle often, you’re going to see that the tire has cracks, and the sidewall has started to rot. This means that the tires are not usable due to being unused for too long. Since there are cracks and the sidewall has started to rot, this means that air can start to escape out of the side.
What happens if you don't check your tires?
Most drivers only check things like their oil, and other components under the bonnet but the tire is usually missed. Performing maintenance on the tires is something that needs to be done and if not done it can lead to a lot of problems with the tire. Another frustrating situation that can happen to drivers is a punctured tire.
How to tell if a tire is broken?
You’ll need to look at the inner sidewall and check for any missing pieces of rubber or deep abrasions. If there’s a bulge in the sidewall, this can be an indication that there’s a broken cord in the tire. If left unnoticed, this can lead to tire failure. Sidewall damage is likely to occur after impact with the road.
What is sidewall on a car?
The sidewall is meant to absorb the shock that comes from the bumpy road. If the sidewall is damaged, the amount of shock that’s absorbed by the tire is limited – if you do notice any sidewall damage, it’s an unwritten rule to replace the whole tire. In most cases, the puncture is the sidewall will get worse if you leave them ...
How long does it take for a tire to dry out?
This process takes a very long time to happen and it occurs over several years. If your tires haven’t been replaced for 5-10 years, you should expect some dry rot and other tire damaged.
What is the groove on a tire?
The grooves within the tire tread allow the water in the tire to escape. On the side of the tire is the sidewall. Make sure that you know how to inspect tall parts of the tire for a puncture.
What are the parts of a tire called?
There are different components that come with a tire and the parts that contact the tire are called the tread. The belts are made up of a few layers and this consists of rubber, fiberglass, steels, and rayon. The grooves within the tire tread allow the water in the tire to escape. On the side of the tire is the sidewall.
Why does my tire sidewall hurt?
There are a lot of things that could cause tire sidewall damage. Mostly it is because of sharp objects you were hitting with the sidewall of the tire by accident. It can also be caused by age or driving around with too little air pressure in the tires.
What is sidewall damage?
What is a Sidewall Tire Damage? A sidewall tire damage is exactly what it sounds like; damage on the tire’s sidewall, meaning that the damage is on the side of the tire and not the tire tread. You can often spot one by seeing a deep scratch or a bubble on the tire’s sidewall. This can come from a small accident or if you drove too close to ...
How long does it take to repair a puncture on a car tire?
Luckily the most punctures are easy to repair and often repaired within minutes with a tire repair kit.
Where are the threads on a tire?
The threads are often located 1/8″ to 3/16″ (3mm to 4.5mm) into the tire, but to determine exactly if you need to replace the tire or not, you need to look at the damage itself.
Is sidewall tire damage covered by warranty?
No, sidewall tire damage is most often considered damage you made yourself and not a manufacturer problem, and therefore it is not covered under warranty in most cases. However, if you want to be sure, you can always ask or read through your warranty documents carefully because there are cases when you have a special car warranty.
Can you fix a sidewall tire?
A sidewall tire damage that reaches the threads should never be repaired because it damages the tire’s whole structure. If the tire’s sidewall has a bubble, it is not fixable either, and small punctures should either not be repaired. The only time you can glue together a sidewall tire damage if it is a super shallow scratch ...
Is it safe to drive with a sidewall tire?
A sidewall tire damage is not safe to drive around with. The sidewalls of the tires are much more sensitive than the tread area. In many cases, the damage is damaging the whole structure of the tire, and it can cause it to blow at any moment. This does also depend a little bit on how big the scratch or damage is.
How To Recognize Sidewall Cut?
While doing a visual inspection of the tires, check the sidewalls. There are two sidewalls in each tire, one on the outer side that can be easily seen and the other on the inner side, which is below the car’s undercarriage.
Can A Cut In The Sidewall Of A Tire Be Fixed?
The sidewall portion of the tire takes a lot of pressure when driving. Thus it is pretty crucial. A cut in the sidewall can only be repaired if it is ¼” long or less than that size.
How To Fix Sidewall Cut?
Remember that the only time you can repair a sidewall cut is when the scratch does not reach the threads of the tire. If the cut is severe, it is better to get advice from professionals, or even better, it is better to have the tire replaced.
Is A Cut Sidewall Dangerous?
A cut in a tire’s sidewall can indicate possible damage to the tire’s internal structure. In other words, if the cut in the sidewall is not just a cosmetic scratch but goes all the way, it can potentially weaken the sidewall.
Can You Drive With Sidewall Damage?
It is unsafe to drive with sidewall damage since the tire’s sidewalls are more delicate than the tread portion. Even if some cuts may not seem complicated on the outside, they might be causing the tire to deteriorate inside.
How Does The Tire Get Cut In Sidewall?
Sidewall cuts can be caused by various factors such as bumping into potholes, poor driving and hitting a curb, driving on a rocky road with sharp stones and debris, and in rare cases, when your tire is vandalised or intentionally destroyed by some shady individuals.
Summary
Sidewall cuts need not be taken lightly since they can exacerbate and lead to dangerous circumstances. It is crucial to recognize these cuts properly and to have them assessed by a professional.