How to Tell If Damage Qualifies

Is your tire damaged? You might be wondering whether or not it can be safely repaired, or if you’ll need to find a replacement. Tire repairs can be a great way to save money but aren’t the safest option for all kinds of damage to tires. Use this guide to determine if your tire’s damage will qualify for repair at Big Apple Automotive in Victorville, California. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to our experts!

Has the Tire Been Repaired Before?

The first thing we’ll want to know before moving forward with tire repair is whether or not the tire has been repaired before. If so, it’s not safe to do a second patch. The structural integrity of the tire is weakened, so you’ll need to replace it with a new one.

How is the Tire Damaged?

Did you hit a nail? Or is the tire gashed, cut, or shredded? Only punctures smaller than ¼-inch in diameter can be safely patched. Any other kind of damage disqualifies the tire for repair.

Has the Tire Lost Air Pressure?

The best-case scenario for a tire repair is a puncture from a nail or screw that is still in the tire. If you remove the object, it may release air pressure from the tire. Driving on a flat tire weakens the structural integrity of the tire, rendering it unsafe for repairs. If your tire still has significant air pressure, our technicians can patch it.

Where is the Damage?

Is the puncture within the tread area? Or is it on the sidewall of the tire? Only damage to the tread area can be repaired.

Is the Tire Tread Low?

Finally, we’ll want to make sure we don’t go through the repair process to fix a tire that’s unfit for continued operation. If your tire tread is low, you need a replacement with better tread for safe handling and traction.

Ask the Experts

Still have questions? Ask our experts in Victorville, California to take a look. Big Apple Automotive is here to help!

Contact Us online today at any of our 3 convenient Victor Valley locations!