Puncture Repair

So you’ve had a flat tyre, what now?

The most immediate need when you have a flat tyre is to get back on the road. You will usually have to address this by removing the punctured tyre and fitting your spare, safely out of the way of any traffic.

Instructions on how to remove the punctured tyre and fitting the spare can be found in your vehicle’s owner's manual.

However, it is critically important to organise for the punctured tyre to be repaired as soon as possible. This is especially the case if your vehicle's spare tyre is a space saver or speed limited.

What causes a flat tyre?

A flat tyre is generally caused by a puncture to a tubeless tyre’s casing, allowing air to escape and causing the tyre to deflate. Punctures are usually caused by sharp objects like small nails, screws, glass shards and other road debris. A flat tyre can also be caused through a damaged sidewall or leaking valve.

Can my tyre be repaired?

If a tyre can be repaired, can only established once the tyre is stripped from the wheel. This allows for an inspection of the damage and the structural integrity of the tyre.

Although some information would indicate that a tyre can be repaired, the damage must be assessed for the size and angle of the puncture, along with the internal inspection, to see if a repair is possible.

If a tyre suffers from a major puncture to the tread, on the tyre sidewall or the shoulder it will be deemed unrepairable. If this happens, a new tyre will be needed to replace the punctured one.

How do we repair a puncture?

The function of a puncture repair is twofold. Firstly, it seals the tyre to ensure that it will hold air. Secondly, a repair will seal the tyre's casing to prevent moisture or contaminants from entering the tyre casing or structure which can lead to tread separation or further damage.

At Bob Jane T-Marts we follow the Australian Standard for puncture repairs. The tyre must be removed from the rim to perform a correct puncture repair. This allows for a complete inspection of the damage and ensures the plug used to repair the puncture bonds properly with the tyre casing to make it airtight. The repair is made from the inside out.

A puncture repair usually takes between 30 & 45 minutes to complete. The process involves removing the flat tyre from the rim, completing an inspection of the internal components of the tyre, assessing and repairing the puncture before refitting it to the rim and balancing the tyre on the wheel. It is then fitted to your vehicle and your spare placed back into storage.

If you have any questions regarding tyre repairs, please speak to one of our expert staff.

There are a range of Run Flat Tyres which are deemed not repairable by the tyre manufacturer. If you are unsure, please check with your local Bob T-Marts as to the specific manufacturer recommendations for your Run Flat Tyres.

Read our guide on Run Flat Tyres for more information or consider our Road Hazard Warranty for your future peace of mind!