Punctures
Where the nail went in decides whether it can be mended
A nail through the middle of the tread, in a tyre that hasn’t been driven flat, is usually a repair — plugged and patched from the inside, properly, rather than a bung squeezed in from the outside. A nail in the shoulder or anywhere near the wall is not, and you’ll hear that on the drive rather than after you’ve paid. It’s your tyre; you get the verdict either way.
How the job runs
- The wheel comes off and the inside gets looked at, not just the head of the nail
- Mended from the inside, and only within the band of tread that can take it
- Shoulder, wall, or a tyre already run flat: a new one, and you hear why
- If it is a replacement, the figure comes before the spanner does
Ring it through, or send it over and we will come back to you.
Asked a lot round here
Can every puncture be mended?
No, and anyone promising otherwise is guessing. A hole too wide, somebody else’s plug from last year, or damage near the wall all mean a new tyre. We would rather lose the repair than send you up the M1 on one that opens.
It holds air but goes down overnight. Worth a look?
Yes. A slow one is usually a nail that hasn’t worked its way out yet, or a corroded rim seat. Keep the pressure topped up and don’t run it flat, because that ruins a tyre that could have been saved.