Every customer asks the same question when we take the wheel off: is it fixable? There are clear rules, and they are worth knowing before anyone quotes you.
Repairable: tread punctures
A nail or screw in the tread area, with a hole under about a quarter of an inch, can be repaired from the inside with a combined patch and plug. Done properly, that repair lasts the life of the tire.
Not repairable: sidewall and shoulder
The sidewall flexes constantly. No patch holds there. Damage to the sidewall or the shoulder means replacement — anyone who offers to plug it is selling you a risk.
Not repairable: driven flat
Driving even a short distance on an empty tire shreds the inner liner. From the outside it can look fine. From the inside you can see the rubber dust. That tire is finished.
Tread depth decides the rest
If the tread is close to the wear bars, repairing it buys weeks, not years. In that case a used tire in good condition is usually the better value, and we carry them in 16" to 20".
We will always tell you which of these you are in before charging for anything.