Puncture Repair or New Tyre? What the Rules Say

A nail in the tyre does not always mean buying a new one. Many punctures can be repaired safely – but only when the damage is in the right place and the tyre has not been damaged by driving on it flat.

How we decide: the British Standard

In the UK, car tyre repairs are carried out to the British Standard BS AU 159. In short, a puncture can usually be repaired when:

• it is in the central part of the tread (the repairable area), not near the shoulder or in the sidewall
• the hole is no larger than 6 mm across
• the tyre has not been driven on while flat – this damages the inside of the sidewall
• the tyre still has legal tread and no other serious damage
• there are no earlier repairs too close to the new damage

We remove the tyre from the wheel and inspect it from the inside – this is the only way to be sure it is safe. A plug pushed in from the outside is not a proper repair.

When you will need a new tyre

• the puncture is in the sidewall or on the shoulder
• the hole is too large, or it is a cut rather than a puncture
• the inside of the tyre is damaged from running flat
• the tread is close to the legal limit anyway

If a tyre cannot be repaired, we will show you why and give you a price for a replacement before we do anything.

Run-flat tyres

Many manufacturers do not allow run-flat tyres to be repaired, because it is hard to know how far they were driven without air. We follow the manufacturer's advice for your tyre.

What to do when you get a puncture

• Stop somewhere safe as soon as you notice – driving on a flat tyre can ruin it.
• Use your spare, or the repair kit supplied with the car, to get to a garage at low speed.
• Tell us if you used tyre sealant – it is useful to know before we remove the tyre.

Puncture repair in Weymouth

We repair punctures while you wait where it is safe to do so. See puncture repair for prices, or book online. If you need a new tyre instead, see our tyre fitting & supply service.