Tires Question

I got a nail in one of my tires (left rear). The nail entered the
tire between the tread and teh sidewall, sort of on an angle into the
tire.

The tire retailer said they could not repair the tire because it did
not go in flush at the bottom (tread area), so I had to buy a new one
($150!!).

Does this sound right to you? If so, why could this tire not be
repaired? What necessitate my buying a new one?

Thanks.

Chuck

(Chuck Hildebrandt) writes:

> I got a nail in one of my tires (left rear). The nail entered the
> tire between the tread and teh sidewall, sort of on an angle into the
> tire.
>
> The tire retailer said they could not repair the tire because it did
> not go in flush at the bottom (tread area), so I had to buy a new one
> ($150!!).
>
> Does this sound right to you? If so, why could this tire not be
> repaired? What necessitate my buying a new one?

Well, the edge of the belt is a vulnerable spot. Damage there can
cause the belts to separate, which is a Bad Thing. That said, this
isn't guaranteed to happen, and will happen slowly. The tire will get
less and less round, so you will probably have the tire replaced
because of the vibration long before there is any danger of losing the
tread. I once had a Michelin repaired in that spot; the shop warned me
about the possibility the repair wouldn't last, but it lasted for the
life of that tire.

--
-Stephen H. Westin
Any information or opinions in this message are mine: they do not
represent the position of Cornell University or any of its sponsors.

You can gamble with your life and the folks driving next to you life by
having a sidewall repaired.

Sometimes they will hold, sometimes they won't.

The sidewalls flex too much for a stable patch usually.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Chuck Hildebrandt wrote:
>
> I got a nail in one of my tires (left rear). The nail entered the
> tire between the tread and teh sidewall, sort of on an angle into the
> tire.
>
> The tire retailer said they could not repair the tire because it did
> not go in flush at the bottom (tread area), so I had to buy a new one
> ($150!!).
>
> Does this sound right to you? If so, why could this tire not be
> repaired? What necessitate my buying a new one?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Chuck