Recently I managed to puncture the 2 year old, never been on the road, spare tire for my utility trailer. The spare was laying loose in the trailer under a load of scrap lumber and I suspect a small nail pierced the sidewall. THere is no visible hole but once I reinflate the tire the leak is obvious. It is my understanding that tire shops do not repair sidewall punctures. Why - is it because the sidewall flexes more than the tread? THis is a relatively inexpensive 13 inch passenger car tire. It goes against my grain to throw something away that visually still has a full life left. I am inclined to put a patch on the sidewall but I do not want to do this if the risk is too great - not that I have a bead breaker / tire dismount tool to do this with. BUt my local Harbor Freight just happens to have such an animal on sale right now for $40 - about the same cost as a new tire. Looking for some rational thought why I should not spend just as much money to repair something as to replace it (but have the tool left over, cluttering up my storeage space). TIA. Off in Google land awaiting your responses.
- posted
18 years ago