Puncture Repairs in Tyne and Wear

Nails, screws and sharp debris are the usual culprits. Sometimes the tyre goes down quickly, and sometimes it loses air slowly over days, so you notice only a low pressure warning or a tyre that keeps needing topping up.

At Banks of the Tyne in Hebburn we repair punctures where it is safe to do so, and advise replacement where it is not. We do not promise a repair before the tyre has been looked at.

What to do when you get a puncture

If a tyre goes flat while driving, slow down gradually, pull over somewhere safe and stop. Driving on a deflated tyre damages the inner structure and can ruin a tyre that would otherwise have been repairable, so avoid it.

If you have a spare, use it as the handbook describes. If you have a sealant kit, treat it as a temporary measure and tell us you used it. Do not carry on for miles.

How a proper repair is done

The wheel is taken off and the tyre removed from the rim so we can inspect the inside as well as the outside. A hole that looks small from the tread can hide internal damage that is only visible once the tyre is off.

If the damage is in a repairable area, the hole is prepared and sealed from the inside so it is properly closed, not just plugged from the outside. The wheel is then balanced, refitted and checked for pressure.

• Tyre removed and inspected inside and out
• Damage assessed for position and size
• Hole sealed from the inside
• Wheel balanced and refitted
• Pressure checked and set

When a repair is not possible

Not every puncture can be repaired. Damage to the sidewall or the edge of the tread, large holes, cuts, bulges, or tyres that have been driven flat are generally not suitable, because the structure is compromised. Tyres that are already worn to the limit or badly aged are also poor candidates.

In those cases replacement is the safe option. We will explain why, and if a repair is not right we say so plainly. Check the current rules and your handbook if you are unsure.

What affects the outcome and the cost

The position of the hole, the tyre type and whether it has been driven on while flat all matter. Run-flat tyres and cars with pressure sensors can need extra care, and a seized or damaged wheel nut can add time.

A repaired tyre should be kept under watch. Check the pressure over the following days and tell us if it keeps losing air, as the leak may be elsewhere, such as the valve or the rim.