Tire Repair FAQ's

TRIB is frequently asked which is the better type of puncture repair, one or two-piece. If properly applied both types work extremely well. There is a difference however, in how they can be used. A one-piece repair is appropriate if the angle of penetration through the tire does not exceed 25 degrees. When a single piece repair is installed with the stem angle at greater than 25 degrees, the stem often breaks off at the patch. A two-piece repair can be used regardless of the penetration angle. Q: Is it illegal to install a nail hole repair in a steer tire? A: No. There are no federal restrictions on puncture repairs in steer tires. As long as the injury meets the limitations for a nail hole repair and the repair is done in accordance with industry recommended practices, it can be repaired in a steer tire and the tire returned to service. Q: How many repair units can be installed in a radial truck tire? A: As long as the repair units do not overlap and the same radial body cable is not injured more than once, a radial truck tire can receive an unlimited number of repairs. Fleets have different specifications on the number of allowable repairs, so it's important to check with the customer before investing the necessary time and materials to repair multiple injuries. Q: When applying a nail hole repair unit, is it acceptable to clean the buffed surface with rubber buffer or liner cleaner? A: Most tire repair material manufacturers recommend rubber buffer for cleaning the liner of a tire prior to buffing for the repair unit, and cleaning the buffed area with a steel or brass brush. Patch Rubber company allows the use of its liner cleaner on a buffed surface. Check with your supplier before using liner cleaner on any buffed surface. Q: Does a shop really need the expense of a safety cage to do radial repairs? A: There is no fail-safe procedure for detecting zipper ruptures in the side-walls of radial tires. "It will never happen to me" is an invitation for carelessness that may lead to disaster. AND, furthermore it's a Federal Law! If you are ever sued, and it is discovered that you were not using a proper tire safety cage, YOU LOSE! Be informed, please read all about ZipperRuptures by viewing the link shown below. Q: Is the blue triangle that identifies section repairs, (the"bulge"), in commercial truck tires mentioned in any Federal Regulation? A: The blue triangle is optional for identifying tires with section repairs. It is mentioned in the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance/CVSA Inspection Procedures as follows: "A bulge due to a section repair is allowed not to exceed 3/8" (10mm) in height. This bulge may sometimes be identified by a blue triangular label in the immediate vicinity." Police officers who are not familiar with the CVSA Standards sometimes site truckers for the bulge. If this happens, please contact, TRIB, toll free at 888/473-8732. Q: Should tires be inflated with or without the valve core installed? A: Tires should always be inflated without the valve core. With the valve core installed in the stem during the inflation, the task of safely deflating the tire becomes more complicated if the clip-on air chuck dislodges from the valve stem. As long as the valve core is removed, technicians can deflate the tire without approaching it. Q: I understand that the maximum allowable injury for a nail hole repair in a large radial truck tire is 3/8"(10mm), but I don't understand why a 3/8"(10mm) injury in the sidewall requires a more costly section repair. Please explain. A: The tread area of a medium radial truck tire features four to five layers of steel cord-three to four belt plies and one body ply-while the sidewall has only one steel body ply. Given those features, the tread area is heavily reinforced so that the repair unit for a 3/8"(10mm) puncture really only has to seal the injury. The sidewall offers much less reinforcement and flexes more than the tread, so it calls for the extra support of the larger unit required of a section repair.

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