Repair when the damage is minor and central; replace when it isn't. A small puncture in the middle of the tread on a healthy tyre is usually a safe, cheap repair. Sidewall damage, big holes, perished rubber, low tread or a tyre that's been driven flat all point to replacement. The deciding factor is always safety, not cost.
Repair if…
- The puncture is in the central tread (the minor repair area).
- The hole is 6mm or smaller, with no other damage.
- The tyre has plenty of tread and isn't aged out.
- It wasn't driven on while flat.
Replace if…
- There's sidewall or shoulder damage, a bulge or a cut.
- The tread is near the legal limit anyway.
- The tyre is over five or six years old or cracked.
- It's a run-flat driven while deflated.
The cost angle
A repair is far cheaper than a new tyre, so it's always worth checking whether a repair is possible. But a marginal repair on a worn or old tyre is false economy, you'll be buying a tyre soon anyway, and the repair won't restore lost safety. See typical repair costs and new tyre prices.
Let us assess it
We'll give you a straight answer. Our mobile team inspects the tyre at your location across London and Birmingham and only recommends replacement when it's genuinely needed, otherwise we repair it on the spot. Book an inspection.
