Knowing When to Repair vs Replace Damaged Tires

Tires can be tricky business. When you have a vehicle, the kind of tires determine how far you can travel, where you can travel, and what you can travel across. Tire damage is another bit of tricky business, as some tires can easily be repaired, while some simply have to be replaced. But when can you repair a tire versus replacing it? Well, that’s what we’re here to help you with today. Before you commit to shopping for new Jeep tires, it’s important to know when a damaged tire can simply be repaired.

For instance, some of the damage your tire can incur includes punctures, cuts, sidewall damage, tread wear, and a complete blowout. What type of damage you have will determine whether you can repair the tire since not all types of tire damage are the same. Some punctures or slashes require more than just patches, and you may need the tire replaced altogether due to the amount of damage the tire has incurred if the treads are worn down or the sidewalls have lost integrity.

Types of Tire Damage

Regular Wear and Old Age

When it comes to tires, there is a lot to consider because there is not just a single way for a tire to get damaged. The most common form of damage is the wear and tear on the tread that takes place whenever you drive the vehicle. Even ignoring any off-road traversal, simply driving your Jeep on the road will wear down the rubber tread on the tire over time. Eventually, the tires will lose their grip on the asphalt, which can cause you to lose control of your Jeep. However, making sure your tires are correctly inflated, combined with regular tire rotations and alignments, will help your tires last longer.

Even if you don’t drive much, old age will eventually damage a tire. Exposure to sunlight and extreme weather can cause tires to crack and then split. Even if there is not yet visible cracking, you will want to replace old tires because they lose flexibility with age, increasing the chance of a blowout. Most tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires after six years, and you should never continue to use a tire for more than ten years. You can tell a tire’s age by looking at the numbers printed on its sidewall, but you may want to ask our tire experts to help decipher the code.

Punctures, Cuts, and Sidewall Damage

Punctures and slashes are another common type of tire damage. These commonly occur when riding over sharp or jagged objects, such as metal, glass, rocks, and other hard or sharp surfaces. A puncture will deflate the tire, while a slash might only damage the outside. However, slashes can be more dangerous because they damage the integrity of the tire, which can eventually lead to a blowout. Of course, a puncture can also lead to a blowout if you drive on an underinflated tire, but they are generally easier to catch before they become dangerous.

Another significant factor when it comes to tire damage is sidewall damage. This is caused by the side of the tire making contact with objects. On the road, this may result from hitting potholes or running into curbs, which can rub or damage the side of the tire. Abrasive contact with the side of the tire can result in a split, tear, or cut. When traveling off-road with a Jeep, sidewall damage is more common, which is why proper mud-terrain and all-terrain tires have reinforced designs to accommodate the unforgiving nature of off-road traversal. Sidewall damage such as splits or tears––while it may not seem bad from looking at it––can eventually result in a blowout.

Identifying Tire Damage

A huge part of being able to address tire damage is being able to identify it. Some types of tire damage can be identified through built-in technology like the tire pressure monitoring systems and low tire alerts that Jeep includes in many of its models. These tools provide you with feedback if a tire is lower than it should be, which can often be a sign of a puncture.

Additionally, you can simply examine the tires with your own eyes––if you notice slits, scratches, tears, uneven wear, or punctures on the face of the tire or on the sidewalls, then it obviously means the tire needs to be repaired or replaced. While it is easy to take your tires for granted, it is a good idea to look them over at least once a month for signs of damage. This doesn’t have to be a complicated process and can be a simple once-over when checking the tire pressures.

When to Repair a Tire

If you have a tire punctured from a loose nail, a shard of glass, or sharp debris, it is sometimes possible to temporarily fix the problem yourself using an off-the-shelf repair kit. Basic tire plugs are inexpensive and used to briefly plug a small puncture in your tire. However, that is a temporary solution, and you don’t want to risk a blowout by riding on a tire with a temporary plug kit keeping it intact. It’s best to have a dealership permanently repair the problem with a high-quality plugging procedure.

There are a few differences between a DIY plug and a patch installed by a dealership. With a plug kit, you are simply pulling a rubber plug through the hole and gluing it in place from the outside. But when you bring a damaged tire to us, we will remove the tire from the wheel and install a special patch from the inside. This permanently fixes the tire, so you don’t have to worry about it failing in the future. We also then remount and balance the tire to take the weight of the plug into account, keeping everything rotating smoothly to prevent unwanted vibrations when driving at higher speeds.

Replacing Damaged Tires

Even though you can often repair a tire that has been damaged, some types of damage can’t be fixed. Generally, punctures inside the tread pattern are safe to repair, but other types of damage usually require replacing the tire. Obviously, wear and tear and old age cannot be repaired, although we can help extend the life of your tires with regular tire rotations and alignments. We often have customers wonder why we can’t repair punctures to the sidewall or even the outside edge of the tread pattern, but the reason is that the tire is much thinner in those areas and cannot safely support a plug.

When replacing a tire, it is critical that the new tire matches your existing tires. While it may be tempting to simply buy the cheapest replacement tire that you can find, mismatched tires are not safe to drive on since they will react differently when you try to accelerate, brake, or turn. Mismatched tires can also confuse the four-wheel drive system and other safety technologies in your Jeep. If you have a four-wheel drive model, in particular, you don’t want to mix old and new tires even if they are from the same manufacturer because worn tires have a different diameter than new tires, putting stress on the drivetrain.

Your Next Steps for Dealing With Damaged Tires

If you have a damaged tire, it’s time to get it repaired or replaced. Here at Faricy Chrysler Jeep, we can help you identify exactly what you need for your Jeep. Whether you need all-season tires, mud-terrain tires, summer tires, winter tires, or all-terrain tires, we have the Jeep tires you are looking for. We can also handle tire repair. If the damage is manageable and the tire can be salvaged we have permanent repair solutions available for punctures. We also offer complete tire replacements for major sidewall damage and worn-out tread. Check out our online service scheduler and tire finder to repair or replace your Jeep’s tires today.