Tire repair isn’t just about stopping a leak—it’s about restoring safety and performance. Our technicians follow a rigorous, 18‑step process (organized into five parts) so every repair meets strict industry standards.
Schedule an appointment or find a store near you.
We only repair a tire when it meets safety criteria. A tire is considered non‑repairable if any of the following apply:
The repairable area begins 1/2" in from the edge of the tread, where the steel belts are present. If a repair isn’t safe, we’ll explain why and walk you through replacement options.
Learn when to replace your tires
1) Inspect the damage
- Remove the object (never using an awl), then probe the injury to assess size, angle, and repairability.
2) Confirm the tire is repairable
- We verify the tire meets all safety criteria before proceeding.
3) Prepare the injury
- Clean the area with pre‑buff cleaner
- Scrape the inner liner
- Ream the injury with a carbide cutter
- Insert and cement the plug stem
- Trim and contour the stem
- Buff about a 3"x3" patch area and brush to a uniform texture
4) Patch‑plug repair (inside‑out)
- Apply quick‑dry patch cement and allow 30–45 seconds to dry
- Center and apply a universal patch over the plug stem
- Stitch from center outward, then at 90°, to remove air pockets
- Apply repair sealer over the buffed area and patch edges (leaving the center clear to show the quality checkmark)
5) Final trimming and quality check
- Cut the plug stem flush with the tread
- Discard excess plug material (never reused)
- Perform a final inspection to confirm a proper seal
Improper repairs can lead to air loss, structural damage, or tire failure. That’s why we: - Don’t cut corners - Don’t perform exterior‑only repairs (plug‑only or patch‑only) - Don’t repair unsafe tires
We’ll help you choose the right tire for your vehicle, driving style, and budget—no pressure. Treadwell, the same smart tire‑matching tool our experts use in‑store, can get you personalized picks in minutes.
If a tire you want needs to be ordered, you may see statuses like: - Quantity In Stock: Available now at your selected store - Available as Soon as: We’ll source it from suppliers by an estimated date - Out of Stock: We can still help; timelines may vary
See how we communicate product availability statuses.
Frequently requested: Tire inspections and flat‑tire repairs are available at your nearest Discount Tire location. Use the store locator to see hours and schedule a visit.