Repair or replace: we should say this plainly first

We do not sell tire repair. This page exists so people searching for a flat repair get an honest answer and a place to go, not a page pretending we offer something we do not.

We do not sell repair. Here is where to go

If a shop inspects your tire and confirms it is repairable, that work is done by a tire shop with a patch-and-plug repair counter, a mobile tire repair service if one operates in your area, or a national tire retailer's service bay. We only book replacement, so if you want a repair, one of those is the right call, not us.

How to tell if a puncture is usually repairable

The US Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) sets the repair rules most shops follow (read 2026-09-17): a repair is possible when the damage is in "the tread area only" and the puncture is "no greater than 1/4 inch (6mm) in diameter". The tire must come off the wheel for an inspection inside, and a correct repair uses a plug to fill the hole and a patch to seal the inner liner; a plug alone is not a correct repair. In practice: a small puncture in the tread area, away from the shoulder or sidewall, is the kind of damage a repair can typically address. Damage in the sidewall or shoulder, structural damage, larger gashes, and tires that were driven while significantly underinflated or flat are generally treated as not repairable and are replaced instead. Temporary spares and run-flat tires carry their own, often stricter, repair rules that vary by manufacturer. Source: summary of NHTSA and tire-industry repair guidance, accessed 2026-09-16.

Why this matters before you request anything

If your tire is a straightforward tread puncture, a repair is usually the smaller job, and we would rather send you to the right shop than book you a full replacement you did not need. If the damage is in the sidewall or shoulder, is a larger gash, or the tire ran flat for any distance, replacement is the honest recommendation regardless of who does it, and that is where we can help.

What we do not do

We do not patch, plug, or otherwise repair tires. We do not inspect a tire over the phone or from a photo to make the repair-versus-replace call for you; that inspection has to happen in person, either at a repair shop or during our visit if replacement turns out to be the answer.

Questions people ask {#faq}

• Can your technician just patch my tire while they are there for something else? No, we do not carry out repairs even as an add-on; it is outside our scope.
• What if I am not sure whether mine is repairable? A repair shop can tell you after a visual and pressure check; we cannot make that call remotely.
• Is a plugged tire as safe as a new one? USTMA says a correct repair needs a plug and a patch, done with the tire off the wheel; a plug alone does not meet that rule. Ask the shop doing the repair about their own warranty and limits.
• If a shop tells me it needs to be replaced, can I come to you? Yes, request a replacement and mention what the shop found.

When a repair is the better fit

When the puncture is in the tread area, within repair guidelines, and the tire has usable tread and no sidewall damage. A tire shop or a mobile repair service handles that; we do not sell repair.

What we will not say

We will not say that we are better rated than anyone, or that a slot is available before we have confirmed it. Our own scope is replacement tires mounted and balanced at your address; everything else is described so you can choose it elsewhere.

Why book this way

• Your price online in minutes. No callback, no estimate visit, no waiting for someone to get back to you. Typically the quickest way to book this service.
• One all-in price before any contact. Of the national mobile tire services we read, only Tire Rack publishes an installation price; the others quote after you contact them or reach checkout (read 2026-09-16 and 2026-09-17).
• One point of contact from your request to the finished job. We work with a local partner and answer for the result.
• You pay only after the price and your booking are confirmed.

Get my price

If replacement, not repair, turns out to be the answer, request a visit and we will confirm a price before you commit. Checkout is a labeled preview until card payments are enabled.

Sources

• US Tire Manufacturers Association, "Tire Repair Basics", https://www.ustires.org/tire-care-safety/tire-repair-basics, accessed 2026-09-17.