Is it better to patch a blown tire or just replace it outright? My budget took a hit last week.

So this happened Tuesday on the way home from work in Nashville. Ran over something sharp on I-24 and my right rear tire went flat fast. I pulled over and the sidewall had a gash maybe 2 inches long. My first thought was patch it for like $20 at the shop down the road. But then my buddy said don't bother with sidewall damage, it's a safety risk and you'll just end up buying a new one anyway. New tire is gonna run me $120 installed. So I'm stuck between spending the $20 now and hoping it holds for a few more months or dropping the full amount and being safe. What do you all do when something like this happens? Do you patch and pray or just replace and move on?

2 comments

2 Comments

cameron_webb7d ago

Man that sucks, I feel you on the budget thing. When that happened to me on I-75 last year I was dead broke and tried to patch a sidewall gash just like you said, but it started leaking air again three days later in a parking lot. I wasted the $20 and still had to buy the new tire, so it cost me more in the end. Your buddy's right on this one, sidewall damage is sketchy and not worth the risk of a blowout at highway speeds.

gonzalez.vera7d ago

Ugh, I was totally that person who thought a little patch and some glue could fix anything. Had a similar gash on my old sedan's sidewall last spring and I was so stubborn about not buying a new tire. Ended up with the same situation you described - it held for a week or so, then let go right as I was pulling onto the freeway. Scared me straight, honestly. Never again with the sidewall patches, it's just not worth the gamble even when money is tight.