When To Visit A Tire Repair Shop: 3 Tire Services Best Left To The Pros

Some tire services, like pressure checks and top-ups, can and should be performed at home on a regular basis. But others are best left to the experts at your local tire repair shop, as DIY attempts can be costly, inconvenient, and even unsafe.

That’s what today’s post is all about. Read on to learn which tire services are best left to the pros, or contact your local TIRECRAFT to speak directly with a technician at a tire repair shop near you.

When To Visit A Tire Repair Shop: 3 Tire Services Best Left To The Pros

1.  Tire Repairs

Google “tire repairs kits” and you’ll see hundreds of plug-and-sealant products marketed as being safe, cost-effective, and easy-to-use. Most claim to work on both steel belted and radial tubeless tires, and they don’t even require you to remove the tire from the vehicle or rim.

Sounds great, but are they all they’re cracked up to be? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Even if you buy one of the more expensive kits on the market, which will cost you $80 to $150, you should think twice before attempting a DIY repair.

Why? Because:

• Most drivers cannot accurately diagnose tire damage, and some might attempt to repair and drive on tires that are no longer safe to use
• Improper tire repairs can lead to more serious damage, including uneven tread wear and tire blowout
• Some DIY repair kits, like “tire slime” sealants, leave a big mess that makes it harder for tire service professionals to do their job once you reach a shop
• Many DIY tire repair kits are unsuitable for cold regions—in Ontario winters, they can freeze in the can, and even if you manage to defrost it, the product could refreeze inside your tire, knocking your wheel out of balance
• Some DIY tire repair kits can disrupt tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) sensors

At best, a DIY tire repair might last long enough to get you home or to a local repair shop, but in that time, you could do all sorts of damage. It’s much safer to pay for a tow, especially when you consider that they cost about as much as a high-end repair kit.

“A plug by itself or a patch by itself is not an acceptable repair because the plug does not permanently seal the inner liner and the patch does not fill the void left by the penetrating object, which allows water to enter the body of the tire and start corroding the steel belts,” states the Tire Industry Association website. “The use of sealants or emergency inflators that contain a sealant are not recommended as long-term solutions to a flat tire for the same reasons.”

2.  Tire Retreading

When done by professionals, tire retreading is safe, environmentally friendly, and extremely cost-effective. But it’s definitely not something you should try at home.

Tire retreading is a pretty heavy-duty process, involving:

• Inspection to assess the damage
• Buffing to create proper texturing and uniformity for strong bonds
• Repair to ensure the casing is in proper condition
• Extrusion to place the uncured cushion gum rubber with uniform thickness
• Precision tread application
• Enveloping and curing
• Final inspection to ensure quality standards

Would you believe that some people attempt to retread tires on their own? It’s true! There are some alarming videos on YouTube showing DIY processes, none of which any reputable experts would recommend you attempt.

DIY retreads put you at high risk of tire blowouts and other catastrophic failures, and the equipment required to attempt a retread will cost you a fortune—a job well-done requires a lot more than some rubber adhesive and a new strip of tread, after all.

3.  Tire Alignments

Tire alignments can be completed at home, but only if you have the right tools, equipment, and expertise.

If you don’t, expect:

• High start-up costs as you purchase all of the necessary equipment
• Poor results resulting in excess tire wear, poor fuel efficiency, steering issues, and performance drop-offs
• High opportunity costs as you spend hours learning how to complete this tire service, perform the work, and backtrack to correct any mistakes

Get A Free Quote From A Tire Repair Shop Near Me

With more than 300+ TIRECRAFT tire repair shops conveniently located around the country, and more ways to save money with customer rewards, free tire repairs, and exclusive promotions, there’s really no reason to risk a DIY tire repair, retread, or alignment at home.

To get a free quote from our tire repair shop, use the Find a TIRECRAFT tool on our website.

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