| $ DIY tire repair kits: $5 - $50 | $ $ Professional repair: $5 - $40 (each tire). | $ $ $ Single tire replacement: $50 - $750+ |
Every car owner has experienced a flat tire at least once in their life, and they are a real inconvenience.
A flat tire occurs when the tire loses a significant amount of the air pressure inside of it.
Flat tires can occur by many things, and the deflated pneumatic tire can even cause the wheel’s rim to touch the ground.
If a flat tire occurs during driving, this could cause an accident due to the loss of control of the vehicle or cause irreparable damage to the tire.
Table of Contents
How Long Do Tires Last?
This will depend on the quality, type, and brand of tires you have, but most tires can last up to 60,000 miles.
Depending on factors like driving habits, weather conditions, or damage, tires can wear out prematurely; usually, front tires wear out faster than back tires.
And, if they get heavily damaged, you’ll have to replace them before expected.
What Can Cause A Flat Tire?
It is known that the most common cause of a flat tire is puncturing; tires get damaged when passing over puncturing or sharp object while driving, which lets the air escape from it;
But besides the damage, flat tires can be caused by many other things.
This article by Firestone explains some reasons why a car keeps getting flat tires, which are:
- Tire age.
- Dry rot.
- Faulty valve stem.
- Leaky tire bead.
- Faulty Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
Whether the tire was damaged by a sharp object or the valves are damaged, the level of damage will determine if the tire deflates slowly or rapidly.
What Affects The Costs Of Repairing Or Replacing A Flat Tire?
The factors that can affect the cost of replacing and repairing a flat tire are: labor costs, the type, year, make, and model of the vehicle, the type of tires it needs, tire quality and brand, and if it’s professionally repaired or DIY.
DIY tire repair kits can cost $5 to $50, depending on how big the hole or damage is and if it includes a sealant and a pump or compressor to re-inflate the tire; these kits usually create a temporary fix on the outside of the tire so it can be professionally repaired after.
Professionally fixing a flat tire can cost $5 to $40 for standard tires (each tire).
Running with flat tires can provoke more damage to them, making the repairing costs escalate or having to replace them in the end; there’s also the possibility of negatively affecting the wheels, brakes, and suspension system.
If the flat tire can’t be fixed, a single tire replacement can cost $50 to $200 for a standard car; pickup or SUV tires cost more, from $60 to $750 or more depending on the type of tire you want.
Top Companies
You can get a flat tire repaired at most gas stations, tire stores like Firestone or Goodyear, automotive shops or departments like Meineke, Pep Boys, Costco, Walmart or Sears, and independent local repair shops.
Also, you can get tire repair kits from stores with automotive departments like Walmart and online retailers like AutoZone and Amazon.
Things To consider
Before Buying
- First, check the air pressure of your tires to see if they have lost some air.
- If your tire is flat, look at it and try to identify the damage. If you can’t locate the damage just by looking, or the damage is not because of a puncture, you won’t be able to fix this problem by yourself, so it’s necessary to take it to a professional mechanic.
When Buying
- The first thing to do when you have a flat tire is to remove it to fix it then. Here’s a video that shows you how to replace a flat tire.
- You can get your flat tire professionally fixed or attempt to fix it yourself, as there are many DIY options. Here’s a video by ChrisFix that shows you how to repair a flat tire yourself.
- If the damage is so significant that you need to buy a new tire, the replacement must match the other three tires.
- If your tires are worn out due to time and use, experts recommend replacing them in pairs or all four tires at once.
After Buying
- After or repairing a flat tire, wheel balancing should be performed. Some stores include it in their price, but this service can cost $6 to $50 per wheel.
- After experiencing a flat tire, it’s good to know some preventing measures for it to not happen again, if possible, like:
- Using the proper tire size, type, and load capacity (or load range).
- Proper inflation pressure
- Regular tire rotation and balancing.
- Regular inspection.
- Proper tire repair.
- Good driving habits.
- Also, it’s a good idea always to have a spare tire and the necessary tools to change it in case you have an emergency and need to replace a flat tire.
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