The repairable area 'T' is defined as a percentage of the tyre's nominal section width and this is dependant on the type and size of the tyre. If your tyre can be repaired our tyre technician will remove any objects, nails, stones, glass, embedded in the rubber and carry out the puncture repair. The tyre will then be refitted to the vehicle and the wheel will be balanced.
Frequently asked questions about punctures
Is my puncture repairable?
The "repairable area" of a tyre is designated as that where a repair can be carried out to British Standards (currently BS AU 159).
Because a tyre curves away from the middle of where the tyre rolls on the road, only the centre area is repairable. Sidewalls are not repairable.
The repairable area is defined as a percentage of the tyre's "nominal" section width and thus varies by the size of the tyre. The repairable area is based on the centre line, eg. 82mm means 41mm on either side of the centre line of the tyre.
Also, the tyre may not be repairable if the hole is larger than 3mm or there is other internal damage to the tyre.
What causes punctures?
Hard impact, such as driving over a pothole or hitting a kerb, can cause a tyre to go flat. Also, tyres can be literally punctured by objects like glass, nails or stone, which can make a small hole leading to a slow puncture.
A succession of harsh winters has led to the rapid deterioration of British roads and caused millions of pounds worth of damage being caused to tyres and other car parts.
Why are slow punctures a safety hazard?
Slow punctures can lead to blow-outs at high speeds, which can be both terrifying and fatal. A blow-out will render the vehicle impossible to handle and put drivers, passengers and other road users and pedestrians lives at risk.
However, early detection of tyre damage or a slow puncture can avert a disaster.
If the puncture cannot be repaired, ASAP operates a mobile fitting service, which means our fitters come to a location of the customers choice - at home or work - to fit the new tyre, therefore vehicle owners do not have to take any unnecessary risks or cause more damage to their vehicle by driving it to a tyre depot.
And because ASAP does not have expensive depots to maintain, its overheads are low and the savings are passed on to customers in the form of cheaper prices - up to 40% less than the leading high street chains.
Will a sealant make my punctured tyre safe to drive on?
Post-puncture sealants are regarded purely as a "get you home" measure and introduced following a puncture.
The BSAU 159 standard states that tyres should be removed from their rims to be thoroughly inspected to ascertain their suitability for repair. The standard also defines appropriate repair materials. The use of liquid tyre sealants does not meet these criteria and therefore cannot be considered suitable as a permanent repair.
Puncture Repairs
To book a visit to see if your puncture can be repaired ? Call 0121 270 6555.
The good news is that about half of all flat tyres caused by a puncture can be repaired safely and cheaply without the need for a replacement tyre.
The most important thing that you can do to help the chances of your puncture being repairable is not to drive on it when it is flat - driving for even a few hundred metres on a flat tyre can damage it and make it un-repairable. So as soon as you notice it is flat, either put the spare wheel on, or call ASAP mobile who can visit your home or work to either repair the puncture, or fit a new tyre.
If you are unfortunate enough to get a flat tyre don't worry because all ASAP mobile tyre fitting vans are equipped to fix punctured tyres at your home or place of work. All puncture repairs carried out by ASAP are in compliance with the British Standard (BSAU159). This standard covers many aspects of the repair, but the main things that relate to whether a tyre can be repaired are:
* The tyre has been punctured by something small like a nail or a screw, and not something large like a piece of broken glass or running into a
kerb or pothole.
* The puncture has happened in the central area of the tread, and not near the edges or in the sidewall.
* The tyre has not been driven on when flat as this causes the sidewalls of the tyre to be weakened making a repair unsafe.
Any tyre that visually conforms to the above guidelines will be removed from the wheel and fully inspected for internal damage before the puncture is repaired. The exact definitions of what can and can't be repaired are shown in more detail below.
The cost of a puncture repair is £25 inc. VAT.. It is our normal practice to bring with us a replacement tyre so that if your flat tyre is found to be un-repairable, we can fit and balance a new tyre in the same appointment to get you back on the road as soon as possible. All out of hours work will require a call out charge depending on time and distance. Similarly we charge call out for urgent attendance.
Please note - If we visit you and your flat tyre is not repairable and you do buy a new replacement tyre from us, we won't charge you anything for coming out to you. If we visit you and your flat tyre is not repairable and you don't buy a new tyre from us, we will charge you the £15 to cover the cost of the visit.
In order for punctured tyres to be repaired there are British Standard guidelines that we have to adhere to. The first step, and one of the most important requirements of the BSAU 159, is to remove the punctured tyre from the wheel so it can be given a thorough inspection to check for its suitability for repair. The technician will also examine the tyre for any signs of internal damage, which, if not diagnosed, could later result in sudden tyre failure. All our vans carry a BSAU 159 Standards Gauge. If the puncture is in the shoulder or side-wall of the tyre it cannot be repaired and if this is the case our tyre technician will show you, using his BSAU 159 Gauge.
Minor penetration repairs are only permissible in the are T (tyre tread) of the diagram (see diagram below).