Tire Repair Regulations
by Taruna Chhabra
The U.S. government through the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates several aspects of tire repairs and maintenance. DOT states that regular tire maintenance is necessary to avoid sudden tire failure on the road. DOT sets tire repair guidelines that tire shops have to follow.
Punctured Tire
Repairing a punctured tire involves plugging the hole in the tire. It also requires a patch for the inside of the tire, around the area of the puncture. Note that tires have to be completely separated from the rim to be properly repaired, plugged, and patched.
Repairable And Non-Repairable
According to the DOT, any puncture that is in the side wall or shoulder, or shoulder to the side wall area of the tire is considered a non-repairable puncture. Punctures through the tread, if not too large, are repairable.
Industry Standard
Industry standard guidelines permit tire repair shops to fix punctures in a tire's tread area that are up to ¼ inch in diameter. Repairing anything larger in not recommended. The three essential sets to repairing a tire correctly include properly evaluating the object that caused the puncture (damage), reestablishing an airtight seal of the tire's inner liner, and completely patching the entire damaged area of the tire.
References
Writer Bio
Based in California, Taruna Chhabra has been writing general knowledge and science-related articles for various websites since 2010. Chhabra holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of San Francisco.
