Not every puncture can or should be repaired. Understanding when a puncture is repairable and when a tyre replacement is needed is important for your safety and that of other road users.
Under British Standard BS AU 159, a tyre puncture can only be safely and permanently repaired if it meets all of the following criteria: the damage is located within the central three-quarters of the tread area (not in the shoulder or sidewall), the puncture hole is no larger than 6mm in diameter, the tyre has not been driven on while significantly deflated, and the tyre is not structurally damaged internally.
When all these conditions are met, a proper internal repair — which involves removing the tyre from the rim, cleaning and preparing the damaged area, applying a combined plug-patch from inside the tyre, and remounting and balancing — is considered safe and permanent.
A tyre must be replaced rather than repaired in several situations: if the puncture is in the sidewall or shoulder area, if the hole is larger than 6mm, if the tyre has been driven on while flat causing internal structural damage, if there are multiple punctures close together, or if the tyre is already near or below the legal tread depth limit.
Temporary repairs using tyre sealant (foam) from a puncture repair kit are not considered permanent solutions and are only intended to allow you to reach a tyre fitter. Any tyre treated with foam sealant should be inspected and permanently repaired or replaced as soon as possible.
At Tech Mobile Tyres, we always carry out an honest professional assessment of every puncture before recommending repair or replacement. We follow British Standard guidelines strictly — we will never repair a tyre that should be replaced, and we will never recommend an unnecessary replacement if a safe repair is possible.
For professional puncture assessment and repair across Liverpool, Glasgow, Newcastle, Sunderland and Dundee, call Tech Mobile Tyres. We are available 24 hours a day.
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