Should I go to a 4S shop if my new car has a flat tire?
3 Answers
A new car with a flat tire does not necessarily need to go to a 4S shop. You can find a tire repair shop to fix it, and a general car repair shop will suffice. Here is more information: Note 1: If the tire is punctured by a nail, you should check the tire pressure promptly. It is better if the car has a tire pressure monitoring system. Checking the tire pressure is mainly to see if the punctured tire has obvious air leakage compared to other tires. Note 2: To prevent tire punctures, try to avoid driving close to the edge of the road, especially on small roads where there are many debris on the side. When parking, park the car in a place where surveillance cameras can clearly capture it. Tire repair methods include mushroom plug repair, hot repair, rubber strip repair, and patch repair.
Last time I got a flat tire on my new car, I encountered this situation and went straight to the tire shop near my home. The mechanic took it off and found it was just a small nail. He patched it with a mushroom plug and charged me 30 yuan—the whole thing took less than 20 minutes. It’s been over half a year now, and there’s been no issue at all. At a 4S shop, just the inspection fee would cost over 100 yuan, plus extra for the patch, and you’d have to wait in line for half a day. Unless the tire sidewall is damaged or the puncture is too big to require a replacement, there’s really no need to go to a 4S shop. New car tires are softer and more prone to punctures, but patching techniques are mature everywhere—the key is to find a shop with professional tire removal equipment, otherwise damaging the wheel rim would be even more troublesome. It’s practical to keep an air pump in your car; if you get a flat, just inflate it enough to drive to the repair shop.
As someone who deals with tires year-round, I recommend first assessing the extent of the damage. Small issues like a nail puncture in the tread can be fixed with a cold patch for around 40 yuan, which any regular repair shop can handle. However, if it's a run-flat tire or the sidewall is damaged, it's best to go back to the 4S shop as they have specialized equipment and original manufacturer specifications. Don't let new car sentimentality hold you back—today's chain tire shops are just as professional as 4S shops. For example, the shop I frequent uses laser positioning for wheel balancing, which is more precise than standard shops. Unless your car purchase included free tire repair services, going to a 4S shop is both time-consuming and more expensive. A punctured tire on a new car isn't an engine failure—there's really no need to panic.
