What to Do When the Sidewall of a Tire Is Leaking?
4 Answers
Tire sidewall leakage is recommended to be replaced promptly, as the sidewall of a tire is relatively weak. If the sidewall is scratched, it is almost impossible to repair, and continued use poses a risk of a blowout, creating a safety hazard. Generally, tires should not be used for more than 3 years or exceed 60,000 kilometers in mileage. Regularly rotating tires can ensure even wear on all tires of the same vehicle. It is advisable to rotate the tires every 5,000 kilometers, and perform a four-wheel alignment every 5,000 to 10,000 kilometers to avoid abnormal or excessive tire wear. It is not permissible to install tires of different models or with significant differences in wear on the same axle.
I panicked last time when the side of my tire was scraped by the curb, but now I have experience. A leak on the tire sidewall is more dangerous than a puncture on the tread, just like injuring an artery. It's crucial to stop and check the leak immediately. If the scratch is over 6mm or there's a bulge, the tire is basically beyond repair, and driving with a patched tire like that is nerve-wracking. Remember, never drive slowly to the repair shop! I once pushed it for two kilometers and almost ruined the wheel rim. It's best to call a tow truck or change to the spare tire. When changing the spare, make sure the jack is securely in place before crawling under the car. Lastly, a reminder to everyone: never mount a patched sidewall tire on the front wheels—putting it on the rear wheels can still get you by for a while.
Over twenty years of driving, I've encountered quite a few sidewall punctures. When this happens, don't hastily remove whatever's stuck in it—sometimes the foreign object actually slows the leak. First, listen for the hissing sound to locate the puncture. If it's a small hole on the sidewall, you might try using a tire sealant as a temporary fix, but for large gashes like those from rebar, it's hopeless. I always keep a rechargeable air pump in the trunk; if the leak isn't too bad, I inflate the tire enough to make it to a repair shop. Some roadside repair shops use vulcanized hot patches, claiming they can fix sidewall damage, but avoid highways afterward—stick to slow city driving. Honestly, when it comes to sidewall damage, replacing the tire is the safest bet.
The sidewall structure of a tire is essentially just a few layers of fabric plies covered with rubber, making it much more fragile than the tread. If you notice a slow leak, first check if it's due to oxidation at the wheel rim edge—this can often be fixed by polishing the rim and replacing the valve core. However, if the damage is confirmed to be on the sidewall, even a small puncture the size of a fingernail means the tire needs to be replaced. Nowadays, reputable repair shops won't perform hot patches on sidewall damage due to safety risks. Some of my friends who are into car modifications prefer using mushroom plugs for tire repairs, but those are only suitable for the tread. As a temporary emergency fix, rubber plugs can be used, but you'll feel noticeable vibrations while driving, so keep the speed under 60 mph.
