Why can't tubeless tires be repaired?
2 Answers
Due to the lack of inner tube support inside tubeless tires, patches are not very secure and may fall off. Therefore, tubeless tires are not suitable for repair. Here is some relevant information: 1. Tubeless tires: Tubeless tires are pneumatic tires without inner tubes, also known as "low-pressure tires" or "pneumatic tires." They have high elasticity and wear resistance, as well as good adhesion and heat dissipation performance. Tubeless tires are increasingly widely used in bicycles, motorcycles, cars, buses, and trucks. 2. Structure: Tubeless tires are divided into three parts: the carcass, the cord ply, and the tread. The carcass is relatively soft, the tread is more rigid, and the middle cord ply serves to strengthen the carcass and maintain its shape, often reinforced with metal wires to improve the tire's elastic performance.
I once heard from an experienced truck driver that tubeless tires can't be patched casually due to their unique structure. These tires rely entirely on the tight seal between the tire bead and the wheel rim to hold air, unlike tube-type tires that can be repaired separately. The most concerning issues are cuts or bulges on the sidewall, as such damage weakens structural support—a puncture on the sidewall usually means the tire is done for. I've seen some car owners try to save money by using plug strips, only to end up with worse slow leaks afterward. Nowadays, properly repairing a tubeless tire requires professional mushroom plugs for internal patching, followed by rebalancing. If the tire tread has worn down to the wear indicators or shows aging cracks, it's really not worth forcing a repair—getting a new tire is much safer. A blowout at high speed is no joke.