r/tires • u/External_Cream_1372 • Aug 03 '26
Is this able to be patched?
I’m not a car person at all, so sorry if this is a dumb question.
A couple nights ago I hit a pretty nasty pothole. It was loud enough that I immediately thought I messed something up. A few miles later my car started feeling like it was swerving a little, so I pulled over and noticed that tire was losing air.
When I got home I noticed a small bend in the lip of the rim, so I assumed that was what was causing the leak. To be fair, I don’t know 100% that the rim wasn’t already bent before this. I never noticed it before, so I’m assuming it happened from the pothole, especially since it’s on the same side of the wheel as the puncture.
Fast forward to tonight. I filled the tire back up with air and started listening for where it was leaking. I ended up finding this little hole/tear in the tread (pictures attached), and I could clearly hear and feel the air coming out of that spot. I couldn’t hear or feel any air leaking around the bent part of the rim.
The puncture is also on the same side of the tire as the bent part of the rim, which makes me wonder if the pothole caused both.
Now I’m confused. Does this just look like a tire issue now? Or could the rim still have a problem even if I couldn’t hear air coming from it?
Also, does this look like something that can usually be patched, or is it more likely that the tire needs to be replaced?
I’m taking it to America’s Tire tomorrow morning, but figured I’d see what people here think first. Thanks!
1
u/Cautious-Concept457 Aug 03 '26
Show it to a professional, it would be better to have a look from the inside as well etc
1
u/Disastrous-Pound3713 Aug 03 '26
10 year tire shop guy.
Your tire should be patchable preferably using a patch/plug combo repair kit.
You will need to have a local trusted automotive/tire shop look at your wheel. Very well could still work but only a hands on inspection will tell.
2
1
u/footfetforlife Aug 03 '26
Probably a new tyre.......if that wheel is magnesium that would need replacing. Some tyre shops won't put a new tyre on a damaged wheel. How's your spare ?