Can you repair a screw in a tire sidewall?
Sidewall punctures cannot be safely plugged or patched because the flexible rubber flexes too much to hold a repair, meaning a tire with a sidewall screw must be replaced. Even if the tire pressure holds steady and the puncture looks minor, shops cannot guarantee structural integrity near the sidewall without risking a blowout.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1replacing the tire entirely2 people mentionedDid this help you?
- 2unscrewing it to check depth or leaks with soapy waterDid this help you?
- 3replacing the tire immediatelyDid this help you?
- 4driving on it while monitoring tire pressureDid this help you?
- 5seeking opinions from smaller independent shopsDid this help you?
- 6using DIY tire plug kitsDid this help you?
- 7monitoring tire pressure daily to see if it holds airDid this help you?
- 8spraying the area with soapy water to check for leaksDid this help you?
- 9driving on it without patching or replacing if pressure remains stableDid this help you?
- 10plugging it yourself to use on a beater car or rear wheelDid this help you?
- 11Using a DIY repair kit anywayDid this help you?
- 12Replacing the tire instead of repairing itDid this help you?
- 13Patching the tire from the inside and installing it on the rear of the car to reduce lateral forcesDid this help you?
- 14Applying extra glue to the patch and manually adding air every weekDid this help you?
- 15Patching it temporarily just to avoid putting on a spare while driving to the shopDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Saw this in my tire a week ago. Lots of construction where I live so I suspect that’s where it came from. Pressure in the tire is still normal. Tires are about 6 months old with only a few thousand miles. Is it safe to take out?”source ↗
“pretty sure it is but lmk if there is hope, the tire still has so much life 🥹”source ↗
“Definitely too close for a patch at any shop I've been to, unfortunately.”source ↗
“I wouldn’t patch this. I’m sure someone will say to do it and you *might* be fine, but not worth the risk imo”source ↗
“Well that’s a tough one, if I was in a pinch.. I would patch from the inside and run it on the rear of the car for less lateral forces, I have done my own personal ones there and never had a failure”source ↗
“Is this Pluggable or is it too close to the sidewall?”source ↗
“To patch or not to patch”source ↗
“Ive patched there. Lots of glue. Its held up for over a year of normal driving.”source ↗
“Woke up today and my PSI is still the same as it was last night so I think that’s good? Should I replace the tire anyway or see what happens? I’m so nervous lol”source ↗
“I’m sorry OP. It is too close to the sidewall. We lost him, it’s…..non-repairable.”source ↗
“I had the SAME, drove truck 1,5 years with it without any issue, just add air once a week”source ↗
“Sadly, I think I agree..”source ↗
“Mr. Lube + Tires says it should be replaced as it’s close to the sidewall. Local Tire Repair says it can be plugged with no issues.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2Why do tire shops say a puncture can't be fixed?
- 2Are tires with cracked sidewalls safe?
- 3Flat tire again right after getting it replaced
- 9Is it safe to drive on a damaged tire while waiting for a replacement?
- 2Wheel coming off after getting new tires or brakes
- 3Why does my tire keep losing air even after getting fixed?