Tyre puncture repair advice

Got a puncture? We’re always on hand to get you going again. But if you’d like to try fixing it yourself, we’ve got some simple tips for repairing a tyre. Remember though, any tyre puncture repairs you carry out on your own are only a temporary fix.

If you’ve got a newish car, it might have a puncture repair kit instead of a spare tyre to change. A repair kit uses tyre sealant and a compressor to temporarily repair the hole in the tyre. Depending on the nature of your puncture, you’ll also need to clean the tyre, reinflate it to the correct pressure, and check for leaks once you’re done.

On this page, you can learn how to safely make a temporary repair so you can drive yourself to a garage.

Repairing your punctured tyre

Before you attempt a tyre puncture repair, it’s important to know that not all tyre punctures can be repaired. If your puncture is in the shoulder or sidewall of the tyre, or the puncture is larger than a quarter of an inch in diameter, it’s not safe to try and repair this on your own. The shoulder and sidewall of a tyre are typically put under a lot of stress, so a bad repair could lead to a blowout, which poses a real danger to anyone inside the car and other road users.

If you’ve assessed the puncture in your tyre and it’s not too dangerous to repair it, use the steps below as a temporary fix to get you to a garage.

Before you start

• Don’t try to fix a tyre on a motorway hard shoulder or at the side of the road
• Turn off the road or pull over in a safe place away from traffic
• Tell passengers to get out of the car and wait away from the vehicle and road in a safe location
• Read the instructions on the repair kit before you start. If it’s different to our advice, always follow the instructions

Step 1 – Get your car ready

Before you try to use the repair kit, make sure you and your passengers are in a safe location and the car’s prepared:

• Switch off your engine
• Turn on your hazard lights
• Put the handbrake on, or…
• Put the vehicle into 'P' if you’re driving an automatic
• Get the repair kit out (usually found in the boot)

The puncture repair kit should include a can of sealant and a compressor. Make sure the sealant is in date (the expiry date will be on the can of sealant), if it’s out of date it may not provide the desired temporary repair. It may also include warning stickers to place on the wheel and inside the car, to remind you to replace the tyre.

Step 2 – Find the puncture and clean the area

You’ll need to look at the tyre carefully to find the puncture and check if it’s suitable for a repair.

Don’t use the repair kit if:

• The puncture is more than 4 mm in diameter
• The wheel rim is damaged
• The tyre has been flat or low pressure for an extended period
• The puncture is outside of the main tread area
• The repair sealant is out of date

If you spot something like a nail or piece of glass that’s pierced the tyre, don’t try to take it out. That could make the hole bigger.

Step 3 – Position the wheel

Once you’ve found the puncture, you can re-position the wheel by driving forward a little to make it easier to repair.

• Make sure the puncture is at the top of the tyre
• Try to position the air valve in the top half of the tyre

If you’ve moved your car, remember to put the handbrake or parking brake back on.

Step 4 – Connect the sealant and compressor

Your puncture repair kit will include a bottle of sealant and a compressor.

• You’ll usually need to insert the sealant into the tyre through the air valve  the kit will explain how to do this
• You may need to remove the valve first and/or manually squeeze in the sealant
• You’ll then need to connect the compressor – this may connect to the tyre valve directly or to the bottle of sealant to help pump the sealant in 
• Plug the compressor into your car’s 12v socket or cigarette lighter

Step 5 – Inflate the tyre

You’ll need to use the compressor to re-inflate your tyre. It may also pump the sealant into the tyre at the same time.

• Check your vehicle manual to find the right tyre pressure for your vehicle
• Make sure your car is in neutral with the handbrake or parking brake on
• Turn on the engine and switch on the compressor
• The compressor will have a gauge to show you the pressure level and may have a button to alter the pressure
• Turn the compressor off and detach it once the tyre is at the right pressure

Step 6 – Drive and re-check the tyre

Many sealant kits need you to drive a little way for the sealant to spread around the tyre. The kit will explain if you need to do this.

• Drive as far as the repair kit recommends to spread the sealant
• Stop in a safe place and put the handbrake or parking brake back on
• Check the tyre 
• If it looks damaged, you’ll need to call us out to help you
• If the sealant has worked, you can drive to a garage – but make sure to recheck your tyre pressure after the recommended drive distance

Step 7 – Replace the tyre

Once you’re satisfied that you’ve repaired the tyre using the kit, drive your car to the nearest garage or tyre fitters to replace the tyre. A tyre that's been repaired with sealant will almost always need replacing, however small the puncture was.

There's likely to be a restriction on how fast and how far you can drive on the repaired tyre. This should be in the instructions but if in doubt, stick to a maximum of 50mph for 50 miles. Make sure you drive carefully, especially when cornering and braking.

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How do I know if my tyre is punctured?

It’s something every driver dreads, but there are a few key giveaways that your tyre has suffered a puncture:

• Your vehicle pulls to one side – this can be a sign of a puncture, your vehicle might also feel generally unstable
• There’s a visible loss of air pressure in one of your tyres, or you can see a cut or bulge
• The steering wheel vibrates while you’re driving
• If your vehicle has a warning light for tyre pressures, this may light up on your dashboard
• You might hear a flapping, hissing or grinding sound coming from one of your tyres while you’re driving

Can my tyre puncture be repaired?

Your tyre can only be temporarily repaired if the puncture is less than a quarter of an inch in diameter and is within the main tread area of the tyre.

If the puncture is in the sidewall or shoulder of the tyre then it won’t be possible to do a temporary repair – instead, you’ll need to get a full tyre replacement.

Remember, any repair to a tyre puncture is only a temporary solution. You should still get the tyre replaced at a garage as soon as possible.

Can I do my own puncture repair?

Some new cars provide tyre puncture repair kits, rather than spare tyres, so it is perfectly possible to do your own tyre puncture repair if you have the right experience. However, if you’ve never repaired a tyre before then we would recommend getting help from a professional. You can call us out for tyre punctures if you have breakdown cover with us. Even if you’re not a member and you breakdown, you can get instant breakdown cover with us and we’ll get you back on the road.

Is a puncture repair permanent?

If you repaired a punctured tyre using a repair kit, it'll only be a temporary fix. You still need to take your car to a garage or tyre fitters as soon as possible.

That’s because the tyre must be removed from the wheel to check for internal damage. If it has internal damage that’s not spotted, the tyre could fail later on, which could be extremely dangerous.

Any external plugs or liquid sealants injected through the tyre valve cannot be thought of as permanent repairs.

Are tyre puncture repairs safe?

Any tyre puncture repairs are only a temporary measure, but if done properly then yes, they are safe. Your best chance of having a safe and successful puncture repair is to get it done by a professional with plenty of experience.

If you’re attempting it yourself for the first time, make sure to get it checked over by a mechanic or tyre specialist as soon as possible.

When shouldn't I repair a tyre?

As mentioned already, you shouldn’t attempt to repair a tyre puncture if the puncture is located in the sidewall or shoulder of the tyre. If the puncture is located in the tread of the tyre, but larger than ¼ inch in diameter, this is also too much damage for a temporary repair.

If your tyre has internal damage, such as a broken belt, then it will need fully replacing. Additionally, if your punctured tyre is already old (more than 6 years old or more than 50,000 miles driven) or has been repaired before, then you’ll need to get a full replacement tyre.

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Can you repair a car tyre with a nail in it?

It’s possible to repair a tyre puncture caused by a nail – your best bet is to call for roadside assistance and have a professional assess the damage. Whether or not a temporary repair is possible will depend on the extent of the damage. If the nail is in the sidewall or shoulder of the tyre, then a temporary repair won’t be possible.

What if I can’t repair my tyres?

If your tyre can’t be temporarily repaired, you can either:

• Buy a new tyre and have it fitted by a professional
• Use a spare tyre as a replacement (be aware that spare tyres are not designed to be a permanent replacement – instead you can use one to get to a mechanic)

How do tyre sealants work?

Tyre sealants temporarily repair punctures – they work by coating the inside of the tyre and the area of the puncture, and are typically liquid or gel-like substances that can be injected into the valve system of a tyre. Tyre sealants can be either filter-based or latex-based – these are also known as post-puncture sealants.

When filter-based sealant is used, it expands when it comes into contact with the air, covering the puncture site. Latex-based sealants on the other hand, solidify when they come into contact with the air, creating a hard seal over the puncture and preventing any air from escaping.

What are pre-puncture sealants?

A puncture repair kit is designed to be used post-puncture – it can temporarily repair a hole after your tyre’s been punctured.

But some sealant kits are designed to be pre-puncture. That means they’re inserted into an undamaged tyre and aim to stop your tyre going flat if you get a puncture in the future.

Are there risks with pre-puncture sealants?

The risk with pre-puncture sealants is that you may not notice if you ever do get a puncture. They’re designed to work almost instantly, so you might not realise that the sealant has been activated.

A large screw or nail ‘sealed’ into the tread could cause more damage over time and could even lead to a blowout.

If you’ve used a pre-puncture sealant, check your tyres every time you drive the vehicle. If the sealant’s been activated, you should see signs of the sealant (usually a white rubber-like substance) on the outside of the tyre.

Is a repaired car tyre as good as a new one?

Even a well-repaired tyre won’t be as good as a new one, because the lifespan of the tyre will be reduced as a result. However, if the damage or puncture to your tyre is very minor and the repair is carried out by an expert, you could still get some decent mileage out of it.

If you have a tyre that’s been repaired, make sure to get it checked over by a mechanic at regular periods. If it’s judged to be unfit for driving, then you’ll have to get a full replacement tyre.

Tyre puncture repair law

UK law states that puncture repairs should be performed by a trained professional, using a suitable plug and patch repair system. Any tyre puncture being repaired should be within the main tread area and shouldn’t be larger than a quarter of an inch in diameter. Once repaired, the tyre should have no visible cuts or bulges, and there should be enough tread depth remaining.