Knowing the difference between a proper tire repair and an improper tire repair could be critical to vehicle safety. A tire industry study showed that nearly 88 percent of the tire repairs are performed improperly. An improper tire repair could pose a safety hazard to you and your family and could also affect a tire manufacturer's warranty.

One key process in a proper tire repair is removing a tire from the wheel to inspect any damage that may occur to the inner liner of the tire.

RMA offers tire dealers and automotive repair outlets a detailed wall-chart for proper tire repairs. Among the criteria to perform a proper repair are:

• Repairs are limited to the tread area only
• Puncture injury cannot be greater than 1/4 inch (6mm) in diameter
• Repairs must be performed by removing the tire from the rim/wheel assembly to perform a complete inspection to assess all damage that may be present
• Repairs cannot overlap
• A rubber stem, or plug, must be applied to fill the puncture injury and a patch must be applied to seal the inner liner. A common repair unit is a one-piece unit with a stem and patch portion. A plug by itself is an unacceptable repair.

Below you will find a number of resources that can help understand the proper puncture repair procedures for your tires.

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Proper Tire Repair Handout

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Visit www.rma.org for more information.

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If I only need 2 tires, where do I put them?

When all four tires are the same size, new tires are recommended to be placed on the rear. Please watch this video to better explain why this is so important.