Flat tire - is tire still structurally sound?

[Drew99GT]

I had a flat tire the other day and pulled over immediately when I felt and heard the thumping sound. The tire was pretty hot and there's some rubbing marks on the sidewall where the wheel bead was pressed onto the sidewall from the tire being flat. Got the tire fixed but didn't ask them whether the tire might have been structurally compromised. What are your guys thoughts? Do flat tires become structurally compromised after they're fixed at all? There's no bulges or anything like that. I just don't want the thing to blow out when I'm going 75 mph. Thanks for any insight.

Oh, turned out to be a bad Chinese valve that cracked.

 

[Chris142]

If theres any rubber dust inside the tire it's junk.

 

[barlowc]

If you had the tire fixed at a reputable tire shop, they would have told you if it was not structurally sound in any way.

 

[FL_Rob]

You'd most likely get a bubble or tread separation which will tell you right away.Outright Blow out? Not likely.

 

[dparm]

It's fine if you pulled over right away. I learned that the hard way last year -- figured I was close enough to get home. I was, but the tire refused to hold air by the time I got back and it turns out I damaged the bead. $250 later....

 

[CapriRacer]

There are lots of guidelines on repaired tires that are designed to keep everyone on the safe side. One of those says that if there are rubbing marks, then don't repair the tire.

Obviously your repair shop didn't follow that, so you have to wonder what they saw on the inside - if they looked at all! Did they repair using the patch and plug - like they were supposed to?

If they only used a plug, those have been known to leak - and not necessarily right away!

If they only used a patch, then outside contaminants can enter the structual parts of the tire and cause future damage - particualrly water rusting the steel belts!

If they repaired it properly, then the odds are on your side. If the tire doesn't show any bulges, then it is likely OK. You'd be wise to check the pressure in the tire and visually inspect it - once every day - for about 2 weeks. If nothing shows up, then you'd be good to go.

But if they didn't repair it properly, you'd be wise to either repalce it, or make a habit of inspecting it regularly and frequently.

 

[Drew99GT]

Capri, it was a cracked valve stem that let the air out, not a nail or any kind of puncture.

 

[PandaBear]

That happened to me once. JustTire where I put the tires on use the inferior Chinese valve stem that causes leaks and my tire has the same mark after it overheat on the highway. It is a goner.