Is $30 fair for a tire patch?

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$30 is fair if you consider how much time they have invested in the repair. The proper way to repair is to patch it from the inside (to actually seal the leak) and also plug it to prevent water entry that might rust the steel cords.
 
Originally Posted By: rsylvstr
For real, tire places do this for free near you even if you aren't a customer?
All 900+ Discount Tire locations across the country do.
 
Originally Posted By: rsylvstr
For real, tire places do this for free near you even if you aren't a customer?


I have had 3 tire leaks repaired at different tire shops. I was never charged anything.

I have done about 5 leak repairs myself using those rubber rope repair kits. I know they are not supposed to be a permanent fix, but all the repairs I have done have lasted as long as the tire did.
 
When tire stores give away flat repairs to customers who did not buy the tires originally from them, they have to make up for it somehow and that breeds questionable business practices like selling unneeded work. I prefer not to deal with such places.

I buy tires from Costco and they have free flat repairs for tires bought from them. I don't have an issue with that because you are paying for that service in the original tire purchase price.
 
A plug is not meant to be a permanent repair, There's also liability if it fails , even done if for free.

Just about all tire manufacturers don't recognize it as a proper repair. On cars I normally get the road hazard with new tire, one repair its usually break even, which always happens.

On motorcycles, I do my own internal repair(have all the stuff), motorcycle shops wont repair tires at all in my area, only sell you a new tire.

But anyway breaking down a tire and proper repair is about a 30 minute job and should be charged accordingly.


Depending on where the slow leak is, the tire may be considered non repairable, outside of limited areas.
 
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Originally Posted By: George7941
When tire stores give away flat repairs to customers who did not buy the tires originally from them, they have to make up for it somehow and that breeds questionable business practices like selling unneeded work. I prefer not to deal with such places.

I buy tires from Costco and they have free flat repairs for tires bought from them. I don't have an issue with that because you are paying for that service in the original tire purchase price.


While generally I agree..

Discount tire does no extra work.. no brake work, no alignments, no anything.

They sell tires... So I ask you how could you get ripped off on a free tire repair where they ARENT replacing your tire.. and all they sell is tires.

They also have the best prices around if you go in during the good sales.

I think the worst thing that could happen is they scratch a wheel during your free tire repair.

If your wheels are MINT and you are OCD I'd certainly mention it so they take extra care.
 
About 10 days ago I had a Bridgestone DriveGuard runflat tire that picked up a 1/4" X 3-1/2" long threaded bolt (complete with a washer). I pulled the bolt out after a struggle with a vice grip tool, and of course the tire then went flat, as expected. I put the spair on and went to Firestone/Bridgestone to have it repaired since the bolt was in the middle of the tread. Fifteen minutes later it was done...with no fuss or feathers. The cost: $32.00 and change, includeing tax. Needless to say I was surprised at the cost, but it was repaired correctly with no fear of runflats that I've heard from a few other places.
 
Originally Posted By: Rand
Originally Posted By: George7941
When tire stores give away flat repairs to customers who did not buy the tires originally from them, they have to make up for it somehow and that breeds questionable business practices like selling unneeded work. I prefer not to deal with such places.

I buy tires from Costco and they have free flat repairs for tires bought from them. I don't have an issue with that because you are paying for that service in the original tire purchase price.


While generally I agree..

Discount tire does no extra work.. no brake work, no alignments, no anything.

They sell tires... So I ask you how could you get ripped off on a free tire repair where they ARENT replacing your tire.. and all they sell is tires.

They also have the best prices around if you go in during the good sales.

I think the worst thing that could happen is they scratch a wheel during your free tire repair.

If your wheels are MINT and you are OCD I'd certainly mention it so they take extra care.


It's also true of Town Fair Tire, they just sell tires and do alignments, no other work like brakes or anything else. On the other hand Goodyear does do general repairs and they do free flat repairs. Haven't had them repair a tire yet. The free tire repair is to get you in there and maybe they can't fix it so they sell you a new tire. In sales, it's a numbers game, many people don't get that, they think they have to make money on every deal. Sometimes you make money, sometimes nothing happens.
 
Lets do so math,,,,,car cost 30k bucks, flat repair 30 bucks,,,,way cheap, don't you think...do the math. .001%
 
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Going rate is about $25 plus tax around here for a flat repair with a patch plug from the inside.

The only place I know of that does it for free around here is KALtire, if you bring them a loose wheel they don't charge, otherwise if they have to take your car in the shop you gotta pay. Their reasoning is that when it comes time to buy tires to think of them.
 
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When tire stores give away flat repairs to customers who did not buy the tires originally from them, they have to make up for it somehow and that breeds questionable business practices like selling unneeded work. I prefer not to deal with such places. .....

Suppose that could be true at some places, however ime not true with Discount Tire. Done as standard practice, and the only "make up" that I can see is earning the future business of a customer through their good will. 'If' the puncture is in an unrepairable area according to RMA, then they could sell a new tire but that should be the case at any reputable tire retailer.

As for topic, it's all relative and what the market will bear. When DT/AT is doing it for free following RMA procedures then it seems high. However, if one shops around the local area and can't find a lower price then it could be "fair".
 
I couldn't find any shop near me willing to do an inside patch. They all wanted to do a plug. I did find a few shops that would do the plug for free, though. Which is what I ended up doing.
 
Originally Posted By: exranger06
I couldn't find any shop near me willing to do an inside patch. They all wanted to do a plug. I did find a few shops that would do the plug for free, though. Which is what I ended up doing.

The proper/recommended way to do it is plug AND patch, IIRC.
 
Thanks for the replies, everyone. My indy doesn't do tire work or else he's my go-to guy. Ended up getting it patched to RMA standards at a corner service station for $22. Couldn't find anyone to do it for free like some suggested. Oh well, got a leak-free tire now. On to the next thing!

And I just noticed I posted this in the ATF forum lol
crazy2.gif
 
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Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: exranger06
I couldn't find any shop near me willing to do an inside patch. They all wanted to do a plug. I did find a few shops that would do the plug for free, though. Which is what I ended up doing.

The proper/recommended way to do it is plug AND patch, IIRC.

I know. But no shop wanted to do the proper repair, only the plug.
 
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