On my Jeep Wrangler, which I tow, on the back right tire there is a very, very slow leak. I have to put air in it every 3 - 4 weeks. The tire is a BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A 31 X 10.50 R15 LTI've taken it to two tire places and they say they can't patch a radial side wall. There's obviously not a sidewall structural problem - it has about 9,000 miles on it this way. Why can't they patch it? I understand radial tire sidewalls flex a lot. The worst that could happen that I can figure out is the flexing sidewall causes the patch to fall off. The best that can happen is the small patch stays there and seals the leak. Other than possibly wasting a little money if the patch doesn't work, what can I hurt?Bill

You can sue because your patch failed, and your Jeep went flying leaving you hopelessly a quadraplegic but you know it was caused by the bad patch.So, they just don't do it.

I don't have an answer to your question outside of potential liability issue. However you could Put a tube in it or try one of the tire sealants like green slime

Artum Snowbird wrote:You can sue because your patch failed, and your Jeep went flying leaving you hopelessly a quadriplegic but you know it was caused by the bad patch.So, they just don't do it.If the patch fails, the tire leaks just the same as it does now. Can I sue them them because they didn't patch it if something happens that the patch could have prevented?Bill

Trackrig wrote: Other than possibly wasting a little money if the patch doesn't work, what can I hurt?BillHurt like in an accident where three people are disabled for life?I know it hurts but get a new tire.

BarryG20 wrote:I don't have an answer to your question outside of potential liability issue. However you could Put a tube in it or try one of the tire sealants like green slimeI've been considering green slime. Anyone had experience with how hard is it to clean off of the tire rim when I eventually put on a new tire?Bill

Explain why I can't patch a tire. | Good Sam Community

30 Replies

msmith1199
Explorer II
Jul 01, 2016
Bobbo wrote:
Don't use the green slime. Over a period of 10 years-ish, it will rust out your rim.

My brother borrowed a trailer I own, had a flat and put in a can of that stuff without telling me. About 10 years later, the tire went flat and COULD NOT be inflated. I took it to a tire shop, and he showed me the rust holes in the rim. He said it was from that slime type of stuff.

That stuff is only to get you to a tire shop where they can remove the tire, clean out all of the slime stuff, and patch the tire properly.

Can't speak for the use of the slime, but I bet if the OP does use it, the tire he is sealing won't be around 10 years from now.
Bird_Freak
Explorer II
Jun 26, 2016
If your just to cheap to buy a tire, put a tube in it and be done.
down_home
Explorer II
Jun 26, 2016
SCVJeff wrote:
One thing no one has mentioned is that on the interior sidewall, the impression of the cords is obvious. In order to prep that area they use an extremely hard wire brush to grind it flat for proper seal. Easy on the tread wall, it's 3/8"+ thick and the cords are buried deep. If you were to use that proceedure on a sidewall, you are absolutely weakening the area, probably 2x2" (or whatever the size of the grind area would be) by doing that. So Yes, the patch does make it weaker.

If it's REALLY coming through the sidewall, you have a tire that's probably allot more dangerous than you think.

Like you have said it would cut some cords. The patch no matter how you glue it to the inside it will not flex with the easy flexing sidewall. It will leak rather rapidly and could explode if it depressurizes at a fast speed.
Put a set or new expensive performance tires on a car. A few miles down the road a board or something with a big nail put a hole in the sidewall right next to the tread.
I tired to repair it myself since the tire dealer would not repair it.
It failed within a mile.
nevadanick
Explorer
Jun 26, 2016
You can patch it, they wont. Break it down and do it if you can find where it leaks. Slime would probably work, but when i had to deal with atv tires amd they had slime i charged $10 extra because of the cleanup.
tedp
Explorer
Jun 25, 2016
Think about it guys, why would a tire shop tell you to replace it? They sell more tires. I worked at a tire shop in the early 70s and that was sales pitch then. Hasn't changed.
Same reason RV dealers tell you to replace your frig when it won't cool even though it is repairable.
RJsfishin
Explorer
May 19, 2016
It seems so simple,.....
slime it !! It ain't gonna hurt an alum rim.
And who cares about a mess on the rim when mounting a new tire someday. Just leave it there, or let the new tire dealer figure it out.
Or stick a tube is it.
Or plug it yourself. I've done several, never a failure.
SCVJeff
Explorer
May 18, 2016
One thing no one has mentioned is that on the interior sidewall, the impression of the cords is obvious. In order to prep that area they use an extremely hard wire brush to grind it flat for proper seal. Easy on the tread wall, it's 3/8"+ thick and the cords are buried deep. If you were to use that proceedure on a sidewall, you are absolutely weakening the area, probably 2x2" (or whatever the size of the grind area would be) by doing that. So Yes, the patch does make it weaker.

If it's REALLY coming through the sidewall, you have a tire that's probably allot more dangerous than you think.
jake2250
Explorer
May 18, 2016
Have you looked into buying a used tire? I ran over a piece of something sharp going down the road and came back after fishing to find my trailer with a flat tire. I changed out with the spare and dropped it off at the tire shop on my way home.
Got a call saying it was a sidewall puncture and could not be repaired!
The tire guy then said he had a few used tires of that size and it would be $20 for a tire with at least 7/32 tread on it!
Told him Ok, as this would now be the spare!

So,, you could call around and see if that is an option, Then buy a $5 patch kit and see if you can fix the tire yourself and carry it as an extra spare and be done with it!
Bobbo
Explorer II
May 18, 2016
Don't use the green slime. Over a period of 10 years-ish, it will rust out your rim.

My brother borrowed a trailer I own, had a flat and put in a can of that stuff without telling me. About 10 years later, the tire went flat and COULD NOT be inflated. I took it to a tire shop, and he showed me the rust holes in the rim. He said it was from that slime type of stuff.

That stuff is only to get you to a tire shop where they can remove the tire, clean out all of the slime stuff, and patch the tire properly.
Tyler0215
Explorer
May 18, 2016
How much air do you add every 3 to 4 weeks?
If the tire leaks that slowly can you even find the leak?
Check the tire pressure every week and fill as needed.