If you need a semi truck tire repaired, you may be wondering where to go. Below I will dicuss where to find a repair and how the semi truck tire repair near me works. In addition I will cover tire warranties, repair vs replace, patch vs plug, and frequently asked questions. It’s most important to know that not all damage to a semi truck tire is fixable. It depends on where the damage is and the level of severity.

Map of Semi Truck Tire Repair Near Me

For “Semi Truck Tire Repair Near Me” or “Semi Truck Tire Service Near Me”, see the map below for locations…

Before You Get a Semi Truck Tire Repair…

Does Your  Semi Tire Have a Warranty?

Certain manufacturers of semi truck tires have warranties, like Firestone commercial truck tires for example. Warranties can vary in length and coverage from brand to brand. Some will even provide guarantees of tread life, limited road hazards, and against manufacturer craftsmenship. When searching for a “semi truck tire repair near me”, you should first try and determine if your issue is covered under wannarty. If it is, then you can get it repaired or replaced at no cost.

You need to read the warranty for your tire which you can find online. For common road hazard issues like a nail in the tire, no commercial tire warranty will cover that issue. That is because it is a “Limited” Road hazard warranty….

What is a Limited Road Hazard Warranty?

A limited road hazard warranty is coverage begins at the date of purchase and covers you for one year or 2/32nds of tread life, whichever comes first. This kind of warranty would protect against damage from hitting a deep pothole or related incident. For the warranty to be used a technician must determine that the truck tire is unrepairable. Additionally to make a  claim the warranty you must be able to prove the date of purchase.

What is a Craftsmenship Warranty?

If a tire is defective due to poor craftsmenip or materials you can make a claim up to 5 or 6 years depending on the brand. To make a claim you must prove that something abnormal is occuing that is not being caused by a lack of maintenance or user negligence. You also muct prove the date of purchase of the tire.

Making a Warranty Claim on a Commercial Truck Tire

To make a warranty claim you need to show that…

• The tires are rotated according the manufacturers specification.
• Have been properly inflated to the manufacturers specification.
• Regular suspension alignments have been completed.
• The proper weight and load have only been placed on the tire.

Other Guarantees

You may have other protections offered to you by the shop you purchased the tires ar. Some shops will offer to repair semi truck tires for the life the tire when you purchase through them. While that it is a great perk and incentive, it’s not helpful if they don’t have a shop local to where you need the repair work completed.

At the smei truck tire repair near me, they will actually check to see if your tire has coverage. Not all tire repair shops will do that, so it’s your responsibility to know if you have one.

When to Repair a Semi Truck Tire vs When to Replace One…

Not all tire issues can be repaired. Repairs are only feasible when the damage occurs in the tread area. You should also take into account the age, condition, and tread wear on the tire. Common issues for repair are small punctures in the tread area and leaky valve stems.

The repairable area is the tire tread. Any damage outside the tire tread like the should or the sidewall should not be attempted to fix. Those areas are far to important to the structural integrity of the tire. The tire relies on those areas to be ultra strong in order displace the weight baring load. Damage on the sidewall or shoulder you should replace the tire instead.

While semi truck tires seem rugged and tough, a puncture bigger then 1/4 of an inch should not be repaired. That includes if the puncture occurs in the repairable area. A repair on a hole that large would be unsafe to drive on. In this case a replacemnet tire is required.

For tires that are old or bald, you should also consider a replacement tire instead. The NHTSA recommends that any tread depth below 2/32 should be replaced. While thats the advice of the government, any semi truck driver will say thats way to low to wait. You should replace around 6/32. Additionally if you have tires manufactured more then 6 years ago, then consider a replacemnet instead of a repair. As tires age they begin to dry rot and break down. You can also consider a retread which is significantly cheaper then a new tire.

There are other issues that are almost impossible to repair. This includes issues like road rub, ripping of rubber, the tire and the rim separating due to impact, and excessive wear and tear.

Patch and a Plug, and is it Ok for a Semi Truck Tire?

In tire terms patching and plugging are your common repair choices. Both are ok to do on a semi truck tire, but you should know the difference.

Patch – More Expensive and Time Consuming, but Better Quality and Durability

When you need a semi truck tire repaired, this is the preferred technique. The tire needs to be off the truck in order for this to be performed. A repair shop needs to take the tire off the wheel. Then use a die grinder to clean up a 2-inch diameter around to give the patch enough an area to bond with. The repair shop  then applies a patch from the inside lining to the outside of the tire. Then it gets vulcanized and has to sit to dry.

A patch can be a long term solution especially if done by a good repair shop.

Plug – Cheap, Applied Quickly, and Less Dependable

You can plug a semi truck tire, but it reuqires a long plug (at least 12 inches in length). You can do this right on the truck or trailer without even unmounting the tire. A plug should be considered a short term solution in the event you have a small puncture and the tire is losing air. First you remove whatever caused the puncture, like a nail, then a plug is pushed in to stop the air leak. If a tire shop applies a plug, they will also vulcanize it which will create a better bond and a stronger fix.

A tire with a puncture on the sidewall or shoulder should not be plugged!

Plug and Patch Combo Ideal for Semi Truck Tires

The strongest repair is a plug and a patch. This is because it is considered the most secure.

How Long Will A Repair Last?

There are many conditions that affect a repairs ability to hold. This includes how well the repair was done, the type of repair implemented, the size of the puncture fixed, the tires current condition, and how you drive.

A repair done correctly on a healthy tire could last the tires life even if the tires are brand new. A repair on tires subject to turning and engine power may not hold up as long as drive tires as they are under much less duress. I have seen a patch and pug combo on a trailer tire go for over 7 years.

Semi Truck Mobile Tire Repair Options Near Me

If you are stuck on the road you can find emergency mobile tire repair services. Tire companies will send a tow truck and provide roadside assistance. They can either change out the tire or plug the tire for you. An emergency roadside service is about as expensive as it can get. The labor alone will cost $50 to $100. The cost may vary depending on the time of year, the hour of the day, and how many miles you are from their dispatch. Many places have 24/7 roadside service.

Tips for Keeping Semi Truck Tire Repair Costs Down

Semi truck tire repairs can be expensive especially in an emergency. Here are some tips to reduce the need for repair work:

• Monitor the tires PSI. This is more critical in the summer as tires not inflated correctly run hotter. Combine that issue with tires driving excessive miles on 100 degree black top, it is a receipe for a blowout if you hit a road hazard.
• Slow down your speeds. The faster you drive the more heat you generate in the tires. Fast tires means hot tires. Same issue as above in summer weather.
• Keep a Spare. Carrying an extra tire on deck could help you save big in the event of an emergency. Especially if you are able to get bulk discounts on tires and use one for a back up.
• Retread instead of replacement. You can retread a tire for 50% of the cost of a new tire. It’s better for the environment and studies show they are safe.
• Ask your tire vendor about maintenance agreements. Some tire vendors will offer a package when you purchase semi tires from them. Some of the perks may include repairs, discounts on mobile repairs, emergency service, etc…
• Consider used semi tires. You can find used semi truck tires with over 60% of the tread life left (that could mean about 90K miles).

Before You Seek a Semi Truck Tire Repair Near Me…

Know when to repair, replace or retread. If you are informed then you don’t need to worry about what some shop is trying to sell you one.

Assess the issue yourself before your contact a semi truck tire repair near me:

• Is it a puncture? how large is it? Over 1/4 of an inch, you should replace the tire.
• How much tread is on the tire? Anything less then 6/32 of a semi and you should consider a retread.
• Is the tire more than 6 years old? NHTSA recommends replacing tires at 6 years.
• Where was the puncture located? If it is on the shoulder or sidewall you should replace the tire.

Semi Truck Tire Repair Near Me – Wrap Up

When you need a repair on a semi tire, there is a lot to think about. Where to go to, is the current tire covered by warranrty, where is the damage, and could I get a retread. Plug and patch solutions can be afforable. It gets expensive when you need roadside emergency service. If you are carrying a load and on the side of the road, you really don;t have many great options. That’s what I have learned from the semi truck tire repair near me.