"Consumers need to know some essential information about tire industry recommended puncture repair procedures," said Daniel Zielinski, RMA senior vice president of public affairs. "An improperly repaired tire is a safety risk they shouldn’t take."

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 or a patch by itself is an unacceptable repair

"Consumers should ask their tire service technician if he uses tire industry-approved repair procedures," Zielinski said. "Also, some tire manufacturers may have repair limits or restrictions for some tires, such as run flats and others."

A 2006 tire industry review of more than 14,000 scrap tires showed 17% had been repaired and of that number, 88% of repairs were done incorrectly. (Tire Review/Akron)