How many repairs can a tire withstand?

No matter how wonderful the arguments about airless tires are, they are still far from everyday use by all car owners. While all tires are pneumatic, which means they are useless without air. Meanwhile, it's essential to note that hardly any tire reaches the end of its life without a single repair. Yes, tire repair is an integral part of car maintenance. Moreover, over time, tire repair has become very diverse. There is both "cold" express repair and "hot" repair using rubber vulcanization. What kind of repair is most preferable and the main question is what is the limit of repairs for one tire?

First of all, it's worth noting that not all types of repairs are the same. They vary depending on the degree of tire damage. If we're talking about an average repair of a small puncture, it should be noted that tire manufacturers do not recommend operating the tire if a quarter of it has more than one repair. It turns out that the entire tire can withstand no more than 4 repairs of minor damage.

Of course, there are examples where tires withstood more repairs. But everything is relative here. We are talking about the average value, and one way or another, the feasibility of repair should be assessed by a specialist. Meanwhile, it's essential to note that even one minor repair immediately puts an end to high speeds. You won't see repairs on sports tires in track racing because it's a direct risk to the pilot's life. Everyday driving, of course, is not a racing event, but it should be noted that even the most minor repair does not imply a speed of more than 140 km/h.
 

It's impossible not to mention the types of repairs. Of course, we're talking about "cold" express repair, since "hot" repair using vulcanization is very complex and requires special equipment. If you have a set of "plugs" for express repair in your trunk, that's definitely good. This set should be kept with you just in case, because damaging two wheels on one trip is quite likely. But it's also worth remembering that plug repair cannot ensure complete tightness and does not prevent moisture from entering the internal layers of the tire. Which, in turn, leads to more serious damage to the breaker layers. A more durable repair is considered to be the "mushroom" repair. The principle is the same as that of the plug, but at the same time, it hermetically fills the damage and has a patch at the base that prevents air leakage. The difference in the photo clearly shows the difference between these types of repairs.