How We Repair Flat Tires
The Right Repair, Not the Fast One
A lot of shops — and roadside kits — do external plug-only repairs. It's faster and cheaper, but it's not how the tire industry recommends fixing a punctured tire. External plugs can work loose, and they don't let you inspect the inside of the tire for hidden damage.
At Ochoa's, we dismount the tire, inspect the inside, and apply a combination patch-plug from the interior. It takes more time, but it's a permanent repair and it lets us catch damage that isn't visible from the outside — like internal belt separation after a hard pothole hit.
We locate the puncture and assess whether it's in the repairable zone (tread area only), check the size (max 1/4"), and look for sidewall damage or secondary issues.
The tire comes off the wheel so we can inspect the full interior. We buff the repair area clean to ensure the patch bonds properly.
A combination patch-plug fills the puncture hole from the outside and creates an airtight seal from the inside. Vulcanizing cement bonds it permanently.
We remount and balance the tire, set pressure to your door-jamb spec, and you're back on the road.
✓ Repairable
- Nail, screw, or small debris in tread area
- Puncture 1/4" (6mm) or smaller in diameter
- Damage in the center 3/4 of tread width
- No previous repair at the same location
- Tire has sufficient remaining tread depth
✗ Needs Replacement
- Sidewall or shoulder puncture
- Hole larger than 1/4" diameter
- Bubble or bulge in sidewall (belt separation)
- Run-flat tire driven after complete pressure loss
- Tire worn below minimum safe tread depth