Does Discount Tire Patch Tires for Free?

There are few things more frustrating than getting a flat tire. A flat tire can happen due to a tire puncture by a sharp object, over or under inflation, or extreme weather. Fortunately, Discount Tire can often repair this and other issues. 

Proper tire care includes regular rotation, but how much should you expect to pay at a popular retailer? Explore the Discount Tire Tire Rotation Cost in our insightful article and keep your tires in optimal condition.

Does Discount Tire Patch Tires for Free?

Discount Tire patches tires for free. They offer complimentary flat tire repair services to both customers and non-customers. However, they will not repair damages that occur to the shoulder or sidewall of the tire or tires more than four or five years old. 

Before taking your tire to get patched, you should know several things. 

Having some background knowledge about tires and what it takes to have them repaired will help you be more confident when discussing your options with the tire technician.

Getting a Tire Patched

Tire puncture repair will typically cost anywhere from $10 to $20 from a mechanic or tire shop. 

Some tire shops will only patch your tire for free if you purchased your tires from them. 

But Discount Tire has retained and gained customers by inspecting and patching flat tires for free. 

To be especially thorough, Discount Tire does a full inspection of the tire before completing any kind of repair.

Even if you aren’t sure whether or not you have a flat tire, they can perform an inspection and tell you.

If it turns out that you have a flat or damaged tire, the technician will remove the tire from the rim to ensure that the interior and exterior walls of the tire are intact. 

If everything looks good, they will fill the hole with a special type of rubber that is durable and hardens after application. 

This is called vulcanizing rubber. 

After this, they will then apply a patch on the interior wall of the tire. 

This whole process can take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes not including wait times if the shop is busy with other customers.

You don’t need to have an appointment to have a flat tire inspected at Discount Tire, but you can schedule an appointment on the Discount Tire website for a 30% shorter average wait time.

Keep in mind that most Discount Tire locations are open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., so if it is a late-night emergency, you might consider going somewhere else.

Tires that Cannot Be Repaired

Some flat tires simply cannot be repaired.

When the tire technician removes and inspects the tire, they will be able to tell whether or not the damage is reparable. 

Here are some reasons why Discount Tire may refuse to repair your tire according to their guidelines.

• Repairs only work on the tread area, which is the area that makes contact with the road. If there is a puncture within 1/2 inch of the tire’s edge, it is unrepairable. You must purchase a new tire.
• If the tire puncture is larger than 1/4 inch, it is too large to be patched up. This includes major tire injuries like slashes or cuts. When a tire is damaged this bad, its structural integrity is compromised. Even if the tire gets patched, it would not be safe to drive on. You’ll need to purchase a new tire.
• Discount Tires cannot patch an area that was previously punctured. You will need to purchase a new tire.
• Discount Tire will generally not repair a tire that is more than 4 or 5 years old.

Discount Tire refuses to repair tires in the above-listed circumstances because an improper tire repair could result in a tire failure which can be very dangerous while on the road. 

Tires purchased at Discount Tire are covered by warranties. 

Other services to look at from Discount Tire include Certificate for Repair, Refunds, and Replacements.

These services are offered at the time of tire purchase (or within 30 days of purchase) and can cost anywhere from $10 to $100 per tire. 

Certificate for Repair covers tire up to the original purchase price, including tax. 

Other tire companies tend to prorate their coverage per tire.

Other free services

Maintaining your tires is pretty easy and can extend their life and even increase fuel efficiency. 

Any responsible car owner should have the following items serviced on their vehicle, and Discount Tire will do some of them free of charge.

If you think your tires might blow or you notice the TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) light turn on, you can get them checked for free at Discount Tire. 

Each Discount Tire location has an aircheck area where you can pull up in your car and ask for an aircheck. 

Discount Tire will perform this check regardless of where you originally purchased your tires.

If your TPMS light doesn’t turn off no matter what you do, Discount Tire can repair this issue, but not for free.Rotating your tires is important to keep all four tires wearing evenly. Even wear makes them last longer.

You should rotate your tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles or every six months. 

Discount Tire will rotate your tires for free if you purchased your tires from them.

If your tires are from somewhere else, it could cost between $20 and $50.This is a fairly cheap price for tire rotation and inspection.

Balancing your tires ensures that the weight of your car is distributed evenly between all your tires. 

Technicians use a special computer to assess the vehicle’s weight distribution.If you are noticing unusual vibration in your steering wheel, floorboard, or seats, these are all signs that the tires may need balancing.

Even if your vehicle sounds like it is running smoothly, you should get your tires balanced every 6,000 miles because it is better to prevent a problem than repair damage. 

Discount Tire will balance your tires for free if you purchased your tires from them.If your tires are from somewhere else, it could cost between $15 and $75.

As you can see, Discount Tire goes above and beyond to take care of their customers. They even offer lower cost services to those who purchased tires from another company.

More Helpful Content

When it comes to buying tires, you might be curious about the quality of Walmart’s offerings. Our informative article, “Is It Bad to Buy Walmart Tires?” will give you the answers you need. And if you’re debating between Costco and Discount Tire, don’t miss our comprehensive comparison, “Buy Tires at Costco or Discount Tire?” to help you make the best choice for your vehicle.