Posted on 1/30/2026
A sidewall puncture is the kind of tire problem that makes you pause. The hole can look small enough to fix, and you may even know someone who says they patched it years ago and it was fine. The problem is, sidewall repairs fail in ways that are hard to predict. If you want to avoid buying a tire you don't need, and also avoid a sketchy repair that quits at the worst moment, it helps to understand why sidewalls are a different story. Why Sidewalls Are Built Differently Than Treads The tread area is thick, reinforced, and designed to take impacts straight-on. The sidewall is built to flex thousands of times per mile while supporting the vehicle’s weight and absorbing bumps. That flex is normal, but it is also exactly what works against most repairs. If you are trying to judge whether a sidewall puncture is already risky, a few clues tend to show up early: A bulge or ripple in the sidewall, even a small one Repeated air loss after topping off A puncture ... read more