I need an answer!!!

OK, so I don't know anything about cars, but I just got a nail stuck on one of my tires, I went to the dealership and they told me that since the nail is stuck on the side of the tire that they couldn't fix it and that I have to change the tire!!!! I just bought the car less than 2 months ago!!!! why can't I get it fixed??? back in my country it didn't matter where you got a hole on your tire, they could fix it, why can't they fix it here???

Please, if someone could explain this to me I would really appreciate it.

Thanks!!!

Modern radial tires can only be repaired using a plug / patch combination in the tread area excluding the outermost rib. This is true for every tire manufacturer.

Repairing a tire in the sidewall could lead to a catastrophic failure, and since the US public is somewhat lawsuit happy, the average dealer does not want to do anything in contradiction to what the tire manufacturer recommends.

Perhaps the difference lies in what the result of a tire failure would be in your former land.

Hope this helps.

The reason they won't repair a sidewall puncture is the amount of stress in the sidewall. As the tire rolls, that sidewall flexes a lot and the odds of a patch or plug holding is not very good. If any of the sidewall cords are damaged by the puncture, that will weaken the sidewall as well making matters worse. It's far safer to replace the tire than to have that plug give out at highway speeds.

thanks for your replies......

I guess all that makes sense........in any case, I'm just pissed because this is the kind of luck that I sometimes have, and it hurts a lot having to pay so much for a new tire :(

I would take it to a tire shop, not the dealership. The dealer will charge a LOT more for a new tire

Just take it to a tire shop, generally theyll fix it for free.