Puncture: repair or replace the tyre?

A nail in the tyre, a tyre that loses a little air every week or a blowout on the motorway: the question is the same every time. Can this still be repaired, or does the car need a new tyre? Below you can read the rules tyre manufacturers apply and what we do in our workshop in Rotterdam.

By the team at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug, RDW-approved APK (MOT) test station since 1979 · Updated 8 November 2026

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The short answer

A punctured tyre can be repaired if the hole is in the central three quarters of the tread and smaller than 6 mm, according to tyre manufacturer Continental. A hole in the sidewall or the shoulder cannot be repaired, and most manufacturers do not repair a run-flat tyre either. If you have driven on a flat tyre, the inside is often damaged and the tyre has to be replaced. A professional repairs the tyre from the inside, after removing it from the wheel rim. A plug from the outside and a sealant spray are emergency measures.

Tyre service at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug: new summer, winter and all-season tyres for all makes and sizes, including electric cars, vans and motorhomes up to 3,500 kg. We tell you the price in advance based on your registration number, including fitting, balancing and disposal of the old tyres. Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number and we tell you the price and when we can do it. You bring the car and we call you when it is ready. A loan bike is free while one is available. Saturdays too. Our team speaks English. More about our tyre service

When can a punctured tyre be repaired?

A repair is only allowed in the tread, and only for small damage. Continental applies three rules: the hole is in the central three quarters of the tread, the hole is smaller than 6 mm and the tyre has not been damaged by driving without pressure. If the hole is in the sidewall or in the shoulder (the curve between tread and sidewall), a repair is not possible. The sidewall flexes with every rotation and a patch will not hold there. The sidewall also carries the cords of the carcass, the load-bearing part of the tyre.

Situation Repair? Explanation
Nail or screw in the centre of the tread, hole smaller than 6 mm Yes From the inside, after removal and inspection
Hole of 6 mm or larger No Continental: replace the tyre
Hole in the sidewall No Load-bearing part of the tyre, cannot be repaired
Hole in the shoulder No Outside the central three quarters
Run-flat tyre Usually no Most manufacturers advise against repair
Driven on a flat tyre Usually no Damage on the inside, often visible as rubber crumbs
Bulge in the sidewall No Broken carcass, replace straight away
Tyre older than 8 to 10 years or with 2 mm of tread or less Better not A repair makes no sense, the tyre is due for replacement anyway

Based on the Continental repair guideline and the ANWB explanation of replacing tyres. The ANWB is the Dutch motoring organisation.

The last rule is a workshop rule, not a factory rule. Repairing a tyre with little tread or many fine cracks is money thrown away. According to the ANWB, a summer tyre with 2 mm of tread or less is due for replacement, and after 8 to 10 years a tyre is due for replacement because of ageing. In that case we advise a new tyre straight away.

How does a professional repair a punctured tyre?

A good repair is done from the inside, after the tyre has been taken off the rim. Only then can the mechanic see whether the inside is still sound. This is how we do it:

  1. Find: we inflate the tyre and look for the leak, in a water bath or with leak detection spray if needed. We also check the valve and the rim edge.
  2. Remove: the tyre comes off the rim. The mechanic inspects the inside for rubber crumbs, loose cords and cracks. If those are there, the tyre cannot be saved.
  3. Assess: if the hole is in the central three quarters of the tread and smaller than 6 mm, the repair is allowed.
  4. Repair: the channel is drilled out and filled, and a patch is vulcanised onto the inside. That seals the hole and keeps moisture out of the carcass.
  5. Refit and balance: the tyre goes back on the rim, with a new valve if needed, is inflated to the prescribed pressure and balanced.
  6. Check: the mechanic checks the other tyres for tread depth, age and pressure.

A plug from the outside, without removing the tyre, is something else. Continental calls that a temporary emergency measure that does not restore the inside of the tyre. The ANWB roadside assistance (Wegenwacht) sometimes fits such a plug so you can drive to a garage, but advises against fitting a plug yourself. At the APK (MOT), the Dutch roadworthiness test, a professionally repaired tyre is allowed. The RDW inspection manual (the RDW is the Dutch vehicle authority) says a tyre with a hole that has been professionally repaired from the inside can pass.

Why does a tyre lose air slowly?

A tyre that loses a little air every week or every month usually has one of these four causes: a nail or screw in the tread, a leaking valve, a rim that no longer seals properly or damage that only opens up under load. This is what we see most often in the workshop:

  • Nail or screw: the most common cause. Leave the object in place until you reach the garage. If you pull it out, the tyre goes flat straight away.
  • Valve: the rubber of a valve ages and cracks. A loose valve core leaks too. That is why, with a repair, we also replace the valve if needed.
  • Rim edge: on alloy wheels, corrosion builds up between rim and tyre. The tyre then no longer seals properly. The mechanic cleans the rim edge and applies a sealing compound.
  • Damaged rim: after hitting a kerb or a deep pothole the rim can have a dent or a hairline crack. No tyre repair will help then.
  • Temperature: not a leak, but physics. According to Continental, tyre pressure drops by about 0.1 bar (1.6 psi) for every 10 °C the temperature falls. In winter the pressure can end up as much as 5 psi (about 0.3 bar) lower. According to the ANWB, the tyre pressure warning light (TPMS) comes on at more than 20 percent below the prescribed pressure.

If one tyre keeps falling behind the other three, come and see us. Finding a slow leak is a quick check. If you keep driving on it for months, you keep driving with too little pressure. According to Continental, at 0.3 bar below the prescribed pressure your car uses about 1.5 percent more fuel, and the tyre wears on both shoulders.

What do you do yourself when you have a puncture?

The most important thing: do not keep driving on a flat tyre. Continental writes that driving on extends the damage beyond the small repair zone, so a tyre that could have been saved has to be replaced after all. What happens next depends on what you have with you.

  1. Park the car safely. On the motorway: hard shoulder, warning triangle 30 metres behind the car, high-visibility vest on. With a flat front tyre the steering gets heavy and the car pulls to one side, so let the car slow down gradually.
  2. Check the damage. A visible nail in the tread of a tyre that still holds air: leave it in and drive carefully to the garage. A tyre that is flat or has a bulge or a cut in the sidewall: do not drive any further.
  3. Spare wheel or space-saver. According to the ANWB, do not drive faster than 80 km/h on a space-saver (a narrow emergency wheel), and only as far as the garage.
  4. Tyre repair kit (spray can or compressor with sealant). According to the ANWB only for holes up to about 6 mm and for a maximum of 80 kilometres, to the nearest garage. Continental calls the sealant an emergency solution that does not replace a proper repair. Tell the garage you have used the kit: the sealant has to come out of the tyre before the mechanic can assess the damage.
  5. Run-flat tyre. According to the ANWB you can drive on for a maximum of 80 kilometres at no more than 80 km/h, even without pressure. After that the tyre has to be replaced.
  6. Breakdown service. If you have no spare wheel and no kit, call your breakdown service. The ANWB Wegenwacht uses a universal spare wheel or fits a temporary plug. Then have the car brought to us.
Puncture in Rotterdam or nearby? Call +31 10 479 00 00. Bring the car yourself if the tyre still holds air, or have the breakdown service deliver it to us. We tell you in advance what the repair or the new tyre costs. More about car breakdowns in Rotterdam.

What does a puncture repair or a new tyre cost?

According to the ANWB, a professional repair costs between € 35 and € 60, usually including removal, refitting and balancing. We do not quote our own price on this page: we tell you in advance, on the phone or at the counter, and we only repair after you agree.

If the tyre has to be replaced, the price depends on the size, the load index, the speed rating and the price class you choose. As an indication: in the ANWB summer tyre test of 2026 a tyre in the size 225/50 R17 cost between € 100 and € 190 each, including fitting, balancing, disposal fee and VAT. In the smaller size 185/65 R15 the winter tyres in the ANWB winter tyre test of 2026 were between € 80 and € 140. We tell you one price in advance, based on your registration number. That includes the tyre, the fitting, the balancing and the disposal of the old tyre. If anything comes on top, we tell you first. What else plays a part, you can read in what tyre replacement costs including fitting.

Do you need to replace one tyre or two?

Replacing one tyre is allowed, as long as the new tyre has the same size marking as the tyre next to it. That is the requirement at the APK: the tyres on one axle must be the same size. A different brand on the same axle is legally allowed, but the best option is the same tyre as the one next to it. So we first check whether the tyre next to it is still available.

The difference in tread depth decides the rest. If the tyre next to it is still almost new, we replace one. If it is already half worn, we advise two new tyres on the same axle. A large difference in tread on one axle gives a car that reacts differently left and right when braking and on a wet road. If you replace two tyres, Michelin advises fitting them on the rear axle: more tread at the rear clears water better and stops the rear of the car from breaking away on a wet road. In an ideal situation the ANWB advises replacing all four tyres at once, but with one puncture that is rarely necessary.

We balance the wheel with every new tyre. We only recommend wheel alignment when there is a reason for it, for example if the tyre was punctured by a blow against a kerb or a deep pothole and the car pulls to one side afterwards. Not as standard with every tyre.

Puncture in Rotterdam: this is how it works with us

We repair when we can and replace when we must, and we tell you in advance which of the two it will be and what it costs. This is how it works:

  1. Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number (kenteken). We tell you when we can fit you in. If there is space, that is often at short notice.
  2. Bring the car Monday to Friday between 8.00 and 8.30 am or by appointment, or on Saturday at 9.00 am. If the car cannot be driven, have the breakdown service deliver it to us at Boterdiep 11 in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, close to De Kuip, the Feyenoord stadium.
  3. We take the tyre off the rim and assess the damage. If a repair is possible, we do it from the inside. If not, we first tell you the price of a new tyre for your registration number, including fitting, balancing and disposal of the old tyre.
  4. We call you when the car is ready. Waiting while we do the repair is not possible. A loan bike is free while one is available.

Everything about our tyre service, from a single tyre to a complete set, you can read on tyre replacement in Rotterdam.

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with a nail in the tyre?

Yes. Drive carefully and only for a short distance, as long as the tyre keeps its pressure. Leave the nail or screw in: it seals the hole for the time being. If you pull it out, the tyre goes flat. Drive to the garage and have the tyre repaired from the inside. At the APK (MOT), a visible nail is not in itself a reason to fail according to the RDW inspection manual, but waiting until the test is not a good idea.

Can a run-flat tyre be repaired?

No, usually not. Continental writes that most manufacturers advise against repairing a run-flat tyre. The reinforced sidewall carries the car when pressure is lost and can be damaged on the inside without you seeing it. If you have driven on a run-flat tyre without pressure, we advise replacing it. Read the conditions of your tyre manufacturer.

Can a tyre still be repaired after using a sealant spray or repair kit?

Yes, sometimes. The sealant has to be removed from the tyre completely before the mechanic can assess the damage. The RDW inspection manual says the kit has to be removed first for a proper assessment. If the hole is small and in the tread, the repair can still go ahead. Tell the garage you have used the kit, so the mechanic can take that into account. Replace the spray can in your car afterwards as well.

Is a repaired tyre safe on the motorway?

Yes, if the repair was done from the inside and according to the rules. The tyre is then airtight again and the carcass is protected against moisture. A plug from the outside is not: that is meant to get you to the garage. At the APK, a professionally repaired tyre passes.

How do I know whether the leak is in the sidewall or in the tread?

The tread is the part with the pattern that touches the road. The sidewall is the smooth part with the size marking. The shoulder is the curve in between. If the nail is in the tread, at least a few centimetres from the edge, the chance of a repair is good. If the damage is in or close to the curve, it is not. If in doubt, take a photo and call us.

After a puncture, do I also have to replace the other tyre?

No, not if the tyre next to it still has plenty of tread and is the same size. If the tyre next to it is already well worn, we advise two new tyres on the same axle, so the car brakes evenly left and right. According to Michelin, two new tyres belong on the rear axle. We look at it when the car is with us and tell you our advice in advance.

Can I come to Autobedrijf Willemsbrug with a puncture without an appointment?

Yes, but please call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number first and we tell you the price and when we can do it. Then you bring the car, or have the breakdown service drop it off at our garage. You cannot wait for the repair: you bring the car and we call you when it is ready.

Can I bring my own tyres for you to fit?

We supply the tyres ourselves. That way we are sure the size, load index and speed rating are right, and we sort it out if anything is wrong with the tyre. Do you already have tyres? Call us with your registration number and we tell you what we can do for you.

Puncture? Call us

Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number. We repair when we can and replace when we must, and we tell you in advance what it costs.

You will find us at Boterdiep 11 in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, close to Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip). We work by appointment. Call us with your registration number and we tell you the price and when we can do it.

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