R
redacted
Guest
Go visit your local bike shop with a flatted tire and ask them to put a patch on the inner tube. Not going to happen at least in my experience.
A mechanic has to remove the wheel, remove the tire, inspect the tire casing, find the source of the flat, prep the tube apply the patch, install the tube and tire and test inflate. Some times the the repair will not pass the test, the patch didn't stick, there was *another* hole in the tube etc. That means the mechanic needs to start over.
Compare that to replacing the damaged inner tube with a new tube. Actually a bit less work, but the chances of success the first time are much higher.
In addition there is a real liability issue. Every product liability app I've ever filled out has been quite specific about repairing components vs replacement of same.
Tires? I used to work as a mechanic for a construction company, with many trucks, tractors, trailers, etc.
I don't know of any tire manufacturer that actually does repairs. Some tire dealers do, but they all limit repairs to simple punctures in the thread, anything else, side wall damage, slices etc. and they will refuse.
I've also "plugged" hundreds of punctures with kits purchased at the auto parts with generally very good success, but these kits were never sold by or recommended by the tire manufacturer.
Tobin
Sure, there are times when replacement is a better decision (cost, durability, safety) than repair. I would applaud the BCD manufacturer who provide customer service based on those considerations rather than the industry standard of replace is only option due to liability. A friend of mine put a hole in his Halcyon wing. Halcyon's official position was not repairable - only replacement. Then they sent him a piece of suitable material to make the repair.
Tire manufacturers repair repairable tires through their retailers and do acknowledge their repairability: Goodyear: U.S. Government Sales - Police Tires