Yes, if the damage is one small puncture in the middle of the tread, a tire can usually be fixed with a patch-plug applied from the inside. Sidewall or shoulder damage, a large hole, or a tire driven flat means replacement. Detroit Tire Shop in Detroit can look at the tire to confirm which.
Where on the tire is the damage?
Location decides almost everything. The flat center band of the tread is the only area where a repair holds up, because that part of the tire is held rigid by the belts underneath and does not flex much as it rolls.
The shoulder, where the tread curves down toward the sidewall, and the sidewall itself flex constantly. A patch there works loose, so a puncture in either spot is a replacement, no matter how small the hole looks from outside.
Why does a plug from the outside not count as a repair?
A rubber string pushed in from the outside seals the hole but leaves the inner liner untouched, and the liner is what keeps air in. Moisture can also reach the steel belts through the hole. A proper repair is done from the inside, with the tire off the wheel, so the technician can see the damage that the outside hides.
If a tire was plugged on the roadside, treat that as a temporary fix and have it looked at properly soon.
What if I drove on it flat?
This is the case that surprises people. A tire run flat even for a short distance can have its inner sidewall crushed and scuffed, and that damage is invisible from outside. The tire may hold air and still be unsafe.
If you kept driving after the pressure dropped, say so when you call. It changes the answer, and a hidden failure on a Detroit expressway is far worse than the cost of a new tire.
When is a repair not worth doing?
A tire that is already worn down to the wear bars is a poor candidate for a patch, since you would be paying to fix something you will replace within weeks. The same goes for a tire with cracked sidewalls or one that has been repaired in the same area before.
Ask whether the repair covers the inside patch or only a plug, and whether the tire is still worth keeping once it is back on the car.
Can I drive to a tire shop on a flat tire?
Avoid it if you can. Every turn of the wheel on a flat damages the inner sidewall, which can turn a repairable puncture into a scrap tire. Put on the spare or have the car moved, and call Detroit Tire Shop at the shop on 13054 Grand River Ave to ask about your tire size.
Can a bulge in the sidewall be repaired?
No. A bulge means the internal cords have broken and the tire is holding air only through the outer rubber. It needs replacing before further driving.
Does a repaired tire need to be matched with the other tires?
A repaired tire keeps its original tread depth, so it stays matched with the others. If you end up buying a new one instead, the tread difference against the remaining tires matters most on all-wheel drive vehicles, so ask before choosing.