Tire repair: tips for specialist companies

Tire repair: tips for specialist companies

“Tyre repair is a completely underestimated topic,” says Michael Immler. The renowned German tire expert, who recently gave an online lecture at the invitation of the VRÖ (Association of Austrian Tire Specialists), explains to the automotive industry why this is wrongly the case and what needs to be taken into account when repairing tires. 

4 arguments for tire repair

“Repairing a tire is an active contribution to the Environmental protection"Because this means the tire is preserved and doesn't end up in the trash," explains Immler. This is becoming more and more important these days. As a specialist company, you can do this by repairing tires Customer loyalty by helping customers solve a problem and saving them money in the process. In the passenger car sector, this particularly applies to high-quality high-speed or all-wheel-drive tires, where, as an alternative to repairing, an entire set might have to be replaced and a repair makes all the more sense from the customer's perspective.

At the same time, the operator of a workshop can also do a good job repairing car tires earn money, the gross profit could even be improved. “You can sometimes even earn more money by repairing tires than by selling some new tires,” explains the “tire pope,” who advises tire dealers, associations, interest groups and educational institutions as well as vehicle and tire manufacturers. 

Things get really lucrative when it comes to large tires for commercial vehicles, where a repair can cost as little as 800 euros. But Immler, who has been working in the tire industry for 50 years, offers further arguments for offering repair services to specialist companies: “You can really demonstrate specialist expertise here Unique selling point achieve.” 

Ten years in liability

Of course, a high level of professional expertise is required, especially since the companies are liable. If, in the event of an accident, an expert comes to the conclusion that a tire has not been repaired according to the state of the art, the affected workshop must pay, as Immler emphasizes. As an example of this, the expert cites a hole channel filling with corrosion. 

The liability of the company and the respective employee in the event of consequential damage due to inadequate repairs is ten years. Immler therefore recommends documenting all work carried out and keeping it for ten years. It is important to record exactly who did what, when and how, otherwise the companies may be liable for something they did not do. The damage resulting from liability can be significant and, in extreme cases, even endanger your existence. 

Accurate guidelines

But when can you repair a tire and when not? There are precise specifications and guidelines from the legislator as well as from the respective manufacturers. The VRÖ tire guide provides information, in which the essential guidelines are defined and summarized. 

Ultimately, the most important thing is people, as Immler emphasizes. The specialist must be well trained but also have further training. "Nothing works in the tire business today without constant further training. The constant further developments in vehicles and tires require us to continuously learn and be willing to continue our training." It is also very important to be aware “that work is being done on the most safety-relevant part of the vehicles.” Unfortunately, this would all too often be missing. 

Assessing tires: what matters

This begins with the assessment and assessment of whether a car tire can even be repaired. “There are only two possible answers: yes or no – there is nothing in between,” emphasizes the expert, who advises against any favors.

He points out that when it comes to truck tires in particular, people often turn a blind eye to their age, sometimes with the justification: “It’s just a construction vehicle anyway.” Immler counters: "The type or use of the vehicle plays no role in assessing whether a tire is worth repairing. The tire may burst in the same way and the consequential damage is often not much different than when the truck is driving on the road." He also points out that the tires do not necessarily remain on one vehicle and may later be mounted on another and could then very well be used in road traffic. 

Lights on, rims off

In any case, the damaged tire must be removed from the rim before assessment as well as before repair dismantled become. And he has toholisticallybe looked at, not just the broken area. “For example, the bead area is not looked at enough,” explains Immler. Signs of overloading can be seen there, which sometimes show that a tire is irreparable. 

Good is also important illuminated workplace, because, for example, damage caused by blunt impacts from the outside (keyword: curb) is hardly visible on the outside, although the carcass may have broken through on the inside and the tire is therefore gone. In general, it is important to recognize and correctly assess deformations and discolorations. “Experience "It's the be-all and end-all," says Immler, who despite everything sees great opportunities for companies and has no understanding of the excuses that are often used or restrictions on the repair services offered. "Some say they only repair up to speed index T or H, others only repair nail holes or no motorcycle tires, and others only patch cold," reports Immler from practice. None of this is appropriate - if the tire is properly assessed, Y tires can be repaired in the same way, motorcycle tires anyway. Hot vulcanization is safest.

A tip for emergencies

And then the tire guru has another tip up his sleeve: “Emergency repairs are possible if, for example, there is no replacement tire available for the car at short notice. But as a workshop you should definitely take legal precautions.” And it’s not enough to just note the word “emergency repair” on the invoice. “The customer cannot judge what he can and is allowed to do with it,” Immler explains the reasoning of the courts, for which the specialist companies are otherwise liable in the event of damage. Instead, it must be noted on the invoice how many kilometers you can drive with the repaired tire and what the maximum speed is. And as always, everything should be well documented. 

Test your knowledge

With the kind support of the Austrian Association of Tire Specialists, the automotive industry has created a free eLearning in which interested experts can refresh their knowledge on the subject of tire repair right away here  can check.