# A couple (easy) questions about replacing car tires **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 3, 2009, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-easy-questions-about-replacing-car-tires/488088 "2009-03-03T01:35:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-easy-questions-about-replacing-car-tires/488088/1 "2009-03-03T01:35:36Z")
I hit a pothole and got a flat today. The tire has a pretty good-sized gash in the sidewall. My understanding is that you can’t patch or repair the sidewall. Is that correct? Assuming it is, I’ll need to get a new tire. I have heard that you should buy tires in 2’s or 4’s. Is this good advice? Should I avoid replacing a single tire? Assuming the advice is true, I am thinking about replacing the front two tires. Some details: My car is a Honda Accord. The tires have 42k miles on them and the damage was to the front passenger side. I am bad (terrible) about rotating tires. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-easy-questions-about-replacing-car-tires/488088/2 "2009-03-03T01:45:48Z")
Generally speaking, No, you can’t repair a “gash” in a sideway. A tiny hole, you might get away with, but you’ll probably have to do it yourself, as shops generally won’t do that citing “safety” concerns (and the concern to sell a set of tires). Same goes for buying in pairs/sets. In a perfect world, that is the best way to do it. But hey, times are tough. With 42k(!) on them, you sound like a pair minimum would be a good idea. I was in Wal-Mart the other day, and they actually had some damn good tire prices. Check em out, if you can stand to shop there. Watch them pot-holes from now on! ---
**Author:** ![dactylic\_hexameter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@dactylic\_hexameter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dactylic_hexameter)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-easy-questions-about-replacing-car-tires/488088/3 "2009-03-03T01:51:55Z")
If you shop at Costco, I had a great experience buying tires from them. They also do free pressure checks, and free rotations for the lifetime of the tire. Great way to multitask - drop the car off, go shop inside while they rotate the tires. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-easy-questions-about-replacing-car-tires/488088/4 "2009-03-03T13:10:56Z")
Great – thanks for the help! ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-easy-questions-about-replacing-car-tires/488088/5 "2009-03-03T13:37:38Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Generally speaking, No, you can’t repair a “gash” in a sideway. A tiny hole, you might get away with, On a modern radial tire there is no way you can safely repair a sidewall puncture. The sidewalls flex too much and will tear a patch right off. Don’t even think about it. At 42K your tires were probably pretty near toast anyway, but a pair.