The tire was punctured by a piece of metal that sliced the tread area so a plug or patch wouldn't have fix it. This was driving on county gravel roads in the Midwest. If it was a nail or screw I'd have taken it to Sam's Club to get it repaired for free
Thanks for posting this. The last time I rented a car that needed roadside assistance, it was a Sunday (my day off), and the car was in the parking garage of my hotel (Hilton) with a flat. The rental agency said they had a hard time getting someone to come out on Sunday, but I could change it myself, and drive it in for a tire replacement or to swap vehicles.
After waiting 2 hours for a mechanic, I changed it myself. When I went to the rental agency that night, they gave me an upgrade vehicle for my inconvenience, and i didn't have to pay a penny.
Now that I'm seeing this, i wonder if it's because I rented using my corporate Hertz account. That had extras included, so the premium roadside coverage was probably standard.
Next time I rent a car on my dime, I'll check what additional coverages I have with all my credit cards, auto insurance, etc. From what i just looked up, not all additional rental car coverages you pay for when renting include 100% of tire damage. Some limit it to a dollar amount, like $400, while others have a deductible you must pay to cover some of the cost. So, better check the fine print before paying for coverage that might be inadequate.
Also, don't leave any evidence in the car you had a tire repaired or any other repairs. Rental agreements usually state you aren't allowed to authorize any repairs on their rental vehicles. You report the damage, then let the agency handle repairs.
