patched tire
 

I had a flat today at 14K odo miles. It was patched at the local tire shop. Is it okay for me to switch the patched one with the new spare in the trunk? I've read somewhere that I need to change up the whole set on awd cars.

depends on how worn the 14K mile tire is. i would leave it. patches are great and so are plugs. just to be sure the patch is not on the side wall, that is dangerous and i believe illegal. also a patch prob wont throw the tire out of balance but after removing the rubber and installing the patch it is recommended to get the tire rebalanced.

I'll check on the wear tomorrow. I'm driving to upstate ny next month so I figured the new spare would be safer for the road trip...

If they put an inside patch on the tire, which means they dismounted it, then it is good and you can just keep running it.

If they just put a plug in from the outside, without removing the tire from the wheel, that is a questionable repair, and then I would put the spare on instead of continuing to run it.

make sure the patch is inside of the tire