Tires: Unrepairable flat, Tire Repair

Question
I have a Mercury Mountaineer with Michelin tires. I picked up a nail in the left rear tire on the tread but about 1 inch from the edge. I took it to a tire store and (without even removing the tire from the rim) they told me it couldn't be repaired.  They claimed that the side wall was damaged. The tire is practically brand new and I don't want to buy a new tire if I don't have to.

Any thoughts or advice?

Answer
Bob,

The Rubber Manufacturers Association, in conjunction with both the tirer manufacturers and the manufacturers of repair materials has issued a bulletin describing the proper procedure for tires.  The bulletin includes a graphic that shows what area of the tire is repairable - and it is the tread area, not including the outermost rib.  

The sidewall was not included because the mation tire sidewall go through make it unreliable that a patch will adhere, and the outermost rib is not included because the edges of the belt are there and because the edges of the belt are the most highly stressed area of the tire, damage in that area can lead to a tire failure.

Sounds like the tire shop was following the best advice given in the industry.