Provided is a method for repairing a radial tire that enhances the durability of patch rubber attached to a damaged portion of a carcass ply from the inner side of the tire and that extends the service life of the repaired tire while reducing the repair time. The method according to the present invention for repairing a radial tire (1) includes a step of attaching a patch rubber (10), in which a plurality of reinforcing elements (11) are arranged in parallel and covered with rubber, from the inner side of the tire to a damaged portion (7) of a carcass ply (5a) when at least one ply cord (6a) in the carcass ply is broken along with ply rubber at a sidewall portion (3). The patch rubber is attached so that the reinforcing elements (11) are parallel to a tire radial direction and so that inner edges (11a, 11b, 11c) of the reinforcing elements (11) in the tire radial direction are positioned to at least partially have different mutually distances in a perpendicular direction from a tire circumferential line.

Methods and apparatus for applying a repair patch to a damaged portion of a tire, the steps of the method including removably positioning the patch in a repair position overlapping the damaged portion, pulling a tab to remove a protective sheet to uncover at least a portion of the bonding surface while the patch is in contact with the tire, and pressing the uncovered bonding surface into contact with the tire.