My local tire shop won't caulk or patch my tire because they said it was too close to the sidewall which is BS freight. The hole was almost two inches from the side wall. They just wanted to sell me a new tire for $300. This tire repair kit worked as advertised. It takes a lot of force to get the reamer and needle into the puncture, so I can understand why some people accidentally bend the needle. You must hold it straight and apply a downward force to keep it from bending. If you stand at an angle, it may bend as it takes a lot of force to get into the hole, even after rubbing carefully. This repair was on a 2015 Ford Explorer Sport. I am very happy with this purchase and am planning to buy another one to keep in my second car.