Sorry, I can't tell you whether you should patch or not....but I can tell you that I had a nail hole PLUGGED (by the dealer) in the original Bridgestones that came with the car. Eventually, the plug leaked and had to be re-plugged at a service station. I was surprised that it had been plugged by the dealer, I thought they would have patched it. I took it back to the dealer and he said they always plug. Unfortunately, they thought that the new, larger plugged hole was a safety issue and recommended a new tire. I ended up getting an entirely new set of Michelins (which I much prefer - quieter, better ride) at a great price from Tirerack based on a tip from someone on this board. So, I guess that, in most cases, they will plug, not patch holes.