Plugging tires?

[BC38]

My tire guy does not plug,,
he puts a patch inside.

Where it is at pretty much does not matter.

It does cost $20,, which, around here, is high.
I guess other places that is cheap,

Patches are good too.
Using a plug AND a patch too is the best.

HOWEVER, neither is a good idea in or even right where the sidewall meets the tread.

IMO, sidewalls are too thin and flex too much for either method (or even doing both) to be safe at highway speeds.

 

[dave1918a2]

I grew up working in My dad's Texaco station. He would not use a plug. Take the tire off and patch it on the inside. There should be several tire shops, usually independents, that will do this. All They do is make a chalk mark on the tire where the valve stem is and put the tire back in the same place. Doesn't affect the balance at all. That is the proper way for an automobile tire. Plugs are ok on ATV and UTV.

 

[oink]

I've had great luck with plugs over many years. I alwys try to use self vulcanizing plugs. Once they get hot they almost become one with the tire rubber.

I've never had a plug fail that held for a few miles. I've had some tires that were at the end of their life when plugged and would just spit them out. I've had some where the hole or gash was too big, although I have doubled up plugs to successfully plug a tire. Those I would trust further than getting you out of trouble.

I've driven patrol cars with pugs. Any cop that's worked areas post hurricane has likely driven on plugs. It's pretty much unavoidable.

 

[TX-Dennis]

I have a plug kit and a sidewall patch kit called Gluetread. I've only plugged one tire, and it held for the life of the tire, so they do work.

The Glue Tread kit says it's for emergency repairs only and should be used only to get to the nearest tire store. Had a sidewall cut once off road probably 90 miles from the nearest tire store. I changed the tire, but I kept thinking about what I'd do if it happened again. That's when I found the Glue Tread kit. Hope I never need to find out if it works.

 

[oberon]

I have plugged many car and light truck tires and I have plugged motorcycle tires as well. No problems with 'em. Plugging tubeless tires is as old as tubeless tires. I do not recall ever plugging the same tire more than once.

 

[Farmer17]

Nice thing about driving a pickup is that it has a full size spare and in the construction business I get lots of flats from nails, screws, etc. and I always change the tire and throw the flat in the bed. We have tire stores all around here called Hibdons and they will fix any flat on any tire for free, even if you didn't buy from them. They'll change and install it free too but I prefer to just drop it off and pick it up later and install it myself at home, I don't want to sit in a crowded waiting room.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Just as there are no healthy pets at a net, everyone needs a prescription and more insurance; there are no longer tires that can be plugged or fixed. Solution is always "buy another". After you leave the old tire with then, then they plug it and resell it,

 

[VaTom]

Had a tire go down quick and before I could get stopped the tire was ruined. First flat in many years. Top of the line Bridgestone. 80 thousand mile tires with 30,000 on them. Bought two new to match and put on front of fwd Camry, older ones on rear. Brought the extra older one home in the garage for spare. Owned many AWD Subarus over years. Always recommended all tires should be same wear depth. FWD same axle is ok.

 

[johngalt]

Over on the Corvette forum, carrying a plug kit is often seen advice. But when asked, no one has ever been able to explain how they would plug a flat Corvette tire on the side of the road - especially a rear.

 

[Sistema1927]

Over on the Corvette forum, carrying a plug kit is often seen advice. But when asked, no one has ever been able to explain how they would plug a flat Corvette tire on the side of the road - especially a rear.

Excuse my ignorance, but do Corvettes come without jacks and tire tools?

 

[johngalt]

Excuse my ignorance, but do Corvettes come without jacks and tire tools?

No spare, jack, or tools. Instead you get run-flats.

 

[steelslaver]

I carry a plug kit and a small compressor in every rig. I also have a tire machine and balancer. Properly done in the tread area a plug will work until the tire is worn out as will a patch. Once you get a hole in the sidewall the tire is done. Even with a good patch the sidewall flex will cause it to fail. I do carry a full sized spare after an incident a couple years ago with a donut.