Lessons learned plugging a tire

Removing the tire, straddling it and using your full weight to push the needle through helps.

For that bunched up bit, slice it flush with a razor blade or similar.

Looks like the tires are getting pretty worn anyway, maybe time to start reviewing replacement tires.

 

You don’t have “yes and a spare” as an option.

I also have an air compressor as well.

Scout motto: Be Prepared .

 

Both of my flat kits come with a tin of silicone grease to dip the plug into just before inserting it into the hole. It makes it MUCH easier and does not interfere with the vulcanization seal. They both also come with a knife to trim off the lump on the outside.

Safety seal

Boulder Tools tire repair kit.

I've sealed close to 30 holes in the last 18 years or so with these with not one issue. On road and off road tires.

 

That tire isn't inspectable.
Those plugs are temporary on a good tire, good enough to get to a vulcanization job, on a tire that's moot?

 

I don't view them as temporary. I've needed to do 3 plugs in the last 18 months. All are holding up well. I was thinking temporary too, but then had our first flat on the Alaskan Highway. I stopped at the next tire repair place a few hours down the road and he said he wouldn't recommend we do anything and that plugs are fine as is. I wasn't expecting that sales talk, but he sold me and we've been good since then. No, the next two flats were not with the same hole or tire!

 

I keep a kit in each car.

 

I found out the bad news about plugs at my local Discount Tire.

They consider a plugged tire a liability, since water and other elements can corrode the steel belts and cause unseen internal damage.

They won't demount the tire and do a permanent internal repair.

Just be warned.

 

I have always plugged my tires since the 1970 and never had a problem. If you want to be totally correct the tire should be replaced and not repaired.

 

That sounds more like they just wanted to sell you a new tire.

If these sticky plugs and glue are sealing up the tire to hold in the air, they are coating and sealing up any exposed belt material.

 

Yeah, just like they won't service any tire over 10 years old.

I will not risk my life on a couple hundred dollars.

To me that's a potential L.E.E. "Translate that to be a life ending event."

Why bother with plugs. Discount Tire demounts, repairs and rebalances tires for FREE.

 

Rubber ages. Tires generally are only good for 6 to 7 years. Spares might go 10.

Your other post said they won't demount the tire and repair it.
Or is that just tires with a temporary plug in them? That seems to be a silly thing to be picky about, seeing how the internal repair is a combo plug and patch made of the same materials as the emergency plugs. Many cars don't come with spares now. Does Discount Tires have the same policy for the slime as the plugs?

The internal plug and patch is a better fix, but the local shops I went to for a repair just used the outside plug.

 

That tread looks low. Maybe it was time to buy new tires anyway? I have a flat plug kit with my PRIME, but have never had a chance to use it yet. I also carry a full size spare in my PRIME, but I have not had a chance to use it either.

 

The first time I plugged a tire was on our 2010, about 18 months in. There was a small finishing nail, a little shy of one inch from edge of tread, causing a slow leak. When the wheel/tire was off the car (snow tires on) I brought it into dealership service department, asked if they would repair, but they refused, saying too close to edge for a "kosher" inside/outside style plug, that the disc on the inside would be riding up onto the curve.

I can see that, but it leaves me in a bind. I got a quality old-school plug repair kit, the kind that's outside only, watched a few videos, and plugged it. Refilled with just a floor-style bicycle pump. That tire (the OEM) finally is getting replaced, with the rest of the set. Last fall I deemed them "aged out", replaced them while the snow tires were on.

Never any problems with that repair. Ditto for another plug repair, on one of our snow tires, within the next 12 months: this time a small bolt; the tire went flat very fast. Again, less than inch from edge of tread (so presumably pro-repair again out of the question). Anyway, it was freezing cold, in a parking lot, so I put on the spare, drove home, took the flat in the house, plug repair, bicycle pump. That tire is on the car right now.

 

They always say stay away from the edge of the tire where it starts to meet the sidewall. I think they only want plugs in the steel belted area.

 

I carry a plug repair kit, 12-volt air compressor, Slime, and a full-sized spare retrofitted into the spare tire well on our 2012. I plugged tires on several cars over the years and did not have problems, BUT was told by a tire shop that on stell-belted radials the edges of steel belts around the plug will gradually chew into it and weaken the repair, FWIW. (To clarify, I used the cord-type push in from the outside style of tire plugs.)

 

I think with the inside style plugs you need to be further from tread edge, due to the larger diameter disc on the inside. I wouldn't doubt they're technichally superior, the inside disc pressing/sealing. Stll, old school, the cord pushed in from the outside, maybe you can get closer to that edge. Again, just my thought.

 

Sidewall sees more flex that can cause a repair to fail.

 

Seemed to have a leak coming from an old plug repair. I just put in a new plug.