Nail in tire

I have no experience, yet, with a plug-repaired tire; but I would have no problem running it as a permanent solution and using the tire until the tread wears out. Tires tend to get slow leaks, which is not a dangerous situation for those that are in tune with the way their car normally drives, and regularly checks the tires. I'd expect a tire plug, if it even failed at all, to fail in a slowly leaking way instead of a catastrophic blowout.

I've had many, many leaking tires in my day, but never a blowout.

Of course, I'm also the type to run a tire until the cord begins to show, so your comfort level is likely not near mine.

 

No idea. The bullet was not mushroomed or anything; just perfectly nosed into my tire. I assumed it was fired, perhaps up in the air, and landed on a road I traveled. I didn't think of inspecting it for signs of being fired... so it has me curious now. I'll take another look when I get home tonight, if I remember.

 

I don't think a .22 bullet is sharp enough to enter by rolling over it. Had to be shot. Where was the hole?

 

The bullet was found nose-in directly in the tread of the tire. It was about 3/4 of the way into the tire, with just enough of it sticking out to grab it with pliers. I'd think a bullet would go clean through the tread of an extremely worn Jeep Liberty tire; even a low powered .22

I had the tire inflated beyond spec, to maybe 40 psi. This could cause punctures to occur more easily. Seems like a fun test for the next time the .22 is out and an old tire is laying around.

 

I REALLY wanted to like the DynaPlug. I read a lot about them today. My only issue with regular plugs is when the hole is very small (often), you have to somehow force the rasp tool in there, then work it back and forth to hopefully get the hole big enough to be able to force the plug rope in there. Last time I broke the plastic T-handle off. I ended up drilling the hole bigger to get the plug in. (several sites said that "IS" the procedure for a small hole). I don't like the idea of making a bigger hole and thought the DynaPlug would go into a small hole easier. I read of users having the same issue with the DynaPlug. Another issue I have with DynaPlug is the small shape and size of what you are trying to apply A LOT OF PRESSURE to (in the case of a small hole). If I cannot get it in with a good grip on a T-handle, what chance would I have that small screw driver sized thing to push on?

DynaPlug does make 'Xtreme' $70 Aluminum and $80 Stainless versions with a mushroomed end, but the price is way high and I don't know if it would still be good enough, leverage wise. BlackJack makes some steel T-handles kits which are in the $60-$70 range, but at least you get a handle that is strong AND gives good leverage.

I found that you can find smaller 1/8" diameter plug rope material. One Slime kit's 'picture looks like it has (4) small plugs and (4) regular 3/16" plugs. This kit is called Slime Deluxe Tire Plug Kit 2040-A ($5.97 at Walmart, about $9 Amazon Prime). I have a question placed on Amazon if someone knows if it in fact does have (4) 1/8" dia. plugs. I also sent an email to Slime about it.

I also have read several accounts that Slime and Fix-A-Flat brands of goo in fact DO RUIN TPMS sensors. Slime claims it does not. That a 'Tire care professional is able to clean the goo out of the sensor and reinstall it. THey say it will then register correctly after some short time. I can't see my 'tire care professional' trying to carefully clean a TPMS out in hopes it came back to life, down the road, so to speak.

My decision at this point is:
NO SLIME OR GOO OF ANY KIND on board my car. I will probably get one or two 2040-A Slime plug kits to keep in the car. The only source for loose 1/8" plugs I found was on EBay for $5.50 (free shpg):

Actually I thought I had a better link for 1/8" plugs, but cannot find it.

15 Amp lighter plug: I plan to install a surface mount 15 amp cig. lighter plug (connected directly to the battery) just above/near the battery. This one looks perfect and comes with an inline 15 amp fuse, sweet! (About $12 w/ shpg)
Cigarette Lighter Socket, Panel Mount Outlet 12 Volt Marine Motorcycle K/bhr30 : Amazon.com : Automotive

12v Compressor: I was liking the Harbor Freight #69284, $24.99 (14 amp, 100 PSI, .88 CFM w/ carry bag) but now am considering the Slime 40022. It has a built in light, stops at a set PSI pressure and has a digital pressure reading on the side. ( Seems more user friendly if/when my wife has to use it during her commute) The jury is out until I hear back from Amazon buyers on what actual maximum pressures they are getting from these units. I'd like to hear reports that it at least gets to 50PSI before hitting it's wall so I can feel I can get 42 PSI easily for my tires (OK my wife's tires ). While I initially dreamt of fitting a compressor and supplies in the left corner where the factory pump is, I am happy to note that this Slime unit (8.9" L x 6.4" H x 2.9" W) will fit in a small Tuperware type container I found that fits under the passenger seat. I had no idea what I wanted to put there, But knew I wanted to store 'something' in that dead space.

Well, enough of my ramblings for tonight.

 

Wow, Ebay. I copy and paste a link from the address field and they install a 'window'!

 

I got the Slime 40022 compressor ($27.95 at Walmart and Amazon) yesterday. I posted my test results of how it worked and the pressures it reached in what time over at Flat Tire Repair Kit thread here:
Flat tire repair kit (non OEM) & your experience with 'Slime' brand? | PriusChat

Bottom line, I'm satisfied with it and will keep it and the Slime 2040-A "Deluxe Tire Plug Kit" ($5.97 at Walmart and Amazon) in the PIP. The above kit is the only one I have found that includes 'smaller' 1/8" diameter plugs. I am hoping that they will solve the handle braking issues I have had when trying to plug small nail puncture holes. Since the kit is cheap, I will keep two sets of the repair T-handles in the car. I may try to find some smaller diameter rasp to add to the kit. Small holes are hard to get these tools into.

 

Dam!!!! I got a nail in my front driver side tire the other day..... 10 bucks for a plug in the tire store
Now I will be obligated to buy a tire repair kit to keep in the vehicle

 

"a plug in the tire store" Did a tire shop plug your tire for $10? I have had gas staions do a plug from the outside (only), before I decided to start doing my own years ago. Tire shops around here will usually only do a repair by using a plug from the inside out that has a patch as a part of the plug. A double seal. ) I have never had a plug fail, so I am fine considering a plug a permanent fix. YMMV

 

My Acura picked up a nail a couple weeks ago, and Les Schwab repaired it for free. Not only did I not get the tires from Les Schwab, but they don't even carry the brand of tire they fixed. They provide excellent customer service, even when you aren't a customer.

 

The plug repair kit I linked (on page 1) has 2 diameters of plugs. I used the smaller diameter when I did my repair (it was a slim finishing nail). The reamer is tapered, I didn't go in too far. Worked good, no leak, about a year later.

 

A funny thing happened on the way to Costco, yesterday...

I happened to look at the tires before we left the house, walked around, kicked them, all fine. Costco's about 10 km away, parked, glanced down at the driver's side rear tire, noticed a distinct bulge at the bottom...

This is our Michelin X-Ice, on steel rims, no TPMS. I checked pressure: zip.

First order of business was to go into Costco, and get me some gloves. It was about -3 C, and I knew there was no way I was going to get through this without gloves.

I used the supplied jack, put the cheapo wheel chocks on the opposite corner tire, loosened the lug nuts, jacked up that corner, got the tire off and the temp tire on, it all went pretty smoothly. Right away I saw this screw in the tread of the flat: the smoking gun...

Anyway, the full size tire more-or-less fits in the temp tire spot, except it's a bit too high, the hatch floor doesn't sit properly. By then my wife was back with the shopping, we loaded up, hit one more store, then back home.

I brought the flat inside, had no desire to work out in the cold, plug-repaired, pumped up the tire with a bicycle pump (bit of a work out, but it works ), soapy water showed no bubbles, woohoo!

Back on the car, and off we went to see some Christmas displays. I was a little nervous to be committing to such a fresh repair, but it worked out, it's holding pressure just fine.

It occurred to me, with my plug repair kit and the bicycle pump in the car, it's possible to even repair on-the-fly, with the tire just pulled off, or even on the car.

 

What's the spoon for, emergency soup?

 

coke?

 

Just needs a can of Sterno and he's all set!

 

The gold capped container is a tub of some sort of solvent you coat on things. I just needed some sort of spatula to apply it, so the spoon.

 

Wow, just like CSI! Of course, if this was on tv, you would also know who lost the screw and be able to bill them for your time and efforts, and maybe a new tire!

 

original or diet?

 

Thanks for posting your adventure. I have always done this with the tire on the car (I'm lazy).
One tip I read was that if the tire has zero or very low pressure, this could make it harder to insert the rasp and then plug into the hole (especially smaller holes). The DynaPlug (I don't own this, but stole their temp. plug idea) kit comes with a metal plug to insert in the hole after pulling the nail/screw whatever out. To hold the pressure left while you putz around getting your plug installed in the hook. So if I have trouble, like last time, getting the rasp into the hole, but before breaking the T-handle , I'll place one of my DIY temp. plugs (various size nails I keep in my repair kit) then use my aftermarket compressor (Slime 40022 $27.95 Walmart & Amazon) to bring tire back up to pressure, then work to get rasp into hole to clean as instructed, put back temp plug while I add rubber cement to plug and hook, then stick the gooey plug into the hole.

OH! Glad I typed this out. I just realized I had forgotten to add a razor blade to my DIY kit to slice off the plug at the tires surface!