02dkbluegt

So I've had these tires for less than a month now. I've got a nail in my front drivers side tire. I've gone to several shops and none will patch it because they consider that to be the sidewall..?

I don't have money for a new tire right now seeing as I just forked over some cash for some new fronts and an alignment. Are plugs really that terrible? Slime?

What are my options aside from getting a new tire?

dStuck

might try BigBrand tires. theyll even do it for free

Eagle2000GT

I've been running a plug in one of my tires for about 15,000 miles without any problems and I'm not necessarily easy on tires. At one time plugs were all that were used on tubeless tires. I've heard that the problem with plugs is that if they are installed incorrectly they can come out but I have never had that happen. If it were me I'd plug it and use it.

02dkbluegt

How do you incorrectly put in a plug? Pretty much ream it out a little with the tool that comes in the kit, double over some of the plug material and jam it in there right? This is probably what I'm going to have to resort to so I'm just making sure I'm not missing anything.

sv650lex

Just plug it. I use to work for I tire shop and they only did patches because plugs could ruin the steel cords pushing them through. Now there saying patches are bad because they let the moisture into the tire and rust the steel cords. Either way i guess your screwed. Throw a plug in it and run it for another 30k.

LynnBob Mustang

A plug and a patch are two different things. You have to take the tire off to put a patch on the hole that goes on the inside and is probably why a shop won't do it because it may not conform to the inside to seal it because it is too close to the side wall, a plug goes through the tire to the inside.

You don't have to take a tire off to plug it so just plug it and be done with it. If a shop won't do it, plug it your self.
It's not rocket science.
Lynn

dimebag

I have a patch plug covered by a 2nd patch on my DRs... Drove on them till cords were showin and all was good, plenty of track runs too

0949er

you cannot patch that hole, it is too close to the sidewall. However, A plug that you can buy from auto-zone should do the trick (at least you could use it as a band aid to replace the tire)


im not sure if you will be able to find a shop to "plug" the tire, they usually will only "patch" or "replace." That way they have a better chance of selling you a new tire if the "cannot" patch it due to the sidewall issue.

02dkbluegt

I've plugged several of my friends tires in the past, but Eagle2000GT's post made me want to double check my procedure. I've only ever done it to small sedans, nothing that would ever go to the track or see any high speeds that's why I was cautious plugging a hole on my car.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Eagle2000GT

Not getting enough glue on the plug is one way. I use lots of glue. I was also taught many, many years ago to light the excess glue and let it burn for a couple of seconds. I don't know if it actually makes a stronger bond or not but it can't hurt. The plug I'm running now is in an ultra high performance all-season tire. I like to play a little on the back roads and it has held up to everything I've thrown at it including burn-outs.