Tire Repair


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Old 06-22-21, 05:55 PM
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Tire Repair

I think this is going to be one of those topics that is partly personal opinion & partly knowledge for some.

All my life, since radial tires have been popular on passenger vehicles, I have always been told, never plug a radial tire. However, in recent years, I have had some people discuss the improvements of plugging radial tires with so-called "radial tire plugs".
Still, I have always had that old school attitude of never plug a radial tire.

Recently, I had a tire that kept leaking down over the period of a week. So, I stopped by a little owner/op tire shop & give them a try. He quickly found the leak & it was in the outside tread, so he wouldn't take it off & patch it. He insisted on plugging. I told him I didn't like plugging a radial but he insisted that he would not patch it cause a patch would not hold on an inside corner where the leak was. Since I am planning to by new tires before winter, I told him to go ahead.
That was a month ago & no issues... no air loss, but for me its not really the issue.

So, my question is, is plugging ok now days? Is there really such a thing as "radial tire plugs"?

Knowledge? Experience? Opinions?
 
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Old 06-22-21, 06:23 PM
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I have always plugged my own tires. Never any issues.
 
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Old 06-22-21, 09:55 PM
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probably not the way a tire would normally be fixed but have never had any issues either, the hole is there regardless of how its fixed and it could have damage a few belts regardless of if its radial or bias so dont really see how you choose to repair it would really matter.
 
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Old 06-23-21, 12:16 AM
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Been thoroughly discussed many times, patching is always preferred but it's not an absolute. Our local shops will not plug!
 
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Old 06-23-21, 03:15 AM
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I don't disagree that patches are better but I've always plugged my tires as I can do it cheaper and with less inconvenience than taking it to a shop. Never had any issues.
 
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Old 06-23-21, 04:25 AM
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I've only plugged a tire maybe 3 or 4 times in my lifetime. But never had any issues.
 
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Old 06-23-21, 04:38 AM
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Norm, I'd guess you've never been on a construction site. Yrs ago I replaced a tire on my work truck and they counted over 20 plugs.
 
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Old 06-23-21, 04:58 AM
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Way back I patched some tires, but started using plugs a long time ago, have done dozens of them, and do not recall a single one that did not work. Given the flex in a radial tire, and of course that can vary depending on the location of the breach, in general my opinion is that a plug is the best way to go.
 
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Old 06-23-21, 05:22 AM
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I would be a little cautious if going at sustained speeds. Especially if it's very close to the outer edge or sidewall. But all in all I see no reason not to use plugs.

Marksr, No I try to avoid construction sites. LOL
 
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Old 07-08-21, 01:01 PM
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I am always plugging my own tires and never faced these kind of problems.
 
 

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