Tire Repair
#1
Group Moderator
Thread Starter
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?
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?
#3
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.
#4
Been thoroughly discussed many times, patching is always preferred but it's not an absolute. Our local shops will not plug!
#7
Forum Topic Moderator
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.
Norm201
voted this post useful.
#8
Member
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.
#9
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
Marksr, No I try to avoid construction sites. LOL