S2K comrades,

I was ready to drive home from work today when I noticed that my front driver side tire was all the way flat!

I went ahead and put on the spare. When I took the flat S02 off, I noticed that there was a nail stuck in the middle of the tread. (I'll post a photo later... but you get the idea).

I'm thinking about getting this tire patched. Do you guys think this should be okay? I'll just get a new tire next spring.

Any advice?

 

I don't suggest getting it patched. It is too much of a hazard, because if you ever run over a bump at high speeds, the chances of the tire blowing out are so much higher. When they patch it, they'll just drill a bigger hole in its place.

But...if you don't do much high risk driving, it's probably ok til spring.

 

Replace the tires to be on the safe side

 

Take it to a good tire store and have the pros look at it.
I parked on top of a sheet metal screw when I had 1,500 miles on my car.
I took the rear tire to a place I trust, they decided a plug was better than a patch.
I checked the tire every day for like a week and it was not loosing any air.
Now the car has 9,500 miles on it and that rear tire has done 1 AutoX and 1 track event at Watkins Glen. I do not consider it a safety risk because the tire's ability to hold air shows the hole has been sealed and the plug material actually vulcanizes to the rubber of the tire.

 

I agree with Triple-H on this one. My right rear tire picked up a snow tire stud somewhere and was slowly losing air. My S-02s are about bald, but I didn't want to replace the tire at this moment so I took it to my garage. As with Doug, I was told that a plug would be the better solution given the condition of the tire. It has been over a month and it hasn't lost a bit of air. FWIW, I drive my S2k everyday of the week, occasionally over roads far from ideal, so the tire has been tested.

 

I had a nail on one of my back tires, the car had maybe 2K miles on it? Got it patched up and it's been GREAT ever since. No probelms ((knock on wood))

 

I got a puncture in my last set of tires when they only had about 4,000 miles on them (rear). The shop I went to used a combination plug/patch - basically it was a patch with a plug sticking up like a tower in the middle of it. It held great, but the technician told me specifically that the speed rating of the tire no longer was valid (I can't remember what he told me it was with the patch). I don't know if I would track a car that had a patched tire, but to each their own.

 

Ironically enough I forgot I had plugged the tire. I was planning to replace the backs before the driving school but my car was gone for 8 weeks having the Triple-H Rollbar created and installed.

When I read this thread today I went .
That is when I realized I had done a school on the plug.

 

Thanks for your input everyone. That's why I love this forum!

The tire, wear-wise, is still in decent condition. I would hate to replace the tire so soon.
The threads are still deep and sticky. I think I will take it to a reputable place and have them plug it.

I don't track my car but I do enjoy 'spirited' driving . I just want to make sure I don't have a blow out!

 

All blowouts are bad, but if I had to choose, I'd rather the front let go than the back!