So... I got a screw in my rear driver side tire. I went and got it plugged. It should be safe for daily driving. But just for curiosity's sake, what about auto crossing? o_O

 

what kind of repair is it? rope plug, patch, patch/plug?

and id say yes to all, except for the rope plug, i dont trust those to much, unless its used for getting from the spot of the flat to a tire shop

 

lol, I dunno about autocrossing, but I accidentally forgot about my rope plug and drove on it for about 4 years til it started to leak again. Then patched it again for a few months til I got new tires, lol. They are good for "spirited driving in a Civic" anyways, hahaha

 

It was a rope plug. Should still be good for daily driving right? I just bought these tires a few months ago, too

 

it'll be ok, just keep an eye on it.. check the pressure every now and then.

i just bought tires, and a week and a half later, caught a nail right on the outside shoulder near the sidewall... i plug patched it. people say it shouldnt or cant be done.. unless you know what youre doing or know someone that does.

 

ouch. yeah i read/heard that a nail in the side-wall = new tires. and they're not cheap.

anyway, thanks for reassuring.

 

I wouldn't trust a rope plug. Take it to the tire shop you bought or installed the tires at. Most of them will PROPERLY and PERMANENTLY fix it for free.

A nail in the sidewall should mean new tires. It's really not safe to plug/patch on the side. If you know what you're doing, you SHOULDN'T be plugging or patching on the tread edge.

So saying "you can fix a tread edge puncture if you know what you're doing" is a little bit of an oxymoron.

I work part time at a tire shop, BTW.

 

^ he speaks truth.

and i can't believe that there are still shops using plugs. the only reason to use a plug is if you can't get the tire off to patch it properly.

 

I've tracked on tires "repaired" with rope plugs (in the middle of the tread, not at the sidewall). No problems. IMO, worst case it starts slowly leaking again, so check pressures often.

However, if you start to feel a vibration, you may have damaged the plies, so go SLOWLY and REPLACE the tire (no fixing it).

I usually keep plugs handy because the roll bar precludes my keeping the spare in the car. Where and when you end up with a screw in your tire might not be conducive to getting a shop to fix it! Good to be able to handle it on the spot.

YMMV...

 

So what's a proper and permanent fix (aside from getting a new one)? A patch?