Please don't flame......


I have a set of s02s and need them to last until I can get the new set in from tirerack, and then get them installed (2 weeks). I just found a nail in the left rear. It leaks slowly and I will not be pushing the tires other than sustained highway speeds on the highway. (no more than 3 hours). So.....

Why is pluging the hole so terrible? I have plugged dozens of tires (all were all season/grand touring, none were performance tires) and have never had a problem. Is the issue with the damage the plug does to the steel belts? Is it the off balancing of the tire? And is this issue mainly if I were pushing the tires. They are on their last leg so I will be driving grandma-style until the new tires come in. However these have got to last.

thanks, and again Please don't flame....

 

BTW did do a search and found some answers, just wanted another take.

FWIW the nail is about 1 inch from center of the tread towards the outside. the head of the nail was already worn off or is a penny nail.

 

As an old tire guy, I would have to look at any damage the nail did, with high preformance tires , you need to be doubly safe, if the steel belts get involved , it could cause a failure at high speeds witha seperation etc! Can they patch it? that would be the better way... never did trust the plugs that's my $.02

 

Agree with Blair; however, if it was between a nail and a plug, I'd take the plug any day.

 

Just had one of my rear S02's plugged yesterday, I too found a nail, however, the plug is leaking just a little air so I'm going to start a new thread...

 

I don't think you guys are getting plugs. You're getting a modern patch that has a plug built into it. There is no reason not to use it, despite what tire sellers might say.

 

Actually I was going to use a DYI plug kit. not ideal, but I just needed to work for about a month. will take tire tomorrow and see if I can get it properly patched from the inside.

Also, I found the orignal "owner's manual" for the S02s. It also says to use a patch/plug combo from the inside only. Bridgestone specifically states to not use exterior plugs or any repair technique that does not involve removal of the tire for interior inspection.


thanks for the feedback

 

If you are going to drive the car like a "gramma" like you say and it only needs to last for a month, then go ahead and plug it. It may hold. It may not.
Plugging a tire (in the "traditional" sense) does the following:
-You are pushing the plug from the outside to the inside. What you can push in, centrifigal force can push back out. That's why you don't want to drive it too fast.
-You start off with a tiny little hole. Pushing a plug in, you end up with a very large hole which stretches the rubber in that area, compromising the strength there. Another reason not to drive fast.
-The weight of the plug in an already compromised spot will cause distortion of the tread when the tire is spinning really fast. Yet another reason why you don't want to drive fast.
A "patch", even though these also have a plug like projection, is put on from the inside and the patch is like a very large flat head of a thumb tack. With this head "vulcanized" to the inside of the tire, the weight of the patch/plug is held in using greater surface area. This surface area also helps to maintain the strength of the area around the hole.
In either case, a re-balance would be advised.