Tire repair

[biznaga]

Picked up a nail near edge of tread. COSTCO sez too close to sidewall to repair.



I don't think I want to pay $100 plus for new tire right now.





SO: Can I just plug it like they used to with the repair kits available at various auto stores? Or should I also cover hole from inside with a patch?



It will be the spare until replace all four tires later on...in about 15-2000 miles.

 

[Larry Michel]

If its close to a sidewall, I would only plug it to get me to a station. There are special patches made for those sidewall repairs-requiring dismount and grinding the inside of the tire. The brand I used to use were direction specific so the patch would flex in the same diection as the side wall cords. I've patched sidewall rips up to 20 mm long. Its an ugly repair but it held and it beat replacing a brand new tow truck tire.

 

[Richard L]

You should never plug a radial tire !! Yes, I know what a lot of people say. and that they have done it for years...blah blah blah. Don't do it !



If it's too close to the sidewall to patch, you sure don't want to plug it. That tire will continue to give you problems and will fail soon anyway, just hope it's not when you are traveling down the Interstate at 70 MPH.



If you thing the tire repair shop is just trying to burn you for a new tire, take it somewhere else, preferrably someplace you trust. If they say it can't be patched from the inside, then accept that and switch to your spare, or buy a new tire.



...Rich

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Be careful with anything on or along the sidewall, or even near it, as Larry said.



An OK State DOT truck had a tire that was improperly patched on it's sidewall. The tire blew, the truck went sliding across the double yellow and killed my father instantaneously as he was minding his business driving the other way. That was 8 years ago this coming January, and there's not a day that goes by that I don't think that my father died because someone was trying to save a buck on a new tire.



TJR

 

[Shelby Crane]

Personally, I am already driving a vehicle that *might* flip over in an accident.



Patch on my sidewall?



NO Thanks.



I hate it, but, I'll spend the money.

 

[EddieS'04]

I would use the sticky cord type plug with vulcanizing glue. Then put on the spare rim only. If I had to use it, dont drive on the highway and go straight to a tire store.