Old Maverick tire troubles. I took the wrong approach

[tom_tucker]

Had a screw in the tire, but no bubbles and steady pressure reported. Tires have <30k with 50k on odo. I should have just put the jack under it and removed the screw. Ended up being a 3/8 long machine screw in the shoulder and didn't need a patch. Instead, I barely drove for a day or 2 then took it into the tire shop on an appt. Waste of time. I grabbed a *patch kit on the way home and set it up in the street. Could have called roadside I suppose too. *I never actually had to patch the tire.

I decided to drop the spare and rotate the tire to the rear. Again, totally frivolous besides gaining experience. I rested the spare on my head so that 2 hands were free to undo the blue cone and metal retainer. It does get easier with practice. The only tools I used were from the car besides 2 bricks to chock the wheels. So 2 extra chocks are on my list to buy and put under the seat. I've added 5-10 tools including a small 46 piece set, breaker bar, extender and lug socket, flex head ratchet, universal socket and gloves.

Tire seems ok but now it's on the rear driver side. Somebody said that might be worse to have a rear blowout. I can get a used tire for about $50, or just monitor. Still have to torque both wheels to 148 lbs.

Sponsored

 

[icegradner]

It's a front wheel drive vehicle, not sure how a rear blow out would be worse than a front blow out on a steer wheel.

 

[Mudduck]

It's a front wheel drive vehicle, not sure how a rear blow out would be worse than a front blow out on a steer wheel.

Id rather have the front blow out, as i can still steer the truck. On the rear you have no control. I think this is why youre supposed to put a donut on the front and rotate a tire to the back. Also why when you only buy 2 tires, the best 2 go in the rear. i could be wrong....

 

[icegradner]

Id rather have the front blow out, as i can still steer the truck. On the rear you have no control. I think this is why youre supposed to put a donut on the front and rotate a tire to the back. Also why when you only buy 2 tires, the best 2 go in the rear. i could be wrong....

What are you controlling with the rear wheel? It doesn’t steer, it’s not a primary drive wheel, even on AWD (OP has FWD), it won’t get more than 50% of the power. Now if you had a RWD vehicle, a rear blow out would be bad, and could very well lead to a loss of control.

 

[Tbone289]

The front/rear blowout and old vs. new tires front/rear argument is based on the possibility of oversteer leading to a spin and a loss of control of the vehicle. The argument is the same for FWD and RWD vehicles.

A sudden blowout or loss of traction/lateral stability of the rear of the vehicle can cause oversteer and a possible spin resulting in a total loss of control. A blowout or loss of traction/lateral stability in the front is much less likely to cause a spin and thus a total loss of control.

In most situations, a front blowout or loss of lateral traction/stability will cause a reduction of control due to understeer, which is easier for most drivers to manage without losing complete control than oversteer. This is also why all passenger cars leave the factory with suspension tuned with a tendency to understeer at the limits of lateral traction rather than oversteer.

 

[Techcar]

First off, a hole that size wont cause a blow-out , second is, that tire will be worn out before it ever leaks again .I have plugged many tires with a hole like that and ran them many years and mile after. Just keep a watch on the air pressure .

 

[Tbone289]

First off, a hole that size wont cause a blow-out , second is, that tire will be worn out before it ever leaks again .I have plugged many tires with a hole like that and ran them many years and mile after. Just keep a watch on the air pressure .

I agree, and if the plug starts leaking it will likely happen during a seasonal temperature change. If that happens, just plug it again.

 

[rclee]

You have 50K on that tire! Replace it!

 

[Tbone289]

You have 50K on that tire! Replace it!

He said they have less than 30K.

 

[babytruk]

He said they have less than 30K.

Replace 2 tires at that point, right? Plugs work. It’s not a sidewall puncture.

 

[Cherokee]

Id rather have the front blow out, as i can still steer the truck. On the rear you have no control. I think this is why youre supposed to put a donut on the front and rotate a tire to the back. Also why when you only buy 2 tires, the best 2 go in the rear. i could be wrong....

You are correct.
Less tread up front you can push, easy to control just ease up on the throttle and the front sets back down, hydroplaning stops.

Less tread on the back you get a lose rear end.

Us old farts know about lose rear ends.
Can be messy.
:’P

 

[Maverick123]

I think this is why youre supposed to put a donut on the front and rotate a tire to the back.

No, it's the other way around. Donuts should (almost) always go on the rear

Also why when you only buy 2 tires, the best 2 go in the rear. i could be wrong....

This part is right ...

 

[Tbone289]

Replace 2 tires at that point, right? Plugs work. It’s not a sidewall puncture.

I wouldn't replace any. I would just keep driving on the plug and checking the pressure, especially since, as you mention, it's not a sidewall puncture. I always replace 4 tires at a time unless I have complete loss of a tire at low mileage.

 

[rclee]

He said they have less than 30K.

My Bad, I saw 50K on the odometer.

 

[babytruk]

I wouldn't replace any. I would just keep driving on the plug and checking the pressure, especially since, as you mention, it's not a sidewall puncture. I always replace 4 tires at a time unless I have complete loss of a tire at low mileage.

I agree with the plugs. Have had many plugged in my family (3 grown daughters) and never a problem. Two weeks ago I got eight thorns into my Front-left sidewall. Pulled two out together and quickly slid the thorns back in. Only 13k on the tires but I’ve always believed in the “two matching tires” idea of it’s a decent vehicle (is that correct or a scam?).

Sponsored