Are plug tire repairs safe?

[Scott Asheville]

This is a question for the actual mechanics on the forum. For my 50 years as a driver, a flat tire has always meant a $15 repair at a tire shop. They pull the screw or nail, insert a plug, pull, and you drive away. Never had a repair like this fail on me. As I'm building a house and the stray nails and screws are inevitable, I've had this repair done recently to my Maverick and my wife's Volvo.

The reason I ask is because the Volvo dealer wanted to sell me a tire for $100 more than Tire Rack, and another $100 for a repair that used a fancy patch system ($400 total - Volvo tires are expensive little suckers). They gave me a long lecture on tire safety and how plugs would potentially blow out and kill you on the highway. I said "thanks", drove over to the corner shop, handed my $15 and never looked back.

So any actual mechanics - got any input for me? Am I putting my life in the hands of fate with a classic plug repair?

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[Darnon]

I've never seen a tire blow out where I suspect it was simply because it was plugged. Dry rotted/shifted belts or had a Goodyear label on it. I plug plenty of tires in our work fleet and the most common failure state is just leaking again (then upgrade a plug/patch) or on some heavy load applications forcing the plug out.

 

[Grand Nat.]

I have used tire repair stings for years and they lasted the life of the tire. As long as it's not close to the side wall they will work fine. Keep the strings and tool in your glove box along with you tire inflator. And learn the proper way to use them. There won't be any blow outs unless you have a defect present in the tire.

 

[Hillbilly]

Plugs are fine.

 

[Waterick]

I agree plugs are fire other than the sidewall. Today however, most shops won't use them as they are not approved by whoever? Why, I don't know. I used them for years with no problems. I am not a mechanic just a DYIer.

 

[FriscoTXJoe]

If a name brand shop won't plug it because it's too close to the side wall, find an "independent" shop somewhere outside of wealthy areas, bring $20 and it will be fixed.

 

[Maverickman74]

If I was going cross country I wouldnt want a plug. But if I plugged it halfway across I wouldnt worry about it. There are more modern patch/plug processes that are better and would be smarter if the tire was newer. Other than that around town, short drives, AAA card in wallet, a plugged tire isnt a big deal. Especially with TPMS on cars you will know a day or so ahead of an issue.

 

[Barksdale123]

People who sell tires like to take the tire off and patch it from the inside. About $50.00 a plug at my mechanic was a tip for the plugger of a donation to the coffee can. I think the people that demand patches like the extra $$. And use the legal eagles to back up the claim. Maybe a failed plug suspended crash picture dosent hurt. I am 73 and have driven 1000s of miles on plugs, local and highway. Never a problem.

 

[Maverickman74]

I agree plugs are fire other than the sidewall. Today however, most shops won't use them as they are not approved by whoever? Why, I don't know. I used them for years with no problems. I am not a mechanic just a DYIer.

Most shops wont do em because the arent approved by their billable time accounting algorithm. Im pretty sure part of DOT compliance of a tires design is to be pluggable. If not it must be sated as some sort of run-flat type tire. I believe. Also retreads are great too.

 

[Decayed]

Had more plugs done than I care to recall. My vehicles always seem to be nail magnets. Just had my mav done a few weeks ago.

As long as it's in the tread and not the sidewall you are good to go. If it's on the corner, get it patched. If it's in the sidewall get a new tire.

 

[JBryant]

Plugged first tire more than 65 years ago working at a service station as an 11 year old kid. Didn't have a problem then, and still no problems if you do them right. Obviously tire shops would much rather charge more to patch, and especially convince you that you need a new tire. As an above post stated, great idea to keep plugs and inflator in truck.

 

[gte105u]

I have driven cross country multiple times on tires with multiple plugs. As stated worst that happens is they leak and I replug.

 

[jewc75]

I keep a plug kit in all our vehicles along with a 40 dollar small compressor. Its saved us many times.

 

[Grand Nat.]

Plugs don't blow out tubes blow out. LOL

I keep a plug kit in all our vehicles along with a 40 dollar small compressor. Its saved us many times.

Same here.

 

[fossil]

Plug kit in glove box if worse comes to worse.
Retired guy with a Good Sam coverage on motorhome, all my cars/trucks are covered free.

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