Can this be patched or need a new tire?

[Maverick2023]

Got a nail today out of no where. Thank god for a full size spare. Should I get it plug or buy a used steelies tire?

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[NedF]

99.99% of the time a puncture in the tread like that can be patched or plugged. I keep a plug kit in my vehicles and most of the time I can plug them without even taking the tire off. I have never had to have one of my plugged holes patched at a tire shop due to slow leaks afterwords.

 

[EONR24]

I think you can get away with plugging it. Rule of thumb is a tire plug has to be at least 1/2 inch away from the edge of the tire. That looks pretty close to that 1/2 inch.

If you do plug it, I would recommend running that tire in the rear, it is less likely to "pull out" the plug compared to running that plugged tire in the front.

 

[Timothyd]

Yea

I think you can get away with plugging it. Rule of thumb is a tire plug has to be at least 1/2 inch away from the edge of the tire. That looks pretty close to that 1/2 inch.

If you do plug it, I would recommend running that tire in the rear, it is less likely to "pull out" the plug compared to running that plugged tire in the front.

Yeah, I would plug it without thinking twice. Not a bad idea to run it in the rear.

 

[Edge Haley]

Plug-able but most bigger tire shops in my area will not plug tires..claim it is too much liability for small revenue. A "small" local tire shop would probably do a plug but not the big chain tire stores. A plug is simple and there are u-tube videos for DIYers but if you're not a DIY guy I'd take it to a pro that does it every day. A plug is perfectly safe "if done right" and tested. Another flat on a busy interstate can be dangerous.

 

[Decayed]

Easily plugged in less than 5 minutes. Take it to a tire shop and ask them to do it. Once you see someone do it, it's easy to do yourself. It does take a bit of muscle sometimes and make sure you get a plug kit with t-handled tools for leverage. Then all you need is an air pump.

 

[Silver23]

That is a close call for a patch. It's close to the edge and It would be a 50/50 shot at a shop patching it.
I used to plug tires all the time when I was a kid at a gas station. Didn't matter where the hole was..lol.
But now I take it to America's tire and let them patch it. If they won't I'll buy a new tire from them. I think it's not worth the worry of the plug or patch failing.

 

[Silver23]

Got a nail today out of no where. Thank god for a full size spare. Should I get it plug or buy a used steelies tire?

oh and also, it looks to be a small screw. I bet there is a good chance it didn't go all the way through. spray some soapy water on it and if it doesn't leak remove it.

 

[Bob The Builder]

Use the Internal Patch Plug Assembly, which is the only fix considered permanent. Tire needs to be removed from the rim and rebalanced afterward. This is the only tubeless repair legal up here in the People's Republic of Vermont. This is what they did to fix my flat I got on the Maverick first week I had it. It was free as I took to the tire store I buy all my tires from.

It is by far much better than the T-Handle bacon strip fix but more expensive as you need to take it to a tire shop.

The other alternative is the mushroom plug. That one you can do by yourself but the kit will cost you around 75 bucks or so. This one is NOT considered permanent and illegal up here.

Hope this helps.

 

[mcluvin]

oh and also, it looks to be a small screw. I bet there is a good chance it didn't go all the way through. spray some soapy water on it and if it doesn't leak remove it.

I had 2 just like this today. It was time for a rotation anyway, so I just drove it down to the shop and let them do it.

 

[ndmiller]

Discount Tire will fix that in about 15 minutes for free,

 

[Edge Haley]

Got a nail today out of no where. Thank god for a full size spare. Should I get it plug or buy a used steelies tire?

I'm sure you know the spare is not the same size as your regular 4 tires. The spare needs to be changed or fixed within a few hundred miles.

 

[Maverick2023]

I'm sure you know the spare is not the same size as your regular 4 tires. The spare needs to be changed or fixed within a few hundred miles.

I have a true full size spare. Just like the other ones mounted. Bought it off a member who had a steelies to get rid off.

 

[CurtisB]

Plug it and you will be fine. Done this many times on my car, wife's, son's and daughter's car. Never had any of them go bad.

 

[Scott Asheville]

OP, just FYI there is another thread on MTC that started when I asked a similar question. I got a lot of lecturing about "what is your life worth" from one side. And a lot of "plug it like we've done for 100 years" from the other side. Pick the answer that works for you.

I originally asked the tire plugging question because my Volvo dealer quoted $125 to fix a flat, and told me it was incredibly unsafe to have it plugged. Same Volvo dealer that typically pushes $250 in ancillary service every time I bring it in for an oil change.

Oh, I ended up plugging mine.

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