Are plug tire repairs safe?

[SkeeterB]

I too carry a compressor and worm kit. For a simple nail or screw in the tread the worm works well and lasts. If the puncture is more complicated a worm may get you to a safe place to change the tire. Plugging on the side of the road takes way less time than jacking and putting on the spare. Also, as said a few posts back it is your decision if the tire needs to be replaced.

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[GTBuzz]

Also if the new tire has over 3/32" tread more than other three tires and you ask discount manager he most likely will mount new ones on those three at same time prorating unused wear discount for those three. If you purchased the discount certificates when you bought them. Not the cheapest way but it may be worth it to have a matched set at a real decent price.

All tires were like a month or two old, so even with one new tire they all had the same tread.

I had just gotten a nail in the tire one day and wanted to do a quick fix with a plug then take to discount tire to patch. They were like nope, you have to get a new tire. I only have their tires taken care of the way they like since they are usually good at replacing if needed. Otherwise would've just left the plug in permanently.

I also don't like going and sitting in waiting areas much. Stare at the same tire display. Worried if I'll get a new guy that will scratch the rims just to put patch on.

 

[LM42]

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?

Plugs are not arbitrarily unsafe if installed correctly. The problem for dealers (mine included) is that there have been tires that failed after being patched and that led to huge lawsuits. It is simply not worth the risk for most dealers, and I am a little surprised that people do them at all as wildly litigious as this country is.

 

[Motorjunkie]

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?

NEVER HAD A PLUG FAIL. LIABILITY LAWYERS GO AWAY!!!!!!!

 

[CG2023]

My wife has a newer Volvo, stock tires have a foam liner glued to the inside of the tread area to keep noise down. Those tires should not be plugged, rather dismounted and patched from the inside with the foam then glued back down. I have no issues using plugs on otherwise regular tires. Ultimately, depends on the tires.

 

[Lou'sBluMav]

The standard for repair from responsible (meaning they don't want to be sued) tire manufacturers and dealers is to remove the tire, INSPECT, then depending on the inspection, PLUG and PATCH in the tread area, and probably rebalance after remount. If you don't inspect, you wont know the damage. If you feel lucky, just plug it. You are only betting your life.

 

[Timothyd]

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.

I brought a tire into a shop with a puncture on the side and told them to put a patch on the inside. Picked it up later and next day saw a plug sticking out of the tire. That evening I was sitting at a light, heard a little 'pop' and air hissing. Put on the spare and got rid of that tire

 

[FriscoTXJoe]

I brought a tire into a shop with a puncture on the side and told them to put a patch on the inside. Picked it up later and next day saw a plug sticking out of the tire. That evening I was sitting at a light, heard a little 'pop' and air hissing. Put on the spare and got rid of that tire

Right. Cause it was on the side.

95% of punctures in the tread are very repairable. Anything on the side wall is out.

Pretty basic.

 

[crgator]

I had a nail one time. They wouldn't plug it or patch it. I said how about a tube then. Nope. Had to replace the tire. I filled it with air and plugged it myself. Never had any problems with the plug. I used to plug tires when I worked at a service station in high school back in the 60s. We never had an issue with plugging a nail hole.

 

[wax87]

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?

I plug them myself for the past 20 years, never had one leak

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