Discount Tire no longer patches plugged tires

[Bill Judson]

I just found out that Discount Tire no longer patches tires that have been previously plugged.

Well, let this be a lesson for those doing a temp repair using a plug... be sure
and remove it before you arrive at Discount Tire and all will be well.

They are doing this due to liability issues since forcing a plug into a tire can cause damage to the belts that could cause the tire to fail later... and if they work on a tire that might fail due to this, then of course they get sued.

Anybody that has ever worked in the tire bidness knows that plugs are a no no on automotive / truck tires... but it doesn't hurt to do your lawn mower tires like this, or your wheel barrow

I've never heard of a tire failing because of a plug or patch.

If you had ever worked in the tire bidness you would have...

 

[grampi]

Well, let this be a lesson for those doing a temp repair using a plug... be sure
and remove it before you arrive at Discount Tire and all will be well. View attachment 252775

They are doing this due to liability issues since forcing a plug into a tire can cause damage to the belts that could cause the tire to fail later... and if they work on a tire that might fail due to this, then of course they get sued.

Anybody that has ever worked in the tire bidness knows that plugs are a no no on automotive / truck tires... but it doesn't hurt to do your lawn mower tires like this, or your wheel barrow




If you had ever worked in the tire bidness you would have...

I'd be willing to bet that plugged tires fail no more often than tires that haven't been plugged...

 

[Avery4]

I'd be willing to bet that plugged tires fail no more often than tires that haven't been plugged...

I wouldn't. Even if the plug itself doesn't cause a failure, a plugged tire was very likely run low on air from the leak and may have been damaged from the underinflation.

 

[Thebigm]

Hello everyone, I just found out that Discount Tire no longer patches tires that have been previously plugged. In the past I have plugged tires as a temporary fix and then had Discount Tire patch it when I had time, but I found out the hard way that they no longer do that. A few weeks ago I got a screw in my tire and couldn't find the lug nuts for my spare (I have aftermarket alloy wheels and my spare is one of the stock steel wheels that uses different lug nuts), so I plugged the tire with my plug kit and pumped it up again as a temporary fix with the intention of having it patched later since patches are much more reliable in the long run.

Well I just took that tire into Discount Tire to try to get it properly patched and I was informed that they no longer patch tires that have been plugged and my only option would be to replace it. I was shocked since I have done the same thing in the past and they never gave me any trouble. When I asked what the reason is, he said the plug may have allowed moisture into the belts and could have caused rust, so for safety they stopped patching previously plugged tires. Seems like BS since a screw or nail could do the same thing, but I'm no expert. I called another Discount Tire to verify and they told me the same thing. Fortunately since I have their road hazard protection insurance they are going to replace it for free since they won't patch it.

So next time you get a flat tire, think twice before plugging it if you intend to have it patched later because you may not be able to anymore.

Makes sense,,