Nail Hole Fixed

[Mr_Joe]

I was checking the Vibe tires & a few other things recently. I thought I'd check psi in my Tacoma too, newer tires. I noticed the pax rear(away from normal view) 1/2 flat. Upon closer inspection I saw a roofing nail sunk up to the head.

I remembered a tire repair kit my brother gave me a few years back. I read the instructions, lifted the truck some with a jack & let more of the air out. I took out the nail & 'plugged' the hole. It's worked like a champ and has not lost any air.

My previous procedure was to remove the wheel & bring the tire in, $20 or so to plug. Just FYI for you DIY guys.

 

[saberz]

Yeah a tire plug kit is a must to carry with you and a portable compressor. Saved my friends butt on more than one occasion.

 

[eljefino]

Bonus points for doing it on the vehicle. I can find those sticky rope plugs later by the sand stuck to them.

 

[rcy]

Not to be a party pooper here, but according tire manufacturers, those 'rag' plugs are not the proper way to repair a radial tire. Radial tires are supposed to be dismounted and patched on the inside. You'll also see a little nub sticking through the tread, looking almost like a rag plug, but it is rubber from the patch sticking through (either a plug and patch, or a patch with the plug integrated into it).

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=77

*edit* wow, I'm surprised 'pooper' wasn't edited out by the board software...lol

 

[meep]

have used these dozens of times. dont even bother with the jack anymore. one bridgestone turanza of mine had at least 5 plugs, and had over 60,000 miles on it, wore evenly, no cupping, out-of-round, or even rebalance. that route was awful for picking up nails...

 

[Chris142]

The problem with plugs is that the tire does not get inspected. If ran low or flat the tire is probly damaged. If your posative that you didn't drive on it flat a plug is the way to go.

The plug seals the hole and prevents water from getting into the steel belts and rusting them.

If ran low or flat then the tire needs to be removed from the wheel and inspected.

I've used plugs for decades. Walking out to my Jeep I see a nail but the tire isn't flat I'll plug that sucker right now. I have a profesional plug kit with the metal tools and replacable tips.

But If I'm driving and I get a flat or I know that it was run flat or low then I know that the tire has to come off.

 

[Billbert]

$20 for a correct tire repair is cheap considering one possible alternative. Your life (and others) depend on that tire (remember the Firestone/Explorer debacle?)Don't cheap out on tire repairs- get em done correctly.

 

[kkreit01]

Walmart does them for $10. That's the only thing I let Walmart do -- and I carry it in.

 

[Old Mustang Guy]

I don't think I would depend on a plug on my Mustang for a permanent repair but I have started carrying a plug kit and a little compressor. I plugged a tire while I was waiting for Discount to get my new ones in and it worked so well that I decided that it would be much better for emergencies than putting on the space saver.

 

[fdcg27]

Nothing wrong with a plug on a get-me-by basis, and probably better than mounting and driving on a dedicated spare.