Tire plugs, who uses them?

A tire kit in your vehicle, with a inflator gives you options,especially on road trips or off peak hours.Its faster and safer than changing to a spare.Vehicles with a mini on the steer,I'd rather plug and move on.Then evaluate and fix.Make a notation to check the condition of the rubber cement ,easier than when you need it.Location of the nail,miles on tires,all are factors.I like options,I'm not buying 4 tires every time I pick up a nail
 
nobb said:
On the topic of glue, I would've thought using the included rubber cement would be beneficial. Also note the keyword: rubber cement. This is NOT the same as contact cement. Rubber cement helps the rubber vulcanize which is an important step in keeping that plug bonded.
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Ah yes, rubber cement! Sorry about that. I would think it is beneficial too but I notice they don't include it in many kits anymore. Not sure if is cost-saving or it just wasn't really needed?
 
All of the tire-plugging experts out there have always amazed me over the 20 years I've read this site, that it is such a great way to repair a damaged tire. I have repaired hundreds of tires for 22 years and have seen countless times were there was no way that is the best way to cheap out every time.
Way too many variables for plugging to be considered and dealt with for an appropriate fix. Like a bent screw at a 45-degree angle that is even difficult to repair correctly if you can even get the screw out with the head worn off.
 
Nick1994 said:
Discount Tire wanted $300 for a new tire on my Genesis in August, so I plugged it.

View attachment 184456
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You can get that tyre properly repaired by a specialist that performs Hot Vulcanizing.

The only reason tyre shops tell you they can’t be repaired is because they do Cold Vulcanizing repairs, not that sidewalks and the edges of tread can’t be safely repaired.

Though before a Hot repair the tyre has to be inspected for damage to the structure.

Somebody will be along in a minute stating they can’t be repaired, mainly because they have swallowed the PR spin of the tyre shops who then sell your “scrap” tyre to the people who repair them and sell them on, usually as perfectly safe used tyres.
 
sloinker said:
Stepdaughter's Tiguan had a slow leak in LR tire. Pulled it off, soaped it down, nail about 25% across face of tread. Removed nail, dressed hole, fiber plug with rubber cement installed. Wait an hour. Inflate and cut off excess. Been plugging all manner of tires for 5 decades. I have had a few that failed/leaked after repair that required a tire shop patch. I have some spoons but am too lazy for steel belted passenger car tires to patch myself. Anyone else plug tires? Or is the consensus is, it is too dangerous? I would gladly patch if someone gives me a pneumatic tire machine. Comments for or against?
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I plug all day long. Anyone who says it is no good, is ignorant.
 
Why not just have your local Discount Tire fix for them for free using an internal patch?

I've plugged them before and carry a kit in my car.
 
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TiGeo said:
Why not just have your local Discount Tire for them for free using an internal patch?
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Time is why.

I don't have time to drive 30 minutes to a shop to sit there for 2+ hours and then be upsold because the roofing nail is ½" from perfectly centered.

A plug takes minutes and despite the hand-wringing in half of these 87 posts... They hold up just fine.
 
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How many here can truthfully say they have had a tire blow out due to a plug? How many here can say they have had a blowout randomly not due to a plug? If everyone is honest, the answers would be interesting.
 
RooflessVW said:
Time is why.

I don't have time to drive 30 minutes to a shop to sit there for 2+ hours and then upsold because the roofing nail is ½" from perfectly centered.

A plug takes minutes and despite the hand-wringing in half of these 87 posts... They hold up just fine.
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I wasn't saying plugs are bad, I've used them plenty of times/they are fine. For me, It's a simple a few mile drivf and they always fix it without drama while I wait.
 
PontiacHO said:
How many here can truthfully say they have had a tire blow out due to a plug? How many here can say they have had a blowout randomly not due to a plug? If everyone is honest, the answers would be interesting.
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Never a blow out with plug or patch. Blowout without. ahahahah
 
The tire manufacturers and retailers will always lean into their need for tire sales using the no-plug scenarios. I understand risk mitigation however if a tire is junk because of a nail size penetration then the tire is junk anyway in my opinion. If drivers knew of all the sharp debris and road surfaces the tires have to endure they would be too afraid to drive if their tires are as delicate as these tire sales gurus promote.
 
PontiacHO said:
How many here can truthfully say they have had a tire blow out due to a plug? How many here can say they have had a blowout randomly not due to a plug? If everyone is honest, the answers would be interesting.
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Have never had a blow out in 36 years

And when I was a Motorbike Courier it was normal practice that when you found a screw in your tyre you would unscrew it a little, cover it in superglue and screw it back in, then add some tyre gunk to it.

I know of people who had four or five screws in their rear tyre, most I ever had was two.

I have had tyres repaired with mushroom plugs by the RAC and driven on the tyre for until the tyre needed replacing due to wear.

I have had tyres replaced with the strings, never had a blowout on those either.

Most blowouts are caused by a sidewalk bulge that was ignored because it wasn’t losing air.

Or a tyre being driven at high speed under inflated.
 
bigjl said:
Have never had a blow out in 36 years

And when I was a Motorbike Courier it was normal practice that when you found a screw in your tyre you would unscrew it a little, cover it in superglue and screw it back in, then add some tyre gunk to it.

I know of people who had four or five screws in their rear tyre, most I ever had was two.

I have had tyres repaired with mushroom plugs by the RAC and driven on the tyre for until the tyre needed replacing due to wear.

I have had tyres replaced with the strings, never had a blowout on those either.

Most blowouts are caused by a sidewalk bulge that was ignored because it wasn’t losing air.

Or a tyre being driven at high speed under inflated.
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I’ll be in London at the end of the month. Looking forward to our holiday there! This will be our 4th visit in two years. I call my adventures “A Southern Hillbilly In London”. Everyone has always treated me well in spite of my thick southern accent.
 
This is a good video but unless you understand German the visuals get the job done. A lot has changed over the years, before it was illegal in Germany to repair motorcycle tires and any hole in the sidewall was a trip to the scrap pile for any tire. Today these can be repaired within some limits. They do not like plugs at all and it seems like they deliberately install them poorly to make a point, the question of if a plug is acceptable or not depends on many things, the size and location of the hole and the quality of the plug being used.
Look at around 40 min for sidewall repair, most US shops will not have hot vulcanizing machines or the proper training to do the job properly and keep it safe.

 
Trav said:
This is a good video but unless you understand German the visuals get the job done. A lot has changed over the years, before it was illegal in Germany to repair motorcycle tires and any hole in the sidewall was a trip to the scrap pile for any tire. Today these can be repaired within some limits. They do not like plugs at all and it seems like they deliberately install them poorly to make a point, the question of if a plug is acceptable or not depends on many things, the size and location of the hole and the quality of the plug being used.
Look at around 40 min for sidewall repair, most US shops will not have hot vulcanizing machines or the proper training to do the job properly and keep it safe.

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motorcycle tires are a different thing of course.

when i had a bike, i checked the tires daily, and although i never had an issue, i would never plug an on road bike tire.

asking for death
 
Trav said:
+1 on the Safety Seal, they make a slim plug that can be inserted with the insertion tool only without reaming a small hole and making it bigger. Small nails usually do not damage the cords much if at all why do more damage by reaming. There used to be made here in MA and were common in almost every garage, a great quality tool and the best plugs.

This is one test they did, they did others by TUV in Germany that passed every test they threw at them, they tested plugs long term that went over 300kmh.


www.bartang.eu

Safety Seal Compact Travel kit

Safety Seal is the best tyre repair product available on the market and is mainly used by professionals. This Safety Seal Compact Travel Kit has been special...
www.bartang.eu www.bartang.eu
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That’s a good idea. I didn’t know they made a slimmer plug. It always feels wrong reaming out the hole to further damage the tire just to get the plug to fit.
 
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