To plug or not to plug.......

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Well, on the new CRV Saturday night, one of the Bridgestone Dueller HT 470's went flat. Put spare on and got it home, found the leak, pretty common nail through the rubber kind of thing. This was close to the sidewall, but not on it. Took it to Walmart after church and they said they couldn't fix it because when the patch it, the patch must have a flat service to adhere to and in this case, it would be curved. After talking to the "tire" guy for a few minutes, he said a plug might work, but in his experience, they will eventually leak. I've plugged before and didn't want to have to buy a new tire. So I found a plug kit with rubber cement. Routed it out pretty good, caked on the rubber cement on the plug itself, crammed it in the hole and it stayed in with a little bit sticking out. Trimmed that piece up, waited a few minutes, aired it up and had been working fine every since. So, do I need to worry about this and order a new tire or do you think it will hold at least for a year. Those tires are absolute [censored]. Will take the plunge and put Michelin's on it but want to at least get some money out of them. I called the local dealer and said he would trade them out for Michelin's. But when I brought the car down there, he said he'd only give me 35 dollars a piece for them. pfffffffffffffffft, whatever, deal didn't happen.
 
The area near the sidewall is the most highly stressed area of a tire. the chances of a tire failure is pretty high. Is your life worth that risk? That tire is damaged, and that damage can't be undone.
 
I know, but it wasn't on the sidewall. Still on the rubber that hits the road, just not a flat enough surface to put a patch on.
 
Schmoe...So sorry for your loss! Save some time and aggravation...spring for a new tire. Plugs can/do/will leak eventually. The man is right about the patches they only work on the flat part of the casing. Be safe... no doubt the wife and kids will be using the CRV.

I share your pain! I lost a new GY Eagle on our spanking new Beetle Turbo at less than 100 miles in 2001. I hit an arrowhead shaped piece of steel with the right front and it rattled around around under the car for like two minutes. It finally darted into the center of the RR's tread. Tire still had the nubbies on it!!! No fix.

Also, go to Discount Tire for the repl. They'll sell you a road hazard guarantee on all the new tires (if they carry the tire). That will solve the road hazard problem. I've collected on that baby twice with my minivan... paying only a new RH insurance charge and a couple extra bucks for a stem or something. Not often you can walk out of a store with a new GY Comfort Tread for about 12 clams....
 
Originally Posted By: Schmoe
I know, but it wasn't on the sidewall. Still on the rubber that hits the road, just not a flat enough surface to put a patch on.


Basically, you fixed a tire that shouldn't have been repaired, and now you want our confirmation that what you did was OK.

You say it wasn't on the sidewall, yet a tire professional wouldn't repair it
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Sure, the professional wouldn't install a patch but also is not allowed to use a plug. I've never had problems with plugs myself. Just keep an eye on it.
 
i have plugged so many tires of my own and dont have issues with them. I had one tire with three in it at one time and it still held air fine.
 
How about a picture of where the plug is. That's better than just taking guesses.

I don't have any issue of HOW you repaired it, that's the way I fix mine and that's fine.

The question is about WHERE the plug is...
 
[/quote]

Basically, you fixed a tire that shouldn't have been repaired, and now you want our confirmation that what you did was OK.

You say it wasn't on the sidewall, yet a tire professional wouldn't repair it
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[/quote]

I don't remember asking for anyones blessing, just some thoughts on the matter. I also have a hard time calling a teenage kit a "tire professional" working at Walmart. In my little town, everything but Walmart shuts down on Sunday. I had no choice but to try and get the car back on the road at least for a couple of days. I've given my wife my 06 Accord to drive and I'm driving the '10 CRV just to make sure the tire is holding up. I know a picture would be the best visual explaination, but I can't upload anything at work.
 
There's a difference between a patch and a plug. Walmart wouldn't do a patch because it wouldn't work that close to the sidewall and they probably do not do plugs at all.

Anyway, I've had plugs in about 5 different tires and have never had a leak or any other problem with them.
 
Plugging was the standard for a long time, nothing wrong with a plug. The only issue with nails near the sidewall is if there is a bubble in the sidewall after the tire is plugged. I've had this happen twice in the last year. The 1st tire was shot due to sidewall damage and a large bubble that kept growing. The 2nd tire I am keeping an eye on, but I already had them order a replacement just in case.
 
Originally Posted By: Schmoe
[/quote]

Basically, you fixed a tire that shouldn't have been repaired, and now you want our confirmation that what you did was OK.

You say it wasn't on the sidewall, yet a tire professional wouldn't repair it
21.gif



I don't remember asking for anyones blessing, just some thoughts on the matter. I also have a hard time calling a teenage kit a "tire professional" working at Walmart. In my little town, everything but Walmart shuts down on Sunday. I had no choice but to try and get the car back on the road at least for a couple of days. I've given my wife my 06 Accord to drive and I'm driving the '10 CRV just to make sure the tire is holding up. I know a picture would be the best visual explaination, but I can't upload anything at work. [/quote]



Seriously, I hope that tire holds up til it's worn out and that you and your family stay safe
 
I've done what you did many times previously. The closer to the edge though (especially in front with turning), the plugs don't seem to last as long as in the middle. But then I've also replugged too, and made it last with no issues. The worst I ever got was a very slow leak, when they started to wear. But, that was on low profile vehicles (cars).

My son got one on his Explorer close to the edge but not on the edge. Discount Tire said it was outside the repairable area (see below). Since it was not my vehicle and it was an Explorer I wasn't comfortable plugging it, so DT got him a nice adjustment on a new matching BFG. And now that I've found DT they take care of any of my puncture/leak issues.

IMO, and this is JMO, I don't think it will lead to blow out situation, likely just a slow leak when it starts to wear out. It's really your comfort/confidence level. If you decide to stay with the plug just check it for wear periodically and also keep a check on the air pressure.

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+1. I've plugged many tires close to the side-wall and whether it holds or not just depends on how close it was to the side wall. But there's no real tire blow out danger here if you check your tire pressure regularly and drive sensibly. It will simply leak air in use if it is too close to the side-wall.

When I worked in tire service, the shop would pressure the customer to replace the tire if the hole was anywhere near the side-wall. Sometimes the customer would insist on trying the plug-patch repair. Sometimes they would hold. It's not necessary for the entire patch to be on flat rubber. It's idea but not totally necessary.
 
Originally Posted By: hate2work

You say it wasn't on the sidewall, yet a tire professional wouldn't repair it
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A "tire professional" (or better term: tire salesman) is not interested in fixing tires while he/she can make more money selling new tires. I've been there so many times and after being screwed by "tire professionals" enough times I simply bought the tire repair kit and fix tires myself. I fixed 4 small leaks so far (all refused to be repaired by "tire professionals" yet clearly on the tread and not on the sidewall) and no problems whatsoever.
 
Plug it. This isn't an airplane or motorcycle. If it blows you'll have something to talk about.

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As fun as it is to sit in an armchair and preach "Do the right thing" this BBS is getting a little overfull. Yay I don't know you personally, your driving or mechanical skill. But the pilgrims steering the Mayflower probably had all sorts of "there-i-fixed-it" rigging on their boat and they made this country great.
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A CRV is probably as top heavy as a pre-WWII coupe like a 40 Ford. They were having blowouts all the time with the junk tires of the era and not flipping over.
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I plugged a motorcycle tire (rear). I had 10 miles to the shop. I was terrified that it was going to let go. No problems. New tire, piece of mind. As long as it holds, I don't see the problem. Spray soapy water on it every now and then and see what it does.
 
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