Who plugs tires?

[Richard001]

I have a new car that does not have a spare tire. I has a can of tire gunk in the trunk along with a can of compressed air. It is my understanding that tires filled with the tire gunk will never balance well. Any one have experience with that >

 

[SPYDERLK]

Ive never had luck with plugs. I got a flat on my side by side and pulled out my old plug kit. The plugs were still real sticky. I plugged hole. A few days later it was flat again. I took tire to Les Schaub tire to get fixed. All they did was replug it and charged me 21.00

A week later, flat again. I took it back and made them pull tire and patch. We will see if it holds. This was done last tuesday.

it will if a plugpatch is used

 

[Topzide]

I've had great luck with tire plugs as well. Carry a kit in toolbox that are the T handle type. Makes it much easier to push reamer and plugs into tire! Can't recall a plug failing till tire wore out. A good portable compressor is a must along with plug kit! YMMV.

 

[CliffordK]

I plug tires when I need it. I try to avoid flats. But it gets one back on the road without a tire service.

Every once in a while I'll get a tread delamination. Usually a strange bump when driving, and one can feel a noticeable bulge in the tread if one runs one's hand around the tire tread.

I don't know what causes the delaminations. It is possible that tire plugs could be a risk factor, but they never seem to be related to recent repairs.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

It is my understanding that tires filled with the tire gunk will never balance well. Any one have experience with that >

It can't be balanced afterwards, just like if has balance beads in it. Both must be removed before it can be balanced.

But the sealant can also do a number on the wheel and TPMS sensor over time, and a tire store will hate finding that crap inside, and getting it on their tire machine.

 

[pwhite42]

I bought a tire plug kit about 15 yrs ago. Few things have served me so well. Back then I was supervising construction. A lot of supervision was done from the airconditioned comfort of my truck while running over nails and wires etc. Plugged many a tire right on the truck or car over the years. I'm getting older now, The plug kit still works but I have to take the tires off so I can just about sit on the plug installer to push it through the cords Tires got tougher r I got weaker...
Plugged a tire on the fancy electric car yesterday just like it was a whole lot older technology. Worked a charm but I need a bigger floor jack for that battery laden beast...

I carry a kit on my motorcycle, used it for someone else to get off the highway.

 

[Runner]

The plug kit still works but I have to take the tires off so I can just about sit on the plug installer to push it through the cords Tires got tougher r I got weaker...

I had to drill out the nail hole in the tire on my Wife's SUV to get the plug in. This was even after using the reamer.

 

[dvan1966]

I took my SXS back in the woods this past spring. They had cut paths with a track hoe with a attachment that ground trees down to nothing so I was on the paths. I don't know if it was thorny locus they ground down but I had 4 flats a few days later. Pulled out thorns and used plugs, one tire had at least 4 plugs, all are still holding air. I cut wood back there in the fall/winter. If it happens again I might be looking for 8ply tires.

 

[scootr]

I had to drill out the nail hole in the tire on my Wife's SUV to get the plug in. This was even after using the reamer.

I've done that too. Steel belted radials can provide extra challenges trying to get the reamer through the belts too. I've had very good success over the ages with tire plugs.

 

[Grumpycat]

I plugged a motorcycle tire in a pinch.
It got me home, and I got the tire replaced as soon as I could after - I wouldn't deliberately ride a motorcycle on a plugged tire.
Other tires though... probably.

Have ridden the remaining 6000 miles on several plugged motorcycle tires. No greater risk than that of getting yet another puncture.

And I have ridden 30 miles on a plugged tire barely making it home to mount a new tire. The plugs (took 4, tire was splitting on puncture) got me home.