How to Plug a tire?

[hazmat]

Got my first flat. picked up a nail or piece of metal (haven't pulled it out yet) in the right front.

I've done a search here, and have seen several references to plugging a tire & that it's easy, but NO instructions.

Lay it on me

what do I need?
where do I get it (Napa?)
How do I do it?
Am I better off with tire sealer?

 

[Ozarker]

You can get a tire plug kit at Walmart or Napa and the instructions are on the package. It is just like putting thread on a needle and then sticking in material. Just the needle is bigger and the thread is rubber and you put a little rubber cement on it before you poke it in the hole.

 

[JohnMiller3]

It just so happens… /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Saturday, I had to go to Wal-Mart’s for some tire plugs… they have this basic kit for $3.96… small enough to put in your tractor tool box…

If the hole already goes through the tire carcass… just string your plug (using the middle section) on the end of your plug tool… put a generous amount of contact cement on the plug… and plunge the plug into the hole leaving both opposite ends remaining outside the tire about ½”… dab some more contact cement on the outside… and apply air…

If you “plan” on getting lots of flats… then buy the super $9.96 kit with 25 plugs and a few extra goodies… with a nice little plastic case to keep organized for the next time…

Good luck! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[hazmat]

Thanks guys,

John is there anything you don't have a picture of?/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

HI,

When I got my first [and last] front flat, I took it to a tire dealer that does a lot of tractor tire work.

He told me they always patch tires on the inside and don't use plugs. Felt that pluge were not the way to go. I kind of agreed with his reasoning, but can't repeat what he said.

Anyway, I soon had my fronts back to his shop for foam filling. Lots of broken glass in the are of my property where I am working and I decided to avoid the hassle of flats. Cost $ 136 to foam fill the fronts.

The original tire repair cost $14, by the way. Plugs are much cheaper for sure.

I am not sure what I will do if I get a puncture on one of my loaded rear tires. A plug would certainly be tempting there. 23 gallons of windshield wiper fluid in each rear tire.

Good luck...Bill

 

[BigDave]

WARNING DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!!

I used to use mesquite thorns, unless the hole was too big, then I would used a wood screw. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif I'm not a bad person, just too lazy to make the trip to Wal-mart. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Alan L.]

On a car tire I wouldn't use a plug, but no faster than tractors go, they work fine. I plugged a lawn mower tire last night. You have to be careful not to push so hard the whole plug disappears in the hole, like I did last night.

 

[Harv]

Here's the NAPA version I bought just to keep on hand (my tractor could be way out in the boonies when "it" happens). Haven't had to use it. Yet.

 

[mikim]

I like the T handles better - more control - I have both, but seldom use the screwdriver type. I plug tires all the time. Hazard of living in mesquite country - but not steel belted car tires - they need a boot on the inside. The steel "threads" that are exposed keep the plug from making a good glue seal. My mom-in-law has lawnmower tires that must have 8 - 10 plugs in each /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

don't mean to get over - simple here but ... these are the instructions as I'd give my 28 yr old son ...
1. remove nail ( or whatever)
2. use rasp to clean out hole
3. put plug in insertion tool in middle of plug
4. liberally coat plug with glue (this is where it starts
getting messy)
5. insert plug into hole (it should be tight and difficult)
6. if it's easy to insert - then with plug and tool in hole give the tool a twist and try pulling the plug half way out again so you end up with both ends and the middle of the plug on the outside. Otherwise - pull tool out leaving plug in with middle of plug inside and both ends on outside - and cut off excess - let dry for just a minute then air up ---

 

[hazmat]

Mike,

Better simplify it some more, your son has one more year of wordly experience than I do /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif. Seriously, thanks for the tips.

 

[mikim]

haz -
<font color=blue>wordly experience </font color=blue>
oh yeah ... that's right - you don't know him .... great kid ----BUT --- sometimes needs detailed instructions/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif must take after his dad /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

 

[bartman]

Tractor Supply Co for about ten bucks. Read the instructions and start pluggin holes. It's a piece a cake................
Bartman

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Hi
I have used plugs in all manner of tyres, they are brilliant. But here down under we have a product called slim that you put in your tyres and when you get puncture it leaks out and blocks off the hole. I ran this for years in the front tyres tubless on a 70 hp Aussie tractor with FEL i think this is a better way to go.
vin

 

[Phred]

vin,

Have you tried that in the rears?
I thought about it but it would seem that my 16x30 rears would require a 55 gallon drum of the stuff?

Fred

 

[Anonymous Poster]

no i have not tryed it in rears, never had problems with back tyres, i guess because they have more plys.

 

[rccoyote]

I'm not sure what the guy at the tire shop told you as to the reason he prefered patches on the inside over plugs but I will pass on why i don't use plugs Except in emergency situations.(yes,I keep plugs around) I have had plugs pull completely out of a tire! Doing FEL work in 4x4 shoving the bucket into some piles the fronts started slipping, dug down past the bars(ags) and the exposed end of the plug got traction on a rock and poof! had a flat again. Patches eliminate this problem. rccoyote

 

[Green_in_MI]

The plugs I buy around here are already glued and gooey. You just pull a fresh strip from the plastic wrap and thread it through the needle. The glue is very thick and makes it kind of tough to get through the needle but I prefer it.

I used to take me an hour to take my tires off and haul them down to the tire store at $5 a pop. They would put in a plug. Not any more. Takes a couple minutes to fix the flat. What a great tool!

 

[tiltbed]

Phred,you don`t fill the tires all the way up...not a weight additive.they have a scale that converts tire size to pumps (term used when tire sealent is installed in a shop) probably come out to 1 gal or so...it just coats the inside.probably 6 or 8 large fix-a-flat per tire would work also. My 650x16 cost about $14 each.... Sid

 

[tiltbed]

Oh an yea guys...food for thought...sealer vurs plugs....if yer way outtinna boonies how are ya gonna get air to air the tire up with?hummmmmmm...think i`ll stick with my pink or green slime and an spare ex large can of fix-a-flat in the tool box...lol ...Sid

 

[Soundguy]

Speaking of fixaflat, ( which has saved my bacon more times than i care to mention ).. anyone know if someone makes just canned air? No sealant.

There are times when i get a low tire, or do a roadside plug.. but don't want to use the fixaflat as it can throw tire ballance off quite a bit... those times I usually don't have my compressor handy... sure would be nice to have a heavy duty size can of air that screws on just like the fixaflat to air up a low tire... Not quite economical.. but it would have practical applications... for instance... my 12v electric pump won't work when I'm out in the field with my 6v 8N../w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

Souundguy