Tires nails in the tires

[farmyid]

My next door nieghbor who also happens to be my older brother borrowed my BRAND NEW tractor and put two nails into one of the front tires. I had been pretty sure he would manage this if he wasn't careful as he is trying to clean up a terrific mess that up until recently was a small barn and is now a pile of charred timbers. I told him beforehand not to drive into the wreakage and that if he put a nail into the tires he would be responsible for its repair. Question is, is plugging the tire acceptable as a long term repair? should I have him add a tube? should he replace the tire as a supidity charge? No, strike that last remark, he IS my brother. Mark

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( is plugging the tire acceptable as a long term repair? )</font>

It would be to me; assuming a good quality plug is used.

 

[PineRidge]

Mark plugged tires will work quite nicely. They have used the same type plug on automobile tires for years with no problems. I might also suggest adding Slime to the tire and the next time you pull a nail or thorn out of a tire it will heal itself immediately. WalMart carries it.

 

[theonlybull]

i used to work at a tire recyling plant, and the tires that went for retreading, could have upto 3 plugs. these were passenger tires, but just the same. they needed to be safe.

as long as the hole in in the tread, not the sidewall, you shouldn't have any trouble

 

[EddieWalker]

Flat tires are a way of life. Get a decent plug kit and you can do it yourself. Of course, you must have tubeless tires. My tractor came with tubes wich I had to take out. After you plug, add slime and you shouldn't have any trouble.

 

[Junkman]

Guess that I am the lone dissenter in the discussion so far. I prefer to remove the tire and vulcanize in a patch..... not a hard job to do and I think it makes a better repair, albeit a more time consuming one. I have also used plugs, but don't think that they are as good because I have had some leaking problems with them in the past. With the patch, I know that it is done right the first time. This is going to be another one of those subjects that is biased by what your personal experience has been. There is no right or wrong, just personal preference. To me, the tube would only be used as a last resort.

 

[Bird]

Junkman, I was fixin' flats in my Dad's service stations before tubeless tires were invented for cars. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif So I had some experience also with the first "plugs" that were invented, and some of the early ones really weren't very good. So, for many years there was just no way I would allow a plug to be put in one of my tires, even after some professional tire men tried to convince me they were actually better than patching on the inside; i.e., the plug goes all the way through, keeps any dirt and moisture from getting into the hole from the outside, and such arguments..

So I can certainly understand your position, and in fact, even share it to some extent. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I still have a little psychological preference for patching the inside of the tire. However, I've used plugs in my tractor tire, riding mower tires, and even my pickup the last 4 or 5 years and have yet to have one fail.

So, at this point in time, I don't think I could argue that either one's better than the other. Like you said, personal preference.

 

[Slamfire]

I'd agree about the patch if the danged tires weren't so big and tough. It's all I can do to lift one of the rear tires, I don't want to try and pry the bead over the rim.

 

[Junkman]

If it is that big and tough a tire, are you sure that you will be able to even get a plug into it? I agree with that old Bird fella /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif plugs do have their place. I'm so old that I can remember when real tires were made out of iron, /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif and you chewed nails on the farm and spit out rust.... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[farmerpsv]

What i really long for is the day when wheels were made of stone /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. i had one piece of land that had locust trees. i came to love plugs at that point. my DR and Cub had a way of finding those thorns, the plug file knocks the thorn out before you plug the tire, works well. my old JD would find those thorns also...a whole different matter. the thorn would go into the tire and break off on the outside, but on the inside would puncture the tube in several places. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif. JD is gone now and have a NH TN65 with ag radials, very nice.

i do like the plugs, nice not to have to remove the tire.
paul