CodeBlueZO6

I got a small nail in one of my rear Nitto NT-05's.

Is it safe to just patch the tire?
They have 1/2 tread left and would hate having to buy new tires.

Plus, I'm guessing if I replace it, I need to replace both rears to match it up.....true?

If I can patch, is it safe to road race it with a patch?

Thanks a bunch!

thebrander

I did a full track day on a patched NT05 with no problems. However, I had it replaced as soon as I got back so I don't know how well a patch will hold up over lots of aggressive driving time.

QUAKEJAKE

Use search to get a recent thread on this subject.In short I did plug a front tire(drywall screw 2" in from side wall)If ya want the speed rating back you'll need to plug and patch.BTW mine is a street Z.

VNAMVET

.....patch......ok.

Paul_DC

I am no tire expert, but I always heard that it is never a "safe" or "good" idea to patch a high performance tire due to the patch causing the tire to lose its speed rating. I also have the same belief that you need to always replace tires in at least sets of two (2 front or 2 back), but even that is when the tread remaining / life of the "old" tires are not that bad. Never mix brands and tire treads either.

Just food for thought.

PRE-Z06

I agree about replacing tires in sets of 2, but I've run many different combinations of tires front to rear without ill effects...also have done 190mph on a plugged tire, but it wasn't for an extended period of time

skudlw

Put a plug in it and don't worry. Plug is as good as a patch. Been doing it for years without any problems.

Landru

OTOH if the OP's not tracking and/or otheriwse driving the car at extreme speed? Patching's fine, he'll be good to go.

TAILWAG

your tires are junk...I will give you $ 100 to ship them both to me.

Seriously, just patch/plug it and you will be fine. I have done plenty of track events with many different tires w/patches/plugs. I have chorded tires and the plugs are down to the bone...the plug/patch was welded to the inside of the tire due to heat.

...but again, I will give you $ 100 delivered to KS if you think they are junk...gladly.

USMCFRC

Completely agree. I put a plug in my C5Z back in the day and it lasted 25,000+ miles (when I replaced the tires).

VetteVinnie

I've never had a problem with patched tires. Got a screw in one of my Invos the day after I put them on the car, plugged it with my roadside kit and took it to have it patched. Ran for a couple of days with no loss of pressure from the plug kit, but patched it anyway to be 100% sure. I had the roadhazard warranty, so it was no charge to patch it.

Z Fast

Small nail hole...like everyone else said, plug and patch. But be carefull if it is near the sidewall. I've tracked my first Z06 with 2 nail holes plugged and patched in the same rear tire.

Tom

blackvetterzo6

I plugged mr rear tire on my Z with 1K miles on it. Have done 5 track days, and not a single issue at all.

turbo raptor

patch it dont plug it the plug is liable to come out esp the rear because of spinning

Bill Dearborn

The GY EMTs
That is generally true. Some tires such as the GY EMTs can be patched and maintain their speed rating if the proper procedure is followed. I imagine plugging the tire yourself doesn't follow the procedure defined by the manufacturer. However, if you lose the speed rating on a Z-- Y rated tire and you are doing nothing but highway driving that probably isn't an issue. There are thousands of L (75 mph) rated tires running around our highways at this moment so I doubt running a Z--Y tire that has its rating degraded on a Vette is a real issue. At the worst it might drop its rating to 75 mph. How many trucks and SUVs have you seen tooling along at speeds above that with L rated tires?

Will a patched Z rated tire hold up to the speeds achieved at most track events? Probably since the speeds rarely get over 130 on most tracks. Speeds will reach 150 to 160 on the longer ones but can a plugged Z--Y rated tire handle those speeds since it was designed for 186 mph. Maybe, maybe not. It all depends on how much the speed rating is degraded and that is an unknown.

Bill

Z Fast

The proper procedure is to use a plug(not the type you shoot in with an air tool) to fill the whole, AND a patch. The local GY shop said the OEM tires will retain it's speed rating when done properly(both plug and patch). Maybe different manufactures will say different.

I have been on track over 150mph with the patch and plugged OEM rear tire. After watching my highly experience tire shop make the repair I wasn't concerned at all. There is no way that small nail hole was going to hurt the tire, and no way in hell that repair was coming apart.

Tom

PRE-Z06

I "burned off" my old tires with a plug till they were bald and it didn't come out