Plug tire? - search is broken
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
From: Memphis TN
Plug tire? - search is broken
When I approached my baby this morning, I noticed that one of the rear tires has a nail stuck in the tread. Tire pressure hasn't changed.
I've got 20,000 miles on my original tires and I'm probably 3 to 5K from having to buying new tires anyway. So, I debating plugging the rear tire and riding it out for about 4 months or just biting the bullet and going ahead with buying a new set of 4.
Anyone have any sage advice? Thanks.
I've got 20,000 miles on my original tires and I'm probably 3 to 5K from having to buying new tires anyway. So, I debating plugging the rear tire and riding it out for about 4 months or just biting the bullet and going ahead with buying a new set of 4.
Anyone have any sage advice? Thanks.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 334
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu Hawaii
Originally Posted by survivor04
When I approached my baby this morning, I noticed that one of the rear tires has a nail stuck in the tread. Tire pressure hasn't changed.
I've got 20,000 miles on my original tires and I'm probably 3 to 5K from having to buying new tires anyway. So, I debating plugging the rear tire and riding it out for about 4 months or just biting the bullet and going ahead with buying a new set of 4.
Anyone have any sage advice? Thanks.
I've got 20,000 miles on my original tires and I'm probably 3 to 5K from having to buying new tires anyway. So, I debating plugging the rear tire and riding it out for about 4 months or just biting the bullet and going ahead with buying a new set of 4.
Anyone have any sage advice? Thanks.
All kidding aside, I had a similar problem not too long ago & thought about changing out all the rubber. I took the car to Goodyear and they said the tires still had a lot of life remaining (in my case) and recommended a patch & plug. So Goodyear made $40.00 on me instead of $1200.00 on their recommendation
The one thing that should be a factor is safety, I'd have the tire plugged & patched (from the inside)... It seems that's the way to go & the cost is nominal. Think it took about an hour to complete as well.
HTH a little
Mark
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 19,557
Likes: 1,470
From: I love you & miss you Linda
2017 C7 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Contributor
Originally Posted by survivor04
When I approached my baby this morning, I noticed that one of the rear tires has a nail stuck in the tread. Tire pressure hasn't changed.
I've got 20,000 miles on my original tires and I'm probably 3 to 5K from having to buying new tires anyway. So, I debating plugging the rear tire and riding it out for about 4 months or just biting the bullet and going ahead with buying a new set of 4.
Anyone have any sage advice? Thanks.
I've got 20,000 miles on my original tires and I'm probably 3 to 5K from having to buying new tires anyway. So, I debating plugging the rear tire and riding it out for about 4 months or just biting the bullet and going ahead with buying a new set of 4.
Anyone have any sage advice? Thanks.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 695
Likes: 1
From: Edgewood WA
I had a right rear tire FLAT warning 2500 miles from home. Put in a plug, reinflated with a portable compressor...went to the tire dealer for a better fix and he told me to just leave it, semi trucks under load come in with as many as 10 plugs. I put on another 10,000 miles before changing out the set.
Can't fix a sidewall with em. I'm not sure about runflats personally.
I put on another 10,000 miles before changing out the set.Can't fix a sidewall with em. I'm not sure about runflats personally.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
From: Killeen TX
If I were in your position and getting ready to switch to non-runflats I'd be anxious enough to go ahead and get the new tires. If I were staying with runflats, I'd plug&patch and nurse all the miles I could out of them. My .02 worth.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 14,551
Likes: 24
From: Washington County, South UTAH
The school house answer is do not use plugs. Because, prior to inserting the plug, you clean out the hole with the reamer, that comes in the repair kit. This makes the original hole larger. The concern is : rapid deflation if the plug comes out, at speed. By plug, I am refering to the old style , straight plug, NOT the modern plug/patch combo.
I have used plugs several times, over the years and never had a problem. I would not do 175 MPH, with a plug, though.
God Bless America!
I have used plugs several times, over the years and never had a problem. I would not do 175 MPH, with a plug, though.
God Bless America!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 7,825
Likes: 0
From: Manassas VA
I went to Merchants Tire in Manassas with 4 nails in my RR tread, and the salesperson told me explicitly, "DO NOT PLUG Z-RATED TIRES."
Then he tried to sell me 2 new Khumo Extas for $250 a piece.
I went to a Vette shop in Alexandria, and the guy pulled out all 4 nails, and said they never even punctured the inner wall.
He did, however, pull out a 2inch by 3/8ths lag bolt from my FL tire, and plugged it right away.
No problems since.
Then he tried to sell me 2 new Khumo Extas for $250 a piece.
I went to a Vette shop in Alexandria, and the guy pulled out all 4 nails, and said they never even punctured the inner wall.
He did, however, pull out a 2inch by 3/8ths lag bolt from my FL tire, and plugged it right away.
No problems since.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,390
Likes: 24,795
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Just plug it. If the repair is done right, the tire will be fine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 6,217
Likes: 1
From: End of the Ike IL
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
If you had miles and miles of tread left, then removing the tire and patching would be safer. But with just a few left, plug it and don't pass on the opportunity to do a monster burnout. 
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
From: Memphis TN
Thanks so much to everyone for all the input. I'm taking the plug and patch route. I want to try to get a few more month out of the tires, before I have to pull the trigger on a new set of tires.
Again, thanks!
Again, thanks!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 3
From: Lost in the Pine Barrens with only ketchup and relish packs, New Jersey
I went about 20k miles on a plug and patch on one tire of a set that already had about 10k miles on them. The tire shop told me to hold off on a new set and that a patch from the inside will hold very well. They were right and I saved a few bucks!
