Plugging Tires
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 402
Likes: 0
From: Goose Creek SC
Plugging Tires
About a mile from work at 6 AM today, I took a quarter inch by one inch wood bolt in the driver's side front tire. Thump, thump, thump, all the way to the shipyard, but the air held.
Came out during lunch to fix this problem - air still holding in the tire. Turned the front wheel all the way to the left, and positioned it to get a clear shot at the bolt. Jacked it up just enough to get the tire clear of the ground. Had the bolt out in less than a minute, and the plug inserted five minutes later. Only "hard" part was putting the air back in the tire - took over 10 minutes with my cheap compressor.
This wasn't my Vette, but it just as easily could have been. I have three take-aways:
1. Sometimes it's easier/quicker to plug a flat, than putting on the spare.
2. We never hesitate to drive our "other cars" everywhere, without runflats, but many of us would never consider anything but runflats on our Vettes.
3. Need a better compressor.
Yes, there are situations where the runflats are nice to have, but not very often.
Came out during lunch to fix this problem - air still holding in the tire. Turned the front wheel all the way to the left, and positioned it to get a clear shot at the bolt. Jacked it up just enough to get the tire clear of the ground. Had the bolt out in less than a minute, and the plug inserted five minutes later. Only "hard" part was putting the air back in the tire - took over 10 minutes with my cheap compressor.
This wasn't my Vette, but it just as easily could have been. I have three take-aways:
1. Sometimes it's easier/quicker to plug a flat, than putting on the spare.
2. We never hesitate to drive our "other cars" everywhere, without runflats, but many of us would never consider anything but runflats on our Vettes.
3. Need a better compressor.
Yes, there are situations where the runflats are nice to have, but not very often.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 60
Likes: 1
From: Chelsea AL
plugs
I like plugs myself on a everyday car or truck but on a vette I would like a patch. But if I was to have a flat I would do the plug also because when the tire shop gets the tire off the rim they will haved done scratch it up.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 58,527
Likes: 70
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
Originally Posted by bekdad
2. We never hesitate to drive our "other cars" everywhere, without runflats, but many of us would never consider anything but runflats on our Vettes.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,378
Likes: 4
From: I don't deserve this car, but I have arthritis and I don't deserve that either. Bay Point, FL
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Originally Posted by bsmith
The big difference between a C5 and the "other" car...the other car has a spare.
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Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
23000 miles on non run flats and NEVER HAD a flat. If I did, it would be call AAA. IMHO no need to carry all that extra weight. Just a cell phone.
When the wifes 04 vette needs new tires, no run flats, Mich PS/2s will go on.
When the wifes 04 vette needs new tires, no run flats, Mich PS/2s will go on.
Lifetime Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,702
Likes: 76
From: New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05, '12-'13, '15-'16, '21
Originally Posted by bekdad
2. We never hesitate to drive our "other cars" everywhere, without runflats, but many of us would never consider anything but runflats on our Vettes.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TEXAS
might as well ask here
I have no experience with runflat issues. I just noticed a small nail in one of runflats. It looks like a small finishing nail, the head is less than 1/8" wide and I don't know how long. There's no air loss. It's in the center rib. It looks too small to get a plug in. What do you do in a case like that.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 17,541
Likes: 2
From: Manhattan, KS Missing SoCal since 2005
Originally Posted by bozo4onion
2. Goodyear does not recommend repairing ANY runflat.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Originally Posted by HummelS
Goodyear does not recommend PLUGGING a runflat. The correct repair is a patch from the inside. This will maintain the speed rating of the tire.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
Had two plugs in the same EMT, drove on them for over 40,000 miles with no issue..even down to 2/32
I plugged two Goodyear Runflats (one front, one rear), ran on them for over 40,000 miles also with no problems.The issues are 1) Water getting in from outside tire and causing steel belt to rust and fail, this is why they want a plug, and 2) air getting inside belts from inside the tire causing belt seperation and failure, this is why then want a patch on the inside of the tire.