Tire Plug Surprise!!!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 753
Likes: 2
From: Denville NJ
Tire Plug Surprise!!!
Well it's been awhile, thank God, but yesturday I got a flat.
No big deal, I have run flats (Firehawks). Pulled into my sweetie's driveway and broke out my plug kit, a pretty good one.
Twisted out the damm roofing nail and was quite surprised with the struggle to even ram the cleaning awl through the nail hole! You can imagine the effort with the plug!
Granted, the run flats are pretty hefty, but for those of you that feel secure with only a plug kit and no run flats, you may be disappointed, especially in tougher conditions.
Just a thought ...
No big deal, I have run flats (Firehawks). Pulled into my sweetie's driveway and broke out my plug kit, a pretty good one.
Twisted out the damm roofing nail and was quite surprised with the struggle to even ram the cleaning awl through the nail hole! You can imagine the effort with the plug!
Granted, the run flats are pretty hefty, but for those of you that feel secure with only a plug kit and no run flats, you may be disappointed, especially in tougher conditions.
Just a thought ...
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 58,501
Likes: 1,827
From: Oklahoma City OK
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I tried to fix one in my driveway and couldn't get it to hold so I can imagine what it would be like on the side of the road in the dark without a jack.
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
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 4
From: North Port Fl
I carry both a compressor with sealant, and a plug kit, but I haven't had a flat in about 30 years (and I drive between 30k and 50k miles a year) but unless it was an emergency I don't think I'd use either one. I'll call AAA and wait, I can afford to wait 3 hours every 30 years, but the few times I've called AAA (everytime it was for a vehicle I was riding in not my own) it's never taken more than an hour.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,956
Likes: 2
From: Indianapolis In
I carry both a compressor with sealant, and a plug kit, but I haven't had a flat in about 30 years (and I drive between 30k and 50k miles a year) but unless it was an emergency I don't think I'd use either one. I'll call AAA and wait, I can afford to wait 3 hours every 30 years, but the few times I've called AAA (everytime it was for a vehicle I was riding in not my own) it's never taken more than an hour.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 8
From: Belleville Il
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 3
From: Hawaii
How is it that AAA will plug a tire anywhere but Hawaii? They refuse to do it here. They site liability issues.....
So it's plug your own tire on the side of the road or get a tow. And in most cases that sucks as you have to wait for a "proper" tow (carrier) that can handle a vette. I carry a plug kit, a compressor, a jack, a flashlight and a mat. And I pray I never have to use them.
The last flat I got the tire (RF) held air until I got it to a tire shop. They dismounted the tire and from used a mushroom type plug that they pulled through the hole from the inside. Sort of like a patch and plug combined.
So it's plug your own tire on the side of the road or get a tow. And in most cases that sucks as you have to wait for a "proper" tow (carrier) that can handle a vette. I carry a plug kit, a compressor, a jack, a flashlight and a mat. And I pray I never have to use them.
The last flat I got the tire (RF) held air until I got it to a tire shop. They dismounted the tire and from used a mushroom type plug that they pulled through the hole from the inside. Sort of like a patch and plug combined.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 1
From: Foresters Falls(near Ottawa) Ont
Most flats you get are a nail, screw, piece of metal in the tire that causes a slow leak that you see in the morning or the DIC tells you the pressure is low. It's not often it's a catastrophic failure.
With my compressor, hopefully, I'd be able to drive to a service centre to get it looked after. I have a repair kit to, hopefully, I'll never have to use it.
RonJ ...
With my compressor, hopefully, I'd be able to drive to a service centre to get it looked after. I have a repair kit to, hopefully, I'll never have to use it.
RonJ ...
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,078
Likes: 27
From: Northeast South Dakota
As long as you're using Safety Seal brand tire plugs you'll be fine. I have put in a lot of tire plugs and the only ones that work are safety seal. I have had to use 2 plugs in one hole because the hole is so big and it worked out just fine before. I have also had a nail through a tire with a tube, pulled out the nail, aired it up, plugged through both tire and tube and it is holding to this day. That was a number of years ago too.
On the C5 vette I would only plug a tire as a temporary fix then have a tire shop look it over.
-Justin
On the C5 vette I would only plug a tire as a temporary fix then have a tire shop look it over.
-Justin
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
I've decided to keep with runflats just incase I'm on a road trip! 
Then all will be good! I do like to have a patch done instead!
IMHO
Thanks,Matt
Then all will be good! I do like to have a patch done instead!
IMHOThanks,Matt
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 63
From: Staten Island NY
I noticed there are various sizes and types of plugs and some are way better than others for plugging run flats-
I use the Monkey Grip heavy duty type and they worked well for me over the years. (Though I have only plugged about 5 run flats).
I use the Monkey Grip heavy duty type and they worked well for me over the years. (Though I have only plugged about 5 run flats).
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 18,401
Likes: 3
From: Retired but working
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Did have one while traveling up in CT. Cound not get the darn plug in. Had the wife back ip slightly while I held the plug inserter against the ground and it slid right in. She pulled forward I removed the tool broke out the compressor and went on my way. Had it patched a week later.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 571
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee Wi
I agree with the T-Handle one. I used the screwdriver one with non-runflats and broke the handle hitting it with my 3lb sledgehammer trying to ram it in the tire. I bought the t-handle and didn't have any trouble getting the new plug in - it was tough but doable.