Can this tire be fixed?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 1,439
From: New Jersey
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C2 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C5 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '25
Try a plug, and if you keep losing air or other issues pop up, replace the tire.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 1,213
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,771
Likes: 940
From: Orlando Florida
A sticky string would work fine, but a proper mushroom plug installed from the inside will last the nominal life of tire -- that said, pretty sure any tire manufacturer will caution that a penetration of the tire belts reduces the tire's overall speed capability. I'd run it until I wanted to do a track day, and since I've never done a track day, not thinking it would be a problem.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,568
Likes: 1,183
From: Conyers Georgia
With your treads in such good condition I would remove the screw and see how long it is. If it is shorter in length than the height of the tread and you're not losing any air I wouldn't worry about it. Using the plug type of flat fix will do nothing but force you to penetrate the tire and that's just silly.....
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
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,123
Likes: 673
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
I had one 3 weeks ago bigger than that screw, I heard it "clicking" on the road surface, but I have new tires and I nursed it back to my Garage and slowly un-screwed it and it hadn't gone in too far, backed it out and can't tell it was ever in the tire. i suggest to get to a nearby tire shop and take a screw drive and take it out and see if there is any leak, but I think you'll be fine !
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 2,949
Likes: 1,699
From: North Coast
You want to patch it.
They have patches that go inside the tire but also fill the hole like a plug. Tint is like a push pin looking patch.
These are safest for speed rated tires. You don’t want a plug getting tosses out at 130 mph when the tire gets hot.
Not saying you will do that but that is the correct fix and it cost little more.
They have patches that go inside the tire but also fill the hole like a plug. Tint is like a push pin looking patch.
These are safest for speed rated tires. You don’t want a plug getting tosses out at 130 mph when the tire gets hot.
Not saying you will do that but that is the correct fix and it cost little more.
Instructor
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 159
Likes: 50
Is that a BFG KDW1 tire? I haven't seen one of those in like 15 years....
If so that thing is functionally obsolete by date code and a new set of tires would likely ride better and have better traction properties.
If you take it to a good shop to repair the puncture they should try to sell you a new set of tires.
If so that thing is functionally obsolete by date code and a new set of tires would likely ride better and have better traction properties.
If you take it to a good shop to repair the puncture they should try to sell you a new set of tires.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 6,511
Likes: 4,359
From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner- Unmodified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,668
I had one 3 weeks ago bigger than that screw, I heard it "clicking" on the road surface, but I have new tires and I nursed it back to my Garage and slowly un-screwed it and it hadn't gone in too far, backed it out and can't tell it was ever in the tire. i suggest to get to a nearby tire shop and take a screw drive and take it out and see if there is any leak, but I think you'll be fine !
Night Owl for life
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 24,725
Likes: 4,564
From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
I've used "rope" plugs for years and they've always held up.
Here's a good video with a few different plug types and they have come to similar conclusions
Here's a good video with a few different plug types and they have come to similar conclusions
Team Owner
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 53,801
Likes: 5,632
From: Plantation Florida USAF(Retired) 1966-1990
U.S. Air Force
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
If you take it to tire store, they would say YES, cause they don't need law suits if failure occurs, I have plugged them on my own tires in exact place and tire lasted till I wear them out.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 548
Likes: 3
From: Northeast NE
With your treads in such good condition I would remove the screw and see how long it is. If it is shorter in length than the height of the tread and you're not losing any air I wouldn't worry about it. Using the plug type of flat fix will do nothing but force you to penetrate the tire and that's just silly.....
Leak is bad when I take out the screw. Going to take wheel off and take it in this week. Patch plug first choice I guess.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 6,511
Likes: 4,359
From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner- Unmodified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
). .
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,390
Likes: 24,793
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
If the screw actually punctured the tire and air loss happens, then do a plug and patch and you should be OK.