Can u plug Run Flats?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 327
Likes: 0
From: My house in the middle of my street GA
Can u plug Run Flats?
Had a nail in my tire on Sunday, took the car to NTB and was told that you can not plug run flat tires. Is this true? The nail was located dead center of the tire and the tire has maybe 55% tread life remaining. I found someone else to plug the tire...is there a risk of blowout?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,762
Likes: 2
From: Murphy TX
You can plug them, I've had it done at about the same tire life and drove them bald and they were fine.
If you track it (track with turns) you may think otherwise (I personally wouldn't want to put that much stress and heat on a plugged tire) but otherwise I think you're fine.
If you track it (track with turns) you may think otherwise (I personally wouldn't want to put that much stress and heat on a plugged tire) but otherwise I think you're fine.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 167
NTB was trying to sell you a new tire. Yes a runflat can be plugged and patched on the inside and be just fine if the hole is in the tread part of the tire. You saved yourself a bunch of money by not listening to NTB.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,439
Likes: 6
From: Newark, DE
St. Jude Donor '06
They can be safely repaired as long as the puncture is within the zone shown below.
However, they should be patched from the inside and then rebalanced, not plugged. Plugs are intended as a temporary repair.
However, they should be patched from the inside and then rebalanced, not plugged. Plugs are intended as a temporary repair.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 1
From: Morganton, NC, USA
I think Goodyear's recommendation was to plug and patch. I have a fear of plugging because it involves expanding a 3/32" nail hole to 1/4" for the plug. If this is done, the steel reinforcement belt becomes severely damaged and the tire's speed rating lost. If you never go over 100 mph, you're OK. I've also read here 
about an umbrella patch which combines the patch and plug into a single unit.
about an umbrella patch which combines the patch and plug into a single unit.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 365
Likes: 3
From: Northern NJ
As was explained to me almost 5 years ago and now nearly 18K miles later, patching is nessecary if the tire was used in run-flat mode for any period. If little air was lost when the item(nail etc) is discoverd and its in the meaty part of the tire plugging is perfectly ok. This was explained to me by the tire shop that did the plug nearly 5 years ago. Have had absolutely no problem since then, haven't lost a single pound of air other than variations due to temperature.
Appears many of our forum familiy over-lament on this topic. Just use good judgement, sure there are conditions. If the tire is not sidewall damaged, not been used in run flat mode, a relatively clean puncture(not glass etc), not too large, and tire not worn out and due to be replaced it's certainly a candidate for a plug. I can attest to that.
Appears many of our forum familiy over-lament on this topic. Just use good judgement, sure there are conditions. If the tire is not sidewall damaged, not been used in run flat mode, a relatively clean puncture(not glass etc), not too large, and tire not worn out and due to be replaced it's certainly a candidate for a plug. I can attest to that.
