Patch/Plug Y-Rated Tire OK?
Race Director
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From: Lynnfield MA
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Re: Patch/Plug Y-Rated Tire OK? (MelloYellow)
Do not under any circumstances ever "plug" a tire... Only patch from the inside and you do not loose the rating on the tire...
Nick
Nick
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Henderson, NV
Re: Patch/Plug Y-Rated Tire OK? (Smoke-N-Shot)
Hi all,
I recently had a screw removed/tire patched from one of my Firehawks by Firestone and the service manager advised me that it was no longer "Y" speed rated for the original rating. He said that it was officially now rated at around 120MPH, if I can remember correctly. He also said that I "could" go faster than that, but that he legally had to tell me this to release them from liability reasons by law!
Steve
I recently had a screw removed/tire patched from one of my Firehawks by Firestone and the service manager advised me that it was no longer "Y" speed rated for the original rating. He said that it was officially now rated at around 120MPH, if I can remember correctly. He also said that I "could" go faster than that, but that he legally had to tell me this to release them from liability reasons by law!
Steve
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
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Re: Patch/Plug Y-Rated Tire OK? (Blackjetvette97)
Hi all,
I recently had a screw removed/tire patched from one of my Firehawks by Firestone and the service manager advised me that it was no longer "Y" speed rated for the original rating. He said that it was officially now rated at around 120MPH, if I can remember correctly. He also said that I "could" go faster than that, but that he legally had to tell me this to release them from liability reasons by law! Steve
I recently had a screw removed/tire patched from one of my Firehawks by Firestone and the service manager advised me that it was no longer "Y" speed rated for the original rating. He said that it was officially now rated at around 120MPH, if I can remember correctly. He also said that I "could" go faster than that, but that he legally had to tell me this to release them from liability reasons by law! Steve
Does losing the speed rating only apply to Runflats?
Steve, were your Firestones runflats?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Re: Patch/Plug Y-Rated Tire OK? (MelloYellow)
My recollection is that Goodyear allows the tire to be patched from the inside one time without losing the speed rating, Firestone does not. Or maybe I have that backwards. In any event, the tires are not that much different. I think that the lawyers have more to do with this than the engineers.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Henderson, NV
Re: Patch/Plug Y-Rated Tire OK? (MelloYellow)
Hi MelloYellow,
Yes, mine are EMT's with a "Y" rating. I guess when a tire is penetrated by a screw or whatever, it permanently weakens the structural integrity of the tire, thus lowering the speed rating. Makes sense.
Steve
Yes, mine are EMT's with a "Y" rating. I guess when a tire is penetrated by a screw or whatever, it permanently weakens the structural integrity of the tire, thus lowering the speed rating. Makes sense.
Steve
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Le Mans Master
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Re: Patch/Plug Y-Rated Tire OK? (Blackjetvette97)
Thx Guys. I guess with a minor leak even if the patch goes it would only allow a minor leak. Maybe I can keep this tire.
It might be the valve stem. How hard is it to replace one of our valve stems??
It might be the valve stem. How hard is it to replace one of our valve stems??
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Bellingham WA
Re: Patch/Plug Y-Rated Tire OK? (MelloYellow)
I just had a slow leak at the tire stem/sensor unit. It seals with an o'ring on the inside. I took a 3/8 drive deep socket and tightened the mounting nut with a short grip on the ratchet. No more leak. Worth a try if you just had tires put on, as they take the sensors off to mount tires, and may not have had a deep socket. Check all of them at this point.
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Le Mans Master
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Re: Patch/Plug Y-Rated Tire OK? (wottogo)
I just had a slow leak at the tire stem/sensor unit. It seals with an o'ring on the inside. I took a 3/8 drive deep socket and tightened the mounting nut with a short grip on the ratchet. No more leak. Worth a try if you just had tires put on, as they take the sensors off to mount tires, and may not have had a deep socket. Check all of them at this point.
Well.. The tire that's leaking, the stem just keeps turning and turning like it's stripped. If I wiggle the stem I can hear air leak out.
The other stems are all tight. The bad one I must've spun around more than 10 times. It's screwed. So, probably a bad stem, which means the tire is good. Either that or I broke it myself. LOL!! I did use a bit of TQ on that first one. But, looks like it was bad.
Thx!
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: exeter CA
Re: Patch/Plug Y-Rated Tire OK? (MelloYellow)
My picked up a screw in the left rear. Patched very carefully, and balanced back like it was.
Now seems to slowly leak a little more than the other three when parked for days at a time. I am not worried unless I could sustain >140 mph, which opportunity does not exist. Maybe for 10 seconds per blast.
And remember, a piece of chewing gum stuck to the tread at 140 mph, is going from zero, to 280 mph, and back to zero....real fast.
Now seems to slowly leak a little more than the other three when parked for days at a time. I am not worried unless I could sustain >140 mph, which opportunity does not exist. Maybe for 10 seconds per blast.
And remember, a piece of chewing gum stuck to the tread at 140 mph, is going from zero, to 280 mph, and back to zero....real fast.
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Le Mans Master
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Re: Patch/Plug Y-Rated Tire OK? (nmbis2k)
Thx.
What's that about the 280mph chewing gum? :confused: :D
Ooops. Looks like I either broke the valvestem or accelerated the failure. My front tire is 100% flat now. :( Welp.. guess I get to test out my air pump. Hopefully the problem was the valvestem and I didn't create a 2nd problem. LOL.
What's that about the 280mph chewing gum? :confused: :D
Ooops. Looks like I either broke the valvestem or accelerated the failure. My front tire is 100% flat now. :( Welp.. guess I get to test out my air pump. Hopefully the problem was the valvestem and I didn't create a 2nd problem. LOL.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Annapolis, MD USA
Re: Patch/Plug Y-Rated Tire OK? (MelloYellow)
This is actually a serious issue if you drive to the track. While I have not yet had a puncture of a race tire (I use Kumhos) I have had several on my street tires (both Corvette and "other" car).
My feeling is that I would never want to drive on the track at 140+ with a patched/plugged tire, but I wonder if I am being too conservative about this. Does anyone know for certain whether the repair technique (and original puncture) damages the tire enough to worry about it? I am speaking of the "internal patch & plug" technique).
My feeling is that I would never want to drive on the track at 140+ with a patched/plugged tire, but I wonder if I am being too conservative about this. Does anyone know for certain whether the repair technique (and original puncture) damages the tire enough to worry about it? I am speaking of the "internal patch & plug" technique).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Annapolis, MD USA
Re: Patch/Plug Y-Rated Tire OK? (MelloYellow)
Thanks and yes, I understand this is what the Firestone Service Manager supposedly said, but I do not consider this necessarily good information. I just have to consider the potential of having to discard an otherwise good racing tire in such a situation.
I raise this question because I have gotten conflicting advice from people I otherwise would trust about such a thing. Some say that the initial trauma to the tire, plus reaming the hole and patching/plugging it cuts enough cords to destroy the integrity of the tire so that one would not want to drive it at high speeds. Others have told me that such a small thing as a puncture and associated repair will not effectively affect the high speed capabilities of the tire (again, 140+ mph plus hard cornering). While I would not much worry about such a repaired tire in a low-speed event (e.g. autox) I also need to worry abut high speed events. Does anyone know what the real story is on tire puncture repairs and the integrity of the tire in such a situation?
I raise this question because I have gotten conflicting advice from people I otherwise would trust about such a thing. Some say that the initial trauma to the tire, plus reaming the hole and patching/plugging it cuts enough cords to destroy the integrity of the tire so that one would not want to drive it at high speeds. Others have told me that such a small thing as a puncture and associated repair will not effectively affect the high speed capabilities of the tire (again, 140+ mph plus hard cornering). While I would not much worry about such a repaired tire in a low-speed event (e.g. autox) I also need to worry abut high speed events. Does anyone know what the real story is on tire puncture repairs and the integrity of the tire in such a situation?
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Re: Patch/Plug Y-Rated Tire OK? (rbeckham)
Agree. Just second hand opinions of how strong a patch is.
Not sure who the best expert would be.
Anyone have time to call some major tire manufacturer techs?
Not sure who the best expert would be.
Anyone have time to call some major tire manufacturer techs?
Team Owner
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Re: Patch/Plug Y-Rated Tire OK? (MelloYellow)
rbeckham-
I have a similar problem with my KD SSS tires. In my case there is no air leak, but a piece of glass and a bolt (both rear tires!) went in till the cord, and maybe actually into the cord a little. I think I'm going to get a spare set of wheels and put the slightly damaged tires on them for street use, save a perfect set for the track.
BTW, I'd worry about the adhesive around the mushroom patch breaking down under the heat of track use.
I have a similar problem with my KD SSS tires. In my case there is no air leak, but a piece of glass and a bolt (both rear tires!) went in till the cord, and maybe actually into the cord a little. I think I'm going to get a spare set of wheels and put the slightly damaged tires on them for street use, save a perfect set for the track.
BTW, I'd worry about the adhesive around the mushroom patch breaking down under the heat of track use.
