Tire damage....fixable?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 780
Likes: 94
From: Pittsburgh PA
I guess I don't quite trust them not to ruin the wheel. Besides now I can use the car until I get around to replacing it. If the tire goes flat I'm no worse off than before I plugged it.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,496
Likes: 856
From: Walhalla South Carolina
I had a nail stuck in my C5 nearly new tire last yr and I had it plugged and it is fine. I had two tire shops in my area tell me their tire plug dealer drove up in a big SUV and had at least 75 plugs all over the sidewall of his tire for show and tell. These newer plugs are far better than the older type plugs and will hold. The glue is much better so they say. I was told it wouldn't be a good idea to do road racing with my car but it should hold just fine. U make the call but I plugged mine and it was just fine but if the rivet cut a belt it will swell up and prob. not work but U will know soon after the plug if this happens. Good luck
Pro
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 555
Likes: 126
I found this in my rear tire today. Can't figure how it go there since that part of the tire doesn't seem to touch the ground.
The tire is holding pressure so I'm wondering if I should pull it out or not. Should I not drive the car with it in? If so I guess I should pull it. Also is it repairable?
The tire is holding pressure so I'm wondering if I should pull it out or not. Should I not drive the car with it in? If so I guess I should pull it. Also is it repairable?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 1,593
This is the b**ch with high performance tires.
First, simply replacing the tire can be a problem, and a new tire combined with half-worn tires can cause a handling mis-match.
Also, I've had issues where an OEM performance tire is MD'd and only a replacement compound is available... eick!
Finally, I hate "run-flat" tires... this is just a ploy to cut manufacturing costs and packaging...
If you get a puncture at 2:30 Sunday, and you think you can pull into Goober's Stop and Shop at exit 299 near West Bumf**k OK, and expect they'll have a 295/30/20 Michelin Pilot Sport 2 run-flat in stock, you might get an unpleasant surprise!!
Face it, tire replacement on these cars is a "hidden cost", but the alternative is a Toyota Camry, so we just have to suck up and write the checks.
First, simply replacing the tire can be a problem, and a new tire combined with half-worn tires can cause a handling mis-match.
Also, I've had issues where an OEM performance tire is MD'd and only a replacement compound is available... eick!
Finally, I hate "run-flat" tires... this is just a ploy to cut manufacturing costs and packaging...
If you get a puncture at 2:30 Sunday, and you think you can pull into Goober's Stop and Shop at exit 299 near West Bumf**k OK, and expect they'll have a 295/30/20 Michelin Pilot Sport 2 run-flat in stock, you might get an unpleasant surprise!!
Face it, tire replacement on these cars is a "hidden cost", but the alternative is a Toyota Camry, so we just have to suck up and write the checks.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 183
From: Maple Ontario
Same thing happened to me with a brand new snow tire.. no roadhazard as the vendor folded here in Canada, nobody would fix it... so i said.. WTF, and plugged it... 4 years later tire is still good...
Having said that, i wouldn't do that with a corvette tire as typically we drive them more aggressively. But if you want to experiment, get a plug kit for $15, plug it and see... i wouldn't do any high speed or agressive driving or go on any long trips... but it may hold off for you to shop for a decent replacement at a decent price...
Having said that, i wouldn't do that with a corvette tire as typically we drive them more aggressively. But if you want to experiment, get a plug kit for $15, plug it and see... i wouldn't do any high speed or agressive driving or go on any long trips... but it may hold off for you to shop for a decent replacement at a decent price...
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 183
From: Maple Ontario
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 780
Likes: 94
From: Pittsburgh PA
So far so good. I've put a couple of hundred miles on it now on bumpy roads with brisk acceleration and turns etc. Several rides each venturing a little further from home. It hasn't leaked at all and no bulge. It's trying to suck me in to trusting it and then it'll fail at the least opportune moment....
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 29,113
Likes: 2,194
From: Big Bend Country, TX
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15- '16-'17-‘18-‘19-'20-'21
NCM Lifetime Member
Excellent description of my ex-wife ........................ 
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 16,507
Likes: 84
From: Southern Indiana
Looks like the OP patched it. A bit riskier choice. But I guess the good news is that with run-flats, the downside of a blowout isn't quite as catastrophic...
Last edited by xwing; Feb 29, 2016 at 08:53 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,472
Likes: 75
From: Cleveland, OH
Too late; I pulled it out. Tire went flat; imagine that. It was a one inch rivet and it was straight. Now I'm thinking of plugging it myself with a plug gun so I can get it to the tire shop although it is a run-flat. Or I could pull the wheel off with my new jack and jack stand. Only 9k miles on these tires, too.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,909
Likes: 2,701
From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
I think you will be fine with that repair. What's the worse that can happen? Most likely: The plug starts to leak air. It's still a run flat.
The plug actually blows out (extremely unlikely). You still have a "relative" slow leak, surely not instantaneous. It's still a run flat.
The plug actually blows out (extremely unlikely). You still have a "relative" slow leak, surely not instantaneous. It's still a run flat.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 8,205
Likes: 40
From: Tucson AZ
Do not pull it; let tire folks repair/replace. I think you are going to have a new tire soon. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,168
Likes: 50
From: Somerville New Jersey
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,496
Likes: 856
From: Walhalla South Carolina
I had one n same place, it will work just fine. My tire guy said their tire supplies guy drove up in a suberban with at least 75 plugs all over his sidewall as a demonstration to show the new plugs and new type glue are far better than the old plugs.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 733
Likes: 225
From: Auburn AL
I read, from a tire specialist source that 50 miles is all you should attempt on a zero pressure tire that actually has zero pressure. Apparently, the side walls really heat up when running on them while flat. Good luck!
