Tire damage....fixable?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 780
Likes: 94
From: Pittsburgh PA
Tire damage....fixable?
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: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,834
Likes: 91
From: California
Unlikely to repair.
Sidewall, and close to sidewall punctures should be replaced.
Having said that, I'm sure someone will come in and claim it's fixable, but I don't know an honest or reputable shop that would do it and let you risk a bigger blowout.
That one is done.
Sidewall, and close to sidewall punctures should be replaced.
Having said that, I'm sure someone will come in and claim it's fixable, but I don't know an honest or reputable shop that would do it and let you risk a bigger blowout.
That one is done.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 8,243
Likes: 4,618
From: Southwest Florida
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?
And yes, you can drive it to the place to get it repaired as long as you don't pull it out beforehand.
Best of luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 35,780
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From: Northern NYs Adirondack Mountains,http://www.visitsacandaga.com.
In the old days when you had 5 tires I would plug it and keep it for a SPARE ONLY!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 780
Likes: 94
From: Pittsburgh PA
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.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 31,916
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From: Middle TN by way of KY, OH, VA, IL, CA, FL, NY, SC, HI
No reputable shop can legally repair that.
The argument can be made that a small puncture (don't let to go very long - it won't remain small) does little cord damage and can be plugged, but (1) the owner will have to do it himself or herself, and (2) the owner has to accept full responsibility for any ill effects of having made this decision.
It would not be a good choice for a high speed (read: higher temperatures), track use, or spirited driving in general. I assume that it is a run flat tire? For low risk use (within speed and non-performance parameters), it might be okay, but be very careful.
I plug my own tires, including run flats, and have plugged worse, including one at 22000 miles that I used until it was worn out at 45,500 miles. But I drive very sanely at my stage of life, accept my own risks, and do not place others at risk.
The argument can be made that a small puncture (don't let to go very long - it won't remain small) does little cord damage and can be plugged, but (1) the owner will have to do it himself or herself, and (2) the owner has to accept full responsibility for any ill effects of having made this decision.
It would not be a good choice for a high speed (read: higher temperatures), track use, or spirited driving in general. I assume that it is a run flat tire? For low risk use (within speed and non-performance parameters), it might be okay, but be very careful.
I plug my own tires, including run flats, and have plugged worse, including one at 22000 miles that I used until it was worn out at 45,500 miles. But I drive very sanely at my stage of life, accept my own risks, and do not place others at risk.
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 39,262
Likes: 18,108
From: DFW Area TX
Definitely not repairable.
Per TireRack:
Per TireRack:
As far as location is concerned, punctures in the tread area of the tire are often repairable. Punctures in the sidewall or shoulder of the tire are not. While it may be physically possible to plug the hole, the flexing of the sidewall is likely to work the repair loose.
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Brett Foote
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Haven't looked past yours and Dave's post below, but you are correct. 
OP, get ready to replace the tire. Please.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,070
Likes: 162
From: Coralville Iowa
As others have commented, that tire is toast. Too much flex in that area to be able to be successfully repaired. It stinks but it's the only thing you can do. IF it is a runflat you can pull it out - tire will deflate but you'll still get to your local tire shop.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 339
Likes: 47
From: Universal City, TX (San Antonio)
Ok, first.. sorry for high jacking this thread but it kind of applies here..
What do you all do when you have a flat tire with no spare... Do you always use run flat tires??? I've been having that thought, so I thought I'd ask...
Dale
What do you all do when you have a flat tire with no spare... Do you always use run flat tires??? I've been having that thought, so I thought I'd ask...
Dale
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 15,067
Likes: 1,613
From: Holly Springs NC
St. Jude Donor '16-'17,'22,'24
You may want to check on the C5 and C6 forums because those guys have gone through a set or two of tires. Some prefer non run-flats because they claim they handle better, make less noise, cost less and so on. However, if you get a flat you'll need to have a flatbed tow the car to have the wheel repaired or have someone pick you up, return with a jack, remove the wheel replace the tire and so on.
I prefer not to let my Corvette get placed on a flatbed (heard some serious horror stories). I don't plan on leaving my Vette on the side of the road unattended. So I use run flats only in my previous C5 and now my C7.
I prefer not to let my Corvette get placed on a flatbed (heard some serious horror stories). I don't plan on leaving my Vette on the side of the road unattended. So I use run flats only in my previous C5 and now my C7.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,960
Likes: 1,106
I thought that looked like a rivet from the photo in your first post. It probably fell out of something and was wedged at an angle in the pavement until your tire came along and "harvested" it.
As others have noted this is not safely repairable since it is in the sidewall section where there is too much flex/stress for any patch to be secure and patching attempts in this area create a significant irregularity in the behavior of the part of the sidewall where the patch/additional material is added.
If it is a zero pressure tire just drive it safely at moderate speed to your tire dealer (once you know they have a tire in stock). If it isn't a run flat I would plug and inflate it long enough to get it to dealer but resist the urge to drive it extensively with a plug; tire failure short of an accident can still cause an amazing amount of damage to the body work as it separates and decomposes at speed not to mention damage to an expensive wheel.
As others have noted this is not safely repairable since it is in the sidewall section where there is too much flex/stress for any patch to be secure and patching attempts in this area create a significant irregularity in the behavior of the part of the sidewall where the patch/additional material is added.
If it is a zero pressure tire just drive it safely at moderate speed to your tire dealer (once you know they have a tire in stock). If it isn't a run flat I would plug and inflate it long enough to get it to dealer but resist the urge to drive it extensively with a plug; tire failure short of an accident can still cause an amazing amount of damage to the body work as it separates and decomposes at speed not to mention damage to an expensive wheel.
Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 677
Likes: 151
From: SoCal
If you are home, lift it and pull the wheel when the shop gets the new tire in. Issue you have at this pont is the overall mileage. Do you repair one and then three others later or just replace all 4 now...
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,519
Likes: 431
From: MI
don't waste your time plugging it, it's toast.I thought that looked like a rivet from the photo in your first post. It probably fell out of something and was wedged at an angle in the pavement until your tire came along and "harvested" it.
As others have noted this is not safely repairable since it is in the sidewall section where there is too much flex/stress for any patch to be secure and patching attempts in this area create a significant irregularity in the behavior of the part of the sidewall where the patch/additional material is added.
If it is a zero pressure tire just drive it safely at moderate speed to your tire dealer (once you know they have a tire in stock). If it isn't a run flat I would plug and inflate it long enough to get it to dealer but resist the urge to drive it extensively with a plug; tire failure short of an accident can still cause an amazing amount of damage to the body work as it separates and decomposes at speed not to mention damage to an expensive wheel.
As others have noted this is not safely repairable since it is in the sidewall section where there is too much flex/stress for any patch to be secure and patching attempts in this area create a significant irregularity in the behavior of the part of the sidewall where the patch/additional material is added.
If it is a zero pressure tire just drive it safely at moderate speed to your tire dealer (once you know they have a tire in stock). If it isn't a run flat I would plug and inflate it long enough to get it to dealer but resist the urge to drive it extensively with a plug; tire failure short of an accident can still cause an amazing amount of damage to the body work as it separates and decomposes at speed not to mention damage to an expensive wheel.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 780
Likes: 94
From: Pittsburgh PA
I thought that looked like a rivet from the photo in your first post. It probably fell out of something and was wedged at an angle in the pavement until your tire came along and "harvested" it.
As others have noted this is not safely repairable since it is in the sidewall section where there is too much flex/stress for any patch to be secure and patching attempts in this area create a significant irregularity in the behavior of the part of the sidewall where the patch/additional material is added.
If it is a zero pressure tire just drive it safely at moderate speed to your tire dealer (once you know they have a tire in stock). If it isn't a run flat I would plug and inflate it long enough to get it to dealer but resist the urge to drive it extensively with a plug; tire failure short of an accident can still cause an amazing amount of damage to the body work as it separates and decomposes at speed not to mention damage to an expensive wheel.
As others have noted this is not safely repairable since it is in the sidewall section where there is too much flex/stress for any patch to be secure and patching attempts in this area create a significant irregularity in the behavior of the part of the sidewall where the patch/additional material is added.
If it is a zero pressure tire just drive it safely at moderate speed to your tire dealer (once you know they have a tire in stock). If it isn't a run flat I would plug and inflate it long enough to get it to dealer but resist the urge to drive it extensively with a plug; tire failure short of an accident can still cause an amazing amount of damage to the body work as it separates and decomposes at speed not to mention damage to an expensive wheel.
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I do not think you will find a tire shop that will repair a tire with a puncture in the sidewall.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,489
Likes: 32
From: New Smyrna Beach FL
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?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,442
Likes: 2,535
From: New Jersey
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.