Tire replacement??
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 186
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From: Miami
Tire replacement??
Onstar notification that right front tire low on pressure. After inspection found large nail embedded. Can the Michelin pilot suoer sports be patched/plugged ? Only 4k mikes...... Bumbed!
Last edited by BDASSZO6; May 25, 2018 at 09:37 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,762
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From: MOUNTAIN HOME Arkansas
Last edited by madrob2020; May 26, 2018 at 09:52 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,762
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From: MOUNTAIN HOME Arkansas
, then push the plug into the hole.
Last edited by madrob2020; May 26, 2018 at 10:05 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
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From: Miami
Not true, however, it does depend on who is patching it. Some tire shops/dealers won't repair any RF on our cars, I suppose they are worried about liability. Also the tire can be ruined if driven too far/too fast is why some won't repair. As sammy said in his post it should not be within 1" of edge of tread. Michelin site (I believe) even says same.Many here have patched & gone on to use on race track. The best patch is patch the hole & place a patch on inside of tire. I patched my own 6 mos. ago with the cheap DIY complete kit found at WalMart, or any auto parts store. It consists of a T-handle punch to clean hole by pushing in & out to rough it up. Then put one of the tacky/sticky (looks like a pipe cleaner sorta) thru the eye of the punch & work it thru the hole till about 1/4" remains outside the tire & carefully trim or just leave alone (it will quickly wear off). It can be a PITA to get the sticky patch thru the tire, so work the T-punch back & forth numerous times first to enlarge the hole enough (instructions come with kit). Good thing is you don't even need to remove the tire in rear & just turn front to make it easier to get to. Good luck!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,759
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From: Pittsburgh PA.
Go on Tire Rack and they tell you that you can patch them one time. Some shops will give you **** because they want you to buy a new tire. Check out Costco.. They did mine and were very careful with my wheel. I tipped both guys $20 each because they let me come back in the shop to watch them do it. Don't let anyone try to bullshit you about not being able to patch them.. I would not do a plug!!! Probably would be ok but if you drive like I do I recommend a patch..
Last edited by 2019 ZR1; May 26, 2018 at 11:48 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2017
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From: Miami
Go on Tire Rack and they tell you that you can patch them one time. Some shops will give you **** because they want you to buy a new tire. Check out Costco.. They did mine and were very careful with my wheel. I tipped both guys $20 each because they let me come back in the shop to watch them do it. Don't let anyone try to bullshit you about not being able to patch them.. I would not do a plug!!! Probably would be ok but if you drive like I do I recommend a patch..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,271
Likes: 182
From: Manassas VA
Go on Tire Rack and they tell you that you can patch them one time. Some shops will give you **** because they want you to buy a new tire. Check out Costco.. They did mine and were very careful with my wheel. I tipped bo )^ itdth guys $20 each because they let me come back in the shop to watch them do it. Don't let anyone try to bullshit you about not being able to patch them.. I would not do a plug!!! Probably would be ok but if you drive like I do I recommend a patch..
The primary reason I had no worries about doing this was many years of plugging drag slicks on 200 mph RED's with no problems. If you look a how distorted a drag slick gets on a sub 1 sec 60 ft car you get some confidence they won't come loose.
I suspect the reason tire manufacturers are down on plugs is it does take some experience and technique to get them in properly.
On the RED once you did a burnout the plugs kind of melted into the tread (well the place where a normal tire would have tread). Actually getting them in properly on a drag slick was more difficult since the rubber thickness is minimal everywhere except the steel wire reinforced bead contact area.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2017
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From: Miami
Agree. Versus having the tire separated from the rim, rebalanced and the possibility of damaging the expensive wheel, I'm gona plug it. Should be fine as I do not run the car hard . Thanks for the reply
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Metro Detroit Michigan
That sounds rather odd, since I can't see how numerous patches in different places would be any less reliable than a single patch.
But Tire Rack is in the business of selling tires, not doing repairs, so that might explain some of it.
But Tire Rack is in the business of selling tires, not doing repairs, so that might explain some of it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2016
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From: MOUNTAIN HOME Arkansas
I "ASSUME" with runflats, each time you drive on them while flat to get somewhere to have fixed, the sidewalls & even contact area degrade a bit more. JMO
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