Who plugs tires?

[WinterDeere]

I think the quarter turn is to wrap the excess around the tool inside the tire so when the tool is pulled out there is a ball on the end to seal against the inside of the tire.

I suspect the goal is also to put the two halves of the loop between the cords of the original penetration, as they're pulled back into the hole. Four cords fill a round hole better than two, as all components try conform to each other.

 

[mjonesnh]

Have had several tires plugged through the years but actually prefer the patch method. Got a screw in an 8 ply trailer tire last year. Had it patched instead of plugged. Considering the stresses put on a tandem axle trailer tire with lot of twisting on tire thought this was a better route

 

[fidowanttobe]

I've had good luck with plugs.
Had a work truck with a slow leak. Drove to the approved shop twice to have it fixed to be told to leave it and they'll call when done. NOT.
In to work early before anyone else, brought my personal plug kit and never had an issue with it again.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I've been plugging tires since I was 16 years old, I'm now 57 and out of hundreds of plugs I only had 1 fail and it failed within a few miles of the house, my fault as the nail was right in the edge of the sidewall and had to much flex for the plug to do it's job.

 

[WKTEDDYBEAR]

Ive never had luck with plugs. I got a flat on my side by side and pulled out my old plug kit. The plugs were still real sticky. I plugged hole. A few days later it was flat again. I took tire to Les Schaub tire to get fixed. All they did was replug it and charged me 21.00

A week later, flat again. I took it back and made them pull tire and patch. We will see if it holds. This was done last tuesday.

years ago took a garden tractor tire to a Les Schwab, asked to be "patched", they plugged it, they told me it still leaked and charged me.

 

[Redbug]

I've had such good luck plugging tires I keep a kit and small compressor in all of my road vehicles.

Me too!

 

[tacticalturnip]

I've never plugged a tire. Got tired of taking the wife's car to the tire shop and purchased a plug kit, and we haven't had a problem since.

 

[Hughman]

I've never plugged a tire. Got tired of taking the wife's car to the tire shop and purchased a plug kit, and we haven't had a problem since.

They call that insurance.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I've done that too. Steel belted radials can provide extra challenges trying to get the reamer through the belts too. I've had very good success over the ages with tire plugs.

Never had to do that. Guess the Safety Seal reamer is stouter than others.

The glue helps the plug slide into the hole, and I figure that it will help seal and help the plug last longer. Sometimes the glue makes it difficult to withdraw the split head tool without pulling the plug back out.
Next time, I'll consider burning the stubs to vulcanize, as my SxS won't get the tire hot enough to do the job.

If the lube in the Safety Seal kit isn't slippery enough, I doubt that glue would be any better. Besides, the lube and glue may not play well with each other. And the glue may not be compatible with the plug.

Please note that my suggestion to burn the ends of the plug was for Safety Seal plugs. I have no idea how it might work (or not work) with other brands.

 

[tacticalturnip]

They call that insurance.

Amen.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I've never plugged a tire. Got tired of taking the wife's car to the tire shop and purchased a plug kit, and we haven't had a problem since.

One thing is for sure they won't go bad and if ya'll keep driving you will get another one.

 

[paulsharvey]

I use them, and generally have had good luck. Even when they dont work, they often get the leak to a point its manageable. Work truck (which gets free service), ive had many many, but they do a whole dismount and a patch-plug combo.

What i find funny/stupid, the tire shops that won't plug a tire. "Liability" they say, but its really to sell tires IMO. Even bigger holes, you can force 3 plugs into and get more life out of it.

 

[paulsharvey]

So many cars come without a spare these days. Manufacturers claim cost, weight, and space savings while giving the middle finger to the buyer.

Wife's charger doesn't have a spare, the 12v pump is actually way faster than the 12v pumps of years past though. I plugged hers, although, it was do for tires, and I got a set maybe 2 or 3 months later.

 

[paulsharvey]

I have also plugged in the outer tread too, and although I haven't (well...) plugged a true side wall, ive seen it done and it held for atleast a few weeks. When I saw "well" I did plugged a sidewalk, but I put that wheel in the bed, and used the spare. Basically, the sidewall plugged tire served as a spare, until that truck got sold a few years later.

 

[WinterDeere]

I have also plugged in the outer tread too...

I've plugged the outer tread / shoulder, and drove on it a week or more, until I could get new tires ordered. I was always told it was likely to fail, so never tried stretching it long-term, but it did hold at least awhile.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

What i find funny/stupid, the tire shops that won't plug a tire. "Liability" they say, but its really to sell tires IMO. Even bigger holes, you can force 3 plugs into and get more life out of it.

Well, using a plug is a fix. For it to be a legal repair the tire has to be dismounted, inspected, and also sealed from the inside.

I can't blame shops for not simply plugging a tire, but it sure won't stop me from using quality plugs - even though I have everything required to do a legal repair.

 

[paulsharvey]

Well, using a plug is a fix. For it to be a legal repair the tire has to be dismounted, inspected, and also sealed from the inside.

I can't blame shops for not simply plugging a tire, but it sure won't stop me from using quality plugs - even though I have everything required to do a legal repair.

Legal repair? Is there a state board of legal tire repair methods?

 

[rontaki]

Legal repair? Is there a state board of legal tire repair methods?

The gummint worms!

 

[Grumpycat]

Well, using a plug is a fix. For it to be a legal repair the tire has to be dismounted, inspected, and also sealed from the inside.

Says who?

I can't blame shops for not simply plugging a tire, but it sure won't stop me from using quality plugs - even though I have everything required to do a legal repair.

Many shops will use any excuse to refuse to repair a tire for $20 if that means they can sell you a new one for $250.

 

[1Mech]

I had my van tire patched at the tire shop I bought them from just last week. Flat repair included in the purchase cost, no additional charge.
I do have a tire plug kit which I use when needed.
I agree with Scootr, either the tires are getting harder, or I am getting weaker! Probably more the latter!