Who plugs tires?

[DarkBlack]

?

 

[scootr]

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?

Looks good... todays multi belted tires are hard to manually push the old rope style plugs into. I may have to go this route.

 

[ning]

No idea why my post needs “approval”

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you need at least 5,000 messages on this bbs in order to post something like that without approval

 

[gstrom99]

No idea why my post needs “approval”

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It's the caulking "tool" in the post. Those can be scary.

 

[WinterDeere]

It's the caulking "tool" in the post. Those can be scary.

Un-reinforced adhesive or caulk would indeed be scary. But if it were reinforced with glass or carbon fiber, and one could find a way to do that which didn’t develop small leaks over time, it’d likely be stronger and better than the surrounding tire.

 

[gstrom99]

Un-reinforced adhesive or caulk would indeed be scary. But if it were reinforced with glass or carbon fiber, and one could find a way to do that which didn’t develop small leaks over time, it’d likely be stronger and better than the surrounding tire.

DB's question was why his post needed approval. My reply was meant to point out the word "g u n" being "the issue" using the term "tool" to replace that...

 

[paulsharvey]

.View attachment 4492610

So, I did order that silicon coated screw type plugs. I did use one, and installation is Easy. The issue, was, it still lost about 10 psi per 24 hours. So, yeah, I left it in for about 3 weeks; but just yesterday i took it to tire shop, and had them put a patch-plug in.

I can't say if the continued leak is a fault of the screw plug, or if maybe it was a bad application, or there was a small secondary hole next to the main hole? So, im not gonna throw the 20ish remaining plugs out, but I fall short of being able to recommend them either.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

So, I did order that silicon coated screw type plugs. I did use one, and installation is Easy. The issue, was, it still lost about 10 psi per 24 hours.

Guess you didn't spray it with Windex or something similar to see where it was leaking?

 

[paulsharvey]

Guess you didn't spray it with Windex or something similar to see where it was leaking?

I did, and got nothing. I think its the steel screw, even with silicon, doesnt flex the same as the rubber? So, it didnt leak, but then it did after maybe 48 hours

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Out of all the hundreds of tires that I have plugged in my life I have only had one fail and it was against my better judgement to plug that particular tire right on the edge of the sidewall, it failed the next morning I assume due to the tire sidewall flexing, other than that I have never had not so much as 1 issue plugging tires.

 

[Torvy]

I don't blame the companies for CYA.

I blame the lawyers/people who sue them. Sometimes, stuff happens. A patch might fail.

The rear location for new tires chapped my behind. The consequences of fishtail may be worse, but the advantages of better tread on front (FWD or AWD) are constant.

 

[drizler]

View attachment 4517809

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I bought one of those a couple years back. Worked for a 1/4” hole from a commercial Building panel screw that the worms just wouldn’t touch

 

[slingworks]

Out of all the hundreds of tires that I have plugged in my life I have only had one fail and it was against my better judgement to plug that particular tire right on the edge of the sidewall, it failed the next morning I assume due to the tire sidewall flexing, other than that I have never had not so much as 1 issue plugging tires.

That's a tough spot to plug. I've been there myself....
Best solution (hard to do on the side of the road) is to just put a patch over the hole inside. Surprisingly a good patch glued on just right will hold.

 

[WinterDeere]

Best solution (hard to do on the side of the road) is to just put a patch over the hole inside. Surprisingly a good patch glued on just right will hold.

I'm pretty handy, but breaking and re-seating the bead on a tubeless tire on the side of the road is probably the threshold where I'm just calling AAA.

I usually use my FEL bucket edge to break a bead, and then a rope tournequet with compressor to re-seat. I don't travel with either of these implements, in my car.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Meh, doesn't one of these fit in the trunk?

That's not fully assembled yet, by the way. Many parts and air lines are missing in that photo.

 

[WinterDeere]

Meh, doesn't one of these fit in the trunk?View attachment 4830540
That's not fully assembled yet, by the way. Many parts and air lines are missing in that photo.

I actually used to run a tire machine like that at our local speed shop, when I or a buddy needed new tires mounted and the regular employees were too busy to get to it. Very handy, but I have too many other hobbies that eat up the space that thing would take!

I see the you have the propane bottle add-on kit for your balancer?

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I see the you have the propane bottle add-on kit for your balancer?

That is an absolutely superb bead blaster.

Have had it for a long time and still don't know exactly how it operates. Push the (hair) trigger and it unleashes the air NOW.

Would be the equivalent of tying a string to a fighter jet to pull the common ones' ball valves open. Works great as a leaf blower, too.

The new tire machine does have a built-in bead blaster, but I seriously doubt it'll be as effective. It has a sliding valve on it

 

[Grumpycat]

I'm pretty handy, but breaking and re-seating the bead on a tubeless tire on the side of the road is probably the threshold where I'm just calling AAA.

I usually use my FEL bucket edge to break a bead, and then a rope tournequet with compressor to re-seat. I don't travel with either of these implements, in my car.

Lay the wheel on its side, drive over the tire with another vehicle. Have to initially point toward the center of the wheel for the squishing vehicle’s tire to climb the tire you wish to pop off the rim bead.

As for reseating the bead there is no substitute for large quantities of air at good pressure.

Nice thing about tubeless motorcycle tires is that they come new spread to the proper width to hold air well enough to seat the bead. No trouble with my little 100psi compressor through the valve stem complete with valve core.

 

[WinterDeere]

Lay the wheel on its side, drive over the tire with another vehicle.

No worries with bending some of the steel belting? FEL with a carefully-placed block of wood feels like a precision instrument, compared to driving over it!

 

[KennyG]

I'm glad to see the "mushroom" style plugs are still available. Years ago when I worked in a gas station, we used those. I never saw one fail.