Who plugs tires?

[I Piddle]

I bought a tire plug kit about 15 yrs ago. Few things have served me so well. Back then I was supervising construction. A lot of supervision was done from the airconditioned comfort of my truck while running over nails and wires etc. Plugged many a tire right on the truck or car over the years. I'm getting older now, The plug kit still works but I have to take the tires off so I can just about sit on the plug installer to push it through the cords Tires got tougher r I got weaker...
Plugged a tire on the fancy electric car yesterday just like it was a whole lot older technology. Worked a charm but I need a bigger floor jack for that battery laden beast...

I have plugged many tires, and they seem to work well. A couple of weeks ago, I screwed a hard rubber plug (I assume it is rubber) in one of my tires. The kit came with a little screwdriver, almost as small as an eyeglass screwdriver. My first thought was, how is this little thing going to screw that little screw in a tire? It did without effort. That has been a couple of weeks, so far so good. So far, I am sold on screws. Also, there is some sort of sealer on the screw.

 

[paulsharvey]

I have plugged many tires, and they seem to work well. A couple of weeks ago, I screwed a hard rubber plug (I assume it is rubber) in one of my tires. The kit came with a little screwdriver, almost as small as an eyeglass screwdriver. My first thought was, how is this little thing going to screw that little screw in a tire? It did without effort. That has been a couple of weeks, so far so good. So far, I am sold on screws. Also, there is some sort of sealer on the screw.

The kit of mine, its a silicone coated metal screw. They are very easy to use, but ive only used one once, and it still had a slow leak. I just had a shop do a patch-plug combo

 

[I Piddle]

The kit of mine, its a silicone coated metal screw. They are very easy to use, but ive only used one once, and it still had a slow leak. I just had a shop do a patch-plug combo

I am still holding my breath, but it has worked well so far. It was so easy to repair.

 

[slingworks]

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.

We used to do that when I was a boy. Generally worked.
Taking the valve core out was an old time tactic to get more airflow.

Watched a guy on youtube "seat" his replacement with a bit of gasoline and a match. Worked, but I would probably rather not do that......LOL

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Watched a guy on youtube "seat" his replacement with a bit of gasoline and a match. Worked, but I would probably rather not do that......LOL

Me neither. But starting fluid works well.

 

[RayIN]

Worked mail routes for a few years. Average around 100 miles about half on gravel. Flat tires are a given. Always ran 10ply truck tires at lower pressure. Was/is not uncommon to end up with a few plugs in each tire. Sometimes up to 10 or 12. I always used rope plugs, they were the easiest to use and seemed to last the life of the tire. Sometimes being more durable than the tire itself. I could also stack them if the hole was really bad. any more than 3 or 4 would blow out though. Like I said, that's with reduced pressure. 25psi or so. Always carried a can of glue and a few packs of rope plugs!

I would never suggest using more than one rope plug in a hole though if I were running at full pressure.

Plugs are always a temporary fix until the tire can be properly repaired.

 

[MF243RedTop]

The kit of mine, its a silicone coated metal screw. They are very easy to use, but ive only used one once, and it still had a slow leak. I just had a shop do a patch-plug combo

If you're talking about the plugs with the round like patch on them that go inside the tire ..with the proper amount of sealant on them when installed ...I would consider them a permanent fix

 

[RayIN]

If you're talking about the plugs with the round like patch on them that go inside the tire ..with the proper amount of sealant on them when installed ...I would consider them a permanent fix
View attachment 4833619

That is correctly named a plug-patch and is the only patch approved for large truck tires.
If the steel plies are not sealed against moisture the steel corrodes and weakens the tire to the point of failure. Thus the plug part.

 

[paulsharvey]

If you're talking about the plugs with the round like patch on them that go inside the tire ..with the proper amount of sealant on them when installed ...I would consider them a permanent fix
View attachment 4833619

Yeah, its an internal patch, with a "tail" that extends from in to out, in the hole, and trimed flush. Ive had great luck with them, but I leave those to the shop.

 

[MF243RedTop]

Yes I had one installed yrs ago in a rear tire right before a 600 mile round trip with a TT...
They were fairly new to the market then...
The owner brought it out showed it to me..explained the process..I gave a ok..
Till the day those tires were pulled off I don't ever remember it failing ..

 

[Grumpycat]

We used to do that when I was a boy. Generally worked.
Taking the valve core out was an old time tactic to get more airflow.

I had to go shopping for an air chuck which would flow w/o valve core. None I had would pass sure, required that little pin in the middle to open the chuck.

Watched a guy on youtube "seat" his replacement with a bit of gasoline and a match. Worked, but I would probably rather not do that......LOL

Propane or butane is commonly used. Agree with you that it would be easy to use too much.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Plugs are always a temporary fix until the tire can be properly repaired.

A plug is a fix, not a repair (which involves dismounting the tire), but there's no reason to call it a temporary fix. The good ones easily outlast a tire.

 

[rontaki]

Yes I had one installed yrs ago in a rear tire right before a 600 mile round trip with a TT...
They were fairly new to the market then...
The owner brought it out showed it to me..explained the process..I gave a ok..
Till the day those tires were pulled off I don't ever remember it failing ..

Perhaps a stupid question, the TT you mention likely refers to an Audi TT (what my Corrado wanted to be when it grew up), or the TT refers to a Tibetan Terrier. I had an old rescue, but he had to be put down.Only had him a few years, but I miss him and want another without paying the usual breeder price.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Travel trailer, most likely.

But I did plug a rear on a 911 Turbo S with only a few hundred miles on it. No problem for as long as my girlfriend owned it.

 

[rontaki]

Travel trailer, most likely.

But I did plug a rear on a 911 Turbo S with only a few hundred miles on it. No problem for as long as my girlfriend owned it.

Thanks for the clarification!

 

[MF243RedTop]

Travel trailer, most likely.

Bingo you win a bottle of red 911

 

[WinterDeere]

A plug is a fix, not a repair (which involves dismounting the tire), but there's no reason to call it a temporary fix. The good ones easily outlast a tire.

The funny thing, with all this talk of interior patches and other more difficult methods, is that I've yet to install a simple gummy worm plug, that didn't also outlast the tire.

That said, I won't even try installing in sidewall, which is just asking for a failure. I also won't count on one right at the shoulder of the tread being a long-term fix, they're just not designed for that.

But anywhere in the tread, other than the outermost 0.5 inch, every last one I've ever installed has outlasted the tire. In fact, even the one I did install right at the edge of the tread held just fine. But I'll admit I only kept those tires on the car a week or two past plugging, as they were cooked anyway.

 

[gsganzer]

I carry a plugging kit in my truck and have plugged a ton of trailer tires. That. being said, if I bring a tire to a repair shop, I want a patch (actually a plug/patch). I'm a belt and suspenders type of guy.

 

[paulsharvey]

The funny thing, with all this talk of interior patches and other more difficult methods, is that I've yet to install a simple gummy worm plug, that didn't also outlast the tire.

That said, I won't even try installing in sidewall, which is just asking for a failure. I also won't count on one right at the shoulder of the tread being a long-term fix, they're just not designed for that.

But anywhere in the tread, other than the outermost 0.5 inch, every last one I've ever installed has outlasted the tire. In fact, even the one I did install right at the edge of the tread held just fine. But I'll admit I only kept those tires on the car a week or two past plugging, as they were cooked anyway.

I dont disagree, IF installed right. We have all likely put a plug in, not really able to properly ream the hole, or with less then sticky worms, or dropped the worm in the sand first. I also haven't mastered installing multiple in the same hole.

 

[paulsharvey]

Maybe im the only one, but I probably own 3 plug kits, but can never find all 3 of the reamer, plug tool, and worms, any time I need them. Kinda like, when you need a Phillips, every screwdriver morphs into a flathead, and vice versa.

Last time I plugged a tire, I think i found 2 or 3 reamers and a pack of good, still sticky worms, but not a single plug tool.