Tire Question - Patch/Plug?

[SoCalSteve]

Curious is this can be patched/plugged? Not sure if it penetrated the tire. No loss of air pressure and found it while inspecting my tires. It’s the rear outside tire and whatever it is it’s plastic.

Thanks

 

[ClarkeNorman]

Certainly can be plugged! If it's not leaking you might want to pull it out with a pair of pliers. I'd plug it to ensure it won't be a problem in the future.

 

[Grumpy]

Anything in the tread area can usually be plugged. Personally I would use a patch plug combo.

 

[TowPro]

I would first try soapy water to look for bubbles. Pull it out and look for bubbles. How long is it? If its not leaking i would not make a real hole to put a plug in.

 

[Kevin Cooper]

You should sit outside a tire shop and pull it out. If it’s not leaking, you’re done. If it is, they can fix it. Patch not plug. Plug only when emergency. Just an opinion.

 

[mini4mw]

Ditto for towpro comment, as long as you have a patch kit/tire inflator in the unit and can do it yourself on the side of the road. If you don't feel comfortable doing it on the side of the road (monitoring pressure with an in-cab unit), take it somewhere and patch/plug.

I've done a number of plugs. For anything small and round, it works every time. Replace tires due to tread before plug was an issue.

 

[SoCalSteve]

Thanks for all the replies. Will take it to a tire shop before messing around with it.

 

[norty1]

Agree with others, if it's not leaking have the tire broken down down and put a patch on the inside at the tread penetration.

 

[Russc25]

Plugs are OK for emergency repairs but very few people can make them last. I fixed a LOT when I worked in the shop years ago. I had one blow out that a PO put in a borrowed car 3 hours from anywhere on a Sunday night... that was fun. If they work for you... good for you. Industry standard and best reliability is always a patch.

 

[norty1]

We have discussed this a number of times. Tire shops in my area are very reluctant to do a regular plug and only if its plugged, then patched.
Personally I would not put my rig or my families life in a position of being dependent on a trailer plug except to get to a tire center that could replace it.

 

[Ausves]

Thanks for all the replies. Will take it to a tire shop before messing around with it.

I agree - mess around with it after they've messed around with it...

 

[CayennePepper]

Hopefully this is not too late since you posted yesterday. I disagree with the replies saying "fix the leak" when you say it's not leaking. If it's outer of a dual setup, that reduces your chance of problematic failure. Test it with soap solution when inflated to max allowable pressure printed on sidewall. That'll be higher than service pressure. Apply with a small clean acid brush. Leave undisturbed for an hour in the shade (so soap solution doesn't evaporate) with the problem exactly at the top, ie. 12:00. If no bubbles I wouldn't try to fix anything, I'd just keep an eye on it and test pressures frequently until you gain confidence it's not going to lose air. If you really want to be thorough about it, break the bead and carefully inspect the inside of the tire in that area with a flashlight. If no penetration, you're done, reseat the bead and breath easy. You could pull out the piece of plastic (as you describe it) so as the tread wears down, the pressure of the road won't push the plastic deeper into the tire. Then retest with soap solution same way as above. If by some strange chance it now leaks, then patch it. If it's penetrated, definitely pull it out and apply a patch. To achieve success with a patch, there are several key steps you must follow religiously. This may be overkill but it's always worked for me. First of all, you're lucky it's in the tread. Never try to patch damage beyond the tread area going up the sidewall, it flexes too much and patch isn't likely to hold. Next, roughen the patch area with the metal tool of patch kit or sandpaper 100 grit or coarser. Spend plenty of time doing this carefully. You're getting down to virgin unoxidized rubber. Blow dust away with compressed air. Next, wipe with a little acetone, lacquer thinner or MEK several times with new areas of the clean rag or paper towel. Let dry. Blow once again with clean dry compressed air. Apply rubber cement, let dry and peel and apply the patch. Press thoroughly paying attention to the center where the penetration was and work outwards getting all edges. I'd never bother to do as some said and use both plug and patch. I don't like enlarging the hole with the plug rat tail rasp tool. As one poster said, plugs have a reputation of not working all that well. Was in the tire business starting 1972 for many years and never had a patch fail done this way.

 

[Happy wife / happy life]

I carry this and a 12 volt compressor strictly for that “ oh crap “ situation. Do I trust a plugged tire? Nope, but it will get you to a tire shop so you can get it patched.

 

[Tireman9]

Curious is this can be patched/plugged? Not sure if it penetrated the tire. No loss of air pressure and found it while inspecting my tires. It’s the rear outside tire and whatever it is it’s plastic.

Thanks

Plugs should be used as temporary repair. Does the thing go as deep as the steel belt? If so you need the tire to be "Patched and Plugged" Patch to keep air in and Plug to protect the steel belts.