99firehawk

I wont plug/patch/repair customers tires (porsceh also doesnt "allow" us to) BUT i would never drive a reapired tire further then a place to buy a new undamaged one
just my opinion but my life and my friends and familys lifes are worth more then a tire

DCP

You might have a look at this:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires-techpage-1/77.shtml

I had a puncture repaired with the combination plug and patch method. i believe that most tire shops repair this way now. Even Wal Mart did on a tire for my daughter.

My opinion (based on nothing but my thinking about it) is that a properly repaired tire with a plug and patch should be fine for anything other than track use, but only if you are sure that you caught the puncture in time to know that you didn't spend any time driving the car with that tire being at low pressure. Low pressure can damage the tire from the extra heat generated.

BruceP

You seem pretty confident about the speed rating being retained if the tire is patched. Can I ask why? If your information is rock solid, you might save me a bunch of money someday.

1999Porsche911

As a driver with more than 1.5 million miles under his belt, I have NEVER had a problem with a plugged and patched tire, some of which have lasted 30,000+ miles. If properly done, the repair is as stong as the rest of the tire, in all situatons, including track.

AOW162435

I agree with repairing the tire with a proper plug. I've done this dozens of times over the last 20 years without one issue. The plugs have always outlasted the tires. These days, I use a kit from North Shore Labs - Safety Seal . The tools are first rate and the plugs are easier to set than the traditional cheap-o sets found in automotive parts stores.

I just pulled another nail from the front passenger tire on my 993 last week. Cleaned the hole, set the plug and refilled the tire. Perfectly fine for normal driving. That same tire already had a plug from last year

Andreas

LVDell

You had me up until the track part. I have absolutely NO desire having a "patched" tire when tires take the abuse they do over the course of a track weekend. Not even close to "real world" daily driver conditions. Anthing less than perfect--especially the one thing holding me to the track--will not do.

BruceP

Cool, but, again, how? I understand why a plugged tire loses its speed rating. I've installed plugs. All they do is keep the air in. How is a patch different?

(PS I've got about the same number of miles on me, too. Never thought about it until I read your post. Now I feel old... thanks.... )

1999Porsche911

Most damage from a nail (short of the size of a railroad spike) does not leave a measurable hole in the rubber when it is removed. Using the correct sized plug alone makes most of these repairs perminant and worse case senerio is that the tire may leak air very slowly over time but will never rupture or blowwout in that area, especially with radial tires. In most cases, this does not happen. Patching the tire from the inside is also, by itself, a permanent, leak free repair for the remaining life of the tread. Combining the 2 is just insurance.

Most shops insert the plug dry (just lubricant), while the better shops will coat the plug with the same glue used on an internal patch. This again is not necessary but gives piece of mind to some. Be cautious of shops that use too small of a plug. They need to use a large reamer with large plug. The smaller plug is gennerally fine, but a larger one is even better.

My 996 is sitting the garage with 12,000 miles on my Bridgestones that got a nail in the right rear tire the day after I put new tires on. Since I was travelling, I put in about 1/4 can of fix-a-flat (which chemically bonds the rubber) and have not leaked since. I often use fix-a-flat first rather than run out to plug and patch. These tires have withstood 140 mph+ and 18 hours of non stop driving as well as the pothole and frost heaves readily locatable here in Chicagoland. . Use only a 1/4 of the fix-a-flat and drive immediately for about 10 minutes and you have absolutely no balance problems. I only recall a few times it did not stop the flat permanently.

Remember, that tread rubber is not grainy or directional in construction as the sidewalls sometime are, so a hole would almost be impossible to ever get larger even if untreated.


As far as speed rating. I guess if I needed to cover my *** and I sold tires, I would also recommend replacement of the tire. Just my experience.

washington dc porsche

I just found out I have a nail in my SUV tire so I just ordered two new tires. I drive too fast to be messing around with plugs. Get a patch instead if you don't want to purchase a new tire.

99firehawk

MY worry with repairing a tire is if the object damaged the belts and later down the road at hogh way speeds the belt let go.

see http://www.hogantire.com/images/tcTireConstruction.gif

for me saving 400$ for a tire isnt worth it, but thats only my opinon

Mr. C4

For street driving, get what I call a "mushroom plugpatch". These things are fitted from the inside, leaving the "head" on the inside of the tire while the plug is pulled through the hole. With this method the tire will not leak and the plug can not escape.

Ciao,

J.

BlackCab996

I probably plugged over 1,000 tires during high school while working in a garage. We never received one complaint from a customer. I have also plugged many of my own tires due to nails. That said, patching is better, and only plug if the nail is in or near the middle of the tread. Sidewalls obviously can't be fixed at all, and I would not repair anything that is on the outer part of the tread. But, as many people have said, if you are going "normal" highway speeds, or even speeding a bit, but nothing excessive, you should be fine. If you are going to DE events or a track, both of which obviously put much more stress on your tires, throw the current ones away and get new rubber.

cdodkin

You think I can get a plug or patch for this?



Only kidding!

I've plugged tires with no issues, as long as the nail/screw was in the main field of the tread.

Be warned that your stealership is probably one of the more expensive places to buy new tires.... go figure!

The shredded Kuhmo was the rear off of my 986 after it completely failed due to inside shoulder wear.

Even with this level of failure, my wife drove 15 miles home at freeway speeds without loosing control or damaging the rim.

Absolutely no idea how she managed that!

Chris.

MTB

I have my rear michelin Sport CUP plugged and went for 4 track days and 2 Auto X.
Fortunately, the nail was 3 inches from the center, not too close to the side wall.
I see no problem for plug or patch, just ensure you check you tire pressure regularly.

BruceP

All interesting, but all anecdotal, I gotta say. If I get a puncture that's deep enough to compromise a belt, I think I'll still replace the tire. I drive too fast too often to leave it to chance.