Pulled into my driveway and flat tire warning came on...l get out and hear a loud hissssssss.
Bridgestone RE050 has about 2000 miles on it. Bolt is in the inside shoulder of the rear wheel, can it be plugged or should I go straight for the replacement?

 

I would take it to a tire shop and see if it can be patched rather than plugged

 

Totally agree. Patches are a lot better than a plug.

 

I’d plug that sucker in a heartbeat. Diff’rent strokes... .

 

Depends. If you drive car at 80+, I’d replace it. True plugs/patches are good quality if in the tread but cost of new tire is far less than any issue. Will admit I’m **** due to long time biker. When you measure the actual amount of tread between you and the road, you want perfection. I run from airport on toll road at triple digits. Not willing to risk anything from my tires and their contact. Also **** about perfect tire pressure. Sleep good and replace it.

 

had one just like that years ago. Big O tires plugged it, AND patched it from the inside. ran perfect for the remaining 7k miles of tread life with no problems.

 

Where did you buy the tire? It might have come with a road hazard warranty without you even knowing it.

 

Tracking the car? Replace it. Street use only? Repair it. But it's pretty close to the shoulder, you might get push back from the larger chain tire shops on repairing it. Go to one of the smaller places. And if you are worried about the car at a smaller place, remove the wheel and bring just that to the shop.

I like Pete's idea about road warranty too. Tire Rack includes the hazard insurance automatically. Check your paperwork.

 

I wouldn't do any high speed (over 100) with repaired tires in the rear and would almost always replace front tires than have been punctured. Others feel differently and you can resale low mileage repaired tires for about 40-50% on Craigslist.

On divided highways with barriers the worst place for debris is that space to the left of the car between the lane and the barrier. Debris of all types accumulates there while the right side of the road is sloped and more debris is washed off. I drifted in to the left safety lane for about 300 meters in a rental car once and immediately had two flats on the driver side - and thankfully an exit into a Discount tire before they both were totally flat. Never again.

 

The tires were new from the dealer from when I purchased last year.

Took the tire to Les Schwab repaired it. Bolt might be longer than the sidewall is tall! But they repaired it. That's a long bolt!

 

Amazing what our tires pick up. My son in law just got a flat from a tire weight (on the road) that pierced the tire - went end in first. Guess the right angle and speed has a lot to do with it!

 

That long bolt defies logic. To puncture the tire it would have to pointing in a direction that would allow it to penetrate the tread. Not an easy task for a blunt object. Even more so because it didn't enter one of the channels but the thicker part of the tire.

It could have been hit by your front and by sheer chance was pointing in the right angle and wedged against something to hold it in place long enough to make the puncture. Just nuts.

I think your bolt could make this list - https://www.hotcars.com/strange-things-found-in-tires/

 

The front flicks and the back picks.

My wife once picked up a nut driver in the rear tire of her van (many years ago now). Whether the handle was attached during impact or not is unknown but all that was left upon inspection was the metal shaft. It acted like a straw, immediately releasing all air pressure.