Ugh, I have a screw in my new MSCs. The tires will see some track use. What do you recommend? The tires have 1350 miles. The screw is on the outer third of the tire tread.

 

I have been told you can't legally patch or plug an"R" compound tire. I personally would not run any patched or plugged tire on the track

 

if its going to see track time as f4 said, then toss em..

 

Get a new one. Your life is worth more than $400. I've had a tire blow on me before and it is scary.

 

I've tracked on plugged tires mpsc2 and trofeo R on my gt3 and it's been fine. The tire shop said it would be ok too fwiw.

 

I'd plug it myself because it's thru the tread and not sipe, not big, straight in, and away from the shoulder, but do what your comfortable with.

 

That is good to know about R compounds. I didn't know that.

I would say patch and plug at your reputable tire store since we have 5 lugs and by the time 2000 miles break in is complete get a set of new tires when you track. Tires probably last 5000 street miles anyway.

 

did the screw puncture the tire? wife had one in her BMW tire, took to tire shop to have them remove and no leaks, tire fine....
you always patch with an inside patch with a plug. plug only is a temp solution
for track use, replace. for street patch no problem
while it may be fine, not worth the risk

 

Replace. Saw a students car blow a tire at TH and upon review of tech sheet he admitted it was plugged.

 

Bummer and sorry, but IMO... replace.

 

As you can tell, opinions on this will vary a lot, even if the opinions were limited to those informed by actual experiences.

The screw is in the meat of the tire, which is a good thing, as are all of the points that consolidated called out above. If it were close to the sidewall, it would be a replacement no question. When I first got "screwed" (a few days before a track weekend!), I was convinced that replacement was the only way to go, but people far more knowledgeable than myself told me that running with a plug would be absolutely fine after they took a look. I ran that tire on track in the advanced run groups, and it held up perfectly fine for 6-8 track days, at which point it was time to replace due to general wear. Since then I've also plugged the tires of people who have come into our trackside garage area after picking up a screw on track, and they've never had an issue either -- yes, we informed those people that that wasn't technically the recommended course of action when we made our assessment (Tire Rack's official guidelines specify both a plug and patch), but they wanted their track time and respected our opinion. Of course that doesn't mean it isn't possible to have an issue, and I'm sure it only takes one first-hand or even observed incident to change one's opinion, but that's hardly unique to this situation. People who don't believe in spending money on home security systems or certain types/levels of insurance sometimes change their tune after an event where those items would've helped. Everyone has to strike their own balance between acceptable risk and acceptable cost. You can say that it's dumb to risk your life by tracking a plugged tire, but others might say that it's dumb to risk your life by driving on a track at all (or going skydiving as I've done a few times in the past). Everyone draws their lines at a different location.

 

^^^^ Agreed, well said.

I have run a plugged tire on the track in advanced groups as well. No issues. Not saying that's what you should do though. Do what u r confortable with. If you do run on the track, make sure to check the tire after every session. This should be done anyway but really look at that area and so rounding area of. The tire good.

 

Ya know you would really have to pull that screw out to see how deep it is.
And then make a decision
I know if you do that you could have a flat tire so be prepared to deal with that
Usually Patching from the inside is consider a better repair ..
Regardless
Good luck

 

Definitely pull off the tire and patch from the inside.

 

Its always easier to spend someone elses money than ones own.

That being said I also have run with plugged and patched tire in advance group on the track without an issue.

You said you may see some track use but didn't go any further. What group do you run in on the track? Are you doing AXs? In the end it boils down to your comfort level.