Zaxx

On the way home from day 1 of the DE this afternoon, I heard a sound I really hoped was a rock stuck in the tread. Turns out it was a screw in my passenger's side rear tire. I removed the screw and plugged the tire from the outside, but with day 2 starting in 12 hours there's no time for me to get it patched or changed. I don't have a spare set of wheels, so I am wondering if it is crazy to track a car with a plugged tire. I'm ready to skip day 2 if it's unsafe, but obviously a day at the track is better than pretty much anything else. Any thoughts?

Kevin

amso3

I've plugged a rear 997 GT 3 street car and it ran fine at Sebring, nothing tougher than that. Keep an eye on pressure to be sure it is not leaking.

Frank 993 C4S

I would not track a car with a plugged tire.

J Smith

I was at VIR last weekend with BMW CCA and found a screw in one of my fairly fresh R6's after the first session on track on Friday. I pulled out the screw, plugged it myself with a kit from an auto parts store, and raced the rest of the weekend on that set of tires with no issues. Not the first time I've done it, and it probably won't be the last.

Astroman

Josh, thank you for finally putting this recurring question to rest (hopefully).

I've never heard of a sudden complete failure of a plug/patch on the road or track... Has anybody?

Frank 993 C4S

One of my wife's plugged tires disintegrated a couple of years ago on a regular road. It was a botched plug job. Never again for me.

stownsen914

Personally ... patch - maybe. Plug - no. A plug might work, as noted by some posters above, but the increased risk of a blowout and the potential consequences just wouldn't be worth it to me.

Beantown Kman

I've pulled countless screws and nails from my tires over the years and plugged them myself. I've never had a plug fail in any way. I've never tracked a tire with a plug. But I don't see how or why a plug would fail on the track.

Julian Allen

I've plugged lots of tires with a http://www.safetyseal.com/ kit. Very sticky plugs, heavy duty insertion tools. When the puncture is in the middle of the tread, I've done practice laps with those tires without incident.
When the tire is removed later, the plug has spread to a 50 cent piece size disk and sealed completely to the tire.

Mussl Kar

^^^ Safetyseal or go home. I have plugged A6s that got holed by a police stop strip needle and autocrossed the tire until it corded. Tire goes from ambient temp to so hot you cannot put your hand on it. Track day plugs too. If it bothers you get a tire dealer inside patch when you are done with the weekend.
I plug my DD tires too, trailer tires, F350 tires.
Stay away from cheap autostore plug kits with cheesy plastic handles. I takes some real beef to push a plug between steel belts. You don't want a plastic handle exploding on you and messing up your blood supply.

85Gold

^^^ This I have used Safety Seal for over 25 years in heavy equipment, truck and car tires. Never had a failure and carry the tools and strips with me all the time.

Peter

996FLT6

Depends where the nail is in the tire. If close to outer edges I probably wouldn't. If at center probably would. Also depends how much tread is left- if 3/4 thread- I would track it. Inner patching is the better option but if hole is close to outside edge inner patch mite lift off. Had that happen. Mike

jbossolo

I personally wouldn't do it. It'd be on the back of my mind all the time.

jrgordonsenior

I recently placed a interior patch over a small nail hole in the middle of a Yoko slick and raced on it for 11 laps until the motor blew. Wait, could they be related?....

pontifex4

I'm curious to know how your Hoosier ended up coming in contact with a police stop strip...