Patch or plug? Front tire has nail in it.

[01 RT SNAKE]

Would a patch be better or will a plug do? It's my front passenger tire.

Mike

 

[Andrew/USPWR]

I always just plug them.

A friend of mine but a plug in side wall on his SRT/10 and then took it to a raod course event

Smart or Dumb

 

[Shelby3]

Patch it until you can buy a new tire. The speed rating is shot. Plugs are outright dangerous.

 

[plumcrazy]

patch when ya can but i never worry about plugs. but then again i never plugged a viper tire either..

 

[kcobean]

Ever heard of a patch-plug? Looks like a mushroom and they push the stem through from the inside. Pretty sturdy.

 

[Ron]

Had 2 "patch plugs" in my rear tires for almost 18K miles. Removed the tires a few months ago and they looked as installed. The best thing short of a new tire and the only one I'd trust on a Viper as they are "speed" rated.

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[01 RT SNAKE]

Who will do a "patch plug"? Does Discount Tire do them or do I need to go somewhere else? I guess I'll start calling around tomorrow.

Mike

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

I have had a patch plug in one of my tires for over a year, no problems

 

[AJT]

I had a hard time finding a patch without a plug. Discount tire has them.

 

[PatentLaw]

Please...play it safe. Your life is more important. Seen some crazy stuff out there with plugs and patches. Others may chime in here. Downright scary stuff. Patches/plugs letting go and you lose control.

 

[SidewinderGTS]

I have a plug front and rear,been on 8 road courses,speed of 130 mph,no problem.

 

[Shelby3]

100% of plugs and patches work perfectly until they fail and you die in a flaming crash.

 

[AJT]

A tire that is to be pluged must have the "file" ramed thru the hole to make sure the plug will go thru. I was told this will tear the belts within the tire & can cause failure at high speeds or heavy cornering.
I have a Pilot sport cup with only 700 miles on it that I got a nail in & had to buy a new one before the last VOI.

 

[splochocki]

Play it safe and buy a new tire. Why risk a plug or patch letting lose. Not a lot of money campared to what could happen if by chance it did let go.

 

[ViperJames]

NEW TIRE! Here's why....You will always worry in the back of your head that something "might" happen. Is it worth that lack of piece of mind? I don't think so.

 

[Ron]

I completely understand the concern, as I have the same.... But if you're so concerned, why not install a tire pressure monitoring system? $250 or so and will immediately alert you if any tire is over / under pressure or overheating.

More likely something will puncture your tire without your knowledge and that will deflate and overheat the tire at speed than a properly installed, speed rated, nail hole repair will fail, IMO.

I've had a SmarTire system installed 5 years ago and love it.

 

[Bo knows]

Used to race a stock car and I put many miles on tires that had internally bonded patches on them with no problems. You don't ream out the hole it just gets patched over. If the patch were to come off (which I've never seen happen) the tire would not explode or disintegrate as some seem to think, it would just slowly start to loose air from the initial puncture. You cannot patch a hole that is close to or in the sidewall and you can't repair a tear, only a small hole that a nail or screw would make. I've had 2 patched tires on my Viper for years with no problems. I don't think I would use a plug or a patch plug.

Bo knows

 

[Camfab]

Tire manufacturers claim repairs void speed rating. Enough said.

 

[Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder]

Buy new tires!

Found a screw(center of tread) in my rear tire. Tires had about a thousand miles. I replaced both rear tires.

Like a chip in a windshield, the hole in you tire is the weak link. How lucky do you feel? Is the risk of tire failure and resulting injury, death, damaged car worth saving a few hundred dollars. Comes down to how much value you put on your life and how much you like your car.

If the tires are original they are due for a change.

The plug/patch web site says "speed rated" but at what speed?

 

[kcobean]

The plug/patch web site says "speed rated" but at what speed?

I doubt you could spin a tire fast enough to get a patch-plug to come out or "let go". The real question is what happens to the integrity of the tire construction at speed. I think unless you compromise a belt, you're fine.

 

[Ron]

In a perfect world (and bank account) I'd replace any tire rather than repair, and to Fred's point depending on how new it was, I might have to replace both. Then if the tire is no longer manufactured, I'd need to replace all 4.... an expensive little nail.

Since I don't run at >150 mph daily, (actually only once since I've owned my Viper) and since it's a choice between one of my 3 kids college fund or another set of new tires, I choose to repair, and the repair I chose was the best money could buy.

"Depending on your use", I see no reason not to repair a tire that has damage the manufacturer says can be safely repaired.... particularly if you'll never be near the ultimate "Z" speed rating.

 

[Andrew/USPWR]

In a perfect world (and bank account) I'd replace any tire rather than repair, and to Fred's point depending on how new it was, I might have to replace both. Then if the tire is no longer manufactured, I'd need to replace all 4.... an expensive little nail.

Since I don't run at >150 mph daily, (actually only once since I've owned my Viper) and since it's a choice between one of my 3 kids college fund or another set of new tires, I choose to repair, and the repair I chose was the best money could buy.

"Depending on your use", I see no reason not to repair a tire that has damage the manufacturer says can be safely repaired.... particularly if you'll never be near the ultimate "Z" speed rating.

Ditto, It's too much money, and too much of a hassle to buy a new tire every time you catch a nail. The Z rating is for extended travel over 150mph, which I don't do.

Besides, it more thrilling whipping around turn 17 at Sebring with a front tire full of plugs.

 

[KWIK96]

I had one of my rears done and when I showed concern I was told it was mended better than new. I have never had any problems

 

[Fast Viper Dan]

Patch, OK for street use. 65 MPH.
If you see any steel cable in the hole replace the tire for sure. If the steel cord is damaged the tire will stretch out of round at speed and it might separate or explode
Never mind, buy new tires! just in case you need to go, say 70 MPH.