How reliable are tire patches?

[AzNKiD]

Got a huge nail on my rear driver side tire. Took it to a local tire shop and they patched it for $10 bucks. I was wondering how reliable is this process and what are the typical lifespan i should expect from my tires now? i really do not want to get a flat while driving, and was thinking of paying the 100+ to replace it. i watched him did it, he took the tire out from rim, scrapped it with some auto-buffer and then apply what look like a bandage, but with black tar on it. finally, he just rubbed it agianst the tire.

not sure if this helps, i drive FWD and the patched tire is on back. low profile 215/45/17 tires, and the nail was near the outter edge. i am hoping to use my current set for another year. checked the pressure when i got home, and its still same psi so its not leaking.

 

[Greenman]

It will last far longer than the tire. Forget about it.

 

[imported_weadjust]

Very reliable. If you want some peace of mind buy a cheap ten dollar 12 volt air compressor.

 

[effowe]

Well I have been going through hell with my tires, and one of the problems was a nail in a tire. I got it patched, and a few weeks later the same slow leak reappeared. This was with NTB and I've been having issues with them, but I would say it depends on how much / where you drive, and how good of a job they did.

 

[Kreon]

a pro patch job works fine

I thought you'd used something like "fix-a-flat", which doesn't work well at all.

 

[mwmorph]

Hmm never patched a tire before, everyone I know and everyone that's ever taught me plugged tires (strip of rubber) and that's what I do.

 

[PAB]

Plugs are faster and work better in a pinch, a patch is a better but more expensive fix, since it involves removing the wheel, unmounting the tire and rebalancing.

 

[FoBoT]

if it works short term , it'll last as long as the tread

 

[gsellis]

Patches rule. Plugs don't. The risk with a plug is that it will eventually seperate the plies. The result is a blow out. But, that is toward the end of the life of the tire. Of course, I heard this 20+ years ago and it might now belong in the myth thread. But some pro tire folks still tend to agree with it, so patch it when you can.

 

[AzNKiD]

Wow, didnt know it was that reliable. dunno if he is consider "pro", but he did it in about 15-20mins which included taking tires out and back together. i got one of those air compressor that uses car's cig ligther for power. ill keep an eye on the psi for the next couple of weeks and cross my finger thanks for all the feedback.

 

[KK]

I plug my tires, never had a patch done. Never had a ounce of trouble with any plugs I've done.

 

[RossMAN]

We had one of our tires patched a few years ago, still works just fine.

 

[d33pt]

i plug my own tires all the time.. supposed to be a temp fix, but i never bring them in to get patched. never had a problem. we offroad on them too. that's actually where we get the flats.

 

[mercanucaribe]

What's a plug? Do you stick something into the hole?

 

[TheGizmo]

i got a nail in one of my tires a few years ago... about 3 weeks after i put new tires on my car.. i got it patched and i never had a problem with it.. of course i've since replaced all my tires but because of the tread being worn out.. no problems with it leaking or anything like that.

 

[Greenman]

You're not supposed to plug radial tires, though I have no idea why not.

 

[Zolty]

Originally posted by: PAB
Plugs are faster and work better in a pinch, a patch is a better but more expensive fix, since it involves removing the wheel, unmounting the tire and rebalancing.

An insightful helpful PAB post, wow!!!

 

[j00fek]

the person who does it has to do it right

iv had one on for about 18months now

 

[compuwiz1]

Originally posted by: Greenman
You're not supposed to plug radial tires, though I have no idea why not.

It's done all the time, and works just fine. I've plugged many of my own tires. No removal required, just air it up, soap it, look for bubbles, and mark it. Usually, though, once the bubbles come, it's not hard to see why. I then stab my cement laden plug and tool thru the hole, let her set up a bit, then aircan the tire up to spec. Done.
Oh, be sure to take a razor blade and cut the plug down to as close to the tire tread depth as possible.

 

[V00DOO]

Just had my tire patched for $10. I have patched many tires before they never given me any trouble. Try not to go over 120MPH after the patch job and you'll be fine.

 

[MBrown]

Originally posted by: Kreon
a pro patch job works fine

I thought you'd used something like "fix-a-flat", which doesn't work well at all.

Yeah I hate fix a flat. And plus when you buy your tires from places a lot of time you get free rotations and balances and flat repairs etc, but if you put fix a flat in your tires it voids the warranty and all of those free things.

At BJ's we do a pretty secure patch. This is what I do. I take the nail out and drill the hole out. Then I sand the inside of the tire out to get it smooth for a step later on in the process. Then I take a rubber plug that we have and pull it though the whole and cut off the ends as flush as possible. Then I apply "special" cement, yes that is what its actually called, over the area of the plug and the area I sanded over. Then I let if dry a little bit so its just moist. Then I take this but rubber patch thats about 2x3 inches and slap it on. This patch reacts with the special cement. Then I put a little more of this special cement on just to make sure its on there good. I let that dry. Then I slap some of this repair sealant on, its basically liquid rubber. Then I just put the tire on the rim. This process works real well. The only problems I run into is if the nail is lodged in the tire at an angle it is very hard to repair because there is no way for me to tell exactly at what and the nail is in there and I don't know exactly where to drill. At that point I just tell the customers they are better off buying a new tire. :laugh:

 

[MainFramed]

my dad used to own a trucking company, patched tires all the time when i worked in his garage...amazing those little things (on massive semi tires) would always outlast the tire...you should be good

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: Greenman
You're not supposed to plug radial tires, though I have no idea why not.

You not supposed to patch Bias ply tires or a radial in he side wall or near the edges of the tread. Anywhere else is fine.

Reason for not doing a bias ply or sidewall is because it will tear once the material has been punctured, causing a blowout.

Patching is the best, and depending if it done right, only way to repair a tire correctly. Still cannot patch a side wall though. Will outlast the tire if done right. However I keep a plug kit, cheap $20 floor jack, and compressor in my car and just plug mine. If the plug should ever leak again I just push the plug into the tire and re-plug. I never buy new tires, always used, so I keep my cost down as low as I can just replugging, or get another $15 used tire.