Pepboys vs self tire plug

[thescreensavers]

I got a small hole in one of my tires. What does a place like pepboys do vs me just buying a tire plug for like 5 bucks. I nEed to find the hole thought

I typed this on my blackberry

 

[Vette73]

Well a lot of places will also just use a plug. If you pay more or its a larger hole then they will take the tire off the rim and put a patch on it.


I just plug mine and never had any issue.

 

[JDub02]

pepboys or similar will remove the tire from the rim and will patch/plug it from the inside. it's a better fix than just a plug from the outside.

with that said, no one wanted to touch my tires on my mazda when i had a flat because of the speed rating, so i bought a plug kit and fixed it myself. it's been holding just fine for over 6 months now.

 

[overst33r]

If it's anywhere close to the sidewall I'd patch it. $20-$30. If it's on the tread, use a plug and DIY.

 

[alkemyst]

patching/plugging is fine for most.

If you are taking your car up to and beyond 120mph or so, I'd personally recommend a new tire.

 

[thescreensavers]

If I screw up on the plug they can still patch it right?

 

[thescreensavers]

Gerr can't edit my post. But my friend has done it before and is going toshow/do it for me but I am just wondering

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: thescreensavers
Gerr can't edit my post. But my friend has done it before and is going toshow/do it for me but I am just wondering

It's difficult to screw up. The plugs available today require no glue. There is a rasp to make the hole the right size and rough it up and an installation tool to put in the plug. Just follow the directions on the back.

I just plugged a tire of my wife's car about two weeks ago. She had run over a bolt that left an enormous hole in the tire (relatively speaking). The rasp practically fell in the hole. The single plug I put in is holding fine.

Make sure you trim off what remains of the plug. They can pull out if your leave them hanging out and expect them to wear away.

As I'm sure others have here, I've been plugging tire for years and years. Only had one during that time I couldn't get to seal.

Edit: After plugging them, I spray Windex on the area. It will show a leak right away.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: boomerang

Originally posted by: thescreensavers
Gerr can't edit my post. But my friend has done it before and is going toshow/do it for me but I am just wondering

It's difficult to screw up. The plugs available today require no glue. There is a rasp to make the hole the right size and rough it up and an installation tool to put in the plug. Just follow the directions on the back.

I just plugged a tire of my wife's car about two weeks ago. She had run over a bolt that left an enormous hole in the tire (relatively speaking). The rasp practically fell in the hole. The single plug I put in is holding fine.

Make sure you trim off what remains of the plug. They can pull out if your leave them hanging out and expect them to wear away.

As I'm sure others have here, I've been plugging tire for years and years. Only had one during that time I couldn't get to seal.

Edit: After plugging them, I spray Windex on the area. It will show a leak right away.

are you talking patches or plugs, usually a plug never needs glue nor 'rasping'.

You pull the nail and stick the plug in.

If you used a plug for a 'bolt' sized how (I am assuming like 3/16 - 1/4") that's pretty damn dangerous.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: thescreensavers
If I screw up on the plug they can still patch it right?

yes and no...it's possible to ruin a tire but rare.

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: boomerang

Originally posted by: thescreensavers
Gerr can't edit my post. But my friend has done it before and is going toshow/do it for me but I am just wondering

It's difficult to screw up. The plugs available today require no glue. There is a rasp to make the hole the right size and rough it up and an installation tool to put in the plug. Just follow the directions on the back.

I just plugged a tire of my wife's car about two weeks ago. She had run over a bolt that left an enormous hole in the tire (relatively speaking). The rasp practically fell in the hole. The single plug I put in is holding fine.

Make sure you trim off what remains of the plug. They can pull out if your leave them hanging out and expect them to wear away.

As I'm sure others have here, I've been plugging tire for years and years. Only had one during that time I couldn't get to seal.

Edit: After plugging them, I spray Windex on the area. It will show a leak right away.

are you talking patches or plugs, usually a plug never needs glue nor 'rasping'.

You pull the nail and stick the plug in.

If you used a plug for a 'bolt' sized how (I am assuming like 3/16 - 1/4") that's pretty damn dangerous.

The old kit I had came with a rasp, insertion tool, cement (glue) and plugs. It was inexpensive and eventually the shaft bent on the insertion tool and I bought a replacement kit. That one came without cement but was otherwise identical.

The offending fastener in the tire was 6 mm in diameter and 25 mm long. The plug sealed it and it's holding air just fine. She's not throwing the car into corners, smoking the tires and driving 120 on the freeway. She drives it like a typical middle-aged woman. It's also on the rear of a FWD car. I'm not concerned a bit.

She knew she had a leak because the tire pressure monitor alerted her. Short of a blow-out, she'll be alerted if it should start to leak again and we'll deal with it at that time.

 

[thescreensavers]

Oddly the tire is not leaking air any more I am thinking it might of been the valve. Its holding the same pressure since I got to school. I had to put some air in before I left though.

 

[T2urtle]

plug it up, hard to screw it up and if you do just pull it out and get another.

One of the problems with the screwdriver type handles is it sucks. get the T handle for better grip and more force. I opted to get a metal kit which works easier for me.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: boomerang
Short of a blow-out,

very key phrase there.

If you indeed measured the hole at 6mm that is something that at least should be patched.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Back when I was a kid, my old Jeep tire (33x12.50) somehow got a freaking Chevy STARTER BOLT stuck in it. If you've seen one, you know how big they are. Don't know how it got stuck in there, but anyway, I took it to a tire store and they plugged it. Took several plugs.

I put another 30k on that tire. No problems at all.

I'd never do it now, but you do lots of dumb stuff when you're a kid.

Bought a used pair of drag slicks for my race truck years ago. (16x33's). Had one of the guys in the shop slap them on for me, since I was working up front by then. Ran them half the summer.

Noticed when I took them off that there was evidently a plug in the middle of the tread. Never gave me a problem, even with lots of burnouts and hard launches.

That's another thing I'd never do again. In fact, I'd never bought them if I knew they had a plug. But they worked, no problems.