What the differeance between patching and plugging a tire?

[JTsyo]

Wife's Escape had a leak. Took it in, they plugged it but it still leaks. I hear that patching a leak is better than plugging it. Anyway there's a new tire coming so that's $130 down the drain, the tire had 38K miles on it, so I guess it's more than half used.

 

[RKS]

I 'think' patching is sealing it from the inside. Plugging they push the plug through and hope it seals the leak. I've never had a tire patched but I had about 3 or 4 tires plugged with 100% success.

 

[SonnyDaze]

Originally posted by: RKS
I 'think' patching is sealing it from the inside. Plugging they push the plug through and hope it seals the leak. I've never had a tire patched but I had about 3 or 4 tires plugged with 100% success.

Yup. I've never patched only plugged. Plugging usually works for me.

 

[RiverDog]

Originally posted by: RKS
I 'think' patching is sealing it from the inside. Plugging they push the plug through and hope it seals the leak. I've never had a tire patched but I had about 3 or 4 tires plugged with 100% success.

You nailed it. I have had numerous tires plugged (you can get a kit for a couple of bucks) and never had a problem either.

 

[funboy6942]

I used to do both, plug and patch, not just on cars but semi tires as well. Patching is the best but costs the most because the tire comes off the rim, then needs to be re-balanced, where if you plug, you can do it sometimes right on the car. On my own cars and anyone I fix a flat for on the road, I cary a jack, $20 compressor, and a plug kit with me at all times, and if done correctly can last the life of the tire. I have yet in ANY of the tires I have done come back because they still leak, but then Im not a pot head tire jockey and take pride in any work I do, and even when done I re-check my work to make sure when my stuff leaves its not leaking at all.

You dont need to buy a new tire and waste the money, but since its already been reamed, Im guessing if they did their job right, you will need to find a shop that patches with a PLUG PATCH, its a patch with a plug end in the middle of the patch. Prolly cost you around 25-40 beans depending on the shop, and will last the life of the tire.

 

[RU482]

always seemed to me that plugging wouldn't work too well in cold weather (the application and setting of a plug) Its basically a threaded stick of tar that you shove in the hole in the tire. If it's too cold, it's hard to imaging the tar bonding with the rubber very well.
thoughts?

 

[LTC8K6]

If it's all wheel drive, check into whether the tires need to be replaced in pairs on each axle...

 

[bruceb]

Plugs do work if done properly. But I prefer to have my tires patched from the inside as I think it is better to do it that way.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: RU482
always seemed to me that plugging wouldn't work too well in cold weather (the application and setting of a plug) Its basically a threaded stick of tar that you shove in the hole in the tire. If it's too cold, it's hard to imaging the tar bonding with the rubber very well.
thoughts?

The plug will bond when you drive. Tires get hot/warmer even when cold. That and you are supposed to use a little rubber cement when installing the plug, but it seems most don't.

 

[mooseracing]

Plugs work fine for everything, including sidewalls, even though it is technically unsafe for the majority of the public because they don't know how to drive. Plugs are not just tar, depending on the cement you use, it also vulcanizes them to the tire.

I can't think of a situation where I would use a patch on a car tire, only dirt bikes or bicycles, something low speed, and not heavy.

Don't forget patch-plugs or plug-patches depending on who you are talking to. The patch is molded with the plug and you insert it from the inside and use vulcanizing glue. I've had one fore about 3 yrs after getting a railroad spike through my tire, hasn't leaked once.

I've also had tires that had about 30 plugs in a sidwall cut never leak either, but every time I saw them I waited for them to come out.