Tire Patching

ramtagless · Feb 13, 2010

Hey Guys -

What is the rule of thumb on patching a tire 'near' the sidewall? I have a nail on the edge of the tread...definitely borderline on if it can be patched or not. I have heard 1/2 inch and it is right at 1/2 inch from the edge.

Tire has some life left in it and I don't want to buy a new one if I don't have to but, it is also my wifes car.

Thanks for the advice...

Snuffy · Feb 13, 2010

Tire shop's probably will not fix it for liability reason's, I have had sidewall punctures on almost new tires and plugged them myself. Very easy to do and cost about $5.00 for a kit you can use several times. Never had a problem with a plug kit.
Rick

ramtagless · Feb 13, 2010

Yeah. I can take it to discount tire but, I am sure they are going to tell me...no patchy...you buy new tire.

I have a plug kit and could do that myself. Just a little leary since its so close to the edge.

257Tony · Feb 13, 2010

Plugs are outdated tech, and were originally designed for bias play tires. Have it patched correctly, if Discount won;t do it then take it somewhere else. IMO, if a shop even uses plugs, I go elsewhere...

1911 · Feb 13, 2010

Ditto what 257 said. I'd for damn sure not be plugging the sidewall of a tire my wife drives around on. I guess it all depends on how much life insurance you have on her though.

Snuffy · Feb 13, 2010

Why? Working on a ranch I have plugged many tires that are used on dirt and hiway and never had a problem, slow leak or otherwise?

ramtagless · Feb 13, 2010

She doesn't have much life insurance and I probably couldn't find a better wife to replace her at this point in my life. Plus she will draw a turkey tag this spring.

Its in the tread (not the side wall)...just very close to the edge. Hopefully they will patch it. I was looking for some info prior to going in.

I would be cool with them patching it, putting that tire in the back and I will drive that vehicle for a while and monitor the tire pressure. If its not leaking air that means the patch is holding and I am all good, right? Or could I still have some catastrophic blow up even if the air pressure is holding?

D13er · Feb 13, 2010

I'd put bubble gum on it, underinflate it, put it on the left front......and don't let the kids ride with her.......

great post/pic, thanks for sharing

JB

overton · Feb 13, 2010

LAST EDITED ON Feb-13-10 AT 09:47PM (MST)[p]>I'd put bubble gum on it,
>underinflate it, put it on
>the left front......and don't let
>the kids ride with her.......
>
>
>
>
>great post/pic, thanks for sharing
>
>JB
>

What about upping the life insurance?

ramtagless · Feb 13, 2010

That is a good thought. I should also check with CDOW and see if turkey tags are transferable. Plus being on the market again will help me in the MM BL contest.

nickman · Feb 13, 2010

Hmmm....I have at LEAST 8 plugs in the sidewalls on the 4 tires on my Ram. I've plugged punctures that took 4 plugs to seal.

Probably 8 more in the tread area, but I have those patched when my tires are rotated.

I don't know anyone around here that dosen't have a plug kit in the toolbox. We have been using them for years and don't see any reason to stop now.

I seldom travel at speeds beyond 60 mph, however.

Without that kit, I would have to buy into a tire franchise.

Any minor hole in the tread should be no problem for a tire shop.

rugarm77 · Feb 13, 2010

STOP, don't do anything with the car or the tire. After reading the above posts I decided its time to get my wife a new car. How much do you want for it?

OutdoorWriter · Feb 14, 2010

A mere nail hole will not create a safetly problem. The worst that will happen is a slow leak. Even if the patch comes completely off, which isn't likely, there wouldn't be any sudden deflation such as might occur with a sliced sidewall, etc. If a patch can be applied where it adheres flat without any curling, etc., it will be fine.

TONY MANDILE

How To Hunt Coues Deer

elkantlers · Feb 14, 2010

I carry a plug kit in my truck at all times. It is usually aloy easier to plug the tire and reinflate it that ist is to put on the spare. I have never had an issue with a plugged tire an dthey usually hold for the life of the tire.

stinky · Feb 14, 2010

If it is in the tread, then it will patch.

John 14:6

justr_86 · Feb 15, 2010

LAST EDITED ON Feb-15-10 AT 09:40AM (MST)[p]If its in the tread it will be just fine. There is nothing wrong with plugs.

A lot of places are going to plug patches. They are a pain to put in but come with a better seal.

Where you run into problems fixing holes in tires is when you try to fix a hole that is out of the cords (the metal mesh under the tread) and the rubber tears if your lucky or it blows up. Some tires have cords in the sidewall but not enough to keep them together. Not to mention all the added movement and stress the sidewall takes.

NO GUTS, NO STORY!!

ramtagless · Feb 15, 2010

Turkey tags are non-transferable, bubble gum would not hold and if I up the life insurance I can't collect for 6 months.

Discount would not patch it. Like justr said they felt it was too close to the sidewall and outside of the cords.

Justr and the rest...whatcha think?...find someone that will patch it or error on the side of caution and replace it? Thanks...

Roy · Feb 15, 2010

Time for a new tire my friend. That is a nice $80 lag screw and washer!

UTROY
Proverbs 21:19 (why I hunt!)

sageadvice · Feb 15, 2010

I'd take it to a trusted tire shop and see what the experts say!

Joey

justr_86 · Feb 15, 2010

I personally would buy a new tire. You might be able to get someone to fix it and it might hold until the tire wears out. I wouldn't suggest trying to fix it.

When I worked at big o I had a guy come in with a flat very similar to yours. I told him I couldn't fix it and he flipped out called my boss down and long story short my boss said we would fix it but we wouldn't be held liable. I pulled it apart put a patch on and was putting air in it and when the bead set it blew. Ripped the sidewall apart and sent me to the er. What if it would have held until he got to the freeway? He probably would have killed his family and or someone else. Tires are not the place to be cheap on your vehicle.

NO GUTS, NO STORY!!

ramtagless · Feb 15, 2010

Alright - new tire it is. I knew I could find some expert advice from an unbiased third party here on MM. At least I know I wasn't given inaccurate advice just to sell me a tire I did not need.

I was cool with the guys at discount, was just looking for a second opinion. Full size spare is on it now so no big hurry - not leaving town anytime soon.

Personally I was under the impression the chords ran up around the shoulder more. But - not worth taking a chance. Why is it when you have a foreign object in a tire - its always in the shoulder or side wall and the tire is never completely shot?

Thanks guys...

Ropinfool · Feb 15, 2010

patch it and use it as the spare.

sageadvice · Feb 15, 2010

" Why is it when you have a foreign object in a tire - its always in the shoulder or side wall and the tire is never completely shot?"

Murphy's law!!

Joey

ramtagless · Feb 15, 2010

My spare is pretty worn out. Last time I bought 4 new of the same kind as before and used the best of the previous set as a spare...but, the best was not all that great.

I will just buy a new one and put it on the front right...the way my wife treat tires it will catch up with the other three fairly quickly.

I better follow her around...she must have a construction working boyfriend or something...

BuckSnort · Feb 15, 2010

I don't see a problem... Just tighten the screw until it stops leaking..

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justr_86 · Feb 15, 2010

A good tire salesman would have sold you 2 new tires so the tires on that axle have the same amount of tread to keep it from pulling to either side. And using the good tire to replace your wornout spare. With a warrantee to keep this kind of thing from happening again!

NO GUTS, NO STORY!!

nickman · Feb 15, 2010

LAST EDITED ON Feb-15-10 AT 04:49PM (MST)[p]Bunch of sissys'!!!!!!!!!!

justr_86 · Feb 15, 2010

When I went to the er I had a broken hand, chipped tooth from my hand hitting me in the face with part of my tooth in the back of my hand. 15 stitches in my hand, 22 in my leg. And 5 stitches in my lip. Coulda been anot worse if I didn't have the tire clamped down.

You can call me a sissy but I would rather not do that again!

NO GUTS, NO STORY!!

1911 · Feb 15, 2010

Man... makes me wonder what other rubber some of you guys are patching with bicycle tire patch kits.

D13er · Feb 15, 2010

jeezus ramtagless....your original post said "nail"......that ain't a fricken nail.....

great post/pic, thanks for sharing

JB

NVBighorn · Feb 15, 2010

>jeezus ramtagless....your original post said "nail"......that
>ain't a fricken nail.....
>
>

No kidding. Hell, just put some silicone a washer and a nut on the inside and you're good to go.

ramtagless · Feb 15, 2010

Nail, lag bolts, carriage bolts, re-rod, t-post...all foreign objects that suck when they are in your tire. No diff.

It actually is a very slow leak, some silicone might do the trick.

I have two vehicles...my truck with 203,000 and wife's jeep gj with 110,000. They only thing that sucks worse than keeping them going down the road is replacing them.