Tyre puncture repair.

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  derweep on 12/09/2016 - 15:06

  Yeah, pretty standard, had the same thing done for $20 way back. They usually check, if the puncture is against the sidewall of the tyre then no go as the risk of blowout is much greater than risking a $30 cost to repair. And yes, it's an emergency repair only, you suppose to get a new tyre asap, I ran around with it for a few months while sourcing a new tyre, the tyre started making some noise so I had to change it real quick. In my opinion it's not worth the risk of getting a blowout at high speed over a couple of hundred bucks tyre but it's your choice I guess.

• 

  supnigs super skids on 12/09/2016 - 15:07

  +3

  Thats just a liability statement. This method works fine on the tyre tread it it's a small leak. Quickest way to fix

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  Scab on 12/09/2016 - 15:13

  +4

  Using those plugs is not the best way.

  The correct way is more expensive and time-consuming, as you must strip the tyre, drill the nail hole out and buff the inside and coat in glue.

  Then a plug that looks like a mushroom is inserted from the inside and pulled and glued.

  Then the tyre is refitted and in some cases balanced again.

  And yes, you were ripped off, the proper method is about $30.

  • 

    gevidian on 12/09/2016 - 17:20

    As above. You got ripped off. Your repair probably would really cost $5. And it works fine - across most of Asia, the rubbery plug in the permanent fix and costs about two bucks to get done. And I assure you it is harder than it looks - takes some effort/strength to push the needle/plug in and pull it out quickly.

  • 

    Zachary on 12/09/2016 - 18:34

    Got a video on that? I would like to see this in action, compared to this cheaper method that's supposedly for emergencies only….

    • 

      Scab on 12/09/2016 - 18:57

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi5uBUaMsrA

      Note that there is also a "mushroom-type" plug that is applied externally without stripping the tyre, but again this method is the best.

      Stripping the tyre allows you to check for any internal damage and remove any debris.

      Debris inside a tyre will eventually destroy it, it's like a snowball rolling and growing bigger and bigger.

      And drilling the hole means that the steel belts grab onto the plug stem much better (it's the steel belts that hold the plug in).

      It's also glued from the inside, and the air pressure pushing against it seals it up.

      Those external fibre plugs are OK, but I'd only ever use them temporarily in an emergency and replace the tyre at the first opportunity.

      • 

        Zachary on 12/09/2016 - 19:15

        Ahhhhh…..interesting…thanks for that!

        I thought it was just the pressure of the rubber from the tyre that keeps the stem(whether this method or the sticky stuff you buy from auto One or wherever)

        You can't do this method at home can you? Or is this like for professionals only and to get this kind of service done is to take it to a tyre repair shop or something?

        Also, those sticky ones, even if they may not be the best option, if your tires go flat, you can tell anyways and it's only a bit by bit and just go pump it up again. Until they get to the point where they're equivalent to the puncture it was supposed to plug up(in which case pull it out and re-plug it again with a new batch…?) - I think OP shouldn't worry about this….

      • 

        Scab on 12/09/2016 - 19:23

        @Zachary:

        1. It's both the pressure of the rubber and the steel belts, which is why it's much better to drill the hole so it's round.

        2. No, you can't do it at home as you need to strip the tyre, most decent tyre places don't use those external fibre plugs and it should only cost about $30 including rebalancing (or marking the weights and putting them back) to do it properly.

        3. Personally, I would never trust the external fibre ones, I worked in the industry for years and I've seen what can happen.

        And people that aren't trained, like servos, now do puncture repairs as it's extremely profitable and only takes minutes.

        I've even seen them in the sidewall of a tyre, the worst possible place.

      • 

        Zachary on 12/09/2016 - 19:39

        @Kleetus: So if a tyre repair place wanted more than $30 to fix up this using this better method(so I guess I have to ask which method they're gonna use, for all I know they could be using this cheaper method which you can just do at home for free(except buy the kit of course), I should run away or tell them you're ripping me off and should only charge people a max of $30 for this kind of service, the next time I get a tyre puncture?

        So what can happen? The fibre plugs(if this is what those sticky things are called) appear to have a strong enough adhesive connection that I don't think air can nor itself will escape the plug…..

        So how do you fix the side walls if not by using these plugs if you have a puncture there?

      • 

        Scab on 13/09/2016 - 05:29

        @Zachary:

        It's about $30 roughly, and only takes about 15 minutes to do.

        I would always ask how they will repair it, and walk away from any place that doesn't do it properly.

        And for sidewall, you cannot repair, especially if it's deep or you can see the ribbing.

        Sidewall is where most the movement and stress on the tyre is, any damage substantially weakens it.

      • 

        Zachary on 13/09/2016 - 08:38

        @Kleetus: Oh so if you somehow got a screw/nail through there, new tyre then? Even the proper plug method won't fix this?

        Also what do you mean by the ribbing of the tyre? Got a picture to illustrate that? Oh did you mean something like this: http://fcdn.mtbr.com/attachments/wheels-tires/800371d1368971… ? Or this: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Tire_Sev… ? Or this: http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmenti… ? If so, I had this on my tyres before but got them replaced because the thread on each tyre was worn anyways…heh.

      • 

        Scab on 13/09/2016 - 08:51

        @Zachary:

        Nothing can properly fix sidewall and shoulder damage (and it's not just nails or screws, the most common damage I used to see was chunks taken out of the sidewall by scraping against the kerb).

        And what I meant by ribbing is the white material in both the first two pics.

        The last pic is the rubber failing and cracking.

      • 

        Zachary on 13/09/2016 - 10:09

        @Kleetus: Oh

        Rubber failing and cracking is bad right or is the tyre still useful if given the thread is like still brand new or something…? Say like you've kept a brand new tyre for like 20 years or something and it's just been sitting in the shed or a decent storage place that doesn't have too much of a temperature change…so perhaps in storage room in the house…

      • 

        Scab on 13/09/2016 - 10:15

        @Zachary:

        Yes, it's bad.

        Perhaps the tyre came in contact with some chemical or similar?

      • 

        Zachary on 13/09/2016 - 10:29

        @Kleetus: Well my dad's brand new work shoes that he's kept for over 30 years and the thread part under the boots, they've like gone soft and melted and gone sticky, they still have the form but once you touch them or use the boots, the rubber just sticks to the ground like chewing gun….no idea why…and apparently those threads on those boots are equivalent to the rubber used on car tyres or so he told me….

        I think we used to keep a brand new tyre in the shed, but I don't see it anymore(I just walked into the shed to check now)…maybe it's used now or chucked away….but I remember seeing cracks on it though with brand new threads…

• 

  captobvious on 12/09/2016 - 19:48

  There is an emergency plug you can get for repairing punctures much like the 4x4 ones. You push it in from the outside and it seals for you to get home or on your way until you can get it repaired properly.

  The tyre shop actually uses a plug tha looks like a mushroom. Tyre comes off they grind the inside to make a rough surface for the wider part of the plug to adhere, they chop off the excess on the road side and balance and refit. This is a professional repair however you lose the tyre rating because of the repair, eg if it were z rated before for over 270kmph it probably rated now for 180 or less.

  • 

    Scab on 13/09/2016 - 05:35

    You don't lose the speed rating if it's repaired properly.

    • 

      captobvious on 13/09/2016 - 10:11

      For the average person who will never do more thab 110kmph on public roads there is no risk but those of us that do over 270 on the track a puncture repair failing at those speeds is asking to leave in a bodybag.

      • 

        Scab on 13/09/2016 - 10:16

        It really wasn't the physical risk I was talking about, more legalities and insurance etc.

        And it varies with tyre manufactures, some support a full speed rating as long as it is only a single repair, and/or if it's a certain size etc.

• 

  tunzafun001 on 12/09/2016 - 20:03

  -1

  I use the lazy method. Pull out the nail etc you ran over. Counter sink the hole very slightly. Smear a short countersink screw with silicone, screw in until the head is just under tread. Pump up the next day. Done this 3 times now, never leaked, no balance issues. You don't even need the silicone for it to be air tight, its just to stop it from potentially coming loose. However, if you drive over a tech screw etc, its probably plug time.

  • 

    Euphemistic on 12/09/2016 - 20:40

    Ha ha ha,you're going to die!

    I ran over a tec screw once and could hear the leak, you know shhh shhhh shhhh as the wheel went round. I upped my pace hoping the tyre would last enough to get me home without going flat and having to change it, but the heat from the screw rubbing on the road must have been enough for the hole to seal around the screw and then didn't go flat overnight. I changed it the next morning and got it repaired straight away though.

    • 

      tunzafun001 on 13/09/2016 - 09:55

      Yes, we will all die one day! But if you are worried that using a screw instead of a plug will reduce your longevity, place the offending tyre on the rear of the vehicle. My first tyre repair is about 25 000km old now and its mostly highway / offroad driving, so i've made peace it aint coming out.

  • 

    captobvious on 12/09/2016 - 20:43

    Just Need a bigger screw to seal the tack screw hole ;)

  • 

    Zachary on 13/09/2016 - 08:28

    Huh, never I never thought of that….yeah wood screws would work if the offending material was like a nail or something else with equivalent smooth non-threaded piece. However if the offending material is the wood screw itself or like you said tech screw and other threaded screws and stuff well yeah, plug time….hahaha

    • 

      Euphemistic on 13/09/2016 - 10:28

      Hard part is finding a larger screw with a small enough head so it doesn't impact the tread too much.

      I'd be happy enough to pop a screw in the hole with some silicon as a temporary measure, but would much rather have a properly repaired tyre as soon as possible.

• 

  GOCAT9 on 13/09/2016 - 10:08

  Yeah, thanks for all those comments guys!!

  Apart from some of those wierd and whacky methods of repair, I believe that the take home summary of the majority of people here is as follows:

  1. The quick and easy method of the sticky 'fibre' type plug insterted from the outside of the tyre is probably best treated as a temporary repair (but there are probably many people driving around with this type of repair).
  2. The 'best' and most permanent method requires taking the tyre off its rim and repairing with a mushroom shaped plug from the inside of the tyre.

  Thanks for all your comments. GOCAT9

• 

  Mad Max on 13/09/2016 - 11:15

  Just on a tyre safety matter a bit different from OP's post.
  Tyres age. Tyres have a manufacturing date. Usually a 4 digits number (first 2 digits are the week, second 2 digits are the year).
  With cars that don't get used much you could easily have a 10 years old tyre. I came across a caravan (probably only used once or twice a year) with 11 years old tyres with still 90% tread and looking good. Do you guys replace them after 6 tears as some people recommend even if the tread is still good?

  • 

    Mad Max on 13/09/2016 - 17:31

    Ok
    I may put in a new forum post for this.

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  WT on 13/09/2016 - 12:09

  Meh, done track days on plugged tyres. The only thing i wouldnt do is burn outs.

  Only time i would bother with a mushroom type is on a motorcycle tyre

  • 

    GOCAT9 on 13/09/2016 - 12:18

    Good advice - I will remember to slap myself if I ever get the urge to do a burnout!! Never needed to slap myself yet though - here's hoping!!

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  Mumbles on 14/09/2016 - 13:52

  My experience with the external sticky plug is that I was interstate when I needed a nail puncture to be repaired to get my car home 150km away. A tyre shop charged me $20 to plug the nail hole located in the centre of the tread. Was a temporary solution got me home safely that day. The tyre lost all its air overnight and parts of the sticky plug were poking out and looked like strands of seaweed/bubble gum with lots of ugly stones stuck onto it.

  Fortunately, I didn't care about the tyre as it was already in terrible condition. $20 is good peace of mind to get you home. My external sticky plug only lasted one day so I wouldn't recommend anyone to depend on them as a permanent fix.

  • 

    Zachary on 15/09/2016 - 00:42

    Mine's still going and it was done a few months ago…no flat tyre yet! Just the occasional seeping of air(as apparently air still escape somehow even with everything enclosed) you get that you have to re-pump every re-fuel period(or at least that's what I do every time I fill up - just go to the air pump station and check tyre pressure and re-air if less than the pressure it's supposed to be) at the station so that they at their optimum tyre pressure.