Tire Plug in a Performance Tire?

Craig T · 11-13-2016, 05:16 PM

Would you guys accept a patched rear performance tire as a permanent fix?

I picked up a nail in my right rear tire on the Turbo. 305/30/19 Bridgestone Potenza RE050 N1 with only 3,000 miles. Luckily, it was smack in the middle of the tread and not near the sidewall. The local tire shop repaired it with a interior patch-plug. They said drive it and forget about it.

I would never do a track day with it, but do you guys think its safe to do spirited street driving for another 10K miles until I need to replace them due to wear?

Oh Haha · 11-13-2016, 05:22 PM

I had the same issue in one of my Sumitomos. I didn't have any issues with street driving.

Craig T · 11-13-2016, 05:27 PM

I hate to eat $800 in rubber if that patch will hold safely. I do test the boost frequently on freeway on-ramps, interchange loops, and drive canyon roads occasionally, but I'm not racing canyon runs anymore...and rarely break 100mph.

Iciclehead · 11-13-2016, 05:31 PM

I actually do not know, all I know is that in Europe a repaired tire automatically goes to the S rating, so you can't use it on a high performance car.

Not sure if they are just being anal or whether there are known issues with repaired tires at high speed (approaching their speed rating), just would hate to be swallowing a bridge abutment for the sake of a couple of tires....

Dennis

onewhippedpuppy · 11-13-2016, 05:41 PM

I've done it many times without issue. If it's mid-tread I wouldn't sweat it.

gshase · 11-13-2016, 05:46 PM

I believe that something like a nail in the tread properly plugged should have no effect on driving. If it installed improperly then you could have a slow air leak so check the air pressure regularly.

Craig T · 11-13-2016, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I've done it many times without issue. If it's mid-tread I wouldn't sweat it.

Thanks Matt. I'll try to forget about it then.

Craig T · 11-13-2016, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gshase

I believe that something like a nail in the tread properly plugged should have no effect on driving. If it installed improperly then you could have a slow air leak so check the air pressure regularly.

So far so good. 5 days and several heat cycles and still holding steady pressure. I'm going to let go (unless I go OCD again).

stomachmonkey · 11-13-2016, 06:13 PM

I carry a plug patch kit in each car.

Absolute necessity when you are living in an area being built out.

Can't tell you how many times I've been back on the road before the wife finishes calling roadside.

Typically I prefer the interior patch but have never had a fail from either solution.

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

I just did this on Friday. 250 miles since, no issues.

FPB111 · 11-13-2016, 06:30 PM

I had the same concern with a rear on my turbo. They patched it with one of these.
https://www.zoro.com/camel-tire-repair-boot-pk20-15-296/i/G1808292/?gclid=CJrdhbqmp9ACFU5LDQodvVoDFQ&gclsrc=aw.ds
It held until there was cord showing on the inside 1/3 of the tire when I noticed the wear and replaced the whole set.

manbridge 74 · 11-13-2016, 06:40 PM

A plug patch is only as good as the installer. They usually hold up well with a quality install.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

If its not giving any issues leaking I'd roll with it and not worry. You will wear those tires out well before its an issue!

Brian 162 · 11-13-2016, 07:30 PM

I had a tire shop years ago install a patch as you described on the RR of my SC. It was fine, I even tracked it with that tire. I never had a problem.

masraum · 11-13-2016, 07:39 PM

I've done it, granted, never in a car as brutish as yours, but I've never had any problems. I suspect that you'll be fine even at quite elevates speeds.

rusnak · 11-13-2016, 08:56 PM

I'm going to be in the minority here, and say that I'd probably not run that tire. It's just sh*** that the tire costs that much, but it's just not worth keeping it on the car IMO.

Nickshu · Nickshu's Garage

I would run it on the street but not on the track. At track tire temps who knows what the expansion difference could be between the plug and the tire bed.

I have run a plugged tire for way more than 10K miles on the street w/ no problems.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

I would not do it with just a tire plug, but if they dismounted the tire and put the patch on the inside of the tire, no sweat. I carry a set of plugs for road trips and I would plug a tire with no hesitation to get back home. I would want it dismounted and a patch put on the inside as a better fix.

cashflyer · 11-14-2016, 04:51 AM

It depends on the plug. There are two types, afaik... the rubber coated rope, and a solid rubber plug. When I bought my 996, one of the rear tires had three plugs in it. And the guy was running it in DEs like that with no problem.

I don't think I would use the rubber coated rope for a repair on a tire to be tracked.

This (rubber coated rope)

versus this (mushroom plug)

More info-graphics:

Don Ro · 11-14-2016, 07:02 AM

I have a plug kit in a bag of tools that I carry on any bike that I take out and had to use it only once - 10 yrs. ago - and it worked until I changed the set.
.
Two years ago I got a nail in my RAV4 and went to a tire place and told them that I had a manure spreader on my farm that needed a "plug patch" and they just gave me one - I had the correct adhesive in my shop.
Of course it was a lie but to buy a box of them was too $$ for me to bother with.
They would not have given me one for a highway vehicle, I'm sure.
It remained and worked for me until my new recent set.
.
https://www.zoro.com/camel-tire-repair-boot-pk20-15-296/i/G1808292/?gclid=CJrdhbqmp9ACFU5LDQodvVoDFQ&gclsrc=aw.ds