Flat tire - How long will plug last?

[Camaro_SLP]

As I was driving tonight, I started hearing a loud noise coming from my back tire..I thought a bag or something was stuck to it.. I drove into a gas station and found a metal object stuck in my tire. It deflated my tire within 1 minute..

Long story short..I bought this tire plug stuff, don't have the name of it infront of me. I didn't use the stuff in the can, I used the strips of rubber that you stick in the whole. Just curious if any of you had any experience with this plugging? It should last as long as the tire - or not? My friend used it on his Durango once, and drove on it for over 1,000 miles..no problems. The guy at the gas station who I could barely understand said it's like a new tire..no problems after plugging it.

Anyone ever use it?

btw,,the metal object I ran over is over a half a foot long! :eek: It's hard to even picture in your head..let alone seeing it. It wasn't even more than a centimeter sticking out of my tire..and I pulled this thing out..holy ****! [img]graemlins/omg.gif[/img]

It also had holes on each side of it..so you could imagine how fast it let the air out..

[ November 03, 2003: Message edited by: Camaro_SLP ]</p>

[black98V6]

I have had em last the life of the tire, but I don't trust em either, personally I perfer to have it patched from the inside. I think you will be fine but I'd keep the plug kit in your car from now on, besides they are handy to have in those situations.

[speedy-v6-camaro]

I got a nice 6" bolt all the way in my tire before. it was about 1cm in diameter and it damaged the outside of the wheel a little too. I took it to the tire shop and they fixed it with the same stuff you used. It lasted for about 10K until I got new tires.

[ReodDai]

I patch tires all day long, get rid of the plug. There is a good chance it will hold but why bother. Go get it patched from the inside and you won't ever have to worry about it again as long as they patch it right. I know where I work it only costs $11 to patch it.

[AZ3.8Camaro]

How big is the hole it left in the tire? You might need a new tire.

I see those "gas station plugs" leak almost all the time. They suck.

[fenderman]

Simple solution... go get a patch plug. What it is in essence is a patch that is glued to the inside of the tire just like a normal patch would be, but also has a plug of rubber attached to it to fill the hole left by whatever object impaled it. The rubber plug is compressed by a metal sleeve with a point at the end of it, and once the plug is pulled tight, the sleeve comes off and the rubber then expands. I've had nothing but good news come from putting these in people's tires. If it was a finishing nail or some other small pin-like object I'd say just patch it but it seems like the hole is a considerable size.

[AZ3.8Camaro]

If the hole is bigger around than say a standard Ink Pen, you should get a new tire. What happens is the punture tears through the steel belts of the tire, too big a hole and too many belts get cut, leaving the tire unsafe.

[MustangEater8251]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by AZ3.8Camaro:
If the hole is bigger around than say a standard Ink Pen, you should get a new tire. What happens is the punture tears through the steel belts of the tire, too big a hole and too many belts get cut, leaving the tire unsafe.<hr></blockquote>

I agree but a normal hole from a nail, or screw, I think a plug is fine, I have gotten away fine with plugs numerous times before, lsted thousands of miles no leaks.

Hell I put a plug in a rear tire on my way to the track, and held air perfrect all night long, even with burnouts and such.

Still holding finre about 1,000 miles later.

[Camaro_SLP]

I'd say the hole was about the diameter of a pen.. Since I've plugged, the tire hasn't been leaking air at all..so that's good. I've used excessive speeds since I plugged it, and it held up alright. Not bad for $3.00..

[ November 04, 2003: Message edited by: Camaro_SLP ]</p>