Tire Trouble

[Carracer]

Just after leaving the the last event I picked up something in my tire. Will now that I got a chance to look at it it's more than just a rock in the tread like I had thought based on the noise.

tire.jpg (208.36 KiB) Viewed 5365 times

Can that in anyway be patched, plug patch? I think that it might be too close to the sidewall. It still holds air fine but I fear I might be in the market for 2 new tires soon than I had wanted.

Thanks for any help.

[twistedwankel]

Phillip I had one of those last year.

I pulled it out as it was going to kill the event if it leaked.

Poured water on it and no leak just part of a screw that didn't penetrate. Maybe you'll get lucky too. There should be 4 plies in that area.

I always take the wheel in to a tire store and have it patched from the inside. A speed rated tire loses it's high speed rating when patched is all.

It looks like that is in the 1/2" deep tread based on the tread depth arrow next to it. Cross your fingers and pull it out. If it leaks put it back in and drive to the tire store.

Good luck.

Doug

[Jamie]

Actually, I wouldn't pull it out if it's holding air. It's not hurting anything right now -- at worst, the screw head will wear down, and you'll end up with a slow leak, but that could be months from now. I'll be replacing my tires before mid-March...you're still promised the cast-offs (and I'm sure I'll regret it!).

[Loren]

When you've got time to fool with it, have a plug kit handy, and pull it out. Looks more like a staple than a screw. As Doug said, it's probably not even all the way through... but could be.

For as long as any of us keep a tire on a car... just poke a plug in it with some rubber cement. It'll be fine.

The hazards of using a plug is that it can come out (which is why you clean things well, rough up the inside of hole, and use cement on it) or it can lead to long term damage to the steel belts by allowing moisture in (which is why you use cement on it). And, again, you won't own that tire long enough for rust in the belt structure to be a problem.

Plug it, forget it.

[Carracer]

OK, thanks all for the advice, I'm glad to hear this likely didn't kill a tire. I'll leave it for now and mess with after I grab a plug kit from work.

[Dave]

DynaPlug,

It must be ordered online, but much quicker and MUCH easier than the standard plug kits at your local parts store.

[Solar]

It's pretty close to the edge for a plug, if you use one, use a rope type plug and not the mushroom type. I've probably plugged 500 tires back in the day, and when they're that close they sometime hold, or just flat out fail. I would just leave it alone until you notice a leak, like it's been mentioned before, it may not have gone through.

[twistedwankel]

The last 3 cars I've bought have had no spare.

The Factory included a bottle of green slime, Schrader valve remover and an air pump. A phone number until 50k miles.

These are also available at Walmart as a kit for $14.

AAA is more expensive unless you drive shit houses or buy a lot of crap cars you put plates on:)

Am I missing something? An actual "reason" to replace my tires?

Guess that's the price for getting old.

Doug

[Dave]

The last 3 cars I've bought have had no spare.

The Factory included a bottle of green slime, Schrader valve remover and an air pump. A phone number until 50k miles.

These are also available at Walmart as a kit for $14.

AAA is more expensive unless you drive shit houses or buy a lot of crap cars you put plates on:)

Am I missing something? An actual "reason" to replace my tires?

Guess that's the price for getting old.

Doug

Yes, AAA Isn't cheap, but I have found that usually one service call per subscription year covers the cost of having it.