Fixing a flat tire

[seriously]

After my enjoyable cruise I come home to find a completely flat tire. Nail in the center of the tread.

Normally I take it and get a patch. But since I can’t drive it I’m thinking of finding a mobile tire repair and just do a tire plug without removing the tire at all. I’ve never had an issue with a tire plug. Maybe then get a patch later if I ever planned on taking it to the track.

I’m just paranoid having a mobile car guy come, lift the car, dismount the tire, patch, and return all without bending or scratching something. So tire plug sounds a lot simpler for a quick fix.
Thoughts on this approach?

 

[robrmon]

I’m by no means an expert, but are you sure you’d be as happy with a plug, than a new tire? By all means a temporary solution until you get it to a place you trust. I just don’t love the idea of a blowout at a high speed.

 

[netsinah]

I’d do the plug then later take it in (on or off the car) to a trusted tire shop, for the patch. I understand it’s more important to patch when tracking the car, but don’t think it worth taking the chance of not patching for regular street driving, which, if you’re like me, could sometimes be somewhat “spirited”.

I’m in the “plug/patch OK” camp, rather than buying a new tire. A matter of preference. Many tire shops will tell you a new tire is needed for a performance car, but they like to sell tires. I’ve never had an issue with a plug/patch on a high speed rated tire.

 

[virtualmacho]

If you're at home (safe place to work on the car) why not plug it yourself for now? You won't have to worry about dealing with a mobile guy.

 

[sixtyy]

Patch is fine. I owned 911T and patched in west coast tire. The car performed perfectly afterwards.

 

[seriously]

If you're at home (safe place to work on the car) why not plug it yourself for now? You won't have to worry about dealing with a mobile guy.

I could try plugging it, but I don’t have a compressor to refill the tire. I’ve seen them do the plug and it looks super easy.

 

[virtualmacho]

Where there's a will...

 

[Eagle7]

After my enjoyable cruise I come home to find a completely flat tire. Nail in the center of the tread.

Normally I take it and get a patch. But since I can’t drive it I’m thinking of finding a mobile tire repair and just do a tire plug without removing the tire at all. I’ve never had an issue with a tire plug. Maybe then get a patch later if I ever planned on taking it to the track.

I’m just paranoid having a mobile car guy come, lift the car, dismount the tire, patch, and return all without bending or scratching something. So tire plug sounds a lot simpler for a quick fix.
Thoughts on this approach?

Don't track a tire with a plug. If the tire heats up too much, the plug can blow out and you're toast. Is it a front tire or rear? A plug will be fine for normal street driving, but for extended "spirited" driving I wouldn't trust it. Get the plug so you can take the car to a tire place and get it properly patched. There's a tire pump in the emergency kit in the trunk.

 

[F1 SML8R]

Don't track a tire with a plug. If the tire heats up too much, the plug can blow out and you're toast. Is it a front tire or rear? A plug will be fine for normal street driving, but for extended "spirited" driving I wouldn't trust it. Get the plug so you can take the car to a tire place and get it properly patched. There's a tire pump in the emergency kit in the trunk.

This. Regular street/highway driving, maybe even a little mountain backroad driving, should be good. However, track work should be off-limit. Let's just say the price of a tire (for that matter, the price of all 4) is a better deal than the possible outcome of testing that plug on a track.

 

[seriously]

Don't track a tire with a plug. If the tire heats up too much, the plug can blow out and you're toast. Is it a front tire or rear? A plug will be fine for normal street driving, but for extended "spirited" driving I wouldn't trust it. Get the plug so you can take the car to a tire place and get it properly patched. There's a tire pump in the emergency kit in the trunk.

I just looked it up and it looks like you can inflate the tire using the tire compressor without using the sealant. Thank you for the tip!

 

[seriously]

It’s the rear tire. I wouldn’t do any serious speed without a patch. But every time I’ve used a plug it holds 100% for normal driving.

 

[virtualmacho]

How long have you had the car? Should be due for new tires anyway, right?

 

[ShootingSight]

There are options out there for plug/patches, essentially patches that have a plug molded in to them that are the best option, but get applied from the inside, but there are also options (never tried it myself) that are a plug with a button head, that can be inserted from the outside via a tapered syringe needle, using a gun insertion tool that forces the fat head into the hole. It looks to be a compromise between doing it yourself versus taking the wheel to a tire repair place.

https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-170pcs-Mushroom-Shaped-Repair/dp/B09PGC6X43/ref=sr_1_44