so whichs ones better for your tires when you get a nail in them.

i keep hearing patching is better. what do you guys think?

 

Patching is better, but watch who does it because they have to take the tire off the rim and might scratch it.

 

patching is better. if youve got old/worn tires just plug it

 

I have had more nails in tires than I care to remember, and I have only had my tires plugged, and I have NEVER had an issue with them after getting them plugged. It only costs $10 at the local garage, and they do not have to take the tire off the rim.

 

Do not, I repeat do not let them plug your tire. If they mess up the plug and it leaks again you will have to replace the tire. I had this experience last year and had to replace two tires. Have the tire patched.

 

Patch is better, but a plug is cheaper. I used to work at Firestone and used to patch tires everyday. That said, I keep a plug kit in my trunk and have plugged my tires on the side of the freeway. I've never had a problem. If done right (not hard to do), the plug will outlast the tire. Kits are $5 at Kmart, Wal-Mart, Pepboys, Kragen, etc. Keep a plug kit in your trunk with a electric pump and a pair of plyers. It takes me 5 minutes to plug a tire...it takes AAA 60-90 minutes just to show up and then they just swap it with the spare (you still have to get it repaired).


*****CAUTION! *****
You can't plug a "Z" rated tire and you can't repair any damage to the side wall.

 

i see...thanks alot guys for your replies.
anymore thoughts?

 

DO NOT self plug a tire....or let anyone plug it using the push pull plug.....

These plugs leave the belts exposed to weather which will cause the tire to seperate.

Take it to a Discount Tire Co.(America's Tire in CA) and the will patch it from the inside for FREE


I do this for a living....and as for wheels and tires ask anyone, I know what I'm talking about

Charles

 

interior patch .... $8 in Jersey

 

:wow: OH O, I did this...? I have Z rated tires...W actually...what's the consequences for this? maybe I will need to get two new tires...

 

if you have a costco card, you can bring it there and they will patch it for free...part of the membership...i've done this before.

 

Becareful who you let touch your rims! They can scratch the hell out of them. I had a tire patched at one of the discount places, the weight threw off in less than 100 miles.

 

If you spent alot of money on your tires or if they are fairly new or performance oriented in any way Do Not Plug them it spreads the cords in the tire and may cause future problems .

 

I'd rather have it plugged b/c it decreases the chance of some clown scratching my rim. On my other car, years ago, some clowns at the tire shop mistakenly put the lift under an exhaust pipe & bent the crap out of it!!! (they got me another pipe) I've had a dozen plugs & a dozen patches, I've never had a problem with either one, although the patch does make me feel more comfortable, a plug is probably just as reliable.
good luck

 

It all depends on how much the tire were and how much wear is left on them.
Patch them if they are NEW or Expensive tires with lots of wear left.
Plug if the are mid-life stock tires or almost worn out (just extending the life).

 

ive always used a plug and have had no problems .... the hole is already there from the puncture so the damage is already done i dont see how using a plug at this point will cause any more damage then there is...ok so they have to ream the hole out to get a plug in .,...still i dont see how a small hole is going to cause a problem,

 

Just this weekend I had AAA tow my car on a flatbed to Allied Discount Tire. When you call AAA you can request a flatbed instead of a regular tow truck. If you have the regular tow truck come all you get is a tire change for the spare and then like mentioned before you still have to get it fixed. So next time ask for a flatbed and have it towed to Allied Discount Tire. They patched for free (not sure if this is always the case of if they were being nice). The patch that they use is like a combo patch and plug. they place a patch from the inside that has metal peice sticking out of the middle. Then they take pliers and pull the metal peice off that went through the inside out to the tread. Then they slap on some gooey black glue to the inside where the patch is and mount the tire back on. They were really careful with the rim (I did ask them to be careful with it).