Any guys here plug their own tires?

Freedurt · 09-21-2019, 11:50 PM

What are your personal thoughts on plugging your own tires? Some guys especially old timers swear its all you need and everything else nowadays is paranoia and overkill, other guys make it seem like it’s a ticking time bomb.

Curious on what everyone’s opinion is and tips from guys that plug their own.

enzia35 · 09-22-2019, 04:54 AM

I'll get them plugged at Discount Tire.

17rsvert · 09-22-2019, 07:07 AM

I have plugged tires (only in the tread area, never near the sidewall) probably about a dozen times over the past 35 years. Never had a plug fail before the tires needed replacement.

Glen e · 09-22-2019, 07:16 AM

I would never plug one of these tires, I would however used a T patch from the inside.

Captain J · 09-22-2019, 07:23 AM

Plugs are fine for daily drivers but I wouldn't use them for track tires.

Gunkk · 09-22-2019, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 17rsvert

I have plugged tires (only in the tread area, never near the sidewall) probably about a dozen times over the past 35 years. Never had a plug fail before the tires needed replacement.

Same here. $10 auto parts store plug kit has worked fine for me to repair nail and screw holes over a few decades.

VinnAY · 09-22-2019, 09:02 AM

For the 20-25 to have it patched I find no reason to go with a plug. But having been stuck in a bad situation with a flat on the side of the road I'd plug one to get going again. But it's true, tires have been plugged for decades without issue. I wouldn't take a plugged Z rated tire on the track which seems like a common point people agree on.

longhairchris · 09-29-2019, 10:41 PM

I have plugged many tires including motorcycle, small car and full size SUV. Never a problem, ran one plug to about 20K. The things are amazing.

craigss50 · 10-06-2019, 09:20 AM

I got a screw near the side (outside tread) of my GY RunFlats when the car only had about 2000 miles on it. I plugged it and have had no issues for 3 years and 7K more miles. I do not track the car though. I also don't do much hwy driving so I am not really concerned if the plug fails. Now I am almost due new tires so it has worked out well for me.

peteric · 10-13-2019, 09:18 PM

Never had a problem with Safety Seal plugs. Actually, I just used it on my truck's fuel off road tires last month, and no leaks whatsoever.

If the puncture is too near the sidewall, plug and patch are not an option of course.

Vtor_ZL1 · 10-13-2019, 09:21 PM

I have plugged tires before in pinch.. but i do get them plug/patched shortly after for proper protection & seal. Need to protect belts from corrosion and that requires proper patch / plug combination.

Frank237 · 10-14-2019, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunkk

Same here. $10 auto parts store plug kit has worked fine for me to repair nail and screw holes over a few decades.

Me too.

Once plugged ,I've had them taken off the rim, the plug removed and one of those T patch (?) guys glued to the inside.

Had a big screw in a tire on a Friday night jusy outside of Glacier Park. NO where to get a tire repair. Plugged it, ON the vehicle. Aired it up with a small compressor I carry and it held fine.

Rural America doesn't have a tire shop every few miles, one has to adapt and overcome out here.

I've even plugged motorcycle tires in a dire emergency. Once plugged a sidewall hole on my BMW R1200GS that had to be replugged every 30 or 40 miles at 35-45 mph. Finally got to a small town in no where Nevada and had them put a patch on. Allowed me to ride back to SLC and a Dealer.

IMHO a plug kit and a small compressor are pretty handy.

Though....I bought a spare for mine. Takes up trunk space but thats OK.

s346k · 10-20-2019, 03:30 AM

the right rear on my 1LE has 2 plugs in it. at this point, i’d guess they are 2/32 or less. i did 2 nuclear burnouts at the dragstrip and raced with no issues. as long as it’s not near the sidewall, a tire plug will last the life of the tire. i worked at a tire shop for 2 years and i’ve plugged my own tires for almost 20 years. never had an issue.

hell i put a plug in a tire on my 99 ta. much abuse and miles later, i gave the tires to someone else who wore them down to nothing. same on my jeep. put 51k miles on a set of goodyears and gave them away. they are still on another jeep holding just fine. i installed that plug not 2 weeks into tire ownership.

Gadsden · 10-21-2019, 10:06 AM

I believe in plugs and have done dozens myself, but i did have one fail once over an extended period. I plugged a GY Long Trail on a brand new Tacoma, literally in it's first couple thousand miles. A few years later my wife bumped into a curb in a parking lot with a little extra force and it popped out. I plugged it again and kept rolling, chalking it up to weird circumstances and the tires aging and drying out differently than the plug material.

09-21-2019, 11:50 PM	#1
Freedurt Drives: 2018 SS 1LE Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Texas Posts: 23	Any guys here plug their own tires? What are your personal thoughts on plugging your own tires? Some guys especially old timers swear its all you need and everything else nowadays is paranoia and overkill, other guys make it seem like it’s a ticking time bomb. Curious on what everyone’s opinion is and tips from guys that plug their own. __________________ 2018 SS 1LE Blacked Out Tail lights: GM Dark finish tail lamps Side Markers: Diode Dynamics LED Sidemarkers tinted 3rd Brake Light: GM ZL1/1LE Dark 3rd brake light Rear Reflectors: Hero smoked rear reflectors Debadged sides, rear, black front SS Badge, black bowties, paint corrected, ceramic coated with CQuartz UK 3.0

09-22-2019, 04:54 AM	#2
enzia35 Drives: '16 Garnet Red 1SS Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 3,450	I'll get them plugged at Discount Tire. __________________ '16 Camaro 1SS '18 Miata GT Gone: '01 Camaro, '14 Camaro, '90 Miata

09-22-2019, 07:16 AM	#4
Glen e Retired from Car mfrs.... Drives: 2LT RS/HR-V Join Date: May 2013 Location: /Fort Lauderdale Posts: 10,048	I would never plug one of these tires, I would however used a T patch from the inside. __________________ Glen CLICK HERE for detailing a new car: detailing for non detailers CLICK HERE for how to rinseless CLICK HERE for EASY wheel sealant

10-13-2019, 09:21 PM	#11
Vtor_ZL1 Who Needs to KNOW? Drives: 18 ZLE Join Date: May 2018 Location: Left Side of the Moon Posts: 1,770	I have plugged tires before in pinch.. but i do get them plug/patched shortly after for proper protection & seal. Need to protect belts from corrosion and that requires proper patch / plug combination. __________________ ing for grip. Are you in the NY/NJ/PA/CT region? Join us for autox fun at MetLife Stadium. HUGE lots, tons of runs. http://www.motorsportsne.com/

10-20-2019, 03:30 AM	#13
s346k Drives: like an old lady Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: indiana Posts: 2,395	the right rear on my 1LE has 2 plugs in it. at this point, i’d guess they are 2/32 or less. i did 2 nuclear burnouts at the dragstrip and raced with no issues. as long as it’s not near the sidewall, a tire plug will last the life of the tire. i worked at a tire shop for 2 years and i’ve plugged my own tires for almost 20 years. never had an issue. hell i put a plug in a tire on my 99 ta. much abuse and miles later, i gave the tires to someone else who wore them down to nothing. same on my jeep. put 51k miles on a set of goodyears and gave them away. they are still on another jeep holding just fine. i installed that plug not 2 weeks into tire ownership. __________________ 2016+ camaro: everyone’s first car

09-22-2019, 07:07 AM	#3
17rsvert Drives: 2017 HBM 2LT RS Convertible V6 A8 Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: NJ Posts: 654	I have plugged tires (only in the tread area, never near the sidewall) probably about a dozen times over the past 35 years. Never had a plug fail before the tires needed replacement.

09-22-2019, 07:23 AM	#5
Captain J Drives: 2017 V6 RS Covertible Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 136	Plugs are fine for daily drivers but I wouldn't use them for track tires.

09-22-2019, 09:02 AM	#7
VinnAY Account Suspended Drives: 18 1SS/1LE Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Missouri Posts: 939	For the 20-25 to have it patched I find no reason to go with a plug. But having been stuck in a bad situation with a flat on the side of the road I'd plug one to get going again. But it's true, tires have been plugged for decades without issue. I wouldn't take a plugged Z rated tire on the track which seems like a common point people agree on.

09-29-2019, 10:41 PM	#8
longhairchris Drives: 16 Camaro SS A8, 96 Camaro Z28 M6 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Ventura County, CA Posts: 12	I have plugged many tires including motorcycle, small car and full size SUV. Never a problem, ran one plug to about 20K. The things are amazing.

10-06-2019, 09:20 AM	#9
craigss50 Drives: 2017 Camaro SS Fifty Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Port St Lucie, Florida Posts: 966	I got a screw near the side (outside tread) of my GY RunFlats when the car only had about 2000 miles on it. I plugged it and have had no issues for 3 years and 7K more miles. I do not track the car though. I also don't do much hwy driving so I am not really concerned if the plug fails. Now I am almost due new tires so it has worked out well for me.

10-13-2019, 09:18 PM	#10
peteric Drives: 2016 camaro Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: GA Posts: 133	Never had a problem with Safety Seal plugs. Actually, I just used it on my truck's fuel off road tires last month, and no leaks whatsoever. If the puncture is too near the sidewall, plug and patch are not an option of course.

10-21-2019, 10:06 AM	#14
Gadsden Drives: 2019 Camaro 1SS, 2017 Silverado LTZ Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Mooresville NC Posts: 11	I believe in plugs and have done dozens myself, but i did have one fail once over an extended period. I plugged a GY Long Trail on a brand new Tacoma, literally in it's first couple thousand miles. A few years later my wife bumped into a curb in a parking lot with a little extra force and it popped out. I plugged it again and kept rolling, chalking it up to weird circumstances and the tires aging and drying out differently than the plug material.

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