Track Day Tire Question

hms2488485 · 10-09-2017, 02:58 PM

Seems like I can't catch a break with my car. Just noticed a screw in my right rear tire. Took the tire off and sprayed soapy water on it, bubbling is very very minimal. The tire is slowly losing air but I filled the tire a week and a half ago (psi was 26) and it has remained at the 33 psi since then. I plan on going to get a plug put in eventually because the tires have a lot of life left in them. Would you guys trust a plug on the track or would I be better off just buying a new set of rears? I don't plan on tracking the car until spring.

Ryephile · 10-09-2017, 03:22 PM

The tires will likely be worn out by springtime since you're down yonder where you can drive on them all year.

I had construction nails go into each rear tire, 3 days apart from each other. I plugged the first one, but once I got the 2nd nail I said screw it and bought a new pair of rears. Personally I wouldn't want to track on a plug, the centrifugal forces at straightaway speeds is way more than cruising down the interstate and I have my doubts whether a plug would be safe enough.

Yanbags · 10-09-2017, 04:27 PM

I've always had bad luck with nails/screws and tires...I've tracked both of my previous cars with just plugs in the tires several times with no issues.

Haven't had any nails or screws bother this car yet, fingers crossed

TrackClub · 10-09-2017, 07:02 PM

Personally don't want to ponder "what ifs" with a plug in while pushing the car on a track. But that's just me: I tend to be conservative.
BTW: that's an interesting 1LE pic in your sig Yanbags

FlowForm_Wheels · 10-09-2017, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrackClub;9934370[B

]Personally don't want to ponder "what ifs" with a plug in while pushing the car on a track.[/B] But that's just me: I tend to be conservative.
BTW: that's an interesting 1LE pic in your sig Yanbags

Totally agree. Even if you were able to drive as fast as you want and not have a problem, in the back of my mind I would be constantly thinking about it and being distracted by the "what ifs."

A lot less $ to replace a tire than to replace the potential damage that a blown tire can do. Just my 2 cents though.

pbsinternet1le · 10-09-2017, 07:28 PM

Get an inside patch.

TEX1LE · 10-09-2017, 09:36 PM

I had a patch plug on my rear left tire and did 3 track days and about 4 autocross events without any issues

NickyRacerBoy · 10-09-2017, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbsinternet1le

Get an inside patch.

😀100 agreed.

TrackClub · 10-10-2017, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbsinternet1le

Get an inside patch.

Is there any other patch?!

pbsinternet1le · 10-10-2017, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrackClub

Is there any other patch?!

Yes, pirates use an eye patch.

Yanbags · 10-10-2017, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrackClub

BTW: that's an interesting 1LE pic in your sig Yanbags

Nobody has taken any track photos of my 1LE yet

hms2488485 · 10-10-2017, 02:57 PM

Thanks for the input guys. I'll ride it out for now. I figured I'd need new tires this spring anyway, unless SCCA drops another track day at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Marshsram · 10-10-2017, 07:54 PM

If you have a patch from the inside there is zero concern. I personally do not have any issues with running a even a snake plug but most people seem to be *ultra* conservative when it comes to tires. FWIW I've tracked on plugged (not patched) tires countless times without issue. It seems like construction never ends around my house and at least once every other month I pick up a nail. If I had to buy a new pair of tires every time I damaged one I would be millions of dollars in debt.

Worst case the plug slowly leaks and you'll see it on TPMS before the tire goes flat and damages itself. It's 2017 and tires don't just catastrophically fail out of nowhere, these days... unless it's a Pirelli and you're an F1 driver.

TrackClub · 10-10-2017, 09:45 PM

Is there such a thing as a patch on the outside (apart from a pirate patch as already pointed out above)? Even (well done) plugs will have an inside patch. Lastly, F1 and NASCAR and pretty much any other racing series. Hmmm...I wonder what a common denominator is here?
But ya, for street use zero issue in my book.

10-09-2017, 02:58 PM	#1
hms2488485 Drives: '17 Camaro SS 1LE Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 335	Track Day Tire Question Seems like I can't catch a break with my car. Just noticed a screw in my right rear tire. Took the tire off and sprayed soapy water on it, bubbling is very very minimal. The tire is slowly losing air but I filled the tire a week and a half ago (psi was 26) and it has remained at the 33 psi since then. I plan on going to get a plug put in eventually because the tires have a lot of life left in them. Would you guys trust a plug on the track or would I be better off just buying a new set of rears? I don't plan on tracking the car until spring.

10-09-2017, 03:22 PM	#2
Ryephile Hot Dog Drives: '17 1SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 1,937	The tires will likely be worn out by springtime since you're down yonder where you can drive on them all year. I had construction nails go into each rear tire, 3 days apart from each other. I plugged the first one, but once I got the 2nd nail I said screw it and bought a new pair of rears. Personally I wouldn't want to track on a plug, the centrifugal forces at straightaway speeds is way more than cruising down the interstate and I have my doubts whether a plug would be safe enough. __________________ 2017 "M1SS1LE" in Hyper Blue w/PDR

10-09-2017, 07:28 PM	#6
pbsinternet1le Drives: 2017 1le current /2015 2ss 1le sold Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Whitesburg Ga 30185 Posts: 759	Get an inside patch. __________________ 2017 1LE Hyper Blue

10-09-2017, 04:27 PM	#3
Yanbags Drives: '17 SS 1LE Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: NYC Posts: 104	I've always had bad luck with nails/screws and tires...I've tracked both of my previous cars with just plugs in the tires several times with no issues. Haven't had any nails or screws bother this car yet, fingers crossed

10-09-2017, 07:02 PM	#4
TrackClub Drives: 2020 SS 1LE (previous: 2017 SS 1LE) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Canada, eh! Posts: 5,091	Personally don't want to ponder "what ifs" with a plug in while pushing the car on a track. But that's just me: I tend to be conservative. BTW: that's an interesting 1LE pic in your sig Yanbags

10-09-2017, 09:36 PM	#7
TEX1LE Drives: 2017 1LE - Blue Join Date: May 2017 Location: Texas Posts: 220	I had a patch plug on my rear left tire and did 3 track days and about 4 autocross events without any issues

10-10-2017, 02:57 PM	#12
hms2488485 Drives: '17 Camaro SS 1LE Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 335	Thanks for the input guys. I'll ride it out for now. I figured I'd need new tires this spring anyway, unless SCCA drops another track day at Charlotte Motor Speedway

10-10-2017, 07:54 PM	#13
Marshsram Drives: 6mt Join Date: May 2017 Location: SF Posts: 32	If you have a patch from the inside there is zero concern. I personally do not have any issues with running a even a snake plug but most people seem to be ultra conservative when it comes to tires. FWIW I've tracked on plugged (not patched) tires countless times without issue. It seems like construction never ends around my house and at least once every other month I pick up a nail. If I had to buy a new pair of tires every time I damaged one I would be millions of dollars in debt. Worst case the plug slowly leaks and you'll see it on TPMS before the tire goes flat and damages itself. It's 2017 and tires don't just catastrophically fail out of nowhere, these days... unless it's a Pirelli and you're an F1 driver.

10-10-2017, 09:45 PM	#14
TrackClub Drives: 2020 SS 1LE (previous: 2017 SS 1LE) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Canada, eh! Posts: 5,091	Is there such a thing as a patch on the outside (apart from a pirate patch as already pointed out above)? Even (well done) plugs will have an inside patch. Lastly, F1 and NASCAR and pretty much any other racing series. Hmmm...I wonder what a common denominator is here? But ya, for street use zero issue in my book.

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