Plug or patch?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,272
Likes: 130
From: Missouri
Plug or patch?
Any tire guys on FTE? I get a flat tire about every 3 months and always use a traditional plug with rubber cement. Are those okay or should I pull the tire off and use a patch?
I don't know anything about tires. I've mounted my last few sets with levers and spoons in my garage. I used a harbor freight balancer and it does okay.
I don't know anything about tires. I've mounted my last few sets with levers and spoons in my garage. I used a harbor freight balancer and it does okay.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,272
Likes: 130
From: Missouri
This current set are Goodyears. I live in a crumby area with lots and lots of shady construction companies driving around with old dump trailers. Half of the trash blows out of their trailer before they get to the dump.
There was a hail storm 2 years ago and everybody and their mother has been getting a new roof. So many nails everywhere. I have a giant magnet and I clean my alley all the time.
There was a hail storm 2 years ago and everybody and their mother has been getting a new roof. So many nails everywhere. I have a giant magnet and I clean my alley all the time.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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Plug with patch is the "best" combo. The patch provides a more secure seal so you don't have a leaker.
The plug fills the hole with the glue, sealing out water and debris.
A patch only leaves the hole open to water, debris and salt. This can cause the steel belts to rust. This in turn can cause the tire to come apart, usually at an inopportune moment.
The plug fills the hole with the glue, sealing out water and debris.
A patch only leaves the hole open to water, debris and salt. This can cause the steel belts to rust. This in turn can cause the tire to come apart, usually at an inopportune moment.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,104
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From: Southern California
Well, the feds a few years ago "outlawed" (my words not theirs) the use of plugs because of the tire manufacturers input and written repair directives. Now with that said, there are a couple of type of plugs and of course a bit of criteria of when and where they can be used from back in the good old days (when i worked at a real gas station...ya know, actually pumped gas for people, repaired cars, etc). The typical rubber plugs are just not safe IMHO.... I have used (and was actually trained on this stuff back in the day) to use a "fiber" type plug that actually vulcanized to the tire itself. Now with that said, when I have found myself or family member to be in a no choice situation, I have used these plugs, but because of the design of the newer gen tires, IMHO, not a good thing to use... but a patch, properly done is always acceptable!
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,573
Likes: 5,609
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
good point. the term plug goes back to the days when you shot a rubber plug that looks sorta like a mushroom into the hole in the tire.
the "head" would act as a patch, and the "stem" was supposed to seal the hole.
i have not seen a tire plug in over 30 years. for the past 30 years we now use a rubberized fiber cord that is stuck into the hole in the tire. once it dries it becomes sealed and next to impossible to remove.
the "head" would act as a patch, and the "stem" was supposed to seal the hole.
i have not seen a tire plug in over 30 years. for the past 30 years we now use a rubberized fiber cord that is stuck into the hole in the tire. once it dries it becomes sealed and next to impossible to remove.
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Southern California
I remember those.... The gas station I worked at was originally built in the 50's or earlier..... there was a cabinet in the back room and had those..... and yes, too old to use
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