Guys,I recently had a flat tire on my newly aquired '94 F150, everything went well knowing going into it that I was unfamiliar with all the stuff on this truck to change a flat with.
Now....I went to get the tire PATCHED from the inside like I've heard that is the only correct way to do it on Radials, when the tire shop service writer tried to pull a fast one on me...he filled out the service slip in short hand, and put a BIG circle where the price was to go, but filled in no price, when I questioned this he said the tire must be re-balanced after the patching was done, which I've never had done before, never had any problems, wanted to charge me $18.00 plus tax to do this, so I said no, and took my tire home and plugged it with my kit, and plugs, that acording to dirrections is designed to plug RADIAL tires any way, this is NOT the first time I've plugged a Radial, and won't be the last, never had any problems with any plugs I've done either, I have heard that running the reemer into the tire can disturb the steel belts causing problems later, but I know the majority of stuff I've pulled out of my tires has already gone deep enough into the tire to let air escape, and disturb the belts, so why should I pay someone $18.00 to patch & re-balance????

 

The reason they want to re-balance it is because, when you remove the tire from the rim the wheel weights can be disturbed or the tire not put exactly back how it was positioned on the rim.
You can mark the position of the tire on the rim before removal, and put it back close to where it was,but its not foolproof.
I would just have it patched and balanced if you plan on running these tires for a while.

 

I keep a plug kit in all my autos. I've had to plug my Bronco on the trails before and never had troubles. There is a plugged tire on my vette right now, and I have driven that one over 140+ mph.

 

i work for a tire recycling plant once, and they would alow 2 plugs in the tread of a tire, considered for a remould.... so i guess there's no problem with plugs.

 

I would've let them patch it if not for the "fast one", but I would still get it patched if there is a great deal of tread left on the tire. Personally, If the tire is gonna pe replaced soon, I Don't hesitate to plug that bad boy!

 

I have run many a plugged tire myself but as far as them wanting to balance it when they were done... sorry but I gotta say of course they would want to. your taking the tire off the rim so it will be a pain in the butt to match up again and then your adding a patch to the inside of the driving part of the tire which will definitely affect the balance. That being said I dont think I ever spent $18 on balancing one tire, even when I had the mag rims that ya have to use stick on weights with. Find another tire shop and get em to patch and balance the tire if you are keeping it another 20,000 miles and drive fast, otherwise enjoy it as you have it.