Tire patch

I have a screw in my tire - too close to the sidewall for Discount to repair it. It holds air, but I don't know for how long - and the cheapo compressor I have is on it's last leg. ANY suggestions to repair this would be extremely appreciated. I just spent a ton of money over the summer for major engine repairs.

I have had similar repairs made before that lasted until I got new tires, but the two places I went to for help, refused to patch or plug. Just proceeded to berate me for not choosing Discount Tire with their road hazard over Tire Rack. :(

PICTURE:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...azzie/tire.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...zzie/tire2.jpg



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How close is the nail to the sidewall? If it's too close I probably wouldn't try and fix it, there's a reason most tire shops won't, it's dangerous. I'd probably just buy a cheap tire temporarily on CL or something.

If I were you I will do the plug thing myself. Not too hard to do, just messy. Wear your latex gloves. You can buy the kit from anywhere for less than $10 which is good for many repairs. The worse case is that it does not work and still has to get a new tire. For the first few days I would not drive too aggressive until I know if the plug will hold. I will also make sure I have the spare aired up and have tools to change out for the spare if/when you needed to.

I have plugged many of my own tires. It's easy -- just buy the kit and follow the directions.

This post is worthless without pictures of the tire. Otherwise we are all just guessing.....

I have always found that my local tire guy (Not a chain store just an independent shop) will fix dang near any tire I bring him.

Maybe plug AND patch? Or just buy some silicone and screw the screw in the rest of the way? I only drive to/from work - about 20 miles a day, grocery store - erands around town. No track, no autox - nothing fun. If I plug it myself, do I have to take the tire off the rim?

Your first post had a a few story lines going so let me ask this - Have you taken it anywhere other than Discount?

Discount has a corporate policy on fixing flats if the Screw is "X" Distance from the sidewall they will not fix it they don't care if your the Pope's Girlfriend.

An independent shop totally different set of policies.

My rule of thumb is:

If the screw/plug touches the ground, then go ahead and plug it. Discount will do nothing but yell at you because they want you to buy a new friggin tire - screw them. You can plug it yourself if you have a plugging kit, but you can also take it to an independent tire shop or service station and they'll do it for you. They might not even have to pull the wheel off the car. They'll prolly charge you $8-10, which is about what a plugging kit costs (before you forget where you put it and have to go buy another one).

I went to Discount first. Refused me. Went to a garage I passed on my way back home. Refused me, suggested I go to Discount because they can patch it. Stephen does the work on my car when needed, so I don't know a local shop to go to. I don't mind paying to get it patched/plugged - I just prefer to not buy a new tire right now. I posted a picture, don't know if it shows up, you may have to click the link. The purple around it is nail polish. My first instinct was to pull it out - then realized that was probably pretty dumb and when I found the hole again, put the purple polish on it, then put the screw back in it - then aired it up with my cheapo air compressor and drove it to Discount before all the air went out. It seems to be holding air "for now" - but will probably be flat by morning. I'm off today so idealy I'd like to get it fixed today. If you know someone around Allen, Plano, or even McKinney - or I'll just put the spare on for now.

Even the garage I stopped at suggested I buy my tires from Discount just for this type of situation - this just sucks.

One of my old tires had TWO plugs in it, one more into the sidewall than this one - of course the person that fixed it said that technically he wasn't supposed to. My point was, even though they weren't supposed to, it lasted until it was actually time to get new tires.

Thanks for the advice. If someone could point me in the direction of one of these elusive garages that will do the job, pleaaase by all means - send me an email.

I use plugs all the time (as recently as 3 days ago) and they've never failed. I plugegd the shoulder of an NT-01, ran on it several days after that at the track.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jrj512

I have plugged many of my own tires. It's easy -- just buy the kit and follow the directions.

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Hell I saw keno do it in the TMS parking lot one time... and if he can do it...

Where do you live? I'll plug it.

From the pics it appears to be fixable. I have done plugs closer to the edge and still OK at the track! I don't mind do it for you but I live so far from you. You may want to start calling the indepent 2nd hand tire stores, preferably those with Spanish speaking owners! I think plug is good enough and not have to take it off the wheel.

He means "fix the tire" when he says "plug it" Ken, not what you are offering to do.

Get Quan to do it. He's a pro!

Thank you Gab for the offer, that is VERY nice of you! Yes, Quan is a pro...to which I can testify to (see earlier mention of having a tire plugged in the past) - but I know he's busy these days. Looks like I may have it sorted out. Hopefully it will stay inflated long enough. I think my air compressor is toast. I saw your old post on this very topic...looking forward to learning how to do this...and will be picking up a new air compressor/jump starter as it appears the jump starter I have no longer holds a charge. Looks like patching and plugging isn't as big a deal as Discount Tire would like to make it out to be.

me "he"? just what is Ken offering to do?? Will find out soon enough...

Thanks Ken - now I have what I need for any future mishaps with screws and tires.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cArAzzIE

Thanks Ken - now I have what I need for any future mishaps with screws and tires.

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That's going in the FAQ...