How long is a tire patch good for?

[jussi]

So I'm driving along and suddenly hear the hissing sound of what would turn out to be a flat tire. Evidently I ran over something metallic and punctured it. The he tires are old and definitely should be replaced. Problem is I was planning in selling it later this year and get a truck. So the question is should I shell out a couple hundred bucks for new tires or just patch it. How long can one drive on a patch?

[Bruce Cohen]

If the hole is on the sidewall, get a new tire, or increase your life insurance by a lot.
If the hole is in the tread, a plug can be put in, go to a reliable tire store. The only down side is you shouldn't drive at high speeds (70-80) for long periods of time. Sometimes the plug or the tire will overheat and fail. Which is why most service facilities on controlled (toll road) highways won't plug a hole.

Good luck,

Bruce

[jussi]

Do U think it would be safer to ride around on the doughnut spare or a patched tire. I hate to buy new tires on a car I'm planning on selling in a few months but it sounds like that's the safest option. Maybe just increase my asking price by a hundred.

[wardprobst]

Safest to buy new tires, add the cost to the car, hopefully will sell quicker with new tires. For me a properly patched tire is more comfortable than the donut.
DP

[cork58]

O.K. here's my take on it. Don't plug it! Unlike off road tires vehicle tires have a steel cord that could be damaged while reaming out the hole for the plug.

When a tire shop fixes a hole in a tire they use a patch on the inside and will usually last the life of the tire if done correctly. The worst thing that you can do is to add "fix a flat" which no tire shop will stand behind the repair because of the glycol used in the manufacture of all the different fix a flat in a cans out there.

Now on the tire wear, if you are on the tread bars and have an accident it is treated just like any defective parts you may have that caused the accident. Even if you were not at fault a smart *&^ lawyer will sue you, then the insurance company (not all states but most). Your local tire shop can show you the tread bars on the tires.

Dan

[jussi]

I didn't use fix-a-flat. I brought it to my local tire store and had them patch it. I'm definitely leaning toward new tires though. My luck I will end up in accident costing thousands to save a few hundred on new tires.

[Pappy]

I take flats to Discount Tire. I generally buy my tires from them, but they will repair a flat free even if they didn't sell the tires. No reputable shop will repair a sidewall hole.

Patches have changed a lot. The ones most of the shops use now have a small plug in the center that fills the hole from the inside and the patch seals to the tire around it.

[atgcpaul]

Well, now you guys are scaring me. I've had the same SUV tire patched twice in the tread at two different times. The older patch was done at least 20K miles ago.

Car is going to the dealer for an oil change tomorrow. I know (and I've been waiting) that they will ask if I want new tires--it's time. If they beat Costco, then I'm game.

[LCHIEN]

Do U think it would be safer to ride around on the doughnut spare or a patched tire. I hate to buy new tires on a car I'm planning on selling in a few months but it sounds like that's the safest option. Maybe just increase my asking price by a hundred.

oh those donut spare (compact spares) are not very good. I think they tell you not to run more than 50 miles on them and not to go more than 50 MPH. On top of that they are a different diameter so your differential will get a good workout. They have a high inflation pressure and the tread will wear out in the 50 miles you drive. Not real sure about the handling characteristics of said tire but I'm guessing its nowhere near the original due to the high pressure and limited construction.

Also the compact spares specify being kept at 60 PSI (can't remember exactly) but chances are its been in you trunk many years and you can't remember when you last checked the pressure so likely its below what they recommend.

OTOH, a patched and I'm sure even a plugged tire (not in the sidewall) will take you many miles more with less other problems. I'm sure that's the way to go over using the compact spare.

See this article on compact spares:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...jsp?techid=237

[jussi]

I should have mentioned that the puncture did occur on the treads not sidewal.

[dbhost]

Disclaimer here. My first career was as an auto mechanic, specializing in suspensions and AC systems. Tires are a primary component of the suspension system...

Plugs should be considered temporary at best. A well vulcanized patch will last the life of the tire.

As others have mentioned above, no reputable shop / tech will install a patch or a plug in the shoulder or sidewall of a tire. It's just not worth the risk to not replace the tire that is damaged in such a critical area.

I had a patch in the passengers rear tire on my truck, when the tires had 5K miles on them due to some idiot losing a box of drywall screws on the road. The patch lasted until the tires wore out, 45K miles later...

[TB Roye]

I seen guys in my neighborhood run around with 4 of the donuts on their cars, they think it is cool(I am not kidding) I have also seen the same idiot with 24" on the back and donuts on the front, scary.

Tom

[JimD]

There are different kinds of patches. The kind you can do yourself, I have a kit, has a sticky thick thread you push into the hole with an oversized needle with a handle on it. They are not great but may get you home. Some people drive a long time on these patches but I will be careful if I ever do and will probably only do it until I can replace the tire.

If you go to a good tire place, they will demount the tire and inspect the inside for damage. Only if there is none, will they plug it. The plug they use will have a patch to seal to the inside of the tire or a mushroom head to do the same thing. I would drive normally on this sort of plug, my wife is now. One of the run flats on her bimmer got a flat and we had our favorite tire place plug it. We use it normally.

A simple puncture with no cord damage in the tread area of the tire plugged from the insider with a proper plug is OK for continued normal use in my opinion. A sticky thread plug done from the outside is a bit shaky but better than standing there stranded. A donut is to get you to a tire repair place. The contact area is much too small for normal use.

[trungdok]

Disclaimer here. My first career was as an auto mechanic... tires had 5K miles on them ... lasted until the tires wore out, 45K miles later...

I think that summed up what you can expect. I plugged my own tires before and they lasted till the tread worn out with no problem. I wouldn't worry about it too much. The only thing is after you plugged it, using the sticky noodle-looking thread, you need to drive it around a few miles to get the tire warm up and let the noodle-looking thread set in. Don't just plug it and then wait till the next day to drive your car or else it might not seal correctly.

[MBG]

I shouldn't have read this (or maybe good I did). I plug-patch my tires all the time and never had a problem (maybe I don't drive fast enough).

Another alternative may be to look for a used tire.


Mike