Tire Mystery.

[Chris Wilson]

I was changing the shocks on my truck today when I ran across this.  I don't quite understand it either because these tires were bought new 5k miles ago at Discount Tire.  I've had one replaced due to a nail in the sidewall and I've had one repaired there due to another puncture, but it's their policy not to plug tires.  They patch them.  Outside of that the only place the truck has been since they were mounted is to have the front end aligned and I watched them do that, didn't leave the truck for a minute.  It looks like two plugs to me.  I'm at a loss for how to explain this, but I'm going to take it by there on Monday.



One is in the lug, one is between them?

[GotTorque?]

Chris, almost every reputable place will follow the NHTSA guidelines for fixing tires.  A proper repair consists of a plug AND a patch. 

It looks like you have two repairs on that tires.  Most likely, if the shop did it right, you'll have two patches underneath.  They are pretty close together, though.

Maybe they meant that they wouldn't just do a patch.

[01_blue]

Do you mean that you've only taken that tire in once to have ONE puncture fixed and now it looks like you have two?

[Chris Wilson]

Funny, I've watched them do repairs numerous times and I've never seen them plug a tire.  They always take it off the rim and patch it from the inside.  I didn't know that you could do both.  The plugs I've seen in the past were pushed in and left two peices of the plug sticking out which they then trimmed.  Our shop at work will plug tires without dismounting the tires and I've watched them do it on occasion. 

I'm going to question them about it and see what they have to say.

[GotTorque?]

From NHTSA's website...

Tire Repair

The proper repair of a punctured tire requires a plug for the hole and a patch for the area inside the tire that surrounds the puncture hole. Punctures through the tread can be repaired if they are not too large, but punctures to the sidewall should not be repaired. Tires must be removed from the rim to be properly inspected before being plugged and patched.

You should always plug AND patch a puncture in the tread area.

Here's the link... http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/TireSafety/ridesonit/brochure.html

[Chris Wilson]

Ok, thanks,  I did not know that. 

[GotTorque?]

No problem!

-your resident tire Nazi   

[BetterDays]

From NHTSA's website...

Tire Repair

The proper repair of a punctured tire requires a plug for the hole and a patch for the area inside the tire that surrounds the puncture hole. Punctures through the tread can be repaired if they are not too large, but punctures to the sidewall should not be repaired. Tires must be removed from the rim to be properly inspected before being plugged and patched.

You should always plug AND patch a puncture in the tread area.

Here's the link... http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/TireSafety/ridesonit/brochure.html

And if anyone knows tires, it's this one...

And superchargers, and suspension, and looking good.....
(just not starting a car at work...)