Rear Tire Problem

[partssmann]

Went to check air in tires for C&C tomorrow and found low air pressure rear tire. See picture below, nail in rear tire. Does this mean new tire or patch? Probably just get a new tire even if can be patched.

 

[AJB]

I would just plug it... since it is in the tread. ... UNLESS -- you plan to put it on the track...then ...new tire.
andy (ajb)

 

[STORMCAT]

Plug it ...

 

[ChipBeck]

Plug or patch it.

Chip

 

[Specracer]

Patch from the inside, vs plug is what I would do. I carry a plug kit in the car if emergency road service if needed (vs the can of goo), but later would follow up with a patch.

 

[Cobraguy]

A high quality properly installed plug will last as long as the tire. I have plug kits (complete with a few small compressed air canisters) in all my vehicles. I use them often and have never had a failure. Driven appropriately your rear tires should not last more than a few seasons anyway��

 

[Sinovac]

A technically "proper" repair is to do an inside patch and a plug. The patch makes the tire airtight and the plug prevents water from entering from the outside and rotting the belts.

 

[PeteK]

Personally, I prefer a patch on the inside, but the mushroom head plugs work great too and don't require dismounting the tire. If you go that route WARNING: Do NOT let the tire repair place gouge out the hole with a "cleaning" tool (that's how almost all of them do it)--that just tears up additional belt fibers. Just pull out the nail/screw/whatever, and insert the patch (and if it's a screw, try to get hold of it with pliers and unscrew it to avoid more damage). Swab some rubber glue around the hole as you press in the plug and it will seal out any water. I wouldn't worry about water causing rot in the belts--you're not going to get 60Kmi and 5 years of use out of those tires anyway. And even for track use, I do not worry about patches or plugs for simple holes. If you're planning to go 200+ MPH in the Mile, well, you should be running Hoosiers anyway.