I just found a nail in my bacj tire. It's almost in the side wall. I wasn't planning on buying new tires until the spring. Can this be plugged? I don't want some Goodyear tech school 17 year old working in my car. Should I go to a dealer? I have never had a flat or damaged tire in any car I have ever owned, so sorry for the dumb questions.

 

be safe and buy another tire.

 

How many miles on it? Where is the nail and how close to that edge?

Most folks will tell you not only buy the tire, but buy TWO tires - yep...you want even tread on both sides. It sucks, but you'll get used to it.

You can plug some tires (yeah, I'm the Plug Guy, you know)....it reduces the speed rating one notch, and you can't do track events with plugged tires, and it's not highly recommended.

As for sources...check your local PCA folks, ask who does top notch wheel/tire stuff in your area.

Check with Damon@tirerack.com - and use the link in the upper corner of this board to order your tires - fast and cheap!

 

I have about 14,000 miles on the Piloy Sports. I was going to buy new tires in the Spring being that I won't be driving the car in the winter. I guess I have to buy 2 rears and I'll replace t he fronts in the Spring. Should I go to the PS2's?

 

Thanks for the...eh...PLUG Eric! Get it PLUG!

Heh heh he, I kill me......

Anyhow, if the nail is within an inch or so of the shoulder, it probaly isn't sticking through the steel belts that make up the tread cap. And you really can't plug a tire through just the rubber - there just isn't anything there to hold the plug in but the glue, which isn't enough. Can you include a pic of the location? If you choose to try, and the nail isn't wider than 1/4", have the tire dismounted and a "mushroom", or "cap plug installed from the inside. May work, may not..... But if you push the car at all (anything more than average driving), I'd replace it to be safe. If you are down more than 25-30% of the tread, buy two.

If you need a new one, I would appreciate the business.

Read more at:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=77

 

Damon:

I sent you an email with a pic to damon@tirerack.com

Joe

 

Be safe, get a couple of new tires. It sounds like you need to replace the tires soon anyways. If you plug the tire and get even 1000 miles out of it, you are only saving 1/15 the price of a new tire or $20 per tire. A tire plug will cost $10-20 so your net savings for 2 tires in additional tread life is only $20 and that's assuming you will get another 1000 miles out of them. Look at it this way. If you got 14k miles out of the rears, you did 5k better than me on my old 996 cab. Don't even think about it... just do it for safety's sake.

 

One thing people tend top forget with a nail in the tire is the nail may not have penetrated into the air chamber. Pull the nail partially out and if you don't get a rush of air, you're home free. If you do, push the nail back in and follow Damons advice regarding the plug/patch.

 

Sorry Joe, this absolutely cannot be saved. It's too close to the shoulder. It has to be replaced.

 

Yep, she's a goner.

 

Tire plugs will NOT hold when the sidewall gets nailed! I would try it on other cars, but not a performance car. Be safe.

 

Get tire/wheel insurance through Fidelity at your dealership - I've had at least 5 tires and 1 wheel destroyed by nails, etc here in the city and they have replaced everything for free every time! It's only $450 and you get coverage for up to $2000... After you go through the 2K buy another policy immediately - great investment!

 

like others have said, i would get 2 new tires now to be safe. plugs can be used for some tires but a patch from the inside is better. i wouldnt do either on this type or tire though.
as far as replacements, i have always heard to get matching tires front and rear. has to do with the tread pattern and traction. you want all 4 tires to have the same traction properties. im no expert though.

 

Wouldn't that idea be negated by virtue of having staggered tire sizes? A wider tire would have more traction than a narrow one.

 

Way to close to the sidewall, shes done.