Patching versus plugging tires?

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I used to patch tires from the inside at Sears when radials first became a *thing* back in the early '70s. Since then I've seen the "fad" go from patching to plugging back to patching. I picked up a Slime plugging kit at the parts house yesterday, but their disclaimer on the package says this is just an emergency fix. I also read that disclaimer by one reviewer in one comment at their product listing on Amazon.

What say you who have done it? Do you trust a plug for the "long haul"? This is on an F150 4x4 so I don't want to be changing tires on the side of the road, ever (not even in a Prius). I don't really ever haul much or tow so that is not a concern



** Boring backstory. I've got a skinny nail stuck in one of my tires, and it is a very slow leak. I mean it didn't drop a pound all day yesterday, but it has dropped a few pounds since I picked it up sometime recently and I found it in the tread so I know it needs to be repaired. I have an air compressor to top it off. It's a couple of inches from the shoulder of the sidewall in the tread so it should be easily repairable.

But, my shop can't get me in till Wednesday. This also happened last year before I moved with a different shop, so I decided to take the tire off myself and drop it off at the shop at the time in hopes of getting it repaired sooner. But it's on an F150. *groan* Too darn heavy to want to screw with unless I have to, which I don't.
 
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Grits said:
Last tire I had fixed was plugged. Never had any problems with it. As a matter of fact I never had a problem with a tire that has been plugged

Patch to plug back to patch. Seems like a marketing scheme to sell more of a product.
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Thanks Grits.
I did read one blurb somewhere last night that said when radials were first being plugged years ago that it slightly "warped" the radial and caused ride issues. Maybe for the same reasons we didn't rotate radials in an X pattern back in the day (front to back instead) so they all rolled in one direction for the life of the tire (maybe).

I also read in the same blurb that a different material is used now for plugs so that the plug "melts" to the tire with the heat of rolling friction, and eliminates the aforementioned "ride' issue, but I couldn't tell you if that is true or not.
 
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Being in Construction I carry a plug kit with me at all times. I can plug a tire in a couple minutes. I also carry a little
Compressor with me also. I've
Never had a issue with a plug.
I even was one of the few that would plus tires on sportbikes and never think twice about it.
 
I’ve got a plugged tire on the Fusion right now. I’d swear it has 40,000 miles on it right now.
I use them as a permanent fix with the kit I have.
 
Cited at the bottom of the blog post below, apparently tire manufacturers are not advocates for "plug only" repairs. Although I'm sure a corporate lawyer somewhere had something to do with this.
https://txtire.com/blog/view/fixing-flat-tires-tire-plug-vs-radial-patch

Since this is such a slow leak, think I'll top off, and take it in Wednesday. I'll still keep the plug kit and compressor in the truck for one of those "fast" leaks.
 
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Goofyfoot2001 said:
I plug motorcycle tires without worry.
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On a motorcycle forum I use to be one guys would always ask could they be plugged. Most of the guys would give the speah about "Are you willing to put your life on a he line for a plug" I would always offer to buy the tire if they wouldn't plug it. I got a few pretynnee tires for 20 bucks each.
 
I’ve seen more plugs fail than I have patches. This is coming from the big truck world so that may make a difference. There are pull through patches now which is a patch with a plug attached to it, I didn’t think that they did any better than a standard patch.
 
plugs from the inside are great (referring to what Dan described just above me - its like a patch on the inside with a plug that sticks out on the outside,, they then cut it flush to match tread)

Ive had several car AND BIKE tires plugged with zero issues
 
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DCGallim said:
I’ve seen more plugs fail than I have patches. This is coming from the big truck world so that may make a difference. There are pull through patches now which is a patch with a plug attached to it, I didn’t think that they did any better than a standard patch.
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How often, would you say, youve seen flats on a truck?
Seeing all the junk in a landfill, I was surprised to not see more punctures

Sorry for the OT/derail, just a question that came to me when reading your post
 
DCGallim said:
I’ve seen more plugs fail than I have patches. This is coming from the big truck world so that may make a difference. There are pull through patches now which is a patch with a plug attached to it, I didn’t think that they did any better than a standard patch.
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In 30+ years of plugging tires on my vehicles and friends I have never seen one come out. Not all holes can be plugged though. These all were standard passenger cars and trucks. Don't know if that makes a difference .
 
First off if a tire store could not get you in to patch a tire for a few days,( 15 min job tops) I beleave I would find a diffrent store to many good fast ones out there to have that mess.

I have used both on the farm over the years with decent success but have had better success patching one on the inside and trust it more for high speed critcal applications. Not all plugs are created equal (had some work loose) and I attribute that to some of the mixed success over the years other times they seem to work better on certain holes than others on install.
 
Plugs really depend on the size of the hole. If the plug is super tight, like you have to put your body weight on the plunger to get the plug in, they’re fine. If they slide in so easily that they try to move around when you’re getting the plunger out, make it temporary and go get a patch.

Mom had a small screw in her tire a few weeks ago and found it flat one afternoon. I took the tire off, and the home was so small I had to pump the tire up so it would hold up to me pushing the plug in. Hasn’t leaked a pound yet. If it ever leaks any i will take it and have it patched but so far it’s homding up great. I use safety seal plugs btw. They’re kinda reddish brown, gooey and very sticky.
 
I’ve plugged 100’s of tires, never had an issue if-
Make sure it’s @ 1.5” from edge of tread (sidewalk flex works them loose) and tight. Test with soapy water when properly inflated.
 
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I have the advantage of having a tire machine on site. So, I normally would patch a tire properly if given the opportunity. I carry plug kits in my vehicles though. Being in construction, I use them somewhat regularly. I don't often bother to pull the plugs and patch them unless the tire is coming off the rim anyway.
 
Personal life I plug anything small, roughly 1/4" or less. Safety Seal kit most of the time.

Professional life plug and patch, combo unit if I can get it, can't recall one of mine that failed, but I haven't done that many, only a stand in tire guy.
 
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I've been using those rubber covered rope plugs since I have been driving. They usually last as long as the tire. I think I have only had one leak on me, and thjat is on almost 40yrs of driving and countless plugs. I have a couple plugs in the car I drive now. They are about as permanent as you can get.
 
Personal stuff, I use safety seal plug. Proffesional stuff toss the tire and put a new one on for emergency response, heavy duty and plug patch combo for all other light duty stuff. I have seen several plugs leak over the years but I 100% agree with @Burt Gummer sentiments on the plug.
 
Patches are better. Plugs are just fine. As mentioned depends on size of puncture and location.

If someone can plug their tire in the first place they probably can tell if a plug will work or if the hole is to big.

Since your taking it in get it patched. Imo.

Used to be in the interstate street sweeping business. So I've plugged wayyyy to many tires. Many a time put couple plugs in a hole just to make it hold air through the shift:eek:(low speed operations btw). Always patched those bigger ones the next morning though.

Never have had a reasonable plug repair leak or fail. Our skidsteer in the yard would look like the tires had orange acne towards the end of their life:D but they all held air lol


I'm in construction now so I always keep a plug kit. Used it for others many times but I've been lucky. First use for myself was a few months ago. I've had my ranger for 5+ years and didn't know it had a tpms system til the light came on:rolleyes:. Nail found, plugged, still holding fine after 10k or so miles.
 
Jp8819 said:
First off if a tire store could not get you in to patch a tire for a few days,( 15 min job tops) I beleave I would find a diffrent store to many good fast ones out there to have that mess.

I have used both on the farm over the years with decent success but have had better success patching one on the inside and trust it more for high speed critcal applications. Not all plugs are created equal (had some work loose) and I attribute that to some of the mixed success over the years other times they seem to work better on certain holes than others on install.
Click to expand...

^^^ This has been my experience as well. The only time that I’ve ever had a patch fail was when it was close to a sidewall. I HAVE had plugs leak over the years - maybe 10% so my preference is a patch. I’ll plug as a temporary fix only.

Dorton - great video! I learned something and it makes sense. Thanks for sharing.
 
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Take the tire to Discount Tire. They will patch it, with the patch/plug from inside, even if you did not buy the tires from them at no charge. They will not patch a tire that has had a plug in it.
 
HMP said:
How often, would you say, youve seen flats on a truck?
Seeing all the junk in a landfill, I was surprised to not see more punctures

Sorry for the OT/derail, just a question that came to me when reading your post
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If you look at the tires we run they have big thick lugs and deep valleys to minimize damage to the tires.
 
Majicmike said:
In 30+ years of plugging tires on my vehicles and friends I have never seen one come out. Not all holes can be plugged though. These all were standard passenger cars and trucks. Don't know if that makes a difference .
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I’ve seen multiple come out of big trucks.
 
We probably do 10-15 tire repairs a day at the shop I work at.Most are plugs but that does depend on the size and angle of the hole as well as the location of the hole.A plug or patch is only as good as the person installing it.
 
I can plug a tire myself, so that's what I usually do. If a hole is too big for a plug, that tire needs to be replaced. I had one plug leak, had to pull it and double up. Held fine after that. Plugs are life-of-the-tire repairs in my opinion.

Sent from my SM-J737V using Tapatalk
 
The company will not let me plug a customers car because of insuracnce issues. I only plug my stuff I use Tech tire plugs they are only sold to shops but in 32 years I have never seen one of the tech brand fail. I have seen plenty of the safety seal ones leak though. The last front tire on my bike got a nail in it 50 miles after I bought it and it got plugged and saw many 100mph+ runs in its life.
 
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HMP said:
How often, would you say, youve seen flats on a truck?
Seeing all the junk in a landfill, I was surprised to not see more punctures

Sorry for the OT/derail, just a question that came to me when reading your post
Click to expand...

I would say we do at least one a day on 50ish truck that run into the landfill 4-5 days a week. Averaged out it's probably closer to 3 a day.

We for some dumb reason don't repair in house anymore, we change very few refuse truck tires for wear.

I all but guarantee you could walk up to any truck in the refuse fleet and find at least one bolt or nail in a tire.
 
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I stopped at an old Goodyear shop since I was close, they worked me right in (on a Monday!) and said they normally plug, but will patch on request. I had them patch it. Good to go.
 
Beef15 said:
I would say we do at least one a day on 50ish truck that run into the landfill 4-5 days a week. Averaged out it's probably closer to 3 a day.

We for some dumb reason don't repair in house anymore, we change very few refuse truck tires for wear.

I all but guarantee you could walk up to any truck in the refuse fleet and find at least one bolt or nail in a tire.
Click to expand...
Yep. When tire salesmen come to me and start talking about tire longevity I always tell them to save their time. Steers might make it, front drives might get lucky, rear drives never stand a chance.
 
HMP said:
How often, would you say, youve seen flats on a truck?
Seeing all the junk in a landfill, I was surprised to not see more punctures

Sorry for the OT/derail, just a question that came to me when reading your post
Click to expand...

The tires on our trucks are also thicker ply overall. Meaning they are harder to puncture. In 16 years I don't think I've ever had a slow leak, only catastrophic failures. lol They are really exciting.

DCGallim said:
I’ve seen multiple come out of big trucks.
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Yeah but that's 100+ PSI tire pressure compared to 35-45 PSI. I would NEVER trust a plug on my rig. Buddy found a tire with a screw in it at a stop, called breakdown and left the trailer in the door. When he went to swap it the next day it had a new tire on it. WE don't really mess around with that stuff, just fix it.

For my personal cars, all plugs. The only patch I have had was on my new truck. The tire place found it. I was running nitrogen so I really didn't look since I couldn't fix it. Next set with have air, and I'll plug them myself. I've plugged at least one sidewall on a nearly new tire. Really wasn't in the mood to replace a new tire. Ran that one to replacement.
 
Majicmike said:
On a motorcycle forum I use to be one guys would always ask could they be plugged. Most of the guys would give the speah about "Are you willing to put your life on a he line for a plug" I would always offer to buy the tire if they wouldn't plug it. I got a few pretynnee tires for 20 bucks each.
Click to expand...

Sold my harley with tubeless tires for a KLR650 with tub tires. I hate tube tires. WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WHY TUBE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
My math was a little off.
62 refuse trucks took 550 tires in the past 12 months. 2.something a day 5 days a week.
 
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