I had one about like that once and had a hard time getting a tire place to fix it because they said it was too close to the sidewall. I eventually found a place to try it after I told them I understood the risks and wouldn't blame them if it didn't work. It worked until I could afford a new set of tires.
No.
I've tried to fix one of those, with a patch-plug (it plugs and it patches!). It stayed sealed for about 10 miles and then the tire flexing make the patch pull away from the inside of the tire and the flexing made the hole open and close and leak around the plug. And that's the story of how I had sweet 255/50R15 takeoff tires on my T-bird for a day.
Well for right now I plugged it myself with two rope plugs in both holes that bastard made. Gotta trip 3hrs one way to make tomorrow so that is going to be the spare to my spare for now.
And damn you VW.... For making the spare full size but not the same damn size!!!!
Nope, junk it. Even if you do manage to get it to hold air, odds are good it will come apart eventually.
Yeah, let that one go man
In college I had one last about 200 miles on my buick before a spectacular blow out on the highway. Ended up having to buy whatever pep boys had on hand two hundred miles from home as the spare turned out to be flat.
Oh and the spare had a 12a sitting on top of it that I had to move to find out it was flat. Yes a fully dressed 12a will fit in the closed trunk of a 98 park avenue.
I recently spent some time with a friend who's a tire engineer for one of the big, big tire companies so, naturally, we discussed tire engineering.
Just think of the forces that a tire encounters, he said. In just one revolution you're going to slam its tread into the pavement, drag its face across the pavement, and then subject the entire body to tremendous g-forces--and that's without even going on track or generating major slip angles. Now picture that at 60 mph.
i've gotten thousands of miles on a couple of tires with punctures in about that same place that i put the cheap rope plugs in.
Same here. Plug is fine
This is the one place that rope plugs are better, rope plug and forget it.
I've plugged those and had them last the life of the tire, I've also plugged them and had them fail in under 100 miles. I'd plug it.
I did this to one of the tires on our lil tractor. It held for a couple weeks until I could get a new one. Of course top speed is 12mph and we never come close to hitting it.
Knurled wrote: No. I've tried to fix one of those, with a patch-plug (it plugs and it patches!). It stayed sealed for about 10 miles and then the tire flexing make the patch pull away from the inside of the tire and the flexing made the hole open and close and leak around the plug. And that's the story of how I had sweet 255/50R15 takeoff tires on my T-bird for a day.
This illustrates why you should always discard an on road tire with damage on the sidewall or shoulders. The flexing combined with the damage often leads to delamination. Anybody who's ever played with a rubber glove or old inner tube knows that rubber tears a lot easier once it's been damaged.
A plug and patch is going to do what you describe BECAUSE of how it's affixed. I don't recommend using a rope plug at any time but in this case a rope plug will work where a "real" plug won't.
If it was run flat then throw it away.
Btw: I don't just play a tire repairman on TV, I'm one in real life to.
I was a tire monkey back in my college days, and after seeing tires come apart due to sidewall damage, I won't patch my own tires past the edge of the tire shoulder. Looks like you are about an inch too far down, IMHO.
I've put in roughly a bajillion rope plugs and always liked them in the tread section, I've never had any problems with them not lasting. But in this situation I would either A)call that one junk, replace it, B)plug it and call it a spare if it holds air C)plug it and drive on it until I could get a replacement on payday. I would not plug it and call it fixed.
According to tire manufacturer, the tire is junk. According the company that makes plugs and patches, the tire is perfectly repairable, with either a patch or plug, as long as there is no underinflation damage.
In my experience, a properly buffed, high quality patch will stay on there for the tread life of the tire.
In reply to Streetwiseguy:
Source? I've never heard any official recommendation to attempt repair on a speed rated passenger car tire anywhere but the tread area away from the shoulders.
Not to say I don't break the rules, I've never had a problem with a properly installed rope plug (pull valve core, ream hole, slather hole with cement, slather plug with cement, insert, let dry a while, clip plug to near flush, inflate) in the normally acceptable repair zone. As it's my understanding the concern surrounding plugs is a improperly installed one might lead to air leaking between the tread and carcass, leading to separation. Tons of rubber cement seems to prevent that.
For me, on a three hour trip, junk it and get a replacement. Unless it's 3 hours through city streets and not 3 hours through the middle of nowhere down the freeway.
Especially if the car will be loaded out for said 3 hour trip. Depending on the potential for disaster, a $100 (give or take) for a replacement is cheaper than a long tow, insurance deductible, or emergency room fee. Even if you just get stuck and have somebody come get you, that's gas money anyway.
i would trash it, i dont plug or patch anything damaged in the shoulders if its going on the street. my old trail rig on the other hand had plugs everywere. even managed to fill a tear with 7 plugs
A couple of the tire places near here no longer do any sort of tire repairs or sell used tires. Why? Insurance. Their insurance companies will no longer cover the costs of suits from repair or used tire failures and resultant damage or injuries.
Its understandable. People tend to develop amnesia regarding any promise to NOT hold them responsible if it doesnt work. And if they are killed in a crash, relatives are sure to sue if they find out about the used or repaired tire and it might have contributed in any way.
Regarding that tire. Too close to the sidewall for my tastes...too much flexing in that area.
Kenny_McCormic wrote: In reply to Streetwiseguy: Source? I've never heard any official recommendation to attempt repair on a speed rated passenger car tire anywhere but the tread area away from the shoulders. Not to say I don't break the rules, I've never had a problem with a properly installed rope plug (pull valve core, ream hole, slather hole with cement, slather plug with cement, insert, let dry a while, clip plug to near flush, inflate) in the normally acceptable repair zone. As it's my understanding the concern surrounding plugs is a improperly installed one might lead to air leaking between the tread and carcass, leading to separation. Tons of rubber cement seems to prevent that.
If I was less tired and beat up from miserable electronic issues that taxed my soul this week, I'd scan the recommended patch sheet from my plug and patch supplier- Some German outfit. As far as speed ratings go, they certainly do get more careful the higher the rating. I was shocked at what they recommend on crown and sidewall repair.
Part of the point of my story was the guys that sell tires want you to buy a tire, the guys who sell patches want you to buy patches.
And its not rubber cement- its vulcanizing fluid.
Well....
It lasted 2 days and 300 miles. New one goes on Thursday morning until next spring. 
I just plugged a Michelin about half-way down the sidewall. Granted, it's for the rear of a drift car, so I don't expect it to last long regardless. Should be interesting to see if it makes it a couple sessions come spring next year.
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