Tire Dilemma, Talk to me

Okay, I've got a set of tires on my car that only have about 5k on them. One of them got a puncture right where the tread meets the sidewall. I've been driving on it with a plug in it for several months, and have had no problem except that it eventually starts leaking again. I know why it starts to leak, because there isn't enough heat to vulcanize it. I also know you shouldn't patch a sidewall, but my problem is that they don't make this tire anymore and I don't wan to have to scrap 3 perfect tires and buy four new ones. Any tricks or suggestions? Just don't bother telling me that I can't pug a sidewall and that I'll have to buy four new tires - I obviously already know that's the correct thing to do. But what GR fix is ever the correct thing to do?

scrap it not safe to have a plug there... but if really wanna vulcanize it... insert plug. cover in rubber cement. light on fire till it burns out then repeat

from the really bad idea dept: run the tire low for a while, this will put some heat into the sidewall, and plug

otherwise, you've got 3 full size spares

Whats so bad about replacing one tire with a similarly styled, same size tire?

Might be worth the time/effort to find an honest tire shop and let them make the assessment. Having been in the biz for many years, punctures at the tread/sidewall transition are an iffy proposition and should be inspected from the inside; you can't see the damage until the tire is dismounted.

With only 5K on the tires, there shouldn't be any problem with replacing a single tire - unless you're running a really soft compound with a lot of wear on the remaining three. Even then, a single new tire probably wouldn't cause any real issues. Perceived issues are a whole different can of worms, though.

bravenrace wrote: but my problem is that they don't make this tire anymore

That kind of kills the buy 1 part.

neon4891 wrote:

bravenrace wrote: but my problem is that they don't make this tire anymore

That kind of kills the buy 1 part.

Yes. I would have already done that if I could have. I've even looked pretty hard for a used one, but no luck. I could buy a similar tire if I could find one, but I can't find one that looks enough like it to satisfy me.

KATYB wrote: scrap it not safe to have a plug there... but if really wanna vulcanize it... insert plug. cover in rubber cement. light on fire till it burns out then repeat

You didn't read my post all the way to the end, did you? I've done this many times with absolutely no problem. This is one of those rules that people follow without regard to its intent. Sure, playing it safe you shouldn't do it, but in reality it often works just fine as long as you don't run it low on pressure or abuse it, especially on modern tires. That's not my problem. Getting it to seal and not leak is my problem.

exactly hence y i sugested the multiple burn with rubber cement .

I use to put tubes in radial tires all the time. A buddy of mine worked at a tire shop and we would get the "road hazard tires" and put radial tubes in them. I had a 460cid F150 that would eat tires.

You need a mushroom headed plug. Not sure these are commonly available anymore. Or a small vulcanized patch properly applied from the inside.

Edit: Apparently they are still available:

http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/product/3114/Stop_and_Go2

neon4891 wrote:

bravenrace wrote: but my problem is that they don't make this tire anymore

That kind of kills the buy 1 part.

Missed that part; my bad..........

Another alternative is to buy two similar tires and save the extra as a full-size spare. Eliminating a mini-spare can only be a good thing.

On one of my cars it came with Goodyear F1's. Damaged a sidewal on one. GY no longer makes F1 in my size. Found another tire with the same specs. Ran it until the F1's needed replacing

There is a hybrid plug and patch system that MOST tire shops have. I have successfully plugged "crown" holes with them. The issue is most tire stores have rules in place to protect themselves in case one of their managers lets one of their installers perform such a repair. Find an authorized TECH tire shop and they can hook you up if anyone can.

Unless its a competition car, buying one tire of a different brand isn't as bad as tire salesmen want you to think.

take a look at the "ratings" for things like dry and wet traction on whatever tire replaced it from the same manufacturer. Often times they will make little updates to a tread pattern or add 1/2% more silica, but they're functionally usually almost identical.

Have you tried some of the larger distributors - see if they have any NOS? I have some connections in the tire world, want to post the size, brand, and type... I'll see if I can find you one.

If its been properly plugged, it should not leak. I have installed hundreds and hundreds of plugs, and providing the plug has been run up the same hole the nail made, and the hole is not too large, they will last the life of the tire.
Are you using stretchy rubber plugs or the leather/whatever things?