plugging trailer tires??

[bigdee]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

I've been driving over 40 years and have never used anything but plugs in tires, including the 10 years that I was competing in several autocrosses each month. Never had any problems at all. What's the very worst thing that's going to happen because of a tire repair (plug or patch)? It's going to have a slow leak and the tire will slowly go flat again. Put your spare on and keep on truckin' .......

Once you run a tire on low pressure, you're more likely to do internal damage to the plies that can't be detected by ANY means than suffer any damage that would be affected by your choice of a plug or patch.

I agree with this guy, good common sense article here on plugging vs patching:

http://www.artsautomotive.com/repairs-faq/65

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Once again,common sense prevails! Clean round puncture,plug it. Anything worse, throw tire away. If you have to use a tube or patch to hold air you need to replace the tire.

 

[Crownin' Around]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

Ayuh,.... Ain't fixed many tires have you,..??

If the tire ain't mounted, 'n aired up, you ain't plugging it,... Period...

Actually, I have repaired quite a few tires in my day..I am a TIA certified tire service instructor....

However, You are absolutely correct Bond-o! You cannot plug a tire without it on the rim and holding some air...I was thinking permanent repair (patch) when I wrote that...and must have had a brain fart. it was late what can I say.. sorry! :redface:

A plug is a quick fix to get you to a service station and not a permanent fix. A one or two piece patch and plug from the inside would be a permanent fix.

Sorry for mis-speaking.

 

[Crownin' Around]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

A plug is a quick fix to get you to a service station and not a permanent fix. A one or two piece patch and plug from the inside would be a permanent fix.

QUOTE]


I should clarify...this statement is based on industry standard. Everyone will have their own opinion of this.....and that is what makes this country great!

 

[Bondo]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

A plug is a quick fix to get you to a service station and not a permanent fix. A one or two piece patch and plug from the inside would be a permanent fix.

I should clarify...this statement is based on industry standard. Everyone will have their own opinion of this.....and that is what makes this country great!

Ayuh,... As We've pretty much figured out through Bruce's link,...

There's industry standards, 'n then there's Common Sense....

 

[wbc1957]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

"There's common sense", yeah right! The truth is that even if your string repair works, you have no real knowledge of the heat damage you already caused within the tire's inner liner that holds the air. It it got too hot, the air then starts to run through the layers and the tire then has vibrations and a possible blow-out. This is why no major tire manufacturer warranties a tire with a string plug repair. The tire is considered void, even if it fail elsewhere in the tire. Why? Because the air could have travelled around in the layers of the tire. Also, please note that the string repair is wrong based on its construction. A string is like a candle wick, and therefore when the goo wears out the string starts to suck water into the layers of the trie and rusts the steel belts, which leads to tire separation, Remember the Firestone 500? They failed due to the company's desire to save on cost by buying steel in large quanities and storing the steel outdoors until the tires were made. Big mistake! The only why to know your tire is safe, and therefore you vehicle and occupants are safe, is to have the inside of the tire checked before putting the tire back into use. I find it rediculous that several boat experts here would choose to offer poor advise on tire of which they have no knowledge, yet go off on someone for not following the basics of checking over their engine and outdrive before putting it to use. The tire is more serious, since it could cost lives before you even get to the ramp! People wake up!

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

Depends on the tire size. My experience with smaller trailer tires is that they don't do particulary well with either patches or plugs. In fact, my local tire repair guy, says that he won't patch small trailer tires at all - he claims that the patches don't work and he doesn't want to hassle of unhappy customers.

I have a tire distributor near me called "Area Wholesale." I guess they started out as wholesale only, but are now a retail dealer too. I buy a decent brand of trailer tires from them at excellent prices and have my tire guy do the mounting for a few bucks. My cost is usually about half the cost of a new tire/rim at wallyworld.



???

 

[Bondo]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

"There's common sense", yeah right! you have no real knowledge
Blah, blah, blah, blah...!

Ayuh,... Warranties are to Protect the Manufactuer,....
Not a statement of Common Sense....

You underestimate My abilities....

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

Patching a tire the right way.

http://classic.artsautomotive.com/TirePatch.htm

If you plug a tire you have no idea what damage is on the inside, bad cords, liner separated, and your out of balance.
Take the time and have a look to be safe.

 

[sqbtr]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

The OP's question was about trailer tires. Not high speed auto tires.

He doesn't state the size tire or trailer, or how many axles. Asking a generic question about tire repair will get you more different answers than the tire manufactures give you.

I've Been using safety seals for as long as I can remember. If used properly they will last the life of the tire.

Safety Seals are self vulcanizing but they require heat to work, sticking one in a fully laden 15,000 lb tandem trailer tire and pulling out of the parking lot, the plug will likely move from axle scrub

Putting one within 1" of the sidewall is asking for a sidewall blow out.

A tire that has been run low for any length of time WILL HAVE SEPERATION ISSUES.

Every tire has to be evaluated not only for the puncture damage, but, damage after the fact

Tires can cause a lot of damage when they come apart.... Don't cheap out, I run a single axle, I cary two covered new spares. I run Michelins on the tow vehicle, ever try to get a plug in a michelin........On the rare ocasion I've had to a big pry bar is your friend.

Never plug a steer tire


There's my .02, from my 35 yrs exp.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

deleted.

 

[Outsider]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

Then put a tube in it.

My keyboard shorted when I blew coffee out of my nose on that one ...

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

I have been using the string plugs for as long as i can remember.Never had a problem.
One of my Michelin LTX tires on my truck got a nail in it about a week after i bought the tires.
No way i was going to junk a 200 dollar tire.
The string plug has been it now for over 60k miles.I even tow my 5000 pound trailer and never think about the tire plug.

The only tires i would throw away with any type of leak is on my motorcycle.ANY repair on a motorcycle tire is insane.

 

[wbc1957]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

QUOTE: "I have been using the string plugs for as long as i can remember.Never had a problem. One of my Michelin LTX tires on my truck got a nail in it about a week after i bought the tires. No way i was going to junk a 200 dollar tire."

I see someone did not know how to shop. Any high quality tire like Michelin (which I also own, by the way) would come with a free road hazard warranty for at least the first year and prorated thereafter. It sounds to me you will have a problem with the factory warranty on quality control, if and when the tire develops a vibration and/or separates. With today's highly formulated tires, the old repair you are using (string plugs) is the same as thinking you can use standard 70's grade SAE oil in your newer engine. Rather than learn from someone who has had over 30 years in the tire industry, go ahead and think what you wish. And as for a tube, it still doesn't stop water from entering the hole, so an inside out repair would be needed to maintain the factory warranty. Good luck....

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

QUOTE: "I have been using the string plugs for as long as i can remember.Never had a problem. One of my Michelin LTX tires on my truck got a nail in it about a week after i bought the tires. No way i was going to junk a 200 dollar tire."

I see someone did not know how to shop. Any high quality tire like Michelin (which I also own, by the way) would come with a free road hazard warranty for at least the first year and prorated thereafter. It sounds to me you will have a problem with the factory warranty on quality control, if and when the tire develops a vibration and/or separates. With today's highly formulated tires, the old repair you are using (string plugs) is the same as thinking you can use standard 70's grade SAE oil in your newer engine. Rather than learn from someone who has had over 30 years in the tire industry, go ahead and think what you wish. And as for a tube, it still doesn't stop water from entering the hole, so an inside out repair would be needed to maintain the factory warranty. Good luck....

Just saying it worked for me and i was working in a tire shop and doing auto repair back in the 70's and still turning wrenches today but do not stay up on the latest tire technology.

The Michelin dealer here wanted a fortune for the tire warranty.Scam by the tire dealer? I will sure be asking questions the next time!
The next set i buy i will sure look into the Michelin warranty.

As far as the plugged tire on the truck it is about due to be replaced

I have the MXV or MXH on my car..can't remember which but those little tires are 220 each!
Great handling tires though. Too bad they cost more than the trucks tires that are twice the size..

Appreciate the info..

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

Michelin doesn't have a factory road hazard warranty.....

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

^+1 for that. They never have. In fact, Michelin is one of the worst tire mfgs to deal with on a warranty issue, they don't believe they've ever built a bad tire. Having said this, I run them on my truck and motorcylce. In my applications, they make some of the best stuff out there.

 

[wbc1957]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

QUOTE: "Michelin doesn't have a factory road hazard warranty..... " and "^+1 for that. They never have. In fact, Michelin is one of the worst tire mfgs to deal with on a warranty issue, they don't believe they've ever built a bad tire. Having said this, I run them on my truck and motorcylce. In my applications, they make some of the best stuff out there."

Interesting. I never said they offered a "factory" road hazzard warranty. The tire dealer is the place that offers a road hazzard warranty, and the guy here admitted he thought that was a "scam". Secondly, the tire manufacturer doesn't deal with materials and workmanship tire warranty. The dealer does on all factory warranties and road hazzard warranties. The tire manufacturer does not work in the retail establishment where one would take a tire to cover either warranty. It sounds like you have picked a bad tire retail outlet, or bought old stock with no warranty remaining. The DOT number has the date as the final four digits, which will determine the factory four year warranty on materials and workmanship. If you bought a tire over a year after the manufactured date, you should have bought it with a major discount or the dealer was a bad dealer. Either way, Michelin doesn't have retail stores. They have dealers who sell their products. Those dealers with multiple outlets provide better road hazzard warranties because they buy more volume and can afford to sell a road hazzard warranty for less. Like anything, you get what you pay for.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

True on the date code. I look at that before i let them mount the tire.

As far as the road hazard warranty warranty i have bought that in the past and it seems like the tire dealer always has a way to wiggle out of that.
The pro-rated replacement tire ends up costing almost as much as just buying a new tire.
The next set of Michelins will come from a different tire dealer.

I run Michelin on all 3 vehicles except the motorcycle. It gets only Metzeler tires.They stick really well.
The Dunlops that came factory on the bike were junk.

 

[bigdee]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

never had a problem with plugs and if I did,so what? That is what spare tires are for!!! I grew up on bald tires and blowouts I think the baby boomers are just a little paranoid!!.

 

[wbc1957]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

QUOTE: "never had a problem with plugs and if I did,so what? That is what spare tires are for!!! I grew up on bald tires and blowouts I think the baby boomers are just a little paranoid!!. "

HA! HA! HA! You compare the sixties and seventies tires that you grew up on with today's tires! Are you still drivng a Dodge Dart? Today we have speed rated, special load tires, and blended compounds in tires. You grew up in a different time. You quick fix with the spare, due to poor maintenance, is more costly today, since the average name brand tire is over $85. When you grew up that amount would buy almost a complete set! Get real....