Over Matched? (Photo)

[Dale Craig]

On my home from work on Friday, a beautiful day in San Diego, and my left rear tire ran up against a 3 inch screw. The tire was no match for this encounter. Lucky for me, my wife could load up one of my race tires and aluminum jack and drive out to where I was stuck.
The tire went down slowly so I had time to get well off the road. Guess it is time for new tires anyway.

http://www.morganriver.com/images/house/vipertire.jpg

Vipermad made this a link to save the format of the page....BIG image!!

 

[ChoiceViper]

The pic's too small can you enlarge it some.

 

[Ulysses]

Ohhhhhhh! SO THAT'S WHERE THAT SCREW WENT!

How the heck are ya, Dale!

 

[MOUNTAINWOLF]

plug it.

 

[2001 Sapphire Blue]

plug it.

Just curious..is it better to plug it or patch it?

 

[malcoll]

Patch it. I just had a similar incident yesterday. A 2 inch finishing nail.. bent into an "L" shape.

It went in my sidewall... and twisted up into the "cross section" of the sidewall..... I had to repalce the tire.

Luckily... a local VCA buddy had an extra Pilot.. with almost identical tread wear.... I bought his for a reasonable price.

 

[Steve Miehe]

Patch it, for sure. Right in the center of the tread where it is safest to patch....and, lots of wear left on that puppy.

 

[Got Venom]

I could be wrong, but most people told me that Viper Days would not allow a plugged or patched tire, and most everbody I talked to after I had a similar screw in my tire said that for a tire that is probably going to visit speeds in excess of 100+ mph from time to time, and the heat involved, that it was always best to buy a new tire. I could be surrounded by a bunch of conservative people, anybody else have some scientific data on this?

 

[Jim Wilson]

There is alot of controversy on this topic. The type of repair that is used for speed rated tires is a combination plug and patch. IMHO, if you don't track your car, a combination plug/patch such as the one in the link below is safe to about 130-140 mph. Any higher speeds and it's just not worth the risk.

http://www.alltiresupply.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MDMHI-F9A1AK810C1&Product_Code=15-141&Category_Code=TTRP_PNP

 

[HOGDEALER]

Wind in your hair, sun on your back and a nail in your tire.

 

[onerareviper]

I JUST read an article in one of the mags about whether or not a properly patched tire effects the speed rating. The answer - A resounding NO. Of course, the puncture can not be in the side wall. If you want to be sure, call a Mich. rep. to play it safe. But this article basically stated patching a tire properly makes it perfectly useable in all conditions. They implied it was an 'urban legend' that the speed rating decreased or the maximum performance of the tire was reduced in any way.

 

[Got Venom]

ONERAREVIPER,

 

[Got Venom]

OneRareViper,
What magazine, and what month? I would love to check the article out, so I don't have to buy new tires all of the time.

 

[knuk]

Is it worth risking your life, and others, by patching & plugging? Spend the money on a new tire!

 

[onerareviper]

You would not be risking your life if it is done properly, according to this article.

I will try and find the magazine and post. Problem is, once a month I go to Borders Bookstore and skim through every auto mag. So I can't make any promises, but I will try.

Every if I do find the article, I would still call Michelan to be 100% sure. Plain and simple, just ask them if a properly patched tire effects the speed rating or integrity of the tire.

 

[iceshank]

Trust me i have plugged many tires before you are not going to hurt anything. As long as its not in the side wall if that happend i would buy a new tire. The photo of the screw is right on the tread just plug it. If you want to make sure use two plugs and a lot of glue. Speed will not affect it i have gone well over 158mph with 3 plugs in one tire To buy a new tire because of that is something i have never heard of.

 

[Jerry Dobson]

I know of lots of guys running on plugs at VERY VERY high speeds.

The problem you can run into is that many shops will not plug a performance tire. Liability comes into play.

 

[Peter-RedGTS'98]

Put more screws in and you will be able to drive on ice

 

[garolittle]

You just got screwed.