Can u patch a Drag Radial?

[JeremyH]

So i have low miles on my nitto dr's and got a flat in one a few months back. Its a small puncture from a roofing nail that goes all the way through the middle of the tread. I figured i would just get a new one as they basicly have new tread. But they are 275$ a pop. Is it safe or can u even patch/plug a drag radial???

 

[smoken1986]

I have done them before.. I would use one of those patch plugs or atleast a good patch. If its in the tread you are ok

 

[JeremyH]

I just wasnt sure if it would be safe with the different material and type of tread compund in a dr, and of course the abuse they can take at the track.
I would just take it somewhere and have them repair it, wonder how much it would cost?

 

[08gt4u]

yes you can.just make sure is an internal patch and not a plug.my old micket thompson had 3 patches in them and i wore them down to almost nothing.

 

[irishpwr46]

definitely do not do a plug. you will warm up the tires and end up pulling the plug out no matter how flush you try and cut it

 

[smoken1986]

Yes no straight plug, that could come out but they do make a plug/patch combo its made into one I have used them before..

 

[Sinotis]

I ran a straight plug on my nitto dr on my whippled 03 cobra for years. I have never had problems with straight plugs. Patches are great to.

 

[94tbird]

personally i wouldn't chance it. a 200-300 buck tire is worth far less than a tire exploding at 100+mph and putting my car into a wall, or even worse, the guy in the other lane. Just IMHO

 

[don_w]

I ran my M&H's with a plug for a while, but only on the street. Eventually it started leaking slowly, so I replaced it then.

 

[BOBS197]

I run M&H drs, weekly racing in Fl, picked up a nail and was told by John at M&H to use a radial tire plug. I was a little concerned about running a plug 12.70 @ 108 but It has been working great for the last 40 passes, I can not tell where the plug is now its blended in after a few burn outs and I keep checking the air pressure- no leaks!! Good luck I know I was not happy about a plug but it worked

 

[JeremyH]

How hard is it to do the radial plug or should i take it somewhere and have them patch it from the inside.

 

[JeremyH]

personally i wouldn't chance it. a 200-300 buck tire is worth far less than a tire exploding at 100+mph and putting my car into a wall, or even worse, the guy in the other lane. Just IMHO

Sound advice. I think i would feel safe with a patch from the inside over a plug.

 

[marcspaz]

I had a shop put a plug in the tire to fill the hole, but they used heat to melt the plug back into the rubber. After it cooled, the used a die grinder to smooth the inside of the tire. Then they patched it from inside and heat treated that too. Only cost $25.

 

[JeremyH]

Sweet thanks for all the info guys, def gonna try to have it repaired to save me from buying one new dr. Well im not going to treadquarters since they stiffed me on my inspection. Im gonna give firestone a call i have free alignments for life there and their service is great.

 

[dagamore]

can you could run a tube in that tire?

i would not run a patch or a plug in any tire i plan on racing on, for street use in the US sure, here in Germany with normal speeds >120mph Hell NO! just too much stress on the patch/plug for my liking.

and as other have said a new tire is a lot cheaper then the cost of fixing a blow out, or wreaking you car, and possibly others.

 

[EscapedGreg]

I ran a plug/patch in my Nitto's for as little while with no issues.