Plugged a Pirelli PZero today - thoughts?

[Gabe]

Got the lovely TPMS light on today accompanied by the "LOW TIRE PRESSURE" message, at first I thought it was just cuz of the 40-degree temps we're enjoying, but then after a short drive I figured I'd check my pressures.

The left rear tire was at about 15 PSI, the rest at 32.

Closer inspection revealed a screw right in the middle of the thread.

Got air at a nearby gas station, drove home and pulled out my trusty tire-plug kit and went to work.

Now, I've plugged tires before, and I've driven fairly quickly on those plugged tires (up to about 110-120 mph), but these Pirelli's being summer performance tires, I'm not sure if I compromised the tire enough that I should think about replacing it.

If I do, and I kinda wanna talk myself into doing that, I'm going with 285/35's instead of the 255/40's on the back now ...


Thoughts?


.

 

[BlackDragon]

As long as it sealed, there should be no problem. If it bothers you that much, go get a patch put on. No need to replace the tire...

 

[mfergel]

I've been driving on plugged tires on my truck for over a year now and have a plugged rear tire on my motorcycle for over two. You'll be fine.

 

[skwerl]

You should be fine. I've been using Safety Seal plugs since I started driving over 30 years ago and never had one fail on me yet. And think about it- so what if the plug fails? The worst that could happen is you're right back where you were today so you stick another one in there. The tire isn't going to explode or jump off the rim just because you got a little screw hole in it. And the hole is in the middle of the tread where there is minimal stress on the plug, not over close to the edge of the sidewall where there is a lot of flex.

IMO people stress too much over plugs. Plugs are great in that they can fix a leaky tire and make it so you can keep driving on that tire until it wears out. They aren't magic but they work well for their intended purpose.

 

[Newman]

Plugs a a good temporary fix, I would get it patched with the rubber filler plug. A tire can separate with a plug because water, air , moisture can get in the steel cords in the tire, causing them to rust. Therefore separating . Get it patched with the patch/filler. I do it 25+ times a day and no problems.

 

[skwerl]

I'm going to respectfully disagree in the 'temporary' comment. I've used plugs on brand new tires and had those tires for 5 years or more on my personal vehicles. If you're using a decent plug and the correct reamer then it's as permanent of a fix as you could hope for. Some of the cheap reamers are barbed and you can cut the steel strands in the belts, this can possibly cause long term issues. But if you use a smooth edged reamer which separates the steel strands without cutting them, you won't compromise the integrity of the belt.

Again, people spreading scare stories about plugs based on hearsay without any real evidence to the contrary except for sales pitches used by the folks who sell tire repairs.

 

[Newman]

I repair tires for FREE. Not trying to scare any one. Just stating facts. If there is a puncture in the center of the tire. It already broke the cords or moved them aside. Which intern has affected the integrity of the tire. There's a reason why I repair tires the way my company has taught me. Cause they work. Yes is takes more time but its SAFER, that's why we do it for free.

Yes plugs work for long periods of time and some ppl have no issues with them. But why take the chance when you can be safe. Just facts and my 2cents.

 

[Gabe]

Well, I'm gonna keep an eye on this tire and see if it gives me any more headaches, either via pressure loss or maybe a vibration or other issue which may come from broken/shifted belts.

I'd rather not spend $600+ right now on 2 new tires, although I really want all-seasons on this car so I can drive it year-round regardless of weather/temps

 

[skwerl]

Odds are about 99.99% that the tire will wear out before you have any issue from the plug.

 

[Newman]

Odd are a lil high . Technology has changed since then. Might as well take advantage of it . Oh and you know you can put tires on each side of the vehicle nowadays ...... I'd stick to what you do ... But everyone got their own opinion.

 

[OkieSnuffBox]

We used to patch sportbike tires. As long as the tire is pulled off the rim and properly patched from inside, I don't see a problem and wouldn't feel uncomfortable using it.

 

[Agent007]

You need a patch. Period. Even though some people on this board have used a certain kind of plug on their personal vehicles for over 30 years they still fail absolutely every day. I, like Newman, have been in the tire business for quite a few years(since 2006) and it has been my experience that plugs fail greater than a third of the time... again, I see it every day. Go spend $20 and get that tire fixed the appropriate way. In the tire business we view plugs just as we view fix-a-flat... a temporary fix to get you to the tire shop.

 

[mikeyfitz]

Pull your old plug out, go to discount tire, have them fix it for free.

 

[jbenevides89]

i have never had a plug fail. the only reason i have ever had one come back was because it was not done properly and whoever pluged the tire made a new hole beside the existing one with the reamer. that or the whole was too big for a plug. whoever compares a plug to fix a flat is just......wrong.

 

[Newman]

Plus rarely fail themselves, it's the moisture and air the get into the cords and belts that cause the tire to fail. Hell I plugged a atv tire today. But they don't have inner liners to put a patch on.

 

[Agent007]

i have never had a plug fail. the only reason i have ever had one come back was because it was not done properly and whoever pluged the tire made a new hole beside the existing one with the reamer. that or the whole was too big for a plug. whoever compares a plug to fix a flat is just......wrong.

Coming from a tire repair professional.... a plug and fix-a-flat fall in the same category. Period. Both are a band-aid to a bigger problem. I see plugs fail on a weekly basis mainly because I repair more tires in a single day than most of you 'do it yourselfers' will in your lifetime. Patching tires is not a ploy by dishonest business owners to make some extra cash... it is the only DOT approved method for fixing passenger car tires. This will help you understand why patching is the only accepted repair method...

 

[4.6fan]

Patch it for piece of mind

 

[jbenevides89]

Coming from a tire repair professional.... a plug and fix-a-flat fall in the same category. Period. Both are a band-aid to a bigger problem. I see plugs fail on a weekly basis mainly because I repair more tires in a single day than most of you 'do it yourselfers' will in your lifetime. Patching tires is not a ploy by dishonest business owners to make some extra cash... it is the only DOT approved method for fixing passenger car tires. This will help you understand why patching is the only accepted repair method...

Considering I worked in a tire shop probably as long as you, I know all too well the difference between a plug and a patch. While you are correct that a patch is "better" to a certain extent a plug is far from just a band-aid when done properly. On a passenger tire anywhere past 1/4 of an inch from the sidewall you dont get any flex and a plug in the OPs situation will suffice just fine. it will probably out last the tire itself. I have plugged dumptruck tires that hold 100psi and they have held fine. In THAT situation I would consider it more of a band-aid, but for regular every day use he will be fine until its time to replace the tire. Fix a flat is just shit in a can to get you up the road and your tire will probably be flat the next day. ask me how many times i have pulled a tire off with fix a flat in it and had to change my shoes.

 

[Newman]

Everyone has their own opinion .

 

[Agent007]

Considering I worked in a tire shop probably as long as you, I know all too well the difference between a plug and a patch. While you are correct that a patch is "better" to a certain extent a plug is far from just a band-aid when done properly. On a passenger tire anywhere past 1/4 of an inch from the sidewall you dont get any flex and a plug in the OPs situation will suffice just fine. it will probably out last the tire itself. I have plugged dumptruck tires that hold 100psi and they have held fine. In THAT situation I would consider it more of a band-aid, but for regular every day use he will be fine until its time to replace the tire. Fix a flat is just shit in a can to get you up the road and your tire will probably be flat the next day. ask me how many times i have pulled a tire off with fix a flat in it and had to change my shoes.

You work at an actual tire shop and believe fixing said tire(quoted in bold) is feasible? It's not even legal on a federal level! The reason it is against federal DOT standards is due to folks sticking plugs in holes without properly evaluating what has happened to the inside of the tire. The damage to the outside is only half of the problem.... what happens when you get a punctured tire like in the quote, say from a 16 penny nail? Air starts to seep out... what happens then... The sidewall bulges outward causing said nail from your original scenario to cause non adjustable damage to the inner sidewall of the tire. By sticking a plug in the hole you could not only injure yourself on the highway but also injure others when your tire blows/zipper ruptures due to sidewall failure... Just educating folks... not tossing around opinions.