First Successful Tire Plug!

[greentruck]

nwoods,
Funny how great minds think alike. I was just going to mention that I may hold the record for having a plug kit before using it. I think it was a "Camel" kit.

About a year ago, I had a flat on a utility trailer I used to own and it was loaded. It happened to be sitting on the street close enough that I could run my air line out to it. Jacked up the trailer and found the puncture.

I knew I had the kit, just wasn't sure if it was still good. I bought it when I drove my FJ55 out to Phoenix to hang out with my brother -- in 1978!

Maybe I'm just lucky, but in the years since I've never had a flat, except the one time I picked up a brake pin from a semi that put a 3/4" hole in the tread of a BFG AT. No amount of plugging was going to help that:xxrotflma!

Followed the instructions, as it had been decades since I read the article that prompted me to get the kit in the first place. Went right in after getting plenty of the still-good adhesive from the tube. Used a nylon binder ratchet around the tread of the tire to help reseat the bead. Didn't even need to take the wheel of the trailer. Just a little safer than some other methods:coffeedrink:

So, 31 years later, yep, it still worked.

I did get a fresh kit after that, figuring it was a good investment

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

Did my first plug on Saturday morning. My brother's truck picked up a screw so I pulled out the ARB kit and yanked the screw. Less than 5 minutes total to take everything out, plug, put back. He drove truck 260 miles back to his house without a problem.

 

[Sirocco]

Guilty.

had my kit for 2-3 years now. Sits with my spares. Would like to use it so I know what Im doing but not had any punctures yet

Do you guys get a proper repair done to these once fitted? I think 'plugs' are illegal here in the UK. I carried the kit abroad etc. for emergency use.

Im also not running an air tank. would the bead need re seating if it went flat? or could I get away with it if I removed the weight off the tyre in time?

Cheers,

G

 

[rusty_tlc]

I called Monkey Grip last year to ask about the shelf life for tire plugs. I talked to a guy who had been with the company forever. He told me they basically have an indefinite shelf life as long as you keep them clean.

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

Did my first plug on Saturday morning. My brother's truck picked up a screw so I pulled out the ARB kit and yanked the screw. Less than 5 minutes total to take everything out, plug, put back. He drove truck 260 miles back to his house without a problem.

Did my second plugging yesterday.... boss's truck. Didnt even get a thank you.

 

[Mr. Leary]

Did my second plugging yesterday.... boss's truck. Didnt even get a thank you.

Then maybe you should go work in Wyoming... :coffeedrink:

 

[Cabrito]

Another note about plugs

I took my tire into my local tire shop to put a spare tire I had on the rim and save the patched tire for a rainy day. (lucky enough to have an extra tire)
He mentioned a few things.

Firs he said that he wouldn't drive on the plug for extended periods. He suggested that if I plug a tire that I get it patched properly as soon as I can, and try to limit my high speed freeway driving if possible just to be safe.

He also said that when you plunge the plug into the tire you should give it a twist once it's fully seated before you pull it out. He says that it makes it sort of knot up and it can help it stay in the tire.

Another thing is to make sure you ream and plug the hole at the same angle that the object was in.
you can sort of see my screw was in at an angle. The head was worn unevenly showing that. I automatically made sure I went in at the same angle.

 

[jim65wagon]

So on my Tacoma, I have stock alloy rims (at least stock from a 98 4runner with the long lug nuts), but a steel rim spare and no lug nits that fit it?

Wow, so much for prepared!

Jay, if you have the stock alloys and the stack lug nuts, the very end of the lug nut should be tapered and will fit the stock steel spare rim. They look funny when used with the steel rim but they do work....


As for the thread, I got to use my tire kit a few weeks ago, a coworker had a flat..... I had the tire fixed and rolling in just a few minutes. I was sure glad to be able to learn that in an easily controlled setting and not on the side of a freeway, or somewhere "out there"

 

[greg mgm]

I've done 2 plugs in the last year, and both worked great. (Darn pesky screws!)
My new Tundra picked up a screw the first month I owned it! The plug held for months, but since I had a 2500 mile road trip planned I had the tire repaired with a patch....peace of mind ya know. If you don't have one, definitely get yourself a tire plug kit.

 

[RMP&O]

On my 15k road trip not a single flat or plug needed, in the tires that is!

But there is more than one use for a tire plug....

More than 15k miles now with tire plugs in my air bag. It still holds, leaks a bit but not bad. I only have to top the air off in the bag once a week.

 

[Desert Dan]

The first time I plugged a tire I did it in the driveway at home to test my kit and learn how to do it properly.

 

[timmer2008]

check out the safety seal multi person purchase thread in an effort to secure factory direct group buy pricing on these terrific tire repair kits

timmer2008