Tire repair

[itrbruce]

I have the tiniest of little holes (from an ~0.3mm or around 24 gauge wire) right in the center of the tread (in other words, the best of all possible tire punctures). Heck, it only leaked around 2psi/week or so while the wire was in there and it hasn't been out long enough to gauge the rate yet.
So, this is as much as a general information question as anything else; for high performance driving (autox, track, being naughty) what is the best patch method. I have heard that if you use some types of patches that they are fine for normal driving (but who does that???) but they are not safe for high performance driving and can lead to blowouts.
The 3 types of tire fixes I have seen commonly used are:
1. patch-n-plug type (sort of look like an umbrella applied from the inside)
2. simple patch (just a thin sheet of one of a few types of material applied from the inside)
3. plugs (you just force a thin cylinder of rubber in from the outside - with glue on it)

Any of these will clearly stop the leaking; #2 seems the least likely to cause stress to the tire and thus least likely to cause any type of catastrophic failure. #3 seems like the least hassle, since the tire does not need to be dismounted. #1 seems like the most bullet-proof in terms of the patch not failing and is the only type that some of the big tire chains will use anymore presumably for lawsuit mumbo jumbo.

So I guess the question really comes down to: are methods #1 & #3 tramatic enough to the tire to cause a weak spot that could lead to catastrophic failure under high performance driving or did I just hear someone else's paranoid theory that I took on for myself?

I am sure someone here has actual experience with track driving on patched tires, thanks in advance for sharing your experiences.

[woodrufj]

3. plugs (you just force a thin cylinder of rubber in from the outside - with glue on it).Eric Clements patched (~1/4" hole) my V710 with one of those Kragen kits just before the SCNAX cup. 100ish runs later, no problems. The same day he patched Doug (Kathy) Thule's S2000 tire. Haven't heard of any problem from them either.

Jay W
505/287 Dakota

[cshodges]

Never go with #3 unless you're out somewhere with no other options. Replace with #1 asap. Always go with #1.

#3 will just blowout on you eventually, no matter the type of driving.

This article from TireRack explains the details on why: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=77

[bluethunder28]

Patch many a tire with #3. All wore out before blowing out. For a very thin hole, I have patched 2 tires with the patch on the inside.

YMMV

[froggy47]

I picked up a screw after my first run at the SDR tour this year. Bob D patched it for me with #3 method (tire was a Victoracer). I pumped it back up & ran 2 more times. Proceeded to run til corded later that summer.

Also needed to run the car a few times at 100+ just for test and tune purposes of course.

No problems.

[MX5bob]

I had a tire patched with the No. 3 method and then picked up ANOTHER nail right next to it! :mad: One shop wouldn't patch it all, said it was done. On to shop B, where they used No. 2, which included a larger patch over the smaller "umbrella." The umbrella style uses a tail that goes through the hole from the inside, seems to place and hold the patch while the glue sets. Then it's trimmed off. Hole was not reamed larger.

[RickRacer]

I've patched several tires (mine and friends) with #3 and never had a failure before the tire wore out.

And no, I'm not talking kart tires.

[i_am_perfect]

I work at Discount Tire in Solana Beach if anyone need a tire repaired. I'll repair it either with a plug/patch combination or by just a patch. Which ever way you want!
We do it free there. Just come by and ask for Jeff.


P.S.
If anyone is looking for some 710's we have some 225/50-15's in right now.

[frosty]

I work at Discount Tire in Solana Beach if anyone need a tire repaired. I'll repair it either with a plug/patch combination or by just a patch. Which ever way you want!
We do it free there. Just come by and ask for Jeff.


P.S.
If anyone is looking for some 710's we have some 225/50-15's in right now.

As a strange turn of events, I think my dad is coming by tomorrow. He found a nail in his tire today and he generally goes to the Solana Beach Discount Tire.

What is it with debris on the road road these days? I know of so many flats in the last two weeks alone.

[itrbruce]

I guess I am a little surprised nobody has any bad stories to tell; it sort of seems like it maybe people make a bigger deal out of this than it needs to be (as in people covering their a$$ from the lawyers and the litigious).
It sounds like #3 works fine for autox-only tires and possibly more, but after checking around, it looks like I am going to go with #1.

And thanks Scott for the great reference.