If you lean towards plugging, and new to that. Watch a few videos on doing so, get a good kit. To get right at the hole, have the tire off, likely already done.

Here’s another idea, most any extended family has a gearhead or 3 within. Take the tire to one of them. When done, air it up & monitor the pressure.

If it’s a regular size screw or nail hole, very unlikely to leak. I don’t think the ‘blowout’ danger is increased either. I’d have that fixed in 20 minutes. As long as you monitor it, zero to lose. You could be saving $1k.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Not sure if I can find the puncture though.
I do have the tire off the vehicle.

So mix up some dish soap and water into a spray bottle, air up the tire, and spray the soapy water onto the tire. Bubbles will form over the puncture telling you where it is.

My story. Wife’s 2012 Kia, in 2020 she got a screw in the right rear tire. My guy said he couldn’t plug it, company policy, but gave me the name of an independent tire shop that would. Five years later and no issues. I just now replaced all four tires.
Now the rest of the story. These are the original tires that came with the car. They still had 50% of the tread on them after 13 years but I was concerned about dry rot, Florida heat can be brutal. 32,000 miles in 13 years is 2,461 miles per year average, but the plug worked for her.

quote:

Originally posted by BigSwede:
I have done probably 50 plugs over the last 30 plus years on family and friends vehicles, never had one fail. Not sure where y'all are getting this info

I'm right there with you.

Funny...the last tire puncture (Pirelli P zero) I had, the shop didn't have time to apply a proper patch that day. They plugged it on the car and told me to bring it back for a correct repair in a couple of days. I drove it 8K until I was ready for new tires. Never had a problem. I must have trusted it. Had it well over 100mph several times

I've plugged a tire twice. Both times worked fine. I've also had shops plugs tires and in addition to the plug, they took the tire off the rim and placed a patch inside.

If you're willing to try a plug and can find a shop to do it, I'd recommend getting the inside patch too.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
ok guys, I am thinking about the plug deal. Not sure if I can find the puncture though.
I do have the tire off the vehicle.

So your independent tire shop didn't mark the spot when they claimed it was too close to the sidewall? I'd consider steering far clear of these guys in the future.

I've never had a DIY plug job not hold up, even when it was just about in the sidewall. We have had two MB loaners from the dealer while Mrs. Lee's car was in for extensive warranty work. One of the loaners had about 50 miles on it and those tires were brand new and expensive. Plug kit at home worked perfectly and we had that car for three weeks. Happened again with a subsequent loaner too. I would never buy a new tire or set of tires because I had to plug one. Run them down and get the life out of them.

This highlights that AWD means you should be prepared to buy a new set of tires any time they have some wear on them.

I’ve had to plug a few tires by necessity, and never had any issues with them leaking. A well known national brand tire store refused to balance a plugged tire, though, claiming the tire was unsafe to use simply because it was repaired with a plug. Naturally they wanted me to buy a replacement from them, for a couple hundred bucks.

quote:

after 13 years

For the love people this is a terrible idea for even a wheelbarrow.

Adding my $0.02

I too have plugged many a tire, usually on a pick up. Those tires which are E rated can be a bitch to plug. In my most recent adventure I tried to plug a screw hole near the edge but for the life of me I couldn’t get the “reamer” through the carcass. Took the tire to my trusted Indy mechanic and he told me he could plug it but not sure it would work due to how close it was to the edge. Patches were a no go.

Long story short about a week later it was leaking again so I’m ordering a new pair of 35” Toyo’s for over $900!

quote:

Originally posted by 6guns:
I've plugged a tire twice. Both times worked fine. I've also had shops plugs tires and in addition to the plug, they took the tire off the rim and placed a patch inside.

If you're willing to try a plug and can find a shop to do it, I'd recommend getting the inside patch too.

Patch inside is the best way. A plug may allow air into the laminated layers of body plies. This will possibly cause a separation.

Plugged a rear tire on our then Brand New JD tractor, wife ran over a sprinkler head and somehow it shattered and it went right through the sidewall.

Plugged it, and now 5 years later it's never dropped a bit of air.

Granted it sees use about once a week and never gets over 5 mph....