Monthly Question?

  • Tire Repair: Patch or Plug
    Q. When I first began driving in the late 1950's, if you got a nail in your tire the only way to fix it was with a "plug" which would be inserted moments after removing the nail. As radials became more prevalent, dismounting the tire and applying a patch on the inside was apparently the preferred method of repair.
    Now I notice that the plug repair technique is making a comeback and in many instances is the preferred method. Please comment about the pros and cons of each method as it applies to todays steel belted radials.

    A. In the old days plugs were used because they were quick and reliable. If the injury was a simple nail, a tire could be repaired in no time. If the tire was cut, then patching was preferred to completely seal the odd shaped hole. Then when radial tires came out it was found that plugs would warp the tire and make them ride differently. That's when patches became the preferred method of repairing a tire. There were two kinds of patches, cold and hot.

    The cold patch required buffing the inside of the tire and applying a cement. Then the correct sized patch was placed over the injury and a special tool was used to "stitch" the patch to the tire. I don't mean stitching in the sense it was sewn on, but that this special tool was rolled over the patch until it was sealed against the tire. The drawback to this method was if you didn't do everything perfectly, the patch would leak.

    Hot patching involved essentially the same procedure except the patch was heated and melted to the inside of the tire. There was a special heating clamp that went on the tire to do this. It usually took about 15 minutes to heat the patch to the tire. The advantage of this method was that the tire and patch become one piece.

    Now we have plugs that are designed to repair radial tires and are self-vulcanizing. That is to say after they heat up from driving, they "melt" into the tire and become one piece. This is again the preferred method because it is much faster to do. If, as in the old days, a tire was cut then patching is the best way to go. Patching a tire can take about 30 minutes and installing a plug takes a few minutes and usually can be done while the tire is still on the car.

Tips and Tricks Video

  • Interesting tire repair method.

    Compliments of Youtube.com Car Maintainence and Car Repair. Compliments of Youtube.com Tire Repair and Fixing a Flat. Compliments of Youtube.com

FAQS

  • FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

  • How do I know when I need new tires?
    Many tires have tread wear indicator bars molded into the tread. When the tread is worn down to where you can see a solid bar of rubber across the width of the tread, it is time to replace the tire. Here's another simple test you can perform to measure tread depth on your tires. Place a penny into a tread groove with Lincoln's head upside down and facing you. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, it's time to visit Mac's Tire Service for a new tire.
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    How long should my original equipment tires last?
    Mac's Tire Service does not offer a written mileage promise on any tires supplied as original equipment. Due to the variety of styles, construction features, treat compounds, vehicle applications, geographical conditions and driving habits, it is difficult to provide a specific mileage expectancy. However, any tire wear concern should always be presented to Mac's Tire Service for further evaluation.
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    My tire has gone flat. Is this covered by my Mac's Tire Service Warranty?
    Due to the variety of causes for air loss, this question can only be answered by an authorized technician of Mac's Tire Service. Some common causes of sudden or slow air loss:

    • + Road hazard injuries (punctures, cuts, impact damage to the liner, ply material or sidewall rubber).

    +Valve stem or valve core leakage (damaged or aged rubber stem or a loose or damaged valve core).

    + Leaking from the bead seating area (corrosive buildup on the wheels which prevents a proper seal between the wheel flange and the tire beads, bead seating area damage from accidental mounting or dismounting injury, foreign material between the rim flange area and the tire bead seating area, bent rim flange).
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    Where should I go if have warranty concerns on a Mac's Tire Service tire?
    Mac’s Tire Service will determine warranty eligibility on Mac’s Tire Service tires. Please remember you must provide a receipt.
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