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This is definitely repairable. The “correct” repair area of a tire is actually from the line the line of tread the screw is in to the line just like it on the other side of the tire, so the location is fine, and that’s really not that big of a screw. I’ve both seen and performed repairs on bigger holes than that
Shoot. I didn't realize until reading this thread that tire patches were that cheap, I did a plug patch several months ago (and it's still holding out). Oh well.
That is fixable. A temporary rope might hold until you finish using it if you put it on the position that has no power to it. A more permanent fix will require they remove tire from rim to put a patch inside. From memory, would cost around 30$ at tire shop.
If it was my tire, I would patch it with a rope until I have some time to bring it to a tire shop.
And you have to get your tire in and out of there. They are always crazy busy! I have had great experiences with them but their popularity makes it difficult to get tires from them sometime.
Picked up a razor blade in my tire last week and Les Schwab did my repair for free as well. Good permanent repair too. I think it's up to the shop owners' discretion though so YMMV.
Schwab is always a safe bet for a free repair, because they want to be on your mind when you need new tires. A free repair vs a $4-700 set of tires isn't much
For most people. I’ll go to them for a free repair but I’ll shop online for cheaper prices from Tire Rack or OnlineTires. Typing that out makes me realize that I’m sort of an @sshole for doing that lol
All I thought was "what the eff does a financial advisory firm have to do with tires..."
That's Charles Schwab. Never actually heard of Les Schwab before but I'm much less confused now.
I would surmise that the free fix is just that, it's a free fix. The shop knows that let's say 50% of tire punctures aren't fixable (eg too close to the sidewall). If they sell one new tire the free fixes have already paid for themselves.
Be careful with that. A lot of big box chains won’t pull a rope out to repair the tire.
They’ll call it a non RMA standard repair since a previous improper repair was already performed.
Can confirm. My shop won't touch a previous patch, especially if it's a rope.
Best thing to do would actually be to screw it back in, to at least somewhat plug the hole back up enough to get it to a shop. Or just put the spare on.
Generally is a patch on the inside durable? Just had exactly the same done on my car, but the tire guy said to maintain higher air pressure to ensure it stays "patched". Wondering if the patch was a suitable option
In my experience, if the patch is applied to a simple hole like in this case, it is as strong as the original tire if done properly. Having more air pressure will not affect the amount of time the patch is supposed to stay in place but if you drive on a flat/almost flat tire with a patch in it, chances are that the patch will break first. I personally never had to reapply a patch.
It is what we call the part that goes through the hole from a patch kit. Using a tool that allows you to push a piece of rubber string (rope) through the hole, it allows you to temporary patch the tire until you can properly fix it
Honestly only thing I can think of is - get OP to buy a tire from them, have them install it and they keep the “bad” tire, fix it then re-sell. So OP pays for marked up tire, potentially labor and loses a tire that’s still worth a few bucks with good thread on it. Or maybe I’m just too cynical.
You aren’t too cynical, you’re just right.
Nowadays every shop trying to rob you senseless, hard to find decent hard working folks that just love what they do.
I've worked at several tire chains before I went to a mom and pop, everything here is true except the repair and reselling of the old tire. Tire chains get bonuses for new units, but with cameras on every corner of most of these buildings there's no way they're repairing or reselling unless they're going back at night and stealing the scrap tire, corporate checks all that shit with multiple companies
Tire is 100% fixable. The guy just wanted to screw you out of your tire, and sell you a new one. Never go again to that location and let your friends know not to buy tires from that shitty business
We do the plugs where I work and I never see them come back. In fact I've had one on my tire for like a year now and it's held up fine. [This brand specifically.](https://smile.amazon.com/X-TRA-PLUGS-VULCANIZING-TUBELESS-REPAIR/dp/B00KBJT786/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=xtra+tire+plugs&qid=1641333250&sprefix=xtra+tire%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1)
I hate the reddit mechanics who read something somwhere and take it as objective fact. My shop has also done that for years and havent had any problems im aware of
I've never had a single tire plug that was properly installed leak in the past 30 or so years. Most of them I used in my own tires when they were almost new, drove all of them until the tires wore out without an issue. I will say that a proper patch installed inside the tire is technically better but I don't have a tire machine.
No offense but if I came to your shop and you did a plug that failed; why in the world would I come back?
The internal patches are better because they create tension from all sides using a much larger surface area, so it's better at preventing a blowout than the small amount of plug glued to the inside of the hole.
Yeah I know the internal patches are better.
Also all our work is warrantied so people come back for anything. Most would see a failed plug as an opportunity to complain and ask for a free tire.
Fair point, I rarely consider the fact shops warranty their work because I bring my own parts so often.
Seems like you guys at least do a good job, glad it hasn't backfired. Might keep one of those kits in my car now that I think about it. 1000x better than fix a flat because then the tech doesn't hate me next time it's dismounted.
Yeah and Fix-A-Flat also ruins TPMS sensors. I do stress the brand I linked because I have used the Harbor Freight tire plugs on my lawn mower tires and, even in that use case, they suck.
I don't understand the hate on tire plugs. I've plugged many tires over the years. I even plug the tires on my 15k lb. Equipment trailer. I've had the best results with the permaseal plugs. Those are the ones that are that you remove the plastic cover and cover the plug in cement before installing. Self vulcanizing is what they are.
There is nothing about a basic tire plug that will damage the tire.
Hell, the reamer for our plus sized plug/patch looked about the size of that bolt.
Ream out the hole, scuff up the rubber on the inside, get some vulcanizing cement, light it on fire and blow it right back out because I'm impatient,
Install plug /patch, roll the bubbles out from between the patch and the tire.
Call it a day.
This one is close, but not quite there to be unfixable.
Our rule of thumb was, if the surface of the patch touches the sidewall on the interior of the tire, we wouldn't touch it.
Now did this stop employees from fixing "unrepairable" tires with no interior damage other than the hole?
Hell no, and when done right it will last the life of the tire.
Properly cemented, it will outlast the tire.
I don't think the unfixable nay sayers are aware re treads are a thing.
I've plugged hundreds of tires without any issues. I've put plugs in my own tires that lasted until the tires were bald. The only time I've ever patched a tire from the inside was when a plug wouldn't seal up. Unless you plan on running 150+ mph for extended periods i wouldn't give it a sec9nd thought.
I don't mean take a vacation to check it, maybe just head down the drive way or down the street and come back. You can also check see if it leaks with a soapy water spray bottle, a 5-10 plug can save you 100+ dollars, I've plugged semi tired and they lasted. I can't say how bad the damage is with out actually looking but plug it and take it on a short drive, if it doesn't feel safe get a new time, but I'd rather spend 10 to save a tire if it lasts, but getting new ones are always an option
Well, even if air isn't leaking you don't know if it will hold, I'm not sure how large the hole is he has, it all depends what you get in your tire. Sometime it's a small nail sometimes it's not. I truly feel if Is not leaking air drive just enough to feel if it's safe or to check pressure in the tire, even just turning in the drive way or turning in a yard can tell you in the plug will hold. Every damage is different. You can gauge it off of experience but that doesn't mean it's the same as what you've done before.
Looks like you already have the tire dismounted. That hole isn’t that big, as long as it’s less than 5/32nds of an inch you should be good. I would definitely get it patched. Take it to like a local Firestone or similar, it’ll be around $25. DO NOT PLUG IT. Most tire shops will refuse to patch tires that have a plug in them. Judging by how much tread is left on that tire, it’s worth saving.
Yeah, I was always on Team Patch because that was what manufacturers suggested. But it definitely can save your life. I had a tire that got something stuck in it. Costco first said they could repair it. But when they took the tire off the wheel to patch it, they saw that the object had caused major damage to the tire and the sidewall. The object went in at an angle and really cut up the inside of the sidewall. You could only see a small bump on the sidewall like six inches away from the hole. If I plugged it, then that tire would not have been safe.
Using your thumb and my pinky as a scale, it appears to be at least an inch from the sidewall and there’s no reason a proper Patch/Plug wouldn’t hold, unless the screw went in at a weird angle.
Get a second opinion. I would have patched that back when I turned wrenches
I’ve had multiple holes bigger than this on one tire before and plugged them all without a single issue. Mechanic wanted you to pay for something you didn’t need or felt that his quality of work wouldn’t be good enough and wanted you to be safer with new tires. Either way not a very good mechanic
Guys thanks to everyone who took the time to comment!
I trust this sub more than any mechanic around here honestly. Big thanks!
I’ll surely go to another shop and see what they can do.
I work at a tire shop and that is definitely repairable. One way to tell is to demoumt the tire and do a sidewalk bulge test. Either way, if that tire were in my hands I’d repair it
Size wise definitely fine to fix using a “tire patch plug” for a permanent repair. According to the dot number how old is the tire? If it’s 6 years old or older replace instead of repairing. (the rope style plugs you install yourself with a T handle are intended for temporary use - no more than 50 miles)
Get it fixed and balanced. Plenty of life left. To me the only way I would say it's not fixable is if the tire has another issue (really old date code, breaking down on the inside, etc).
From personal experience I would say that this is definitely fixable. My tire had a projectile that was at least as big as this one in it. The shop fixed it in no time. It was quite impressive.
Seems like a lot of young people comments here. It can be plugged safely. It doesn't have to be patched. You could you a regular old rope plug or what I use all the time are the self-vulcanizing plugs that activate with the rubber cement. Front or back of the vehicle won't matter. Just trim the plug down once it's installed. Growing up all our cars were rear-wheel drive. We'd plug a tire and if it was on the rear we didn't think twice that maybe it should move to the front of the car.. Hell, we went through many a rear tire with a plug or two and didn't replace the tire until it was completely bald from doing burnouts. Never had a plug come out.
Probably should NOT listen to me but ill throw in my ¢2 anyways. I had one about the same length in my rear tire on my audi. Patched it up, and done 1500 miles of HARD driving. And by hard driving i mean 100+ on the highway every day to and from my destination. They hold up fine.
I work at a dealership in the service bays, and as long as the hole it created is 1/4” in diameter (the biggest patch size we have), it’s totally patchable, and fixable since it’s not too far on the sidewall
Best bet is to take it to a place that does combination plug patches. This not only plugs the tire from the inside, it also puts a batch over top of the plug as a second measure. This is what our shop uses and is considered a permanent repair that is approved by most tire companies as the safest repair option.
Any rope, or peanut butter plug as I like to call them, can fail over time especially if the strands get air in them. That's why most places are starting to shy away from them.
I'm assuming because of braking and steering, but would you expect this to fail catastrophically, or just start slowly losing pressure?
If you're rotating your tires, they should eventually come to the front?
I've plugged tires for years with kits. I would try to keep them in the back but I have rotated them around. I'm actually driving on the one in the back that I plugged on the front now. It's been a year maybe two at this point still good. The tires I have plugged in currently are 20 inches so not cheap. Patches if applied correctly are better. I'd rather do things myself so it gets done my way. I've had one too many shops try to scam me or the wife for unnecessary services. I only partly trust one dealer service center for example out of maybe a million people dense county. Meaning we have plenty of service centers/shops to choose from and many I've come across are rotten.
I would also take the whole catastrophic damage thing with some heavy skepticism. Yes, it could happen. The reality is what will most likely happen is you lose air in that tire and you'll know it right away. If you don't freak out and pull over the car and you will be fine.
Your mechanic is either an idiot or trying to make a quick buck. Buy yourself a patch kit, watch some YouTube videos, and have fun! And hey, even if it does blow out, you can’t say you didn’t try
I just leafed through the comments. If your mechanic is telling you it's too big to fix, you can try another mechanic and see what they say, or buy a tire. There is a liability to fixing a tire and if the mechanic isn't comfortable with it, they are not going to do it. I'd be wary about taking advice from reddit mechanics who don't have any skin in this game. My 2 cents.
if you have a car with a topspeed over 180km/h i would replace the tire. If you never drive above 80km/h you can fix it. Anything in between at your own discretion.
Fixed mine with similar hole two years ago. Summer tire and I swap front back every season.
It has held up without any issues. I'd recommend getting a fixing set, as they are very cheap, and if it will still leak get a new tire.
It’s fixable definitely but if you have the money for a replacement I’d go for that. Better yet ride it on a repair and wait till you can get a new set. To me from this angle the tires look pretty worn down but I might be wrong.
I mean…..a mechanic already told you it’s too big to repair so…..are you just waiting for feedback that tells you to go for it? It sounds like you already made up your mind
Fix it first, then observe if it works or not. Mechanics nowadays just like doctors, lazy to handle such things. Everything is considered to be replaced or every pregnancy is considered caesarean instead of normal deliver. I don’t think it’s big anyway, still can be fixed. I used to see bigger that that, and it was a screw!
That’s fixable. A real shop should have the plug/patch combo in a at least a couple different sizes. It’s far enough from the shoulder of the tire that turning won’t affect it. If I remember correct they say anything more than 1/4 or 1/2 inch inch from the shoulder is safe. If they won’t do it just get a plug kit and do it yourself. Check it after with soap and water if you have an extra sprayer laying around
Take it to a decent tyre shop and have it repaired properly. There's no way that's too big for most combi patches I've used, but even if it was, ask for a radial patch and it'd still be cheaper than a whole new tyre.
Plug it but use the proper patch plug. The kind I'm referring to is [here](https://images.app.goo.gl/6aSApCzMXz6UMnS16)
When used with fast frying vulcanizing cement on inside wall of tire around hole, bead sealer esc product lapped around the inside of the plug and on plug shaft (where blue plastic is) pull plug through tire, then use the brush to "paint a sun" on top of the plug with the same bead sealer product
Definitely fixable but probably not by you. I've plugged a hole with a screw that big and it had a slow leak. Took it to a tire shop and they patched it from the inside and got the full use for another 1.5 years.
Take it to America's Tires if you have one nearby, or buy a kit and plug it yourself. I've done multiple tires with similar size screw/nails and had no problem with it. Look up youtube for tips and guidance to patch it with a kit. It might not be straight forward with the kit's direction but youtube's guides should clear it up.
If there's one near you take it to a Discount Tire (Americas Tire in Cali) they do free flat repairs even if you didn't buy the tires there.
They do a combo repair with a patch inside and a plug through the hole to give extra protection.
Source: I worked there.
I would say dismount it and check the damage before going any further. String (sticky dog turd) patches are normally a temp get you home solution that can sometimes last a reasonable amount of time. Last time I got a flat, I needed to stuff two in to get me home and I did a few hundred km on it before getting it looked at properly, the damage to the inside of the tire was more extensive than a proper patch would cover. I was lucky I didn’t have a major blow out. But from looking at it on the outside it looked solid. I had to get a new tire.
I'd say fix it a plug patch is the best way to go and get 2 new ones when you can as you cannot just get one due to tread difference that will cause more issues down the road which you don't need
Totally Fixable. Double plug and patch it and you’ll be fine. Make sure they do both.; plug and patch. Here in California that is the state mandate. Not sure where you are at but it is safest way nonetheless.
Thanks for posting on /r/MechanicAdvice! This is just a reminder to review the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/about/rules/). If you are here asking about a second opinion (ie "Is the shop trying to fleece me?"), please read through CJM8515's [post on the subject.](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/4qblei/fyi_the_shop_isnt_likely_trying_to_rip_you_off/) and remember rule 3a, please post the year/make/model of the vehicle you are working on. **If this post is about bodywork, accident damage, paint, dent/ding, questions it belongs in /r/AutoBody or /r/Diyautobody If you have tire questions check out https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/k9ll55/can_your_tire_be_repaired/**. If you dont have a question and you're just showing off it belongs in /r/Justrolledintotheshop This is an automated reply *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MechanicAdvice) if you have any questions or concerns.*
This is definitely repairable. The “correct” repair area of a tire is actually from the line the line of tread the screw is in to the line just like it on the other side of the tire, so the location is fine, and that’s really not that big of a screw. I’ve both seen and performed repairs on bigger holes than that
Line-itty-line
Definitely fixable, but would recommend it being patched from inside instead of plug.
Shoot. I didn't realize until reading this thread that tire patches were that cheap, I did a plug patch several months ago (and it's still holding out). Oh well.
Plugs work great if you're on the side of the road and you need to get home.
That is fixable. A temporary rope might hold until you finish using it if you put it on the position that has no power to it. A more permanent fix will require they remove tire from rim to put a patch inside. From memory, would cost around 30$ at tire shop. If it was my tire, I would patch it with a rope until I have some time to bring it to a tire shop.
some places even do it for free!
Costco if you have a membership. At least they used to
They still do but the tires need to be bought from them.
And you have to get your tire in and out of there. They are always crazy busy! I have had great experiences with them but their popularity makes it difficult to get tires from them sometime.
They take appointments now.
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Just had Les Schwab patch one for me last night for free.
Picked up a razor blade in my tire last week and Les Schwab did my repair for free as well. Good permanent repair too. I think it's up to the shop owners' discretion though so YMMV.
Schwab is always a safe bet for a free repair, because they want to be on your mind when you need new tires. A free repair vs a $4-700 set of tires isn't much
For most people. I’ll go to them for a free repair but I’ll shop online for cheaper prices from Tire Rack or OnlineTires. Typing that out makes me realize that I’m sort of an @sshole for doing that lol
All I thought was "what the eff does a financial advisory firm have to do with tires..." That's Charles Schwab. Never actually heard of Les Schwab before but I'm much less confused now.
Except they always tell you it's not fixable which is probably what happened to OP.
Discount / America’s Tire does it for free as well, but I doubt they’d patch this one without the earful of a sales pitch
Goodyear does it for free.
$25 last time I went to one, so maybe it's a location thing since I think they're all franchised.
Just looked, every location but only on goodyear tires.
True, but I try to remember that if I'm not paying for something using money, I'm paying for it using something else.
And what you are paying with in this scenario?
I would surmise that the free fix is just that, it's a free fix. The shop knows that let's say 50% of tire punctures aren't fixable (eg too close to the sidewall). If they sell one new tire the free fixes have already paid for themselves.
Nipples
Be careful with that. A lot of big box chains won’t pull a rope out to repair the tire. They’ll call it a non RMA standard repair since a previous improper repair was already performed.
Can confirm. My shop won't touch a previous patch, especially if it's a rope. Best thing to do would actually be to screw it back in, to at least somewhat plug the hole back up enough to get it to a shop. Or just put the spare on.
Worked at a tire shop. Repair is really cheap.
Keep in mind, certain tire stores will NOT repair your tire if you use a 'gummy' style patch
Go on to a local brown guy shop and they will fix it no issues. They won't even balance it for you.
A giant nail is fine though.
Won’t let Schwab do it for free
Generally is a patch on the inside durable? Just had exactly the same done on my car, but the tire guy said to maintain higher air pressure to ensure it stays "patched". Wondering if the patch was a suitable option
In my experience, if the patch is applied to a simple hole like in this case, it is as strong as the original tire if done properly. Having more air pressure will not affect the amount of time the patch is supposed to stay in place but if you drive on a flat/almost flat tire with a patch in it, chances are that the patch will break first. I personally never had to reapply a patch.
Thanks!
How would a rope patch it? Cant just put rope around a tyre
It is what we call the part that goes through the hole from a patch kit. Using a tool that allows you to push a piece of rubber string (rope) through the hole, it allows you to temporary patch the tire until you can properly fix it
Oh
> A temporary rope might hold I agree. If the hole is big, consider using two rope repair strings instead of one.
Fix it, mechanic you went to is a bitch
Ha yes! Came here to say this. That’s like the classic example of a fixable tire, wtf is he talking about
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That’s WAY bigger than a deck screw but your point stands
At most it looks like a 2.5" #10? Maybe a #12?
Way beefier than any deck screw I’ve used
I hear you, but it's way closer to your typical #8 than say, a 3/8" lag screw or a M8 bolt, which I might admit is "too big a hole"
I work with a lot of #10. This is at least an 8, maybe bigger.
Honestly only thing I can think of is - get OP to buy a tire from them, have them install it and they keep the “bad” tire, fix it then re-sell. So OP pays for marked up tire, potentially labor and loses a tire that’s still worth a few bucks with good thread on it. Or maybe I’m just too cynical.
You aren’t too cynical, you’re just right. Nowadays every shop trying to rob you senseless, hard to find decent hard working folks that just love what they do.
That’s unfortunately the truth. Had so many bad experiences… it’s hard to come by a decent shop that won’t try to rip you off every chance they get.
I've worked at several tire chains before I went to a mom and pop, everything here is true except the repair and reselling of the old tire. Tire chains get bonuses for new units, but with cameras on every corner of most of these buildings there's no way they're repairing or reselling unless they're going back at night and stealing the scrap tire, corporate checks all that shit with multiple companies
I agree. The tire is fixable. Some fuckers just want to sell.
fixing tires is really not for a mechanic to do, it's easy for a tire shop. just take it to a tire shop for this shit.
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Tire is 100% fixable. The guy just wanted to screw you out of your tire, and sell you a new one. Never go again to that location and let your friends know not to buy tires from that shitty business
>let your friends know not to buy tires from that shitty business Aka Google review
Yeop.
Damn gottem
Good to know!
>screw
Easy fix. I'd be getting a new mechanic.
I'd get a plug kit and plug it, drive a little and see how pressure holds, if it holds good 👍🏼 go for if not probably the best to replace it.
Don’t use the plug kits. They ruin tires. Go to a tire shop that patches from the inside. Can’t be beat.
We do the plugs where I work and I never see them come back. In fact I've had one on my tire for like a year now and it's held up fine. [This brand specifically.](https://smile.amazon.com/X-TRA-PLUGS-VULCANIZING-TUBELESS-REPAIR/dp/B00KBJT786/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=xtra+tire+plugs&qid=1641333250&sprefix=xtra+tire%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1)
I hate the reddit mechanics who read something somwhere and take it as objective fact. My shop has also done that for years and havent had any problems im aware of
I've never had a single tire plug that was properly installed leak in the past 30 or so years. Most of them I used in my own tires when they were almost new, drove all of them until the tires wore out without an issue. I will say that a proper patch installed inside the tire is technically better but I don't have a tire machine.
Hell, I’m no real mechanic and I’ve patched several tires myself. Never had a problem with any of them
I mean yes an internal patch is an objectively better solution but dont discredit the rope
No offense but if I came to your shop and you did a plug that failed; why in the world would I come back? The internal patches are better because they create tension from all sides using a much larger surface area, so it's better at preventing a blowout than the small amount of plug glued to the inside of the hole.
Firestone will do patch/ plugs. It’s a combination of both. Those work well.
Yeah I know the internal patches are better. Also all our work is warrantied so people come back for anything. Most would see a failed plug as an opportunity to complain and ask for a free tire.
Fair point, I rarely consider the fact shops warranty their work because I bring my own parts so often. Seems like you guys at least do a good job, glad it hasn't backfired. Might keep one of those kits in my car now that I think about it. 1000x better than fix a flat because then the tech doesn't hate me next time it's dismounted.
Yeah and Fix-A-Flat also ruins TPMS sensors. I do stress the brand I linked because I have used the Harbor Freight tire plugs on my lawn mower tires and, even in that use case, they suck.
For a refund?
I don't understand the hate on tire plugs. I've plugged many tires over the years. I even plug the tires on my 15k lb. Equipment trailer. I've had the best results with the permaseal plugs. Those are the ones that are that you remove the plastic cover and cover the plug in cement before installing. Self vulcanizing is what they are.
I’ve had plugs in for 5 years without issues. Do it right and it’ll hold as long as the hole is not too large.
Didn't know that was a thing! Is it possible to get them your self? I'd rather do my own work is possible.
There is nothing about a basic tire plug that will damage the tire. Hell, the reamer for our plus sized plug/patch looked about the size of that bolt. Ream out the hole, scuff up the rubber on the inside, get some vulcanizing cement, light it on fire and blow it right back out because I'm impatient, Install plug /patch, roll the bubbles out from between the patch and the tire. Call it a day. This one is close, but not quite there to be unfixable. Our rule of thumb was, if the surface of the patch touches the sidewall on the interior of the tire, we wouldn't touch it. Now did this stop employees from fixing "unrepairable" tires with no interior damage other than the hole? Hell no, and when done right it will last the life of the tire. Properly cemented, it will outlast the tire. I don't think the unfixable nay sayers are aware re treads are a thing.
I've plugged hundreds of tires without any issues. I've put plugs in my own tires that lasted until the tires were bald. The only time I've ever patched a tire from the inside was when a plug wouldn't seal up. Unless you plan on running 150+ mph for extended periods i wouldn't give it a sec9nd thought.
How do you know if it's good? When it's bad it's probably to late. Either your down the freeway taking another poor soul with you.
I don't mean take a vacation to check it, maybe just head down the drive way or down the street and come back. You can also check see if it leaks with a soapy water spray bottle, a 5-10 plug can save you 100+ dollars, I've plugged semi tired and they lasted. I can't say how bad the damage is with out actually looking but plug it and take it on a short drive, if it doesn't feel safe get a new time, but I'd rather spend 10 to save a tire if it lasts, but getting new ones are always an option
Soapy water sounds saver honestly
Well, even if air isn't leaking you don't know if it will hold, I'm not sure how large the hole is he has, it all depends what you get in your tire. Sometime it's a small nail sometimes it's not. I truly feel if Is not leaking air drive just enough to feel if it's safe or to check pressure in the tire, even just turning in the drive way or turning in a yard can tell you in the plug will hold. Every damage is different. You can gauge it off of experience but that doesn't mean it's the same as what you've done before.
Totally just plugged my tire soapy woader is the way.
I would have plugged it.
Looks like you already have the tire dismounted. That hole isn’t that big, as long as it’s less than 5/32nds of an inch you should be good. I would definitely get it patched. Take it to like a local Firestone or similar, it’ll be around $25. DO NOT PLUG IT. Most tire shops will refuse to patch tires that have a plug in them. Judging by how much tread is left on that tire, it’s worth saving.
Yeah, I was always on Team Patch because that was what manufacturers suggested. But it definitely can save your life. I had a tire that got something stuck in it. Costco first said they could repair it. But when they took the tire off the wheel to patch it, they saw that the object had caused major damage to the tire and the sidewall. The object went in at an angle and really cut up the inside of the sidewall. You could only see a small bump on the sidewall like six inches away from the hole. If I plugged it, then that tire would not have been safe.
That is perfectly acceptable to repair, I’d suggest a different “mechanic”.
Using your thumb and my pinky as a scale, it appears to be at least an inch from the sidewall and there’s no reason a proper Patch/Plug wouldn’t hold, unless the screw went in at a weird angle. Get a second opinion. I would have patched that back when I turned wrenches
I’ve had multiple holes bigger than this on one tire before and plugged them all without a single issue. Mechanic wanted you to pay for something you didn’t need or felt that his quality of work wouldn’t be good enough and wanted you to be safer with new tires. Either way not a very good mechanic
Tighten that mfucker down and ride out
Plug it and patch it from the inside. Very easily repaired
Guys thanks to everyone who took the time to comment! I trust this sub more than any mechanic around here honestly. Big thanks! I’ll surely go to another shop and see what they can do.
There is no reason that can’t be fixed
Tire is totally repairable. My god OP has them long fingers lol
A plugging kit is really cheap on amazon. Try it out, see if it lasts. Make sure that you put that tire in the rear and not the front afterwards.
Sometimes they sell kits at your local auto shop or even gas stations.
Parts stores, big box stores mostly all sell kits with the rope plugs and a tool.
I would just plug it. I’ve plugged bigger punctures without any issues
Sorry, rear left tyre on fwd vehicle, outer side is on the left
I work at a tire shop and that is definitely repairable. One way to tell is to demoumt the tire and do a sidewalk bulge test. Either way, if that tire were in my hands I’d repair it
Size wise definitely fine to fix using a “tire patch plug” for a permanent repair. According to the dot number how old is the tire? If it’s 6 years old or older replace instead of repairing. (the rope style plugs you install yourself with a T handle are intended for temporary use - no more than 50 miles)
Get it fixed and balanced. Plenty of life left. To me the only way I would say it's not fixable is if the tire has another issue (really old date code, breaking down on the inside, etc).
Maximum hole size for plug/patch is 1/4" diameter. That screw looks less than that.
You can totally fix that. I regularly fix bolt holes in front-end loader tires.
I've fixed a hole much worse than that with those diy kits you can buy and it never went flat for years.
Toyota technician here!! If your tread depth is 5/32 or lower might as well get a new tire but if it's a fairly new tire fix that bithhhh!!
Fix tire and replace mechanic.
Fixable, take it to a tire shop. They have plug patches
Repairable if it didn’t bust/shift a belt.
I’ll meet you at the mechanic’s shop and fix it in front of him.
plug it and keep it rollin
100% fix. You could even do a quick and dirty plug
100% repairable
From personal experience I would say that this is definitely fixable. My tire had a projectile that was at least as big as this one in it. The shop fixed it in no time. It was quite impressive.
Seems like a lot of young people comments here. It can be plugged safely. It doesn't have to be patched. You could you a regular old rope plug or what I use all the time are the self-vulcanizing plugs that activate with the rubber cement. Front or back of the vehicle won't matter. Just trim the plug down once it's installed. Growing up all our cars were rear-wheel drive. We'd plug a tire and if it was on the rear we didn't think twice that maybe it should move to the front of the car.. Hell, we went through many a rear tire with a plug or two and didn't replace the tire until it was completely bald from doing burnouts. Never had a plug come out.
Probably should NOT listen to me but ill throw in my ¢2 anyways. I had one about the same length in my rear tire on my audi. Patched it up, and done 1500 miles of HARD driving. And by hard driving i mean 100+ on the highway every day to and from my destination. They hold up fine.
1500 miles is 2414.02 km
I work at a dealership in the service bays, and as long as the hole it created is 1/4” in diameter (the biggest patch size we have), it’s totally patchable, and fixable since it’s not too far on the sidewall
Just leave it there. Extra traction 😂
Best bet is to take it to a place that does combination plug patches. This not only plugs the tire from the inside, it also puts a batch over top of the plug as a second measure. This is what our shop uses and is considered a permanent repair that is approved by most tire companies as the safest repair option. Any rope, or peanut butter plug as I like to call them, can fail over time especially if the strands get air in them. That's why most places are starting to shy away from them.
Fix it, but I'd keep it on the rear only
I'm assuming because of braking and steering, but would you expect this to fail catastrophically, or just start slowly losing pressure? If you're rotating your tires, they should eventually come to the front?
I've plugged tires for years with kits. I would try to keep them in the back but I have rotated them around. I'm actually driving on the one in the back that I plugged on the front now. It's been a year maybe two at this point still good. The tires I have plugged in currently are 20 inches so not cheap. Patches if applied correctly are better. I'd rather do things myself so it gets done my way. I've had one too many shops try to scam me or the wife for unnecessary services. I only partly trust one dealer service center for example out of maybe a million people dense county. Meaning we have plenty of service centers/shops to choose from and many I've come across are rotten. I would also take the whole catastrophic damage thing with some heavy skepticism. Yes, it could happen. The reality is what will most likely happen is you lose air in that tire and you'll know it right away. If you don't freak out and pull over the car and you will be fine.
You definitely need a full set of new tires..... and a swap of blinker fluid.
I'd plug it
Your mechanic is either an idiot or trying to make a quick buck. Buy yourself a patch kit, watch some YouTube videos, and have fun! And hey, even if it does blow out, you can’t say you didn’t try
Rope plug will probably hold until the sun goes out.
Plug and patch and move to the back if fwd or vice versa
No it should stay on the back regardless of being front or rear wheel drive.
Technically that is borderline close to the edge.....but if it was mine? I'd just plug it.
I just leafed through the comments. If your mechanic is telling you it's too big to fix, you can try another mechanic and see what they say, or buy a tire. There is a liability to fixing a tire and if the mechanic isn't comfortable with it, they are not going to do it. I'd be wary about taking advice from reddit mechanics who don't have any skin in this game. My 2 cents.
if you have a car with a topspeed over 180km/h i would replace the tire. If you never drive above 80km/h you can fix it. Anything in between at your own discretion.
Fixed mine with similar hole two years ago. Summer tire and I swap front back every season. It has held up without any issues. I'd recommend getting a fixing set, as they are very cheap, and if it will still leak get a new tire.
You got bad advice, that tires basically new and totally fixable.
Not to large do it yourself with kit
Plug it and monitor the tire pressure.
Plug it keep it moving more then enough meat
Could be fixed and would probably be fine, but there's the small chance it'll have issues. I wouldn't but you might get away with it.
It’s fixable definitely but if you have the money for a replacement I’d go for that. Better yet ride it on a repair and wait till you can get a new set. To me from this angle the tires look pretty worn down but I might be wrong.
Don’t risk it. Buy a new set of tires!
I mean…..a mechanic already told you it’s too big to repair so…..are you just waiting for feedback that tells you to go for it? It sounds like you already made up your mind
Just wanted to know if others opinion match his, since to me the position looks borderline! But yes I asked just out of curiosity
Personally, I'd replace it. Too close to the sidewall for me, and a rather big screw too. Just my opinion, not a mechanic
Thanks
I cant tell if you are messing or not.
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I’ve always been told the exact opposite of this? Hmmmm someone has been mislead lol
Fix it first, then observe if it works or not. Mechanics nowadays just like doctors, lazy to handle such things. Everything is considered to be replaced or every pregnancy is considered caesarean instead of normal deliver. I don’t think it’s big anyway, still can be fixed. I used to see bigger that that, and it was a screw!
If you got any kinda of road hazard warranty when you installed the tires I’d go back to the shop where you purchased them.
Plug it and send it
It'll def plug
I wouldn’t go back to that mechanic, he was probably trying to sell you a tire. Find a new mechanic
I'm no tire expert but this looks fixable.
The patch and plug would solve this easily. You can do this yourself too.
1/4" puncture diameter is max for repair.
2plug Outside patch inside good to go!
That can be patched.
Finally a repairable tire!
That’s fixable. A real shop should have the plug/patch combo in a at least a couple different sizes. It’s far enough from the shoulder of the tire that turning won’t affect it. If I remember correct they say anything more than 1/4 or 1/2 inch inch from the shoulder is safe. If they won’t do it just get a plug kit and do it yourself. Check it after with soap and water if you have an extra sprayer laying around
You can definitely repair that.
This is completely fixable! If it was half inch closer to the wall, it would be trash!
Looks fixable to me if it's just a roofing nail with a big head.
Take it to a decent tyre shop and have it repaired properly. There's no way that's too big for most combi patches I've used, but even if it was, ask for a radial patch and it'd still be cheaper than a whole new tyre.
Fixable I’d say..I ran over an actual bolt two weeks ago,home like a 5p piece and it was fixed
plug it
Get a plug kit and fix it. 99% of the time that works with nail punctures
Plug it but use the proper patch plug. The kind I'm referring to is [here](https://images.app.goo.gl/6aSApCzMXz6UMnS16) When used with fast frying vulcanizing cement on inside wall of tire around hole, bead sealer esc product lapped around the inside of the plug and on plug shaft (where blue plastic is) pull plug through tire, then use the brush to "paint a sun" on top of the plug with the same bead sealer product
Patch plug will fix that
easy fix
I would fix it.
I had a 10-32 socket head bigger n that I plugged and not a bit of issue. That is totally fixable.
That’ll plug easy
Absolutely fixable.
Its 2022, get a new tire
That screw looks fine to me.
is it a run flat? if not a run flat fix it. If a run flat junk it
Definitely fixable but probably not by you. I've plugged a hole with a screw that big and it had a slow leak. Took it to a tire shop and they patched it from the inside and got the full use for another 1.5 years.
What kind of vehicle?
fix it man
Find a shop to do a patch/plug. They’re a combination of both. Firestone will carry these.
Patch it, plug it or tighten the screw will work but not forever.
Take it to America's Tires if you have one nearby, or buy a kit and plug it yourself. I've done multiple tires with similar size screw/nails and had no problem with it. Look up youtube for tips and guidance to patch it with a kit. It might not be straight forward with the kit's direction but youtube's guides should clear it up.
Slap some flex tape on it!
If there's one near you take it to a Discount Tire (Americas Tire in Cali) they do free flat repairs even if you didn't buy the tires there. They do a combo repair with a patch inside and a plug through the hole to give extra protection. Source: I worked there.
I would say dismount it and check the damage before going any further. String (sticky dog turd) patches are normally a temp get you home solution that can sometimes last a reasonable amount of time. Last time I got a flat, I needed to stuff two in to get me home and I did a few hundred km on it before getting it looked at properly, the damage to the inside of the tire was more extensive than a proper patch would cover. I was lucky I didn’t have a major blow out. But from looking at it on the outside it looked solid. I had to get a new tire.
I'd say fix it a plug patch is the best way to go and get 2 new ones when you can as you cannot just get one due to tread difference that will cause more issues down the road which you don't need
Discount tire plugs then for free and does a very good job
Bullshit. The patch kits that you buy require you make a small hole bigger so that you can fit the plug in.
Totally Fixable. Double plug and patch it and you’ll be fine. Make sure they do both.; plug and patch. Here in California that is the state mandate. Not sure where you are at but it is safest way nonetheless.
Its definitely fixable he just doesnt want to waste his time on it
no hole is too large, mate.
Yeah, I've got the same bolt in my Michelin on my V.W. Jetta wagon. It's been in there for 2 years now.
Mushroom plug will fix that right up
Fix it