Got puncture - guy fixed it in under a minute, how durable is it?

arleitiss

I noticed puncture this morning, wheel was completely flat.

I drove (yes I know I shouldn't but it was close distance) for about 200 meters (To nearest petrol station) and inflated tire.

Then I was passing by some garages and saw some mechanic sitting around with empty garage so dropped by him and he said that he can fix it.


He used floor jack to lift car, found a screw stuck in center of tire in between treads, so he just took pliers, pulled it out, used screwdriver to puncture it fully and then stuck some piece of rubbery string into hole and cut it off.

Inflated it and that's it, it took him under a minute to do and asked for tenner for it.


I am quite surprised it was so quick so it makes me question if that's a valid way of fixing puncture? Will it last at all?

I asked him and he said it's durable and will have no problems.


I always assumed they take tire off and fix it from inside?

xabi

Perfectly fine

shaywest

I've used those Lot's of times never a bother

Toyotafanboi

Some say that plugging a tyre like that isn't safe as the plug can work itself free over time, particularly if on a tyre on the steering axle, it is a legal repair though.

I can see that point of view but dont think I've ever seen a real world example of it happening. If I was my own car I probably wouldn't care, particularly on a rear wheel.

A better method is patching the tyre inside but is a good bit more work.

arleitiss

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Some say that plugging a tyre like that isn't safe as the plug can work itself free over time, particularly if on a tyre on the steering axle, it is a legal repair though.

I can see that point of view but dont think I've ever seen a real world example of it happening. If I was my own car I probably wouldn't care, particularly on a rear wheel.

A better method is patching the tyre inside but is a good bit more work.

Yeah it was rear left wheel and it was right in center of the tire, not side wall or anything.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

Perfectly fine repair

And a tenner is a good price too / the going rate for that repair so I'd be happy with that service !


Jaysis I with fixing a puncture that fast I wouldn't have enough time to go toilet and back before he finished !

id say go back and give him the plug and the tenner back

arleitiss

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

Perfectly fine repair

And a tenner is a good price too / the going rate for that repair so I'd be happy with that service !


Jaysis I with fixing a puncture that fast I wouldn't have enough time to go toilet and back before he finished !

It took me longer to walk over to petrol station ATM than for him to fix it.

Get Real

It's down to individual preference, I just personally wouldn't see it as a long term fix myself.

A tenner to get you round a town a few days, before an internal inspection and repair/ buying a new tyre altogether, fair enough.

If the actual tyre wasn't removed from the wheel itself when the whole unit was taken off, and an internal inspection done, then I'd view it as a purely temporary repair.

I personally wouldn't leave it at that and be doing motorway speeds etc. You're trusting that this patch up will support thousands of kilograms travelling at 120km/h.

arleitiss

Get Real wrote: »

It's down to individual preference, I just personally wouldn't see it as a long term fix myself.

A tenner to get you round a town a few days, before an internal inspection and repair/ buying a new tyre altogether, fair enough.

If the actual tyre wasn't removed from the wheel itself when the whole unit was taken off, and an internal inspection done, then I'd view it as a purely temporary repair.

I personally wouldn't leave it at that and be doing motorway speeds etc. You're trusting that this patch up will support thousands of kilograms travelling at 120km/h.

I really don't want to replace tire as I got all 4 brand new just few months ago, less than 1000 KM on them, expensive Pirelli's too (Which is probably what's causing my paranoia here)

colm_mcm

Drive on

jimmycrackcorm

This is how I remember tires getting fixed previously.
If had a number of punctures recently, but they've been in the side walls so this type of fix cannot work.

Jimmy Garlic

Repair will last as long as the tyre. Nothing to worry about.but a plug kit and you can do it yourself if it happens again.

cnocbui

Get Real wrote: »

It's down to individual preference, I just personally wouldn't see it as a long term fix myself.

A tenner to get you round a town a few days, before an internal inspection and repair/ buying a new tyre altogether, fair enough.

If the actual tyre wasn't removed from the wheel itself when the whole unit was taken off, and an internal inspection done, then I'd view it as a purely temporary repair.

I personally wouldn't leave it at that and be doing motorway speeds etc. You're trusting that this patch up will support thousands of kilograms travelling at 120km/h.

I have had two repairs done that way and was a bit dubious, but both lasted the life of the tread - many thousands of km, many at motorway speeds. Each tyre supports 1/4 of the weight of the car, which for mine would mean 310 kg each.

Having just done some research, it would appear they are only a temporary fix, so I was just lucky. Best to go to tyre place and get a permanent approved repair done.

arleitiss

This is where the ****er got lodged into:

https://i.imgur.com/7ZtdWPD.jpg

Obviously this happens the moment I go from RFT to normal.

chasm

arleitiss wrote: »

I noticed puncture this morning, wheel was completely flat.

I drove (yes I know I shouldn't but it was close distance) for about 200 meters (To nearest petrol station) and inflated tire.

Then I was passing by some garages and saw some mechanic sitting around with empty garage so dropped by him and he said that he can fix it.


He used floor jack to lift car, found a screw stuck in center of tire in between treads, so he just took pliers, pulled it out, used screwdriver to puncture it fully and then stuck some piece of rubbery string into hole and cut it off.

Inflated it and that's it, it took him under a minute to do and asked for tenner for it.


I am quite surprised it was so quick so it makes me question if that's a valid way of fixing puncture? Will it last at all?

I asked him and he said it's durable and will have no problems.


I always assumed they take tire off and fix it from inside?

According to the RSA a plug is only meant to be a temporary fix. In the UK it wouldn't pass the British Safety standards BS159 as they repaired it externally without removing the tyre.
http://www.dexel.co.uk/blog/right-wrong-way-repair-punctured-tyre/

Cordell

Because you drove on a flat tyre the mechanic should have removed the tyre and inspect it for sidewall damage.
Apart from that, the plug will not cause any problems, and definitely it won't be pushed out by the pressure - its very small diameter/surface means that the force that tries to push it out is extremely small.

kirving

Get Real wrote: »

It's down to individual preference, I just personally wouldn't see it as a long term fix myself.

In terms of how self-vulcanising rubber works, as it heats during driving, the rubber of the plug chemically reacts to the rubber of the tyre. Similar to how a weld works in metal. Once it vulcanises, it's never falling out so to speak.

Get Real wrote: »

A tenner to get you round a town a few days, before an internal inspection and repair/ buying a new tyre altogether, fair enough.

If the actual tyre wasn't removed from the wheel itself when the whole unit was taken off, and an internal inspection done, then I'd view it as a purely temporary repair.

Agreed, it should be checked for sure. 200m on a completely flat tyre isn't good.

Get Real wrote: »

I personally wouldn't leave it at that and be doing motorway speeds etc. You're trusting that this patch up will support thousands of kilograms travelling at 120km/h.

It's really a tiny amount of force on the rubber plug given that its so small. Id be more worried about internal damage to the sidewall after driving on it flat

Stoolbend

I’ve used them for years never any real issues. An odd one would leak again after a while.

I don’t know of any tyre place that uses them. They always seem to remove and patch the tyre.

Did you tell him that you drove in it flat though?

arleitiss

Stoolbend wrote: »

I’ve used them for years never any real issues. An odd one would leak again after a while.

I don’t know of any tyre place that uses them. They always seem to remove and patch the tyre.

Did you tell him that you drove in it flat though?

No, it was quick drop by before work.

9935452

Stoolbend wrote: »

I’ve used them for years never any real issues. An odd one would leak again after a while.

I don’t know of any tyre place that uses them. They always seem to remove and patch the tyre.

Did you tell him that you drove in it flat though?

Out of the 4 tyre places local to me 2 use them .
The other 2 dont.
I dont like them personally

I got a slow puncture in england at one stage and went to a quick fit.
All they had was plugs. No patches at all.
Tyre had part of a stanley knife stuck in it so had to buy a new tyre. Brought the old one home and fixed it myself.

redcup342

Totally fine, I drove for years on plugs with no problems, you only drive 120 km/h max in Ireland anyways, I only didnt trust plugs when driving in Germany.

creedp

redcup342 wrote: »

Totally fine, I drove for years on plugs with no problems, you only drive 120 km/h max in Ireland anyways, I only didnt trust plugs when driving in Germany.

Where is the best place to source a plug repair kit? I wouldn't mind one in the car as it doesn't have a spare.

CJhaughey

creedp wrote: »

Where is the best place to source a plug repair kit? I wouldn't mind one in the car as it doesn't have a spare.

Online. But a word of warning, best to practice on an old tyre first to get the technique right.
Depending on the thickness of the string some need to be twisted others pull straight out.
The red ones are thicker usually and pull straight out the black ones twist the handle 1/2 a turn before pulling them out to create a knot inside the tyre.

paddy19

Without examining the inside of the tyre your mechanic doesn't know what damage has been done.
A plug might be fine but he just doesn't know.
There could be too much damage for a plug to work.

Personally I don't want a quick and dirty repair.
Without getting all hoity about it, am I'm going to put myself and family at risk for the sake of waiting 10 minutes and an extra 5 euros to get the job done right.

Take a look at the the British Standard for type repair: BU AU 159.

http://btmauk.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Minor-repairs-to-passenger-car-and-light-van-tyres.pdf

3. d) The following ‘repair methods are not recognised as acceptable:-
*Liquid sealants.
*Plugs applied externally to fitted tyres.

This is the proper repair procedure:
2. PREPARATION AND REPAIR
a) Ensure that the tyre is clean and dry.
b) Determine the angle of penetration.
c) Prepare the penetration channel with minimal use of a rotary mill cutter or similar.
d) Remove all loose and visibly oxidised material, buffing the rubber in the cavity and surrounding area to a suede finish.
e) Clean an area significantly larger than the patch with solvent, removing all contaminants, e.g. mould releasing agents.
f) Hold the patch in position and mark its outline on the inner liner.
g) Mechanically buff the inner liner to approximately 5mm beyond the marked area, removing any raised ribs and producing a flat, suede finish.
h) Remove dust and extraneous material, e.g. wire particles and fluffed cords.
i) Apply suitable repair material in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.