Dear Bree,
I’m having an argument with my husband about
plugging vs. patching when there’s a hole in a tire. He says, “Just get
the tire plugged. It’s quick and easy.” But I’ve been doing a little
research and I’m not so sure about the plug long-term (or the patch!).
To quote
Pretty Woman, “I’m a safety girl.” Got an opinion?
Tiffany in Tampa
Hi Tiffany!
Of
course I have an opinion! I have an opinion about most things, and you
happen to have hit upon a hot-button topic! So, plug vs. patch, huh? I
have to say, Tiffany, that I’m with you and Vivian—I’m a safety girl!
Luckily, so are the
RMA (Rubber Manufacturers Association) and the states of Texas and Florida.
Go back a
blog or
two
to the difference between all-season and high performance tires (and
snow/winter tires)—what it came down to in the end was the science
behind the rubber compound, so let’s get down to the science of plugs
and patches.
 |
| Traditional tire plug |
A plug is sticky and expandable, and it gets shoved in a hole in the tire from the
outside
and wedged in until the air stops leaking out. Air leaking out is bad
for a tire (and you!) so stopping the leak is great—but do you want to
live your tire life on just a plug? Some people say that a plug will
live longer than your dog, but I don’t have any exact stats on that.
What I do know is this: The plug is made from a different compound than
the tire itself, so you should think about the properties of that
compound and the rubber compound of your tires. They may not expand
and/ or contract at the same rate, so if you’re driving fast (creating
heat) and your tires are expanding; will the plug expand with it? If it
doesn’t, or it expands at a different rate (faster or slower), what
happens then? What if the weather is cold, and your tire contracts but
the plug is contracting faster? You may end up with another leak and be
back to square one but in the snow this time.
 |
| Traditional tire patch |
Patches are a little different because they are actually on the
inside
of your tire. To patch a tire, you take the tire off the rim, apply
the patch on the inside, seal it and remount the tire. The patch is
bigger than the hole and will be pushed by the air pressure against the
hole (outward). A plug is just wedged in there, being pushed outward by
air pressure and inward by the road itself. Let’s hope the road wins.
There is also a Door #3 though, Tiffany, and this is where the RMA,
Texas and Florida come into the story.
 |
| Patch/Plug Wire Pull-Through |
The RMA supports pending legislation in
Texas and
Florida
to prohibit the sale of unsafe used tires. Many used tires that are
either worn out, damaged or otherwise unsafe are being resold every day
all over the country; and two states, Florida and Texas, are working to
stop that. In conjunction with this legislation are guidelines for
repairing tires, and here’s what’s recommended: The Patch/Plug Wire
Pull-Through. This little device is a kind of combo of the patch and
the plug with a pull-through wire that is used to guide the plug into
place. The patch/plug is inserted from the inside of the tire, so the
tire has to be removed from the vehicle, the patch/plug inserted, and
then sealed/cured so that the patch/plug essentially becomes part of the
tire.
RNR
welcomes this new legislation because this is the way that we repair
tires already. We use this method because it is the best and safest way
to fix a damaged tire, and we want only the safest tires (used or
otherwise) rolling along our roads everyday. If your tire cannot be
repaired from the damage, and you’re part of our Road Warrior plan, your
tire will be placed
(within the terms of your agreement).
Don’t
roll around on borrowed air! If you’re going to get your tired
repaired, make sure that it’s being fixed in the safest way possible.
That traditional tire plug might live longer than your Chihuahua or it
might not make it longer than a carnival goldfish—you never know. Think
about a road-side assistance plan, as well, like our
Road Warrior
plan that will replace a damaged tire. You pay a little up front, but
if you happen to have the bad luck to damage your tire in a way that
can’t be repaired, you’re not shelling out a lot of money for a
brand-new tire—you’re already covered.
When you’re faced with a
leak in your tire, Tiffany, just remember why Richard Gere always
insisted on the penthouse suite (because it’s the best!), and make sure
your that tire is repaired in a reputable repair shop using the
patch/plug! Better yet, just come see us at
RNR!
Bree
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