tire plug appreciation thread - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

firedrop · 07-05-2014, 03:39 AM

somehow a 1/2" screw managed to go all the way through my tread. pulled it out and sure enough the air was seeping out. plugged it and didn't even need to put air in the tire. the tire was tough, had to drive in reverse slowly with the plugger in the tire to actually get it in all the way, didn't want to take the wheel off.

had it up to 85mph and 100 miles so far, no issues

NorthTex45thSS · 07-05-2014, 04:28 AM

Those tire plugs work pretty well. I have had 4 in my right rear drag radial for over 1500 miles with several passes down the track with no issues. I keep a 4 pack of plugs with a small tube of the plug glue in my car. I cover the plug in the glue, pull nail or screw, quickly push it in the hole, I then light it on fire with a lighter for about 20 seconds to melt it in good. Never had one pull back out, even doing burnouts at the track, no problems. They have saved my butt several times.

firedrop · 07-05-2014, 06:27 AM

didn't use the plug glue, was all out of it.. is it necessary?

NorthTex45thSS · 07-05-2014, 06:33 AM

I have used plenty of those plugs without the glue on regular street tires and have not had an issue. With the drag radials i use being a softer compound and thinner tread I use the glue as added protection.

Scalded Dog · 07-05-2014, 07:23 AM

Firedrop, you da man! I do the same thing whenever I can: Avoid taking the wheel off, sometimes roll it to gently push the plug into place, and can often do the entire repair without needing to refill it... just lose a pound or two in a quick swap of nail for plug.

I haven't done it without the glue before... but I HAVE plugged a hole that was so big that it required two plugs in the same hole. That was a little sketchy, but got me home.
I've also done a sidewall plug, in a pinch. Also worked, but I wasn't real comfortable with that.

Used to be, every time I had a flat, I'd have to put the spare on, drive to a tire shop (hopefully it happens 9-5, Mo-Fr!), and pay 'em $10 or $20 to fix the thing. Then one day the AutoZone dude showed me how to do it.... now it takes 5% of the time, and costs me 1% of the money... and I'm a hero at the office every time one of the ladies has a flat...

Oh, and by the way: The "glue" is Rubber Cement. Yes, looks like it, smells like it, acts like it.... but I also looked into it further, and confirmed... It IS basic Rubber Cement, nothing special.

Emig5m · 07-05-2014, 06:29 PM

My RS had a spare but my SS doesn't because of the Brembos. I think I'm going to pick up a tire plug kit and keep it in the glove compartment!

JTruck · 07-06-2014, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NorthTex45thSS

Those tire plugs work pretty well. I have had 4 in my right rear drag radial for over 1500 miles with several passes down the track with no issues. I keep a 4 pack of plugs with a small tube of the plug glue in my car. I cover the plug in the glue, pull nail or screw, quickly push it in the hole, I then light it on fire with a lighter for about 20 seconds to melt it in good. Never had one pull back out, even doing burnouts at the track, no problems. They have saved my butt several times.

I would be very weary with four plugs in one tire. My company considers a tire non-repairable after 3 repairs because the integrity of the tire is starting to degrade with these imperfections.

firestone_ss · 07-11-2014, 10:36 AM

Once the tire is repaired it loses its speed rating for obvious reasons. I wouldn't go beating on a tire with multiple plugs, the proper repair is plug/patch but hey its your car hope it works out.

07-05-2014, 03:39 AM	#1
firedrop Drives: 2012 2ss/l99 a6, victory red Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: philadelphia Posts: 387	tire plug appreciation thread somehow a 1/2" screw managed to go all the way through my tread. pulled it out and sure enough the air was seeping out. plugged it and didn't even need to put air in the tire. the tire was tough, had to drive in reverse slowly with the plugger in the tire to actually get it in all the way, didn't want to take the wheel off. had it up to 85mph and 100 miles so far, no issues __________________ 2012 2ss l99/a6 CAI, custom catback with flowmaster series 10s

07-05-2014, 04:28 AM	#2
NorthTex45thSS Drives: 2012 45th SS Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: DFW, Tx Posts: 144 View My Garage	Those tire plugs work pretty well. I have had 4 in my right rear drag radial for over 1500 miles with several passes down the track with no issues. I keep a 4 pack of plugs with a small tube of the plug glue in my car. I cover the plug in the glue, pull nail or screw, quickly push it in the hole, I then light it on fire with a lighter for about 20 seconds to melt it in good. Never had one pull back out, even doing burnouts at the track, no problems. They have saved my butt several times. __________________ 2012 45th RS/SS ADM Perfomance intake, ADM tuned, Stainless Works headers/no cats, 3" magnaflow comp exhaust, 160º thermostat, Nitto NT05R's, 387rwhp/396tq 95 Kenworth W900L powered by CAT 13 spd

07-05-2014, 06:27 AM	#3
firedrop Drives: 2012 2ss/l99 a6, victory red Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: philadelphia Posts: 387	didn't use the plug glue, was all out of it.. is it necessary? __________________ 2012 2ss l99/a6 CAI, custom catback with flowmaster series 10s

07-05-2014, 06:33 AM	#4
NorthTex45thSS Drives: 2012 45th SS Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: DFW, Tx Posts: 144 View My Garage	I have used plenty of those plugs without the glue on regular street tires and have not had an issue. With the drag radials i use being a softer compound and thinner tread I use the glue as added protection. __________________ 2012 45th RS/SS ADM Perfomance intake, ADM tuned, Stainless Works headers/no cats, 3" magnaflow comp exhaust, 160º thermostat, Nitto NT05R's, 387rwhp/396tq 95 Kenworth W900L powered by CAT 13 spd

07-05-2014, 07:23 AM	#5
Scalded Dog Drives: 2011 1LT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Crestline, CA Posts: 3,029	Firedrop, you da man! I do the same thing whenever I can: Avoid taking the wheel off, sometimes roll it to gently push the plug into place, and can often do the entire repair without needing to refill it... just lose a pound or two in a quick swap of nail for plug. I haven't done it without the glue before... but I HAVE plugged a hole that was so big that it required two plugs in the same hole. That was a little sketchy, but got me home. I've also done a sidewall plug, in a pinch. Also worked, but I wasn't real comfortable with that. Used to be, every time I had a flat, I'd have to put the spare on, drive to a tire shop (hopefully it happens 9-5, Mo-Fr!), and pay 'em $10 or $20 to fix the thing. Then one day the AutoZone dude showed me how to do it.... now it takes 5% of the time, and costs me 1% of the money... and I'm a hero at the office every time one of the ladies has a flat... Oh, and by the way: The "glue" is Rubber Cement. Yes, looks like it, smells like it, acts like it.... but I also looked into it further, and confirmed... It IS basic Rubber Cement, nothing special. Last edited by Scalded Dog; 07-06-2014 at 04:50 PM.

07-05-2014, 06:29 PM	#6
Emig5m 100% Sport Møde Drives: '17 Civic SI + '04 SVT Lightning Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: NJ, USA Posts: 753	My RS had a spare but my SS doesn't because of the Brembos. I think I'm going to pick up a tire plug kit and keep it in the glove compartment!

07-11-2014, 10:36 AM	#8
firestone_ss Drives: 2010 camaro ss Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tacoma WA Posts: 779	Once the tire is repaired it loses its speed rating for obvious reasons. I wouldn't go beating on a tire with multiple plugs, the proper repair is plug/patch but hey its your car hope it works out.