AMGTTV8

Do I replace the tire, or get it plugged?

Am worried that the belts in the tire have been compromised with this puncture...

Thoughts?

Just worried about high speed driving and not having the stability in one tire when compared to the others.

gthal

As long as it is professionally repaired and the puncture is not in the sidewall it can be repaired without any issue. A reputable shop can tell you whether it is repairable or not as some puncture locations cannot be repaired.

Mort

Good question and one I have asked of myself before. I have never had a problem with a plugged tire though I have had a few plugged tires on reasonably high speed cars ~ 130mph. They were not cars I pushed above 100mph except on the odd occasion.

For liability reasons I think it is a question you are going to have to answer for yourself. I would not recommend it and think if you are uncomfortable about it at all you should replace the tire.

amdeutsch

Picked up a nail in my SSs on the way to the track and didn't know it. First lap = TPMS warning. Got it repaired at the track and finished out the weekend with no issues. Well, not quite; all wheels got hot and threw all the weights.

BTW,
This was a road course - straights and turns.

Pit-Pony

The quick way is to plug the tire. After the nail is removed, a sharp long surated tool is used to enlarge the hole and roughen it, than a rubber glue fiber insert (like a pipe cleaner) is inserted with a sharp needle looking tool and than pulled half way out again to plug the hole. You can actually do this yourself easily as an emergency repair if you carry a kit with all that is required with you when you travel. Inexpensive at any auto supply shop.

The proper way is to take the tire off the rim and patch it from the inside. The inside hole area is rough sanded and than rubber cement and a large patch is installed and rubbed on with a roller. The air pressure than helps the patch stay in place.

The second method is best.

shades

Pit-Pony is right, but if you are going to repair a tire do it the second way. They first way is not reliable. If you budget allows, get a new tire. Any tire that is repaired is suppose to be temporary but a lot of people don't replace the tire and its fine. Our shop has a $5 dollar insurance Purchase per tire for just these things (prorated of course). If you buy a new tire, see if the shop has insurance for them, beyond the manufacturers defects.

AMGC60-3

I think that a high speed tire "plug fix" is only thought of as a temp fix until you can replace the tire itself and I think this is for all ZR rated and above tires.

gthal

I'm no expert but a very large and reliable tire shop has told me that once properly repaired (i.e. patched on the inside), the tire is fine and doesn't need replacement. Also, I was under the understanding that most tire warranties would replace the tire but only if it could not be properly repaired. Maybe I'm wrong but that is what I was told.

track_warrior

If you have a local discount tire take it to them. They will tell you if its safe to be repaired. If its in the center its ok.

shades

Your right gthal, those are the same procedures we take, but any manufacture website should tell you its a temp fix. There is a little room for play though, for example close to a side wall but not actually in the side wall, I can issue a new tire becaUse the patch cannot roll with the side wall it Has to be perfectly flat.

Muskoka_AMG

Some good advice above.

I had two patched Michelin PS2s on the front of my car. They went through 2 track days without incident. However, as stated above, this isn't the same for every puncture. Talk to a professional and see what they say.

Also, make sure that professional is not the same person that would sell you new tires...

AMGTTV8

thanks for the responses...still stuck on whether I should fix it or buy a new one...

It's fixable because it is in the very center of the tire - my issue is with long-term degradation of its internal structure.

There's a whole lot of constant flexing in our rear tires with the amount of power being pushed through...

Pit-Pony

The plug is an excellent temporary fix you can do yourself in a pinch. The second is permanent and you of course need a tire shop.

In your ordinary run about, mostly city driven car, you can probably get away with living with the plug fix till you need a new tire.

In our C63 where you will push the limit and generate lots of tire heat the patch should work. In any case the tires don't last that long anyway

WWMIndy, fix it with an internal patch, see how it goes, you can always buy a new tire and keep it handy as you will need new tires all around soon enough. You should be fine with a patch.

crhait

Just do it

Illusive

Like Pit Pony said, the best one is the internal patch. The tire shop will remove the tire and patch it from the inside. If its a reputable tire shop, they will assess it for free and determine if the hole can be plugged. Most likely it won't be an issue. I had a nail in my Toyo T1R's for my Work wheels on my C350, took it to Cal Tire, and they removed the tire, patched it, and remounted and balanced the wheel for free.

melmanc55

Had 3 nails in one tire. Discount tire patched/plugged two and the other one did not go thought he tire. So long as the nails are in "good" spots just get them fixed. Plugs or patches work very good.

shchow

Here's a nice link from TireRack about this issue...
The proper repair, losing speed rating, etc...
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=77

AMGTTV8

looks like I'm going to be replacing a tire...

These things barely have 1,000 miles on them...so sad.

Can't wait for construction to stop in my neighborhood.

Between my wife and I, this is the 4th incident over the course of two months.

_AMG_

Sorry to hear about that. As long as the nail is not on the sidewall then you should be good, I would just have it patched it.

AMGC60-3

Just remember, every time you drive the car hard it will always be on your mind that one of your tires are questionable, saftey first, and I take it you are are married and have children that are occupants in your vehicle, please think of their saftey as well. I have had two punctured tires on my ML in the last two weeks (one this morning) and it does suck the big one.

bhamg

I once got three nail punctures in two months due to house construction at the end of my block. I started going the long way around it and never got another. Now, when I see a site with construction in the early stages I'll turn around and avoid driving by. I'm down to one very two or three years.

Case1906

Fact-- the belts have been compromised. Does it matter.....

I've been through this dilemma. I would ask what you mean by "high speed driving?" If your are tracking your car- road or drag-I would replace the tire. It's not worth it. Save the the tire for street use. If not, I would feel comfortable with a patch.

AMG3.2

Truthfully, it would bug me more to have uneven tires than to have a patch in one. Like others have said, take it to a tire shop and have them patch it from the inside. As long as it's done right, there really shouldn't be a problem.

DuaneC63

Technically if you repair a puncture leak in a tire it is no longer speed rated.