Puncture Plugs

[MakaveliX]

Last puncture was Oct 2022. I had it plugged at a local garage, but after a month or two it would leak 1psi per week. I confirmed this by putting some liquid on the plug and could clearly hear and see bubbles. So I just got the tyre replaced in the end.

Had another puncture today, but this time decided to call out a mobile mechanic with very good reviews.
Is it likely the plug will stay sealed or not ?

The first puncture back in 2022 was a nasty screw which went in at an angle and you could literally hear the air hissing out... and I'm certain that's why it didn't seal properly...
The puncture today however went in completely straight and plugged itself firmly in the tyre.
Thankfully it only cost £25.. Replacing the tyre is a last resort as they are PS5s

Thanks

This is just before the repair today..

Edited by MakaveliX on Monday 11th December 17:27

[mmm-five]

How about a hot vulcanised repair done on the inside with the tyre off? Should be available at most tyre fitters.

[MakaveliX]

mmm-five said:

How about a hot vulcanised repair done on the inside with the tyre off? Should be available at most tyre fitters.

That may have been how they did it as I wasn't watching at the time. I heard the tyre being put back on the rim with the usual loud bang so I'd assume they did it that way .

[M4cruiser]

mmm-five said:

How about a hot vulcanised repair done on the inside with the tyre off? Should be available at most tyre fitters.

As far as I know, this is the only legal way (in the UK). You can't plug it from the outside, for the obvious reason that the pressure would soon pop it out again.
I've had a few punctures over recent years (I think 4 in 9 years, plus a slow leak from the rim) and it's always a significant cost. The rim-seal job was £32 on a tyre which new would have been £100, so if it's more than half worn you may as well just replace it. The others were £15 at a local garage.

[MakaveliX]

M4cruiser said:

As far as I know, this is the only legal way (in the UK). You can't plug it from the outside, for the obvious reason that the pressure would soon pop it out again.
I've had a few punctures over recent years (I think 4 in 9 years, plus a slow leak from the rim) and it's always a significant cost. The rim-seal job was £32 on a tyre which new would have been £100, so if it's more than half worn you may as well just replace it. The others were £15 at a local garage.

Yeah approx 5.3mm on the tyre from when I last checked

[stevieturbo]

MakaveliX said:

Is it likely the plug will stay sealed or not ?

No idea, can't see whatever it was they repaired, or the method used.

[MustangGT]

M4cruiser said:

mmm-five said:

How about a hot vulcanised repair done on the inside with the tyre off? Should be available at most tyre fitters.

As far as I know, this is the only legal way (in the UK). You can't plug it from the outside, for the obvious reason that the pressure would soon pop it out again.
I've had a few punctures over recent years (I think 4 in 9 years, plus a slow leak from the rim) and it's always a significant cost. The rim-seal job was £32 on a tyre which new would have been £100, so if it's more than half worn you may as well just replace it. The others were £15 at a local garage.

Plugs from the inside are fully legal in the UK. I believe it is glued in place, not a hot vulcanisation. Just had one done on my car, we were leaving for a cruise the next morning and I discovered the tyre was flat at 4:30pm. Local tyre place took the wheel off, tyre off, fixed and back on the car within about 20 minutes. Still fine today when we arrived back to the car (10 days later).

[Panamax]

It's difficult to believe a properly plugged tyre would ever leak. The cap of the mushroom shaped plug is patch pretty big and should seal easily,
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cshDW3Wpt9c

[MakaveliX]

Panamax said:

It's difficult to believe a properly plugged tyre would ever leak. The cap of the mushroom shaped plug is patch pretty big and should seal easily,
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cshDW3Wpt9c

Yeah that's what I thought. It definitely was leaking so in the end got the tyre replaced. As I said, I think it was because the screw went in at a really bad angle.

This time however, I called a different company out, and seems fine.. got some soapy water on it yesterday and no bubbles at all.

[Hondashark]

M4cruiser said:

As far as I know, this is the only legal way (in the UK). You can't plug it from the outside, for the obvious reason that the pressure would soon pop it out again.
I've had a few punctures over recent years (I think 4 in 9 years, plus a slow leak from the rim) and it's always a significant cost. The rim-seal job was £32 on a tyre which new would have been £100, so if it's more than half worn you may as well just replace it. The others were £15 at a local garage.

I've plugged 10+ from the outside, I carry a kit in the boot of the car. I think they are classed as a temporary repair but given the tyres are only on the car temporarily (10-20k) ive always just left them. I've not had one fail yet.

[stevieturbo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm6fTWaj3QE

[stevieturbo]

Hondashark said:

I've plugged 10+ from the outside, I carry a kit in the boot of the car. I think they are classed as a temporary repair but given the tyres are only on the car temporarily (10-20k) ive always just left them. I've not had one fail yet.

I've used this quite a few times, great quality, and never had a problem unless the hole was just too big.

Even one time where I had a U shaped staple, so two holes side by side....it plugged them and was fine til I had to change the tyre ( stty work van so didn't care either way )

Although in that case if had been anything important I'd have replaced the tyre sooner, but it lasted without issue.

https://www.mm-4x4.com/arb-tyre-repair-kit-10496-p...

[Panamax]

Hondashark said:

I've plugged 10+ from the outside, I carry a kit in the boot of the car. I think they are classed as a temporary repair but given the tyres are only on the car temporarily (10-20k) ive always just left them. I've not had one fail yet.

The reason tyres should be plugged from the inside is it gives an opportunity to inspect the inside of the tyre. If a tyre has been driven flat or nearly flat there can be significant damage to the inside of the sidewall. Saw this myself when I took in OH's car for what I thought would be a simple plugged repair. Fitter showed me the inside of the tyre and it was clearly game over.

For a very similar reason many places won't repair run-flats at all. The sidewall is so tough that if driven flat it can look alright on the inside but have suffered damage internally within the sidewall. I've had run-flats repaired but only because I carry a rudimentary electric pump so can can be confident the tyre has never been driven at low pressure.

[stevieturbo]

Panamax said:

The reason tyres should be plugged from the inside is it gives an opportunity to inspect the inside of the tyre. If a tyre has been driven flat or nearly flat there can be significant damage to the inside of the sidewall. Saw this myself when I took in OH's car for what I thought would be a simple plugged repair. Fitter showed me the inside of the tyre and it was clearly game over.

For a very similar reason many places won't repair run-flats at all. The sidewall is so tough that if driven flat it can look alright on the inside but have suffered damage internally within the sidewall. I've had run-flats repaired but only because I carry a rudimentary electric pump so can can be confident the tyre has never been driven at low pressure.

Fair comment, but that approach is not practical when you've just got or spotted the puncture at the roadside.

If anyone has driven on a flat tyre though, yes it would be very silly to try one of these repairs themselves