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Plug, patch, or new tire?

185EZ

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Daughter at Firestone in Vegas and they say they can't repair the tire. Need new tire. $400
Their "policy" she was told
I can't tell you how many tires I've just put a plug in and been fine.
Looks even borderline to their picture but I get they don't want the liability.
She is getting 2nd opinion
Not sure why the pics are so big
1741909295938.png

1741909314739.png
 

Boat 405

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I picked up a nail in a brand new set of tires with less than 500 miles on them. I was pissed when they said oh we can't fix that you'll have to buy a new tire. F that. The tire was $500. I drove it home whipped out the plug kit. I think its a cover their ass policy and to get you to buy a new tire IMO. Mind you this is in a 5000 lb SUV with 700hp/800tq.
 

Ultra...Good

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Depends how fast she runs, car or suv, kids in car, etc etc etc.

I'd plug it and run it on the front. But, it's not my ass riding on that.
 

Mandelon

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You can do a plug yourself. A patch would be preferable, but you'd need a tire shop to handle it. Any independent shops around? Like Jose's Tires?

I had a screw in one of my tires. I just changed out the screw every weekend and ran hundreds of miles like that.
 

CoolCruzin

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You can do a plug yourself. A patch would be preferable, but you'd need a tire shop to handle it. Any independent shops around? Like Jose's Tires?

I had a screw in one of my tires. I just changed out the screw every weekend and ran hundreds of miles like that.
If the hole get too large put a larger screw in it right
 

Orange Juice

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Daughter at Firestone in Vegas and they say they can't repair the tire. Need new tire. $400
Their "policy" she was told
I can't tell you how many tires I've just put a plug in and been fine.
Looks even borderline to their picture but I get they don't want the liability.
She is getting 2nd opinion
Not sure why the pics are so big
View attachment 1486972
View attachment 1486973
What are the date codes on those tires?…they look over 8 years old.
 

monkeyswrench

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I've been running this type of deal instead of dismount and patch, or plugs for a few months now. Dealers up here use them, so I figured they worked. Done two on my own cars so far. I keep the plug kit for the times I may need 4 or 5 in a sidewall to get home from the mountains.
 

monkeyswrench

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Plug AND Patch
Those are great, if you have the tire off. I use those on big truck stuff out here. I've had better luck with them than the standard buff and patch.
 

Rajobigguy

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DRYHEAT

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Daughter at Firestone in Vegas and they say they can't repair the tire. Need new tire. $400
Their "policy" she was told
I can't tell you how many tires I've just put a plug in and been fine.
Looks even borderline to their picture but I get they don't want the liability.
She is getting 2nd opinion
Not sure why the pics are so big
View attachment 1486972
View attachment 1486973
Had one patched at discount tires in Havasu last week just like that, it kind of surprised me I expected them to say no.

I’d have no problem, patching that tire, especially if your daughter is not a panic type driver. Tires blow out all the time and people don’t crash.
 

185EZ

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Had one patched at discount tires in Havasu last week just like that, it kind of surprised me I expected them to say no.

I’d have no problem, patching that tire, especially if your daughter is not a panic type driver. Tires blow out all the time and people don’t crash.
No panic driving in vegas. Visits construction sites. She does casino remodel design.
I can't tell you how many times I've plugged her tires in Havasu.
This time father can't be there.💪

Not sure if the Acura MDX has a spare.
We have the RDX and all they give you is a compressor and plug kit.
No spare tire
 

77charger

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Head to a Mexican tire shop they’ll patch it for a few bucks your good.

Chain stores are a pain. I took a trailer tire to have dismounted so I can replace the valve stem which cracked. Tire was 2 years on the date code. Guy looks at it says well sidewalk looks worn and tire is old. I reply the date code says it’s 2 years old and I bought it here. He looks at tire again and tells me well it’s still old I point to the wall where they have tire age info and point out again. He finally says corporate policy lol.

Also americas tire if you are in middlemof
No where get a home and plug it to get back thru will not cover the tire road hazards or not. Son went through this had to buy a new tire so drove it til it shreds or remove the plug.
 
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samsah33

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Patch; found out the hard way that plugging it myself, even if temporary, voids the warranty and some places wouldn't even touch it after I plugged it... Fortunately I was a couple thousand miles out from getting new tires anyhow, just wasn't ready to get them that day...!
 

17 10 Flat

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2023 Acura MDX
Firestone aired it up and sent her on her way
Her friend knows manager at Discount tire and they will fix it for free
I assume they will do a patch inside
Discount Tire has always been my go to for a tire repair and tires. The only way they do it is to dismount tire, install a patch on the inside. They then recheck the balance.
Never been charged.
 

ltbaney1

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wife or daughters car, if you cant get it patched, even a Jose's tire. buy the new one. my car, plug and be done.
 

Bigbore500r

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Daughter at Firestone in Vegas and they say they can't repair the tire. Need new tire. $400
Their "policy" she was told
I can't tell you how many tires I've just put a plug in and been fine.
Looks even borderline to their picture but I get they don't want the liability.
She is getting 2nd opinion
Not sure why the pics are so big
View attachment 1486972
View attachment 1486973
I'd plug that all damn day!
They're trying to juice her for a new tire purchase. That is nowhere near the sidewall and looks like plenty of tread on the tire
 

Justsomeguy

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Firestone sucks. They wouldn't do mine either. New tire. Tires were a week old. Went to where I got the tires, they weren't open only reason I went by Firestone, done in minutes. Same place that my wife says put her brake pads on the wrong way before I met her. Between those two experiences. Ill never step foot in one again.
 

lbhsbz

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Tire repairs are an interesting subject....and come with a lot of liability.

For a shop, no tire should be repaired without dismounting it, at the very least to see whether or not it's full of dust from being run low and overheating for the last 100 miles.

The rope type plugs are technically a "temporary" repair, but I've been using them for years (on my vehicles being fully aware of the conditions under which the puncture occured) and have yet to have one fail, but I pay attention and notice the "tick tick tick" as soon as it starts and the tire never gets a chance to go low on air. Wife's car might get a plug, but only if I've got to wait for a new tire to come in...then it gets a replacement....which has happened once, and it needed tires anyway pretty soon, so it got 4. I pick up screws and bolts a few times a year it seems. One tire on my Tacoma I think has 4 plugs in it? lol.

There are industry standards that if not adhered to, will be an easy conviction in court should something go wrong....and it's simply not worth it for $20 repair that nets the shop $10 or less.
 

rivermobster

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They are both lucky daughters
View attachment 1486987

They sure look worth protecting to me? 🤷‍♂️

Modern day radial tires have very fine, very strong, steel belts in them. Once you destroy the integrity of those belts, the destroy the integrity/strength of the whole tire.

In the 90's, we would repair tires at Lexus. Fully dismount them, and use a combo plug/patch on the inside.

You have to grind away the inside of the tire, to get to the rubber, that the glue will actually stick to. Then, ream opening the puncture big enough, so that the plug part will actually go through.

It won't leak. But you have effectively destroyed the tire.

I've lost count of how many I've done.

In an emergency situation? Do what you need to do.

But if you're planning on running that same tire, across the desert at 80mph on a 120 degree day...

It's probably best to replace it.

P.S. I've also lost count of how many tires I've Had to replace on my own daughters car! And those aren't cheap tires.

I feel your pain. But a tire coming apart as speed? That's a pain I don't wanna even think about.
 

TPC

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Patch to prevent pressurized air migrating between the ply's.
Americas plugged a tire and we experienced that in Shreveport.

Blew & bent back the "fender" of the truck.
I quit trusting tires stores long ago.
 

Bigbore500r

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They sure look worth protecting to me? 🤷‍♂️

Modern day radial tires have very fine, very strong, steel belts in them. Once you destroy the integrity of those belts, the destroy the integrity/strength of the whole tire.

In the 90's, we would repair tires at Lexus. Fully dismount them, and use a combo plug/patch on the inside.

You have to grind away the inside of the tire, to get to the rubber, that the glue will actually stick to. Then, ream opening the puncture big enough, so that the plug part will actually go through.

It won't leak. But you have effectively destroyed the tire.

I've lost count of how many I've done.

In an emergency situation? Do what you need to do.

But if you're planning on running that same tire, across the desert at 80mph on a 120 degree day...

It's probably best to replace it.

P.S. I've also lost count of how many tires I've Had to replace on my own daughters car! And those aren't cheap tires.

I feel your pain. But a tire coming apart as speed? That's a pain I don't wanna even think about.

One day, I hope to have "just buy new tires anytime you get a nail in it" money .....
 

rivermobster

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Patch to prevent pressurized air migrating between the ply's.
Americas plugged a tire and we experienced that in Shreveport.

Blew & bent back the "fender" of the truck.
I quit trusting tires stores long ago.

Yep.

And let's not forget about how the steel belts will start to rust out, once water seeps in there as well.
 
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