TIRE ADVICE

Shawna Geyer · **Posted:** Sat Jun 25, 2005 5:59 am

hey all, need some advice for tires....

Quick background, managed to gather three nails in all different tires :cry:

, then somehow got a toothpick in the sidewall on the fourth

....yea, i live free in a shady place, but there's another time for that discussion.....so got a new tire....so, u think i should replace all other tires, ive autocrossed the last one in greensboro with triad with one plugged, but all three? I know on our patrol cars, its OSHA regulations that they have to put on a new tire, cause of our high speed chase policy, and the fact the may blow....so just wanted to get advice on that if possibly ok for one autocross at a a time ?, or do u think i should just go get new ones?

so i guess im asking, safe or not safe with three plugged tires and one brand new one.... :lol:

thx

Carl Fisher · **Posted:** Sat Jun 25, 2005 8:52 am

I've autocrossed on a plugged tire before, and if one plugged tire is OK, it seems like 3 should also be. Police depts and the like have to consider liability and CYA stuff when setting their policies- as an individual you only have to consider reality. Of course if the idea of running with 3 plugs makes you uncomfortable, then there's obviously no harm (except to pocketbook) of buying more new tires, and the peace of mind might be worth a couple tenths...

BretLuter · **Posted:** Sat Jun 25, 2005 11:22 am

I think a distinction needs to be made between "plugged" and "patched" tires. I'm not a tire expert by any means, but I've driven on all sorts of crap tires (some good ones too.....). I'd be concerned if the holes were simply plugged using a rubber or string-soaked-in-tar tire plugs that you poke thru from the outside. I'd feel much better about it if the tire was removed from the wheel, and a proper patch applied to the inside of the tire.

Again, I'm not a tire expert, but I've seen the plugs fail before- though they usually just develop a leak and don't fail all at once.

Bret.

George Bright · **Posted:** Sat Jun 25, 2005 1:00 pm

In the past I have run on tires with plugs in them. I had one of the plugs start leaking so I did the inside patch. As far as the police not running on pluged tires. Ther is another issue here. What is the cost of the down time when there is a flat? It is probably cheaper in the long run to replace the tire.

Graham Jagger · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:53 am **Posts:** 1718

I ran my 1st season with 3 patched tires on the C4. Not plugged, patched. The police have OSHA regs to follow but the public has the same issue. Once I got a patch on my Z-speed rated tire the speed rating guarantee went away per the manufacturer. So for a police chase vehicle or a public vehicle that is used for track events you have the same issue.

For autocross speed isn't an issue. But heavy turning and braking is squirming those plugs so I'd keep a tire inflator and liquid patch kit with you. That is what I did. That green goop patch stuff works great if needed.

Personally if the tires were pretty worn and on their last leg I would replace them. When I found my nails/screws on the road I still had plenty of tread left. $800 a set for the tires. No way was I going to throw them away. I ran them down below the wear bars and never had trouble with them leaking. If the tires are worth it maybe consider having the plugs pulled and patches in their place.

Kevin Butler · **Posted:** Sun Jun 26, 2005 4:11 pm

Ditto on the patches. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is the hole/plug/patch's location on the tread. If it's really close to the sidewall, you might want to think twice.

KB

Kevin Allen · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 6:42 pm **Posts:** 3479

I've come very close to pulling a plug out of a tire via intense cornering in the mountains. :shock:

I wouldn't autox on a plugged tire more than one event (& I'd check it after every run to make sure it hadn't moved a mm); I'd get it patched internally.

For normal road use, I just plug 'em & get on with it.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Jun 27, 2005 9:00 am

I've autocrossed on a patched Victoracer and a plugged Azenis. Both were just fine. I would always prefer a patch, but my tire guy couldn't get the hot patch to hold with the rubber compound in the Falkens. He said this problem occurs in a few tires, but not often.

BTW, both of these repairs were in the center of the tread. Like Kevin said, if it's near the sidewall don't push it, get a new tire.

Brian Herring · **Posted:** Mon Jun 27, 2005 8:05 pm

Vincent Keene wrote:

I've autocrossed on a patched Victoracer and a plugged Azenis. Both were just fine. I would always prefer a patch, but my tire guy couldn't get the hot patch to hold with the rubber compound in the Falkens. He said this problem occurs in a few tires, but not often.

BTW, both of these repairs were in the center of the tread. Like Kevin said, if it's near the sidewall don't push it, get a new tire.

... I have also gotten away with having gummy enough of a tire that I pulled a 6" long piece of metal out of the sidewall to only have it seal itself.

Lesson: Buy really sticky daily driver tires

- brian

RobLupella · **Posted:** Tue Jun 28, 2005 12:59 pm

I autocrossed on a plugged victoracer last year, with no ill effects. I agree with Kevin, if it is near the sidewall, then you might reconsider.

Even better, if the tire fails, AX the cruiser since it will have no plugs :lol:

Stephen Westerfield · **Posted:** Tue Jun 28, 2005 5:53 pm

I autocrossed a plugged/patched Victoracer in Laurinburg this month. I corded the portion of the tire with the hole during my last run on Sunday and it held fine. All tires were uncorded before that. Tires have since been discarded.

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

The whole idea of annual tech is that we're supposed to police ourselves during the year. This thread is not very encouraging.

My two cents: If a tire is showing cord: unless it's a very small area AND the tire is immediately rotated to a corner of the car where it's not likely to wear further, it should not be used for further autocross runs THAT EVENT. Don't show up at an event with an already corded tire. And plugged tires.. yep, get them patched before autocrossing on them.

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

Arthur McDonald wrote:

The whole idea of annual tech is that we're supposed to police ourselves during the year. This thread is not very encouraging.

My two cents: If a tire is showing cord: unless it's a very small area AND the tire is immediately rotated to a corner of the car where it's not likely to wear further, it should not be used for further autocross runs THAT EVENT. Don't show up at an event with an already corded tire. And plugged tires.. yep, get them patched before autocrossing on them.

Tech does not check for plugged tires AFAIK. In my personal experience, plugs have worked better than patches. I've had more patches fail and leak than plugs. A properly applied plug seem to work very well.

Besides, the whole point of this thread is basically a "self-tech" clarification...

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Art, so you're saying that this tire that corded during my second run in Laurinburg shouldn't have been run the last three runs that day, driven to the hotel and back on the interstate, done four runs on Sunday and five runs in Danville last weekend?

Kevin Allen · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 6:42 pm **Posts:** 3479

Uhhh... that's what I would say. Isn't this in the safety rules?

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