Having to deal with a flat tire when you have an important appointment is one of the worst nightmares of all time. Sometimes, you won’t even have time to get it fixed. But, thankfully we have a solution for punctured tires known as “tire plugs.”
It is important to understand under what circumstances you would plug your tire.
If you are doing it on the tubeless tires, they will be helpful to take you home (but it’s still a risky job to drive long).
However, if you are trying it on tube tires, they are way too much harm to handle. Tube tire won’t tolerate the pressure with plugs, and in case it blows out, your vehicle will go out of control even before you know it.
To answer this question, we need to know how tire plugs work.
How Do Tire Plugs Work?
Tire plugs are easy to use. It is a piece of malleable rubber. When it is inserted into the puncture on the outside of the tire, it seals the hole and traps the air within. It doesn’t take much time to insert a tire plug. You don’t even have to remove the tire from your car and they are cheap too. However, we need to understand that not all punctures can be repaired via tire plugs. There are certain factors one needs to keep in mind before using a tire plug. They are –
1) Size of the puncture hole
Firstly, you need to check the size of your puncture hole. The size of the hole should be 0.25 inches or smaller. However, if it is larger than 0.25 inches, then it is best if you consider other methods to fix your tire other than Patching or Plugging Tire. You can go to a repair shop or replace your tire.
2) The location of the puncture
You also need to find out the location of the puncture. You can only use tire plugs if the location of the puncture is on the tread of your tire. However, if it is located elsewhere, then replacing your tire is the best choice.
3) The angle of the puncture
If the nail or other object pierced straight through the tire, then only tire plugs can be used effectively. Or else, if the tire got punctured at an angle, then you cannot seal the hole completely.
4) The quality and age of the tire
You also need to keep in mind the quality and age of your tire. If your tire’s tread has been worn off below 2/32 of an inch, then you should consider replacing your tire.
5) Your tire warranty
A tire warranty is a very important factor you need to keep in mind. Improper maintenance and repair can void your warranty. Therefore, you need to make sure that you are aware of what is written in your warranty. It is advisable to get your tire repaired by professionals instead of doing so by yourself.
6) Already tire plugs have been used on your car before
Have you already used tire plugs in your car before? If yes, then doing so the second time can cause more damage to your car instead of solving the problem. You should take your car to a repair shop and follow the instructions of the professional. It will be safer. You might also be thinking are tire plugs illegal?
Is Plugging a Tire the Permanent Solution?
Do tire plugs used for punctured tires offer a permanent solution? The answer to that question is – “No, they are not.” Experts claim it to be a temporary fix. You must also know how long a tire plug lasts.
What Makes Tire Plugs Dangerous?
If you have got a time when your tires have gone flat, using plugs can certainly not be a good choice.
If you are driving too long, the rims will start to destroy the inside of your rubber. So, even a tire plug kit is not going to really help. This is because tire plugs are already compromised; they could blow up at any moment on the road, which may have life-taking consequences.
Are Tire Plugs Legally Allowed to Sell?
Selling tire plugs can bring a legal concern with it. Legal question with plugs, there have been past cases. There are few and far between, but there are lawsuits.
It also went to litigation because the tire plugs may be possible an accident, accident caused by a tire blow out they relate it to plugging of tires.
