I have plugged tires for decades with no problem. I have always done it with pressure in the tire after removing the nail.

My question is, is it easier to do the repair with no air pressure in the tire? I always struggle to get the plug in.

I have to fix a leaking plug I put in about 2 yrs/30k miles ago, tire store won’t repair as the nail hole is about an inch from side of tread. (Not in side wall)

Any thoughts would be appreciated. ( please don’t tell me it’s dangerous, I have done 30-40 over the year’s, no issue)

 

I always do it with pressure in the tire otherwise the tire flexes too much to get the plug in.

 

^^^ Me too... ^^^

 

I’ve done it without pressure once or twice(not by choice). It’s tougher to do and usually doesn’t hold well.

 

I always did it with air pressure in and then had it replaced with a patch. The one that you say is leaking being that close to the sidewall is the problem there, the first inch from the sidewall is where most of the flex happens when driving down the road.

 

There is a reason they won’t do that. The plug won’t stay put.

Tried that a few months back as a wing and a prayer. By the time I walked out from dinner, tire PSI was at 4. Tow truck home, re-air and park on the plug (otherwise, it would leak out quickly) so I could drive to a tire shop for a replacement tire the next morning.

You’re welcome.

 

You should do it with air pressure in the tire.

To make it easier, always go through the puncture a few times in and out with the burr tool first.
It will even out the hole and clean up the rubber for a good adhesion and make inserting the plug easier.

Put lots of compound on the plug and push it in...and pull out fast! (like you did in high school!)
Then pour some soapy water over it and if no bubbles...trim off the excess!

Ive been fixing my tires with plugs for 30+ years...no problems!

 

not bragging. But I’ve plugged tires that the shops wouldn’t. It just depends.

 

Always with pressure, much easier to get them inserted.

 

I just plugged my rear LT tire. I run them at 65 lbs and the OEM TPMS lights up at 40 lbs. After pulling the nail I couldn't even push the dam plug in so I aired down to 25 approximately and made it a lot easier. That was 2 weeks ago and it's holding fine.