i77ac_10

One of my new tires just got punctured w/a screw. I was planning on attending a track day w/these tires. I'm wondering now if its safe for track use after I get it patched? Anyone have exp w/this?

Thanks!

StinkyTofu

One of my rear S02's was punctured early in its life time and i had it patched by tireguy. Attended two track days and everything seems to be holding up great thus far. I'm going to Sunday's speedway event too.

jguerdat

The only way I'd try it was if the tire was patched with a true patch (unseat the tire, put a patch over the hole on the inside of the tire, sorta like patching a bicycle tube in reverse). Rebalance when done. If it's a plug, I sure wouldn't try it.

rlaifatt

If it's in the contact surface (sidewall not damaged) and it's now plugged it should be fine, especially if it is a street tire, but that's an opinion without seeing the tire.

mikegarrison

Take it to a tire shop, get it patched (as opposed to just $1.99 DIY-kit "plugged") and you should be good to go. The speed rating of the tire is technically invalidated once it has been repaired, but I am among the many people who have tracked patched tires without any problem.

Some people have reported tracking plugged (from the outside) tires successfully, but I would not advise doing that. And many tech inspection forms specifically disallow plugged tires.

In my case I went to Discount tire. Cost me about $20 IIRC. They installed a patch that looks like a little mushroom -- sort of a plug/patch thing. My screw was at a sharp angle, so they actually drilled a new perpendicular hole to install the patch/plug/shroom dealie.

Tire will have to be rebalanced.

i77ac_10

Cool,

Thanks for the responses! I got it plug-patched and re-balanced at Sears for $18.

Strike

I carry a plug kit to the track just for such occurences. Had it happen to me once at the track (tire deflated while on track, found nice nail sized hole in it in the pits) and someone there had the kit. Plugged the tire and was good to go.

Razz

Man I belive you guys are taking a risk.
A big risk.

When the tire blows look at all the other drivers you may injury or their cars.

Not to mention your own life.

mikegarrison

A risk? Perhaps. A big risk? Definitely not. The real world experience of a whole lot of people who track or even race on tires that have been repaired would tend to indicate that the risk, if any, is very, very small. However, like anything else, it is something that the person involved must decide for himself.

Nobody

Even if a plug unplugged the tire wouldn't "Blow". The plug would leak and the tire would deflate.

This isn't the Ford Explorer forum, btw.