Plugged tire

[BGlidewell]

I saw the mushroom shaped jobbies at a camping/fishing expo. They were demonstrating them on a motorcycle tire, and an atv tire. Maybe they aren't for truck tires? Dunno.

They can be used on cars and trucks. I've had one for years but have not had the need to use it yet. I did notice the motor oil had leaked out of the bottle in the kit. The mushroom plug needs oil for lube. I decided that a drip from the dip stick would be enough not to need this leaky little bottle.

 

[HCannon]

Anyone have Mesquite trees? Steel belted tires help but thorns will make you have a flat. I was just like most here, I thought only a patch would work. I have two or more flats from the thorns each week and that goes to adding up at the 10 dollars a flat, so I got me a some plugging tools. Been doing it for a while now without a single problem. All you need is air and most of the time you dont even have to take the tire off the pickup. It may not work on a large hole but on a small one, they are working for me, havent lost a single one.

 

[HBarlow]

Neighbor,

I can certainly understand why you plug your ranch truck tires. Punctures are impossible to avoid and will reoccur in your situation.

My truck is highway driven only and often tows a very heavy fifthwheel. I would not be comfortable towing at interstate highway spees with the tires inflated to 80 psi knowing that a plug could blow out.

 

[BGlidewell]

bonus trivia: 300 or so years ago there were almost no mesquite trees north of the Rio Grande.

Off roading has it's own hazards and is a corner case that does not apply to the street. I'd use plugs off-road till I got back on road where there were no thorns and speeds are higher. Or i'd buy a tractor...

 

[mwilson]

bonus trivia: 300 or so years ago there were almost no mesquite trees north of the Rio Grande.



Off roading has it's own hazards and is a corner case that does not apply to the street. I'd use plugs off-road till I got back on road where there were no thorns and speeds are higher. Or i'd buy a tractor...

So being from Maine and all I would like to know what moved the Mesquite trees.





Big Saber-Tooth Bunnies???



Big Saber-Tooth Squirrels????



Big Buck-Tooth Illegals??? :-laf





What did it??



Mike.

 

[HBarlow]

History books say that wild longhorn cattle being driven from Mexico and south Texas toward markets or railheads farther north ate mesquite beans on the trip and deposited them as they traveled. Later wind helped spread them.

 

[mwilson]

That would make sense.



I hope for the cattle's sake that the mesquite beans don't have thorns like the trees do.



Mike.

 

[Bill Stockard]

So being from Maine and all I would like to know what moved the Mesquite trees.



What did it??



Mike.

A combination of many different animals eating the beans and spreading the seed, overgrazing the grasslands, and the lack of prairie fires.



Mike, no thorns on the beans.



Bill

 

[BillGotthelf]

Being in construction for 35 years I have had my share of nails and screws in my tires. I use plugs... . yes I know so don't bother. I took of a set of tires and the shop installing the new tires counted over 60 plugs in 4 tires.

 

[AEdelheit]

Just our of curiosity how many people have personally seen plugs fail?

 

[BGlidewell]

Just our of curiosity how many people have personally seen plugs fail?

me, myself and ilean...

 

[BGlidewell]

History books say that wild longhorn cattle being driven from Mexico and south Texas toward markets or railheads farther north ate mesquite beans on the trip and deposited them as they traveled. Later wind helped spread them.

"and there was grass as high as the belly of a horse for as far as the eye could see"

 

[HBarlow]

I don't need to experience a tire failure at interstate speed with a trailer in tow to know a plug is not a great idea. No tire retailer that I have seen in years will plug a tire and will tell anyone who asks it is a liability issue.

Even the local small town farmer's coop won't repair a tire with a plug. They will remove and dismount the tire, install a hot patch, test it in a tank, and reinstall it but will only plug a tire during a roadside assist to allow the customer to drive to the coop and have a hot patch repair done.

 

[MChrist]

What is it about a tire plug at would make a tire blow out? I would assume the worst thing that could happen is that it may slowly leak again... when you use rubber cement with the patches, it's a very, very strong seal. I guess I just don't see how an internal patch is safer than a tire plug. Sorry, but I just don't see it, other than peace of mind.

 

[HCannon]

Mike,

A cow can get fat on mesquite beans. They have been a blessing for me, they made a bunch of beans and we have had less than one inch of rain all year. The Indians didnt have to worry about them because they werent here. They were brought here. They dont like cold or high altitude so I dont thank will bother you. Hot dry weather is fine for them.



Harvey

 

[mwilson]

What is it about a tire plug at would make a tire blow out? I would assume the worst thing that could happen is that it may slowly leak again... when you use rubber cement with the patches, it's a very, very strong seal. I guess I just don't see how an internal patch is safer than a tire plug. Sorry, but I just don't see it, other than peace of mind.

A couple of things come to mind for me. .



1) Plug not cemented properly and water gets into the steel belts, causing rust and eventual failure / blowout of the tire.



2) Plug leaks slightly causing extended operation at low pressure. Sidewall steel flexes excessively until casing sidewall bursts.



Quality of plug and cement, proper prepping / reaming of the wound also contribute to the trustworthiness of the repair.



Mike.

 

[HBarlow]

A couple of things come to mind for me. .

1) Plug not cemented properly and water gets into the steel belts, causing rust and eventual failure / blowout of the tire.

2) Plug leaks slightly causing extended operation at low pressure. Sidewall steel flexes excessively until casing sidewall bursts.

Quality of plug and cement, proper prepping / reaming of the wound also contribute to the trustworthiness of the repair.

Mike.

Diameter of the puncture is another significant issue with plugging a tire. The plug may initially seal and hold air but as the tire goes through heat and cool cycles and flexes in use a plug can easily slip out of the hole. There is nothing but glue on the side of the plug holding it in and the plug is a smaller diameter than the hole it is inserted in.

A hot patch on the other hand is completely on the inside of the casing, many times wider than the hole in the tire and cannot possibly fall out. A hot patch is glued over a surface with many times larger contact area than a plug. There is no comparison between the two repair methods.

 

[mwilson]

I thought of another plug failure scenario on the way to work this morning. An hour ride gives a fella' time to think a lot... ... :-laf



A mesquite bean eatin' saber tooth rabbit is attracted by the smell of a fresh tire plug on a parked truck, sniffs the plug, farts as a result of eating the prickly mesquite beans, it hurts, he jumps and bites the tire!!!



Instant Blowout. :-lafOo.



There you have it... that's all I got this early in the morning guys.



You all have a great day!!!!



Mike.

 

[NIsaacs]

I wish I knew someone where you work, I would have them let the air out of one of your tires and have them leave an easter basket:-laf



Nick

 

[mwilson]

I wish I knew someone where you work, I would have them let the air out of one of your tires and have them leave an easter basket:-laf



Nick

and a rabbit turd... . :-laf





By the way that's good stuff Nick, sitting here at my desk laughing.



Mike.