plugging trailer tires??

[99seapro]

I have less than a year old bias ply tires on my trailer. A few days after my recent fishing trip I noticed one of my tires are flat. Wy question is can these tires be plugged or do I need to replace it?

 

[642mx]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

You can repair a trailer tire. I wouldn't plug one myself unless it was an emergency. I would take it to a tire shop and have them put a patch on the inside of it.

 

[Skagit Hunter]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

I would only do it as a emerg. Then have it replaced as soon as possible. You dont want blow outs pulling a boat, They do funny things

 

[Bondo]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

Ayuh,... I carry a camel pro-repair self-vulcanizing kit in the truck,...
For simple punctures, I use 'em All the time...
Truck tires, car tires, trailer tires,... All the same...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

Plugging tires is a bad move. Always do a proper repair from the inside.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=77

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

+1 for that!

And never ever EVER use Fix-A-Flat. I. It rarely works, especially at trailer tire pressures and 2. It renders your tire unrepairable as patches will not hold after that slime gets in there. That stuff should be illegal!

 

[Skagit Hunter]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

There is a product call Ride-On TPS.
http://www.ride-on.com/

It balances and seals flats.
I use it in my motorcycle, Boat trailer, Truck.

I hit a roofing nail with my motorcycle....Heard the click click click. Pulled it out and rode that tire another 6,000 miles.

 

[Shrike]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

Patched properly it will outlast the tread.

 

[Bondo]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

Plugging tires is a bad move. Always do a proper repair from the inside.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=77

Ayuh,... After reading your link,... I'll still stick with my string plugs,...

"Might" leak isn't enough reason to me, Not too...

 

[Guest]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

Hey Bondo They were saying "BLOW OUT" not LEAK there is a big difference there man. As an ex mechanic I wouldn't go any other way then with patches because I have first hand sight of what a plug will do to a tow vehicle and its trailer. Not a prity sight when see the ppl in the funeral home a few days later. It happened to a friend of mine and that was NOT they way I wanted say hi to hi family at all . So my siggestions is buck up the extra cash and get the patch. I looks a lot better in your tire then you will look in the back of hurst!!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

Ayuh,... After reading your link,... I'll still stick with my string plugs,...

"Might" leak isn't enough reason to me, Not too...

Problem is that moisture enters the layers of the tire and will eventually cause them to seperate. I had a tire completely distentegrate after I used one of those string plugs years ago. Not sure if it was the string plug itself or the reaming of the tire needing to put it in but I won't do that anymore.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

There is a product call Ride-On TPS.
http://www.ride-on.com/

It balances and seals flats.
I use it in my motorcycle, Boat trailer, Truck.

I hit a roofing nail with my motorcycle....Heard the click click click. Pulled it out and rode that tire another 6,000 miles.

It's one thing (stupid comes to mind) to put that junk in a passenger tire, but INSANE to trust that in a motorcycle tire. You were very lucky.

 

[Bondo]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

Hey Bondo They were saying "BLOW OUT" not LEAK there is a big difference there man. As an ex mechanic I wouldn't go any other way then with patches because I have first hand sight of what a plug will do to a tow vehicle and its trailer. Not a prity sight when see the ppl in the funeral home a few days later. It happened to a friend of mine and that was NOT they way I wanted say hi to hi family at all . So my siggestions is buck up the extra cash and get the patch. I looks a lot better in your tire then you will look in the back of hurst!!

Problem is that moisture enters the layers of the tire and will eventually cause them to seperate. I had a tire completely distentegrate after I used one of those string plugs years ago. Not sure if it was the string plug itself or the reaming of the tire needing to put it in but I won't do that anymore.

Ayuh,... Have Either of you read the page in Bruce's link,..??
I tried to copy the paragraph, but it's a jpg., 'n I can't....

It says the String Plugs are Better than a standard flat rubber patch...
Only mushroom patches are Approved...
'ell,... Flat rubber patches are listed as the Worst possible repair,...

The string plugs seal the wires in the tire, but might possibly allow air out...
If so,... I'll slap in Another 1.... After a proper Reamin' of course...
I said in my 1st post,... I've got the Pro-version of the tools,...
It's the 2nd best way to patch a tire, but it gets ya down the road, 'n Usually for the life of the tire....

Personally,... Replacing the tire would be the Last thing on My list of options....

 

[Skagit Hunter]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

It's one thing (stupid comes to mind) to put that junk in a passenger tire, but INSANE to trust that in a motorcycle tire. You were very lucky.

Have you used it? It works great...I dont think fleet trucks would run it if it was junk.
It is nothing like slime. to each his own, But untill you try it dont knock it.
Because you dont want to make yourself look stupid

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

Have you used it? It works great...I dont think fleet trucks would run it if it was junk.
It is nothing like slime. to each his own, But untill you try it dont knock it.
Because you dont want to make yourself look stupid

As the former operations manager of a wholesale tire distributor with 7 warehouses in 5 states selling close to 2m tires annually, I don't suffer from stupid about tires. I've rejected warranty claims on hundreds of tires ruined by snake oil products such as the one you describe. Fix it right.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

I'm with Bond-O on this and have been a string plug user for as long as the things have been available. I've also never had one fail. That said, If the appearance of the puncture and the object that caused it has done such severe damage that a string plug would be a questionable repair, the tire gets replaced. In my view, if a puncture has done such serious damage, it is no longer safe no matter which repair technique is used. If you've ever used a string plug, installed it properly, driven that tire more than 100 miles and then tried to find the plug you would be hard pressed to find it. They seal well.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

I've been a professional mechanic and a State Safety inspector for almost 25 years and have used all kind of repair techniques on various tires. Here is my opinion for what it's worth.

String type plugs: The professional ones (safety-seal is an example) are VERY good and will usually last the life of the tire. The cheap ones you can buy in most Auto-parts stores are not as reliable but will work in an emergency. Easy to use right.

Mushroom plugs: There are many different brands and types and are very prone incorrect installations and resulting leakage. Moderate to difficult to use and get to seal properly.

Inernal patch: Once again, difficult to do properly and even when done properly, the original cut or hole will let moisture and dirt in which will eventually cause catastrophic failure of the tire carcass.

Best repair is a combination of the mushroom and the internal patch. The hole is reamed first, then the inside of the tire is abraided in the area immediately surrounding the hole, a plug coated with special glue is pushed/pulled through the hole and then a patch is applied over the head of the mushroom and then a special sealer is painted over the whole patch on the inside of the tire. The excess stem of the mushroom plug is then trimmed flush with the tread of the tire. This repair requires special tools and usually some amount of training, but is the "approved" method by various agencies.

I personally use the professional self-vulcanizing string plugs for my own vehicles and trailers. In 20 some years, I've never seen one cause tire failure, or honestly, even leak unless really applied hap-hazardly.

One last note: no matter the type of repair method used, tires with hole in the sidewall should be discarded and no repair method is approved for use in the shoulder or sidewall.

 

[109jb]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

I've been using the string type repair plugs (cheap ones) for 20 years or so now and have never had a tire fail or even leak after repair. I couldn't count the number of miles I've driven on those plugs and the tires all lasted to full tread wear out or I sold the car. As said, anything in the sidewall means replacing the tire. I carry a kit in each of my vehicles and have put plugs in away from home without dismounting the wheel. Do what you want. I'll keep using them.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

Living where I do, which is over 7 miles of rough rocky road before I get to pavement, flats are an all to common situation on all of my vehicles, trailers and ATV, lawn tractor, etc.

The local tire store that I deal with, made a suggestion that has worked out well for me and I am not saying it will work for everybody...

They suggested that I use slime in my tires, in fact they install it for me when I purchase new tires for my various equipment, and it has actually worked out quite well.

Like I said, it is probably not for everybody, but in my situation it has stopped a lot of the problems I had with getting flats...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: plugging trailer tires??

So of you that use the string method, how many use this type of kit?
http://www.safetyseal.com/store/autokits.htm