Patch or plug?

hemidup · 09-23-2010, 11:44 PM

Picked up a piece of shrapnel in one of my drag radials. Patch or plug?

Jim Wahl · 09-23-2010, 11:52 PM

I tried both. The patch ripped away after a few runs. The plug leaked after the second run and got worse and worse. I would either put tubes in them or new tires. It's not worth the risk of it going flat on the big end! Just my experience and opinion. Jim

Mark Yacavone · 09-24-2010, 12:38 AM

Jerry, I worry about the term "shrapnel".
If it's just a puncture, I've used those gummy rope type plugs with success. Twist 'em up good and tight and trim it flush.
Fact is , I won't leave home without them.

Tom Goldman · 09-24-2010, 08:26 AM

If it's only a puncture ,I've had good success with the Black Cat rope type plug . .....I light them up and let the plug burn down flush ,which according to the manufacturer vulcanizes the plug........I wouldnt fix anything other than a small puncture. .....Tom

magnumv8 · 09-24-2010, 04:31 PM

The proper and approved way to fix a puncture is actually to do both....properly prep the puncture for the plug, then install it.....cut it off flush inside the tire then grind the remaining bit even with the inside tire liner then prep and put a patch over the plug.........this only applies to the tread area.....side walls - replace the tire......

either way I wouldn't run it on the track anymore, just the street......

D L Rambo.....

THE LEGEND · 09-24-2010, 06:29 PM

Plug them all the time. I plugged the side wall on a rear dually tire about 4,000 miles ago still there. 2 trailer tires have plugs. My last set of rear slicks had 2 in 1 side and 1 in the other. NO PROBLEMS. I have one of the nice plug kits that you get off the tool trucks. Don't use them Wal-Mart $1.98 plugs.
Chip Johnson

hemidup · 09-24-2010, 09:46 PM

Thanks guys. The piece of metal I pulled out of my drag radial was paper thin and about a 1/4" wide. It was dead center in the middle of the tread, pretty much a slow leak until I pulled it out. I'm about due for some new tires and I'd like to make one to two more races this year so I think I'll plug and call it a day. Thanks again.

greg fulk · 09-24-2010, 11:18 PM

Plug it! I like the green "slime" ones....

428tom · 09-25-2010, 09:51 AM

you can buy a patch and plug all in one.all you do is pull the plug threw from the inside out and the patch sticks on the inside.

Shawn Blair · 09-26-2010, 03:55 PM

I have never had an issue using a plug, a cheap, quick and easy way to fix a leak between rounds. It's saved my "bacon" a few times.

Shawn

09-23-2010, 11:44 PM	#1
hemidup Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 409 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Patch or plug? Picked up a piece of shrapnel in one of my drag radials. Patch or plug? __________________ Jerry Williams NSS/A, E/S, PRO E.T. And the "Grandaddy" of Gen III Hemi Performance...The fire inside me still burn's.

09-23-2010, 11:52 PM	#2
Jim Wahl Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Central Florida Posts: 5,844 Likes: 667 Liked 683 Times in 129 Posts	Re: Patch or plug? I tried both. The patch ripped away after a few runs. The plug leaked after the second run and got worse and worse. I would either put tubes in them or new tires. It's not worth the risk of it going flat on the big end! Just my experience and opinion. Jim __________________ Jim Wahl....NHRA #2239 S/SS - IHRA # 8 Stock, D2 Stock Champion (forever I guess) 2019 Baby Gators Stock Champion 2009 NHRA D2 National Open Stock Champion 1982 NHRA D2 West Palm Beach LDRS SS Runner Up Past President, Southern Stock / Super Stock Association.

09-24-2010, 12:38 AM	#3
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,817 Likes: 2,907 Liked 5,125 Times in 1,953 Posts	Re: Patch or plug? Jerry, I worry about the term "shrapnel". If it's just a puncture, I've used those gummy rope type plugs with success. Twist 'em up good and tight and trim it flush. Fact is , I won't leave home without them. __________________ "We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for." Will Rogers

09-24-2010, 08:26 AM	#4
Tom Goldman VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Allentown,PA Posts: 2,477 Likes: 891 Liked 882 Times in 236 Posts	Re: Patch or plug? If it's only a puncture ,I've had good success with the Black Cat rope type plug . .....I light them up and let the plug burn down flush ,which according to the manufacturer vulcanizes the plug........I wouldnt fix anything other than a small puncture. .....Tom __________________ Tom Goldman 1500 SG , 1506 STK

09-24-2010, 04:31 PM	#5
magnumv8 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Coraopolis, Pa. Posts: 172 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Patch or plug? The proper and approved way to fix a puncture is actually to do both....properly prep the puncture for the plug, then install it.....cut it off flush inside the tire then grind the remaining bit even with the inside tire liner then prep and put a patch over the plug.........this only applies to the tread area.....side walls - replace the tire...... either way I wouldn't run it on the track anymore, just the street...... D L Rambo.....

09-24-2010, 06:29 PM	#6
THE LEGEND VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Fayetteville, n.c. Posts: 1,411 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Patch or plug? Plug them all the time. I plugged the side wall on a rear dually tire about 4,000 miles ago still there. 2 trailer tires have plugs. My last set of rear slicks had 2 in 1 side and 1 in the other. NO PROBLEMS. I have one of the nice plug kits that you get off the tool trucks. Don't use them Wal-Mart $1.98 plugs. Chip Johnson

09-24-2010, 09:46 PM	#7
hemidup Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 409 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Patch or plug? Thanks guys. The piece of metal I pulled out of my drag radial was paper thin and about a 1/4" wide. It was dead center in the middle of the tread, pretty much a slow leak until I pulled it out. I'm about due for some new tires and I'd like to make one to two more races this year so I think I'll plug and call it a day. Thanks again. __________________ Jerry Williams NSS/A, E/S, PRO E.T. And the "Grandaddy" of Gen III Hemi Performance...The fire inside me still burn's.

09-24-2010, 11:18 PM	#8
greg fulk VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: jackson Posts: 1,165 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Patch or plug? Plug it! I like the green "slime" ones.... __________________ Greg Fulk 308 308X P/SA "ALL AMERICAN"

09-25-2010, 09:51 AM	#9
428tom Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 54 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Patch or plug? you can buy a patch and plug all in one.all you do is pull the plug threw from the inside out and the patch sticks on the inside.

09-26-2010, 03:55 PM	#10
Shawn Blair Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Everson, WA. Posts: 122 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Patch or plug? I have never had an issue using a plug, a cheap, quick and easy way to fix a leak between rounds. It's saved my "bacon" a few times. Shawn __________________ Shawn Blair 6383 SS 634 STK