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Anyone have first hand knowledge concerning the best way to repair a puncture in a steel belted radial to return it to a condition that makes it safe once again at high speed highway driving? Perhaps it can never be fully trusted again, I don't know.
Is a plug adequate for a very small puncture, or should you go with a hot interior patch every time?
As we know it's unusual not to get a flat here from time to time, especially in areas where new house construction is going on. I just had one on a Michelin with only about 15,000km on it and had it repaired with an interior hot patch. The puncture was small by the time it reached the interior, only about a cm or two. The tire is on the back which makes me feel a bit better concerning any possible blowout. Pete
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It depends a bit just where the puncture is located, side wall or tread area. A steel belted radial is unlikely to sustain damage to the actual belts, as compared to a cord tyre, so not usually a problem. A correctly fitted patch is preferable, the plugs are ok, but should be restricted to lower speed rated tyres.
Do not be tempted to fit a tube to a "tubeless" tyre.
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
Out in Indonesia driving around in trusty Toyota Kijangs, I used to have a kit for putting in plugs which was very handy when driving in remote areas.
I never had a plugged tyre fail, but then a Kijang didn't go that fast anyway. I've looked for a similar kit here, but I haven't found one yet.
STEVE G wrote:Out in Indonesia driving around in trusty Toyota Kijangs, I used to have a kit for putting in plugs which was very handy when driving in remote areas.
I never had a plugged tyre fail, but then a Kijang didn't go that fast anyway. I've looked for a similar kit here, but I haven't found one yet.
The 4WD Accessory shops should have them, but maybe only in Bangkok. VVP 4X4 has a lot of stuff from Australia, and I am sure he has them. I bought mine with me from Oz.
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
Pete, the plug repairs are good as long as the puncture is in the thread portion. To echo Nereus, I'd throw the tyre away if it's in the sidewall.
Heat patch repairs can do more damage than they're worth; I refuse to have them done these days as it hardens the rubber (it's already vulcanised - adding heat makes it almost brittle). Threw away two because the old repair heated patch had opened up and the leak kept getting wider and wider.
Another had sidewall damage at less than 3,000 km - I was really annoyed as these are 'W' rated tyres and cost a pretty penny.
Nereus wrote:
The 4WD Accessory shops should have them, but maybe only in Bangkok. VVP 4X4 has a lot of stuff from Australia, and I am sure he has them. I bought mine with me from Oz.
Thank you Nereus, I'll try a 4WD shop, I don't go to Bangkok much but I think there is one in Khorat and I'll be up that way next week.
