elwood2

iTrader: (5)

Does this look too close to the sidewall to safely have plugged or patched?

VinR1

iTrader: (17)

nah, shouldnt be an issue - plug it long enough to get you to a tire shop and have 'em take the tire off the wheel and professionally patch it

uphigh07

iTrader: (48)

ya thats an easy fix about the only way they wont fix it is if its right on the edge of the side wall

bren5666

iTrader: (2)

Like they said, there shouldn't be any problem with fixing it

TransAmdriv3r

iTrader: (10)

aslong as its on the tread area your fine. it doesnt flex nearly as much as the sidewall.

elwood2

iTrader: (5)

I guess everyone has different policies but one time i was shopping at Sams and when i came out one of the tires on my old truck was halfway flat with a screw about in the same spot. They refused to patch or plug it, saying it was too close to the sidewall and i had to buy a new tire.

VinR1

iTrader: (17)

crazy...a store that sells tires refusing to patch a hole, instead saying your only option is to...buy a tire

bren5666

iTrader: (2)

Patches are sometimes trickier because they flex with the tire, so you need a bit more room away from the sidewall. From the looks of your pic, I see no reason why it couldn't be plugged.

TransAmX2

iTrader: (4)

+1 no problem plugging it

elwood2

iTrader: (5)

Went and got it fixed, they put a plug/patch. It looks like it's about 3/8 size! Didn't know they made plugs that big.

Hope it lasts. Thanks for the replies.

jimbo98z

iTrader: (3)

Some people do take it too far, but the main reason they do that is because it's a safety issue. I had to go through a Michelin tire repair course and there is a lot more to properly fixing a tire than just poking a plug through. There are multiple cases of people having a blowout and suing a tire repairer for millions of dollars because of an improper repair. When you fix the tire, you're not only fixing the hole in the tread, but you're fixing the inner liner and most importantly the steel belt package. If you don't fix the belts properly, they can cause tread seperation. It's a safety issue more than anything. The sidewall belts and tread belts overlap in roughly the outer 1.5" of the tire, and you cannot safely repair the sidewall belts, so any puncture in that overlap area is not safely repairable.

As far as making money, yes, they do make more money off of selling you a tire, but it's a matter of usually $35 profit on the tire versus $15-20 for the repair, minus the roughly $1 the plug patch costs. Not all mechanics are ******** looking to rip you over.