What if tow trucks carried tire plugs and could 'fix' (some) flats?

I will state, patching a tire from the inside will always be the preferred method. Plugging under the right circumstances is acceptable to ME (small screw, nail in tread). I haven't been convinced to change my thinking. Two sides to every discussion.

 

You do realize that this "unknown Tow Truck operator" is probably going to connect a winch to your car, raise it in the air, and then drive the truck/car combination, in traffic, to a repair shop, right? If the TTO isn't competent to plug a tire then (s)he probably isn't the best person to have towing your car, either.

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Knowing how to tow a vehicle is not a qualifier to improperly repair a tire in the field, on or off the car?

The proper repair of a punctured tire requires a plug for the hole and a patch for the area inside the tire that surrounds the puncture hole. Punctures through the tread can be repaired if they are not too large, but punctures to the sidewall should not be repaired. Tires must be removed from the rim to be properly inspected before being plugged and patched.

Also see:

Tire Tech Information - Flat Tire Repairs

 

several models now come w/out spares. Regardless of which model you have, spare or no spare, it 'takes away' space that might be used for something else. The smaller the ride, the more difficult it gets to give up the space that a spare takes up. I've seen several clever 'work-arounds' accomplished, so that the owner doesn't feel their spare is in the 'middle of your cargo area'. Think of it as a puzzle that you want to solve, rather than, 'it's hopeless'.
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http://www.rma.org/wp-content/uploads/prp_wallchart1111.pdf
http://www.techtirerepairs.com/_assets/Documents/Improper_Repair_Consequences.pdf

davekro, I commend you for taking the time to teach you Wife anything about cars. That said, you asked for data, here it is. I will waste no more time trying to explain industry standards and why they are, because frankly I do not think you care nor would it make a difference in your mind.

You car, your tires, your Wife , your life....but what about the others on the freeway going bumper to bumper 55-75 mph? Have a nice day.

 

Whether your car is towed to have a flat fix, it's properly patched, plugged, or you plug it yourself, "others on the freeway" are placed in less imminent danger than the host of other causes of accidents.

 

I read both links. The first one is just industry recommendations, no evidence. The second one cites exactly two cases. In the first one the repair was performed by a dealer, not a "civilian," and "While the type of repair performed is not known, TIAs Kevin Rohlwing suggests that this case will be quite important to the tire industry and anyone who handles tires. " So no real supporting evidence here, either.

The second case includes a photo of what clearly is a repair made to the edge of the tread or the upper sidewall, both of which are excluded from safe repair with a plug anyway.

 

OK then you show where "current Industry Standards" says a plug only is preferred, acceptable and legal...and then give me a list of Tire Shops by name that will do it. You can not. How would you like it if I did this kind of repair on an Aircraft tire. I would loose my job, my license and probably do some time...when...not if...the tire blew.

This argument is utter nonsense and anyone who does a "plug only" repair is either broke, ignorant or both. Out.

 

My front driver's side tire went flat a few weeks ago. AAA came, took the wheel off, said it was very clearly a nail hole (right in the middle of the tire), and plugged it on the spot. So far, so good.

 

-1

 

...and you do what for a living Michael33?

 

Better yet...ANYONE...show me where a plug only is preferred, acceptable and legal on cars and light trucks...let alone a Prius.

 

I think you're sincere in your concerns.

I've done a couple of plug repairs so far (as mentioned up the page). So far so good with both. They're not just semi-sealed, they're tight.

An externally applied plug does quite effectively fill the void created by the puncture. And use of the reaming tool in advance provides some uniformity of fit. And the plug leaves a flared-out loop on the inside; it's not going anywhere.

Maybe not that black-or-white?

 

I'm not a mechanic, but I have played the part in shadetree dramas. Seriously, there is a greater risk of forgetting to tighten the lug nuts when replacing a flat with a spare, or of dropping the car on yourself, or of being hit by passing vehicles while changing a tire, than there is of suffering a catastrophic tire failure from a plug repair, provided it isn't the sidewall that was damaged. And yet I don't see people railing against the terribly dangerous practice of mounting one's own spare tire by the side of the road...

 

This type of statement lends nothing to a good discussion.

 

It appears that the lawsuit wasn't so much about a plug repair, that it was the tire was beyond repair and the dealer shouldn't have attempted to repair it. I also noticed that it was around 11 months between the repair and the accident. I wonder if there was ever an appeal.
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