Fixed a right front flat tire - any issues to be concerned about?

[G-Ride]

Aloha everyone,

I have an '06 OBW, and got my first flat tire on it last night. I fixed it
this morning with the standard tire repair plug kit. As I was wrapping up
the job, my neighbor mentioned that tire repair places usually rotate the
tires after plugging a flat front tire to avoid leaving a plugged tire on
the front of a car. (He specifically mentioned front wheel drive cars). I
had never heard of this, but of course that doesn't mean that it isn't true.

Is there anything I should be concerned with regarding a plugged tire on the
front of my Subaru? Should I move the repaired tire to the rear? Any AWD
issues that I should know about?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice!

 

[bigjimpack]

A do it yourslf repair doesnt sound too safe.

 

[Blair Baucom]

The steel belts in my tires kept cutting the plugs in half many years ago
when I tried the self repair route. Also same problem when a tire dealer did
it. Only success I have seen with steel belted tires is a patch on the
inside.

Blair

A do it yourslf repair doesnt sound too safe.

 

[StephenW]

Firestone has a "patch-plug" think of a big rubber thumbtack looking patch.
you put it on the inside with the plug through the tire. Works good


--
Steve
ASE Master Tech
L1 Diag
Currently residing at a Subaru Shop
4.5 years doing tires and alighnments

The steel belts in my tires kept cutting the plugs in half many years ago
when I tried the self repair route. Also same problem when a tire dealer
did it. Only success I have seen with steel belted tires is a patch on the
inside.

Blair

A do it yourslf repair doesnt sound too safe.

 

[Hachiroku]

Aloha everyone,

I have an '06 OBW, and got my first flat tire on it last night. I fixed it
this morning with the standard tire repair plug kit. As I was wrapping up
the job, my neighbor mentioned that tire repair places usually rotate the
tires after plugging a flat front tire to avoid leaving a plugged tire on
the front of a car. (He specifically mentioned front wheel drive cars). I
had never heard of this, but of course that doesn't mean that it isn't true.

Is there anything I should be concerned with regarding a plugged tire on the
front of my Subaru? Should I move the repaired tire to the rear? Any AWD
issues that I should know about?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice!

My driving instructor always said, "You want the best tires on the rear of
the car."

When we asked him why, he said, "Because you can't steer the rear!"

Made sense to me...

 

[Dano58]

Aloha everyone,

I have an '06 OBW, and got my first flat tire on it last night. I fixed it
this morning with the standard tire repair plug kit. As I was wrapping up
the job, my neighbor mentioned that tire repair places usually rotate the
tires after plugging a flat front tire to avoid leaving a plugged tire on
the front of a car. (He specifically mentioned front wheel drive cars). I
had never heard of this, but of course that doesn't mean that it isn't true.

Is there anything I should be concerned with regarding a plugged tire on the
front of my Subaru? Should I move the repaired tire to the rear? Any AWD
issues that I should know about?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice!

Hmmm, I never heard this, although I have to say that both rear tires
of my Honda Odyssey have plugs in them and I have been wondering about
whether I can rotate them to the front.

Dan D
'99 Impreza 2.5 RS (son's)
Central NJ USA

 

[Clive]

There is absolutely no way I would attempt
to repair a tire that I might consider repairable
but a specialist would not. I've used the same tire
company for years, had a few punctures repaired
and had a couple of seemingly good tires condemned
as unsafe to repair...advice which I've taken.
Expert advice could save your life.
The cost of getting a tire fixed professionally is
hardly a fortune, takes less than 15 mins including
re-balance which you can't do anyway so why take the risk
of running on what might be an unsafe do-it-yourself repair?

--
Clive Norris
Managing Director
Selectron (UK) Ltd
www.espguitars.co.uk
www.skullstrings.com
www.espshop.co.uk
www.mightymite.com
www.coreoneproduct.com
www.emgpickups.co.uk
www.tube-shop.com
www.whirlwindusa.com
"They laughed at Newton,
they laughed at Einstein,
but they also laughed at
Bozo the Clown."
Carl Sagan

 

[houndman]

There is absolutely no way I would attempt
to repair a tire that I might consider repairable
but a specialist would not. I've used the same tire
company for years, had a few punctures repaired
and had a couple of seemingly good tires condemned
as unsafe to repair...advice which I've taken.
Expert advice could save your life.
The cost of getting a tire fixed professionally is
hardly a fortune, takes less than 15 mins including
re-balance which you can't do anyway so why take the risk
of running on what might be an unsafe do-it-yourself repair?

--
Clive Norris
Managing Director
Selectron (UK) Ltdwww.espguitars.co.ukwww.skullstrings.comwww.espshop.co.ukwww.mightymite.comwww.coreoneproduct.comwww.emgpickups.co.ukwww.tube-shop.comwww.whirlwindusa.com
"They laughed at Newton,
they laughed at Einstein,
but they also laughed at
Bozo the Clown."

I've been plugging my own tires for Many moons, and never had a
problem, and don't even take the tires off the car anymore, unless I
can't find the puncture. I've made plugs out of old inner tubes, and
even patched a cut sidewall.

VF

 

[houndman]

Aloha everyone,

I have an '06 OBW, and got my first flat tire on it last night. I fixed it
this morning with the standard tire repair plug kit. As I was wrapping up
the job, my neighbor mentioned that tire repair places usually rotate the
tires after plugging a flat front tire to avoid leaving a plugged tire on
the front of a car. (He specifically mentioned front wheel drive cars). I
had never heard of this, but of course that doesn't mean that it isn't true.

Is there anything I should be concerned with regarding a plugged tire on the
front of my Subaru? Should I move the repaired tire to the rear? Any AWD
issues that I should know about?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice!

If the tire holds air, I wouldn't worry about it.

VF

 

[Clive]

SNIP FOR BREVITY

I've been plugging my own tires for Many moons, and never had a

problem, and don't even take the tires off the car anymore, unless I
can't find the puncture. I've made plugs out of old inner tubes, and
even patched a cut sidewall.

VF

Unbelievable.
You'd get busted in the UK driving
on a patched up sidewall split for a start
and certainly would not pass the compulsory
yearly safety check.
Balancing the wheels...most important for
reducing tire wear, safety and driver comfort.
How do you do that on the front drive
with a wheel wrench and tire irons?
I suppose if you toodle around at 25mph
none of the above matters?
It does.
-C-

 

[pmkeating]

Aloha everyone,

I have an '06 OBW, and got my first flattireon it last night.  I fixed it
this morning with the standardtirerepair plug kit.  As I was wrapping up
the job, my neighbor mentioned thattirerepair places usually rotate the
tires after plugging a flat fronttireto avoid leaving a pluggedtireon
the front of a car.  (He specifically mentioned front wheel drive cars). I
had never heard of this, but of course that doesn't mean that it isn't true.

Is there anything I should be concerned with regarding a pluggedtireon the
front of my Subaru?  Should I move the repairedtireto the rear?  Any AWD
issues that I should know about?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice!

You should be concerned about 2 things. 1) a plug-only repair isn't
safe. 2) your neighbor gives bad advice. you'd rather blow a front
tire than a rear tire. front tire failures might make you plow into
something, but rear failures cause spinning and rolling.

 

[houndman]

SNIP FOR BREVITY

I've been plugging my own tires for Many moons, and never had a> problem, and don't even take the tires off the car anymore, unless I


Unbelievable.
You'd get busted in the UK driving
on a patched up sidewall split for a start
and certainly would not pass the compulsory
yearly safety check.
Balancing the wheels...most important for
reducing tire wear, safety and driver comfort.
How do you do that on the front drive
with a wheel wrench and tire irons?
I suppose if you toodle around at 25mph
none of the above matters?
It does.
-C-

Tire irons I got from my dad who used to patch his tube type tyres.
You get a good workout, and don't have to go to a gym for one. It was
a rear drive car, what difference That makes, and 60-70mph on the
interstate. Never saw inspectors do any more than maybe look at the
treads.

I have some tires with big dry rot splits on the insides of over
sized tires on the rears of an older car. That was surprising, but
put them back on, and the outer rubber mainly protects the fabric from
abrasions. One of the rears has some serious gauges in the outer
sidewall, not down to the fabric, and rubber cement filled that in.
That car gets mostly driven in the city, but don't worry about it on
the road. Never had a tire fail in 45yrs. Not even one or maybe two 2
that got pinched hitting a hole where cobblestones were removed
between railroad tracks, that dented the rims, so must be doing
something right.

Had some weird things happen. Picked up a screwdriver, that hit the
rear fender well as it went around, and a steel belt wore through on
the edge on an old tire, and picked up an empty trash bag on a front
tire that flailed around, and visible above the fender.

VF

 

[Dano58]

I have some tires with big dry rot splits on the insides of over
sized tires on the rears of an older car. That was surprising, but
put them back on, and the outer rubber mainly protects the fabric from
abrasions. One of the rears has some serious gauges in the outer
sidewall, not down to the fabric, and rubber cement filled that in.
That car gets mostly driven in the city, but don't worry about it on
the road. Never had a tire fail in 45yrs. Not even one or maybe two 2
that got pinched hitting a hole where cobblestones were removed
between railroad tracks, that dented the rims, so must be doing
something right.

Well, if you are driving around with 'big dry rot splits' and 'serious
gouges in the outer sidewall' on your tires, VF, then you are truly a
stupid person. I mean, how much do new tires cost compared to your
life - and the lives of others you may impact when those tires finally
let go while you're driving around??

Dan D
'99 Impreza 2.5 RS (son's) with new tires purchased because I care
about my son's life
Central NJ USA

 

[Rick Courtright]

Well, if you are driving around with 'big dry rot splits' and 'serious
gouges in the outer sidewall' on your tires, VF, then you are truly a
stupid person.

I think we've already pretty well established this fellow's reality is
not the same as most of ours...

The fact he's gotten away w/ many things doesn't make them wise or safe
to do.

Rick

 

[Rick Courtright]

I have an '06 OBW, and got my first flat tire on it last night. I fixed it
this morning with the standard tire repair plug kit. As I was wrapping up

It's been quite a while since I've seen a tire shop in my part of the
world that will simply plug a tire. It's my understanding that "industry
standard" practice dictates a plug be covered w/ a patch. The plug is
intended more to resist moisture entry into the belt area (to prevent
delamination and possible sudden failure), while the patch does the
actual sealing of the air. One of those big thumbtack looking combos
gets both jobs done w/ one piece. My shop's used a separate plug and
patch on my "H" speed rated tires, just a patch alone on the "S" and "T"
rated tires.

Those kits you buy in the auto parts store are probably best left for
"it's the only way I can get home" fixes IMHO. I'd consider the
relatively small charge for a professional job to be money well spent,
and until that's been done, I'd leave the "suspect" tire up front for
reasons already mentioned by other posters. Your neighbor might be a
nice guy, but he's not driving your car...

BTW, many of our local tire shops offer free flat repair if they sold
you the tires. Something to ask about when it's time to buy
replacements.

Rick