Need new tire. Some good news

[keithwand]

Well we picked up a sheet metal screw on the most inside tread of the front right tire and Goodyear says it needs replacing.
There is only 2,600 miles on these original tires so they checked the others and said they looked new, no cracking etc. probab. due to being in the garage away from the elements.
They said to just replace the 1 even though they are 5 years old.
They are able to get 1 in tomorrow from their warehouse which is good since Costco has none anywhere in FL.
I also put electrical tape over a paint can removal tool to get the cap off and put a tiny chip in the slot. Don't recommend it.
I did the same with Fords tool and no damage.
Better the Tbird than mine or I'd be buying a 20 inch tire instead.

[snowbird]

Re: Need new tire. Some good news

Being a radial tire, If the screw hole is not on the sidewall of the tire, they could put a patch on the inside.

[V8 Cat]

Re: Need new tire. Some good news

Being a radial tire, If the screw hole is not on the sidewall of the tire, they could put a patch on the inside.

I think once a patch is done on the tire the "speed rating" is compromised so don't go to Talladega and do 120+ MPH.

[Ediron]

Re: Need new tire. Some good news

Stopped at local Goodyear dealer with a screw in the tire.They refused to fix it said I need a new tire.Went to another shop they pulled the tire ,inside patch and did say don't take it to the track.My tires had about 23K on them,I changed them at 29K only because they were getting old

[Southern]

Re: Need new tire. Some good news

If I were a tire shop, it is unlikely that I would ever "patch" a tire. In todays litigious society? I think not..........

[keithwand]

Re: Need new tire. Some good news

Went to another for 2nd opinion and they said the same thing. Needs replacing.
The screw was on the very outer edge of the last inside tread and the screw was angled toward the sidewall. i figured the same thing.
They used the analogy that wall paper sticks better to the flat surface than the corner.
Went with the new tire which unfortunately is just a little different than the OEM along the sidewall. The Michelin and the pattern area etc is just a little larger but who else will know.
I have plugged my own tires before from the outside only and they lasted a while then got a slow leak so had to take it in anyway.
I do keep a plug set in my rear arm rest for emergency as twice a year the trunk is totally full and our drive is 1,500 miles each way.
Not fond of emptying the whole trunk along the Xway!.

[Ediron]

Re: Need new tire. Some good news

Southern,You do bring up a good point.

[V8 Cat]

Re: Need new tire. Some good news

If I were a tire shop, it is unlikely that I would ever "patch" a tire. In todays litigious society? I think not..........

That's why patching is hardly ever done anymore. I had a couple of Goodyear Gatorbacks patched back in the 80s when it was done. One time the patch broke loose on I285 in Atlanta at about 85MPH and left me stranded in the emergency lane next to the median wall with traffic going by at 80 to 85MPH. The second time I was filling up at a gas station and heard the air leaking from the tire. I was trying to save some money because those tires cost almost $300 each which was pretty high then. In each instance I had less than 5000 miles on the tires so it was painful to fork up for new ones - not as painful though as trying to get over 6 lanes in rush hour traffic on an interstate with a blowout.

[merlot4]

Re: Need new tire. Some good news

I just had a newish tire patched on the inside. The nail was relatively small and near the center tread. I used to plug tires, but wouldn't do so now unless it was the only way I could get where I was going. If it were in a different area near the sidewall, or a larger puncture then I would also replace it. I agree with Southern though, that this is becoming more infrequent due to litigation.

[billm]

Re: Need new tire. Some good news

Several years ago, I drove Lincolns with Michelin tires. I would occ. get a nail or screw, and the Service Station I used would just plug it. I routinely would drive 80 mph or so, and would get 75-80,000 miles on a set of tires. Never had a problem from a plugged tire.

[merlot4]

Re: Need new tire. Some good news

William, I used to routinely plug my tires and never had a problem either, but my understanding is that it can make an area weaker. An Internet search shows no clear consensus either way; some stating that the best is a mushroom type patch from the inside and others going for the plug from the outside. Many said there could be failure from just an inside patch since it can flex off. Some -not all, claiming to be tire dealers at one time or another, state they wouldn't repair a tire at all. Anyone have any hard facts on this?

[V8 Cat]

Re: Need new tire. Some good news

Many said there could be failure from just an inside patch since it can flex off. Anyone have any hard facts on this?

Richard,
That's the type of patch that led to my failures.

[2k03birdman]

Re: Need new tire. Some good news

We in the trucking industry use patches all the time and I mean all the time as tires for our rigs are 4 to 5 hundred dollors each even recaps are 2 to 3 hundred. We rarely see patches fail if done right.
When talking about fleats of 5 or 6 hundred trucks and twice that in trailers if we had to replace a tire every time it went flat you would not be able to afoard to by anthing because of freight rates.
Patching is an art and most shops that do truck tires are very good at it. Now I know that most of you are thinking about all those tire parts on the interstate highways this is from cap failure where the thead from a recap has come off a tire, we call rubber aligators. This is from carcuss failure where the caseing of the tire gives way and the cap comes off. Somthing to think about next time you are passing a big truck or tailgating one. These happen all at once and with no warning just boom and parts fly every where so give them plenty of room.

[BJHEN]

Re: Need new tire. Some good news

Now I know that most of you are thinking about all those tire parts on the interstate highways this is from cap failure where the thead from a recap has come off a tire, we call rubber aligators. This is from carcuss failure where the caseing of the tire gives way and the cap comes off. Somthing to think about next time you are passing a big truck or tailgating one. These happen all at once and with no warning just boom and parts fly every where so give them plenty of room.

I had one of those rubber aligators take my muffler system off my GMC van. I was behind an 18 wheeler, I was not tailgating, and this thing just bounced up off the truck. Luckily it came down and went under my van taking out the muffler and part of the pipes. Had I hit it when it was still in the air I'm afraid the results would have been a lot worst.

Cliff

[Bradford]

Re: Need new tire. Some good news

Now I know that most of you are thinking about all those tire parts on the interstate highways this is from cap failure where the thead from a recap has come off a tire, we call rubber aligators. This is from carcuss failure where the caseing of the tire gives way and the cap comes off. Somthing to think about next time you are passing a big truck or tailgating one. These happen all at once and with no warning just boom and parts fly every where so give them plenty of room.

I have some very strong opinions on these recaps, rubber alligators or whatever you want to call them. They should be outlawed for safety reasons. I also had damage from one of these, mine was to the tune of over $3000.00, 2 other cars were damaged in this same incident, so the cost of a truck tire does not hold much sympathy with me, it's the cost of doing business, all business has its cost. The recap, flew through the air, tumbled over the pavement, hit the front of my Thunderbird, required replacement of the bumper cover, grill, left headlight, left driving light, A/C condenser, paint and labor, after hitting the front of the car, it went under the car causing the separation of the belts in 2 tires. Add to that diminished value over a carfax report if I were to decide to sell, and the $100.00 insurance deductible from my pocket. After pulling over the other 2 cars hit by this actually had more damage than mine, and the truck kept on trucking. Like Cliff, I wasn't tailgating, in fact several hundred feet behind, but with a piece of rubber in the air and my car traveling behind it, it takes only a matter of seconds for a impact, if it had made contact while the rubber was airborne, it would probably have hit the windshield and who knows what. Just a few years ago, a elderly lady was killed when a passenger in the car with her husband as a result of road debris coming through the front windshield of their car en route to dinner. I have strong feelings about these issues. If I spend a $100.00 or more per tire to keep my car safe for personal use, I really can't cry for the trucking industry whose tires are part of their lively hood. Tire stores are not wanting to patch or repair tires for fear of litigation, however seems like everyone looks away in regards to the trucking industry. Again, it's just my opinion and I have very strong opinions regarding this. Loose a loved one to a car accident and you see road hazards in a totally different light.