Can trailer tires be patched?

time2roll wrote:

RCMAN46 wrote:

Microlite Mike wrote:

B-n-B wrote:
First trip out in our last camper we picked up a 1/2 inch bolt. Discount patched it up and it worked fine.

FWIW, if the hole was greater than 1/4" then the "repair" was not in accordance with Industry Standards for a highway tire. Under some exceptions, repairs can be made on punctures up to 3/8" ( LT Steel Cord Body) tires.

Of all the tire stores out there, Discount Tire has had the reputation of playing fast and loose with tire repair guidelines. For years they use "rope type" tire plugs from the outside for almost all there puncture repairs.

Here's a link to the Tire Industry Association and their guide for PROPER tire repair:

Tire Repair/Tire Industry Association

The tire I had repaired was done by BigO about 10 years ago. They did recommend I only use it as a spare until I got home. I still had about 1000 miles to go on that trip. BigO did not have a tire of same size so that was my best choice at the time.

I would skip the dismount, push in the plug, check pressure and roll. If it is loose push in 2 - 3 plugs.

Stop 15 miles later, repeat. Order parts for body repair needed.

RCMAN46 wrote:

Microlite Mike wrote:

B-n-B wrote:
First trip out in our last camper we picked up a 1/2 inch bolt. Discount patched it up and it worked fine.

FWIW, if the hole was greater than 1/4" then the "repair" was not in accordance with Industry Standards for a highway tire. Under some exceptions, repairs can be made on punctures up to 3/8" ( LT Steel Cord Body) tires.

Of all the tire stores out there, Discount Tire has had the reputation of playing fast and loose with tire repair guidelines. For years they use "rope type" tire plugs from the outside for almost all there puncture repairs.

Here's a link to the Tire Industry Association and their guide for PROPER tire repair:

Tire Repair/Tire Industry Association

The tire I had repaired was done by BigO about 10 years ago. They did recommend I only use it as a spare until I got home. I still had about 1000 miles to go on that trip. BigO did not have a tire of same size so that was my best choice at the time.

I would skip the dismount, push in the plug, check pressure and roll. If it is loose push in 2 - 3 plugs.

Microlite Mike wrote:

B-n-B wrote:
First trip out in our last camper we picked up a 1/2 inch bolt. Discount patched it up and it worked fine.

FWIW, if the hole was greater than 1/4" then the "repair" was not in accordance with Industry Standards for a highway tire. Under some exceptions, repairs can be made on punctures up to 3/8" ( LT Steel Cord Body) tires.

Of all the tire stores out there, Discount Tire has had the reputation of playing fast and loose with tire repair guidelines. For years they use "rope type" tire plugs from the outside for almost all there puncture repairs.

Here's a link to the Tire Industry Association and their guide for PROPER tire repair:

Tire Repair/Tire Industry Association

The tire I had repaired was done by BigO about 10 years ago. They did recommend I only use it as a spare until I got home. I still had about 1000 miles to go on that trip. BigO did not have a tire of same size so that was my best choice at the time.

JRscooby wrote:

B-n-B wrote:

RCMAN46 wrote:


Was that on the back tire of the trailer? I picked up a 3/8 bolt once had it repaired from the inside with no problems. Interesting it was the rear tire on the trailer that got the bolt.

Yep rear tire on passenger side.

I would bet most road hazard flats on TV/TT or 5th wheel units are rear passenger of trailer. Every time hit, but not picked up by a tire the crown of road will likely push it to right. Most of them just work over to shoulder, never damage a tire. Right side trailer tires are most likely to run on the shoulder. Plus, the tires on trailer tandem are running close together. In the lane or not, most time tire hits bolt or nail, it stands up. All other positions, it will fall back down. But when front trailer stands it up, it don't have much time to fall before the rear hits.

I agree with your analysis. Mine was on passenger side. My 5th wheel tires track wider than the TV so the TV may push the bolt closer to the shoulder where the trailer tires do as you described.

B-n-B wrote:

RCMAN46 wrote:


Was that on the back tire of the trailer? I picked up a 3/8 bolt once had it repaired from the inside with no problems. Interesting it was the rear tire on the trailer that got the bolt.

Yep rear tire on passenger side.

I would bet most road hazard flats on TV/TT or 5th wheel units are rear passenger of trailer. Every time hit, but not picked up by a tire the crown of road will likely push it to right. Most of them just work over to shoulder, never damage a tire. Right side trailer tires are most likely to run on the shoulder. Plus, the tires on trailer tandem are running close together. In the lane or not, most time tire hits bolt or nail, it stands up. All other positions, it will fall back down. But when front trailer stands it up, it don't have much time to fall before the rear hits.

RCMAN46 wrote:

B-n-B wrote:
First trip out in our last camper we picked up a 1/2 inch bolt. Discount patched it up and it worked fine.

Was that on the back tire of the trailer? I picked up a 3/8 bolt once had it repaired from the inside with no problems. Interesting it was the rear tire on the trailer that got the bolt.

Yep rear tire on passenger side.

B-n-B wrote:
First trip out in our last camper we picked up a 1/2 inch bolt. Discount patched it up and it worked fine.

FWIW, if the hole was greater than 1/4" then the "repair" was not in accordance with Industry Standards for a highway tire. Under some exceptions, repairs can be made on punctures up to 3/8" ( LT Steel Cord Body) tires.

Of all the tire stores out there, Discount Tire has had the reputation of playing fast and loose with tire repair guidelines. For years they use "rope type" tire plugs from the outside for almost all there puncture repairs.

Here's a link to the Tire Industry Association and their guide for PROPER tire repair:

Tire Repair/Tire Industry Association

Second Chance wrote:

JRscooby wrote:

Second Chance wrote:
A gentleman who spent 40 years with a major tire manufacturer told me that they can be patched (not plugged) - but, for safety, it reduces the load rating by one letter; e.g., if it's a load range E tire, patched it becomes a load range D tire.

Rob

I think I would need to know what positions that gentleman had in the tire industry.
Lifetime I have used a lot of tires though few where ST. I have never reduced the load I carried because of patch.
If the tire got a hole in the first tread I would plug from inside then patch. When due for 2nd re-cap I would trade the patched carcass let somebody else take the chance.

Tire engineer/designer. He sure knew his chemistry, too.

Rob

It's generally accepted that a tire can be repaired as long as the puncture is not in the shoulder or sidewall area. Ideally with a "Stem Repair" NOT PLUG. The stem's are cured rubber coated with a chemical vulcanizing material that will bond with the tire. Stem, once placed in hole is then cut off flush with the inside liner and covered with a patch. Many times, if hole is straight through tread, the shop will use a Stem/Patch combination repair where both are in a single unit and can be installed in a single operation.

A repair like this will restore the tire to it's original load rating but NOT SPEED RATING. It's recommended by all tire Mfr's that a repaired tire be downrated one SPEED rating, not load rating.

A proper repair on any tire, car, Light Truck, Semi, or ST trailer tire will last for the remaining life of the tire.


FWIW, I spend 17 years of my career teaching proper tire repair to employees of a 500+ store tire "chain". We used the training and materials of Tech Inc. a large tire repair material manufacturer.

JRscooby wrote:

Second Chance wrote:
A gentleman who spent 40 years with a major tire manufacturer told me that they can be patched (not plugged) - but, for safety, it reduces the load rating by one letter; e.g., if it's a load range E tire, patched it becomes a load range D tire.

Rob

I think I would need to know what positions that gentleman had in the tire industry.
Lifetime I have used a lot of tires though few where ST. I have never reduced the load I carried because of patch.
If the tire got a hole in the first tread I would plug from inside then patch. When due for 2nd re-cap I would trade the patched carcass let somebody else take the chance.

Tire engineer/designer. He sure knew his chemistry, too.

Rob

B-n-B wrote:
First trip out in our last camper we picked up a 1/2 inch bolt. Discount patched it up and it worked fine.

Was that on the back tire of the trailer? I picked up a 3/8 bolt once had it repaired from the inside with no problems. Interesting it was the rear tire on the trailer that got the bolt.