Trailer tire repair

[CapnCampn]

Can a trailer tire be repaired safely?

I got a chunk of metal in my brand new trailer tire last weekend (First trip on these tires!!). The tire shop at Costco repaired it - there's a big round plug in the hole.

I don't have a lot of experience with tire repairs, and this is my first on a trailer.

My trailer is a 21 foot dual axle, ~4800-5000 lbs loaded. LRC tires with 1820 lb each max capacity, so I don't think I'm pushing the tire limits.

Any concerns running the repaired tire?

Thanks,
CC

[MM49]

nomad297 wrote:
I've been using plugs to repair tires on cars, trucks, heavy equipment and equipment trailers for almost forty years -- steel belt, bias, whatever. I have never given a second thought to the integrity of a repair in the tread, and I've never had a problem. I have plugged a few side walls, also, but those tires were fairly quickly replaced.

I have never plugged a tire on a travel trailer, though, but I would. I think I would keep an eye on this plug and replace the tire fairly soon. I'm older than I used to be and am now a little more cautious.

Bruce

??

[nomad297]

I've been using plugs to repair tires on cars, trucks, heavy equipment and equipment trailers for almost forty years -- steel belt, bias, whatever. I have never given a second thought to the integrity of a repair in the tread, and I've never had a problem. I have plugged a few side walls, also, but those tires were fairly quickly replaced.

I have never plugged a tire on a travel trailer, though, but I would. I think I would keep an eye on this plug and replace the tire fairly soon. I'm older than I used to be and am now a little more cautious.

Bruce

[Sport45]

In my experience Costco won't repair a tire that shouldn't be repaired. The flats they've fixed for me used umbrella or plug and patch kits.

[CapnCampn]

That tirerack picture has a round plug like what I see in my tire. I think I'm in good shape - the injury was nearly dead center of the tread pattern.

Thanks for the pic, I like it!

Still gonna call the shop & ask them for sure though.

CC

[BenK]

RMA, Rubber Manufacturers Association's HOW2 on their web page:
RMA Puncture Repair Procedures
RMAtire RMApatch RMArepair

Note their "repairable" area of the tire TREAD. Many tire dealers
*WILL* repair outside of that area.




Have noticed that many here on this portal reference Tire Rack and here
is their technology page for tire repair:
TireRack Tire Tech page on tire repair

TireRack's picture showing three types of repair. Two not recommended
and one recommended
tireplug tirepatch tiremushroom



I do carry a tire plug kit, but know the proper fix is with a mushroom
plug. Was taught that just a plug has a potential of creating a situation
for tread/belt separation from high pressure air getting in-between
the belts/body/sealing material

Get to that when I get home and off to the tire dealer or my mechanic

I've tossed tires that has a nail/etc too close to the tread/bead. Not
worth it, IMHO


Then the discussion whether that repaired tire retains it OEM speed
rating....NOPE, it now a lower speed rating...what it is...is the big
question.

[ScottG]

I had a TT tire fail where a plug had been installed several years earlier. It eventually developed a tread separation in that spot. Tire shop said it wasn't unusual. Water gets in between the cords and damaged the steel belt over time.

[mbopp]

Campfire Time wrote:

kaydeejay wrote:

3oaks wrote:
Years gone by, I have had several car and pickup truck tires repaired with only a round plug inserted from outside of the tire. Ran those tires until the tread wore out. Now in recent years, they are considered unreliable. Go figure! :R

Yeah, but those old tires probably didn't have steel belts that chew at the plug!

Mine have. And I have never had one fail over the years. The tire will be replaced due to wear before the plug fails.

Having worked in a tire shop I've re-done repairs that only used a plug.
Best bet is an "umbrella" patch - combines a patch and plug, used from the inside of the tire.

[Campfire_Time]

kaydeejay wrote:

3oaks wrote:
Years gone by, I have had several car and pickup truck tires repaired with only a round plug inserted from outside of the tire. Ran those tires until the tread wore out. Now in recent years, they are considered unreliable. Go figure! :R

Yeah, but those old tires probably didn't have steel belts that chew at the plug!

Mine have. And I have never had one fail over the years. The tire will be replaced due to wear before the plug fails.

[kaydeejay]

3oaks wrote:
Years gone by, I have had several car and pickup truck tires repaired with only a round plug inserted from outside of the tire. Ran those tires until the tread wore out. Now in recent years, they are considered unreliable. Go figure! :R

Yeah, but those old tires probably didn't have steel belts that chew at the plug!

[3oaks]

Years gone by, I have had several car and pickup truck tires repaired with only a round plug inserted from outside of the tire. Ran those tires until the tread wore out. Now in recent years, they are considered unreliable. Go figure! :R

[midnightsadie]

IF it was patched INSIDE OUT your good for a long time ,I,d trim some of the excess hanging out call and asked how it was patched, if its just a plug go have it done right.

[BB_TX]

I had a steel rod about 1/4" dia punch thru a tire thread on my truck. The Goodyear tire store used a plug-patch (a patch with a rubber stem). They installed it from the inside pulling the rubber stem thru the hole so the hole was plugged and the patch covering the inside. Drove it thousands of miles until it wore out and never a problem with it. That, or something similar, is probably what they used on yours.

[BigSkyTrailer_G]

Do NOT run one wheel with round spoke holes, and another with triangle spokes... the embarrassment and humiliation factor would be too much for any RVer to bear!

[BubbaChris]

1/2" sounds way too big to me.

Last summer I had to research tire repairs as a rock took out a tire on my SUV while out exploring one day. In my case since it was a tear rather than a round hole I was stuck buying a pair of tires. But I recall seeing info that put a fairly definitive limit on holes that can be plugged.

OTOH, Costco seems to run a good operation and I doubt they'd intentionally go beyond spec on repairs.