Can trailer tires be patched?

[plasticmaster]

I have a set of goodyear endurance tires on my TT and one of them has a nail in the tread about an inch in from the sidewall. The tire is only 2 years old. Can I take it to a shop and have it patched from the inside like I've done with car tires? Is this safe? Thanks.

[JRscooby]

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.

[B-n-B]

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.

[Microlite_Mike]

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

[Microlite_Mike]

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.

[Second_Chance]

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

[RCMAN46]

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.

[klutchdust]

mbopp wrote:
I used to work in a tire shop. We would not repair trailer tires, even with an inside umbrella patch.

Many shops took that policy because they were concerned with liability. Having patched hundreds of tires from wheelbarrow to semi trucks I have had no issues with patching, always from the inside though. Back in the day we did not have the type of plug and patch combo they have today. If in a pinch I would not hesitate to plug a tire from the outside to get me to a facility to have it dismounted. Using fix a flat is messy and dangerous to the tire repairman. Always let them know if you used it.

[B-n-B]

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

[time2roll]

Plug or patch is fine if done properly. Did hundreds of them back when turning wrenches paid the rent. Mostly plugs and no issues.

[ktmrfs]

as mentioned as long as the puncture is within the repairable area and within the repairable dimensions for size it should be able to be repaired. Now the only approved repair method from almost or all tire mfg is a combo plug/patch. Usually done with a mushroom shaped patch. the patch is pulled through from the inside to keep water etc. out of the cord and the patch on the inside provides the patch.
requires dismounting the tire from the rim.

I have had one ST tire repaired this way by discount tire for a nail in the tread area. No issues

X2 on discount tires.

[RCMAN46]

Durb wrote:
One of my Endurance tires picked up a nail and developed a slow leak. I took it to Discount Tire where I had purchased the set. They dismounted the tire and plugged it plus put a patch on the inside. I could hear the tire leaking air as I was reinstalling it, so I took it back. Their tech had ground the inside of the tire into the cords and the inner patch wouldn't hold (nor the plug, I guess). I left an hour later with a no charge new tire. Two companies that stood behind their products/services.

X2 on discount Tire. I have had very good and fast service with Discount Tire. Last summer they were the only tire dealer in Salt Lake City that had a set of Endurance tires for my 5th wheel. Even the Goodyear dealers could not come up with a set.

[valhalla360]

ford truck guy wrote:
Yes, Like dodge Guy stated it is ok to patch as long as it’s done proper..

Yep, there are certain types of punctures and/or positions on the tire where you can't patch but really no different from a car/truck tire for most simple nail holes in the tread.

[Durb]

One of my Endurance tires picked up a nail and developed a slow leak. I took it to Discount Tire where I had purchased the set. They dismounted the tire and plugged it plus put a patch on the inside. I could hear the tire leaking air as I was reinstalling it, so I took it back. Their tech had ground the inside of the tire into the cords and the inner patch wouldn't hold (nor the plug, I guess). I left an hour later with a no charge new tire. Two companies that stood behind their products/services.

[mbopp]

I used to work in a tire shop. We would not repair trailer tires, even with an inside umbrella patch.

[JRscooby]

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.