Are you considering getting your tire plugged after it got cracks? Plugging is undeniably one of the easiest options to deal with such an incident. It is quick, cheap, and reliable. However, what about the second time? Can a tire be plugged twice? Is it safe?
When you take the tire for repair, the professional will either recommend repairing—plugging or patching or a replacement. The same goes for the second puncture or crack. You can determine the safety of the second plugging by inspecting the damage size, area, previous repair, and tread condition.
Before going ahead with plugging and its safety, you must first know what is plugging.
What Is Plugging?
Plugging refers to the process of filling a minute hole in the tire. In this process, tiny leather strips are covered with an adhesive or sticky leather compound. Car professionals insert this strip into the holes to seal the tire.
In case your vehicle tube does not hold air despite regular filling, chances are there is a leakage or hole. Plugging is the best solution when the damage is small. That is because it creates a robust seal on the inner side of the tire. Thus, the air does not come out of the tire even under pressure.
When Does A Tire Require Plugging?
Whenever your tire goes flat, you must immediately replace it with the spare one and go to the nearest repair shop. If you try to delay the trip to the mechanic’s shop, your tire might reach a state beyond fixation. Therefore, you must promptly react to any slit or hole in the tire.
Apart from instant action, a mechanic can determine the state of your tire after it has been dismounted. You need to remove the damaged tire from the rim to inspect it inside-out, especially the sidewalls. Otherwise, you may end up missing minute damages.
When a thin nail or pointed object pierces into a tire, it causes a small slit or hole. Such damages are easily fixable by plugging, sparing you from the hassle of replacement. The vulcanized leather strips seal the tire and ensure stability.
That said, even if the hole in the tire is small enough to be plugged, there are other essential considerations. The following sections talk about when plugging is considered safe for a tire.
Can A Tire Be Plugged Twice?
Now that you know all about puncture repair, here comes the main question—can a tire be plugged twice? A tire can be plugged twice or even more than two times. However, that depends on multiple factors, with the tire’s state being the primary one. Here are all the aspects that determine its plugging possibility.
Quality of the Previous Repair
The first considerable aspect that makes the tire worth fixing is the quality of the previous repair. Irrespective of the damage done before, if the repair quality was poor, you cannot opt for a second plug.
That is because, even if the first fixation allowed temporary use of the tire, the overall quality would deteriorate over time. As a result, when you go for the second repair, the tube will already be in the worst condition.
That being said, you can still reach out to a professional service for inspection. The mechanic will have to completely dismantle the tire and check for damages as well as the condition of the former repair. In case the patch plug is intact and in a good state, you can proceed with the second plugging.
Overall Tire Grade
The overall quality of the tire can be a significant determinant of the number of times it can be plugged. A high-quality tire is likely to bear more repairs and fixations than a poor one. More so, as it will also reflect the condition of the tire over the long run.
For example, if you have a tubeless tire, it may easily bear a second plugging as it is much more advanced. Other than that, the tread pattern, manufacturer’s reputation, etc., play a vital role in determining the tire quality.
You must remember, the better the quality, the more chances you have of opting for plugging the second time.
Previous Tire Damages
Another factor to weigh upon is the intensity of the previous damage. If your vehicle tire met with a high-scale accident the last time, it might not be able to bear another repair. That is because its internal structure is already damaged to an extent where a second injury will make it irreparable.
That said, only a professional can finally conclude about the same. You can visit the same services or shop personnel who conducted the former repair. In case the intensity of the previous damage was minute, and you have a quality tire, second plugging is possible.
These are the few significant determinants that can decide if a tire can be plugged twice or not. However, many other aspects actually confirm the repair of a tire. These properties can help you ensure the safety of the second plugging procedure. Read on!
Is Tire Plugging Safe?
After conducting a thorough inspection, your mechanic can determine whether the tire is repairable or not. In most cases, if the hole is not too large, you can rely on a robust plugging process and consider it safe enough. Here are a few conditions to cross-check while considering the safety of tire plugging.
Size of the Damage
One of the first aspects to consider in a punctured or damaged tire is the extent of the damage. The maximum size of a tire repair is ¼ inches or 6mm. Therefore, if the hole or slit in your tire is bigger than the mentioned size, you must not consider plugging.
If you still opt for plugging a large-holed tire, you cannot consider it safe. Though the temporary insertion will seal the tire, it is a short-term solution. Moreover, it may lead to major blowouts or other dangerous accidents in the future. That is, even if you use the tire with the utmost safety.
Area of the Damage
You must understand that you can only repair the tread area of a tire. It is the central section, i.e., the 3/4th area at the center, also known as the minor repair area. That is, if a puncture occurs in the shoulders or sidewalls of a tire, consider the tire irreparable.
In such a case, you must drop the plugging idea as this area is not considered safe for repair. Additionally, the USTMA
and TIA recommend the same.
Previous Repair Location
Another essential factor to consider while considering plugging is the place of the previous repair. In case your tire is already filled, you need to ensure its last plugging area first. If the new damage overlaps or lies anywhere close to the previous repair, you must throw away the tire.
Tires that have two injuries adjacent to each other are not reliable even after repair. That is because the two plugs can combine together to cause larger damage that might lead to major accidents.
Wear Condition of the Tire
Most quality tires come with wear indicator bars and tread markings that you can read to determine their wear intensity. These tiny extensions are 2/32’’ high, which is the minimum limit of tire safety. If the tread markings of the damaged tire are in-line or below these bars, you must not consider plugging. You can also check the wear density by running a penny test on the tires.
How Long Can A Plugged Tire Last?
You must know that plugging is not a permanent solution for the tire slit or leakage. It is a temporary hack, which may not be legal in every area. Consequently, most professionals will recommend a tire change instead of plugging.
That said, you can still resort to plugging under certain conditions. These include minor damages, quality tubes, and an overall good state of a tire. Yet, how long can a plugged tire last? The duration or life of a plugged tire depends on multiple factors.
One of the prime aspects is the quality of the repair process. If your vehicle’s tire has been repaired well, it can last for 5 to 7 years or more. That is unless you resort to rash driving or meet with another puncture or hole.
Apart from that, the smoothness of the driving surface can also impact the condition of the tire. If you drive the vehicle in rough areas, the tire condition will automatically deteriorate. Moreover, it may also affect the older plugging.
That said, one of the most quintessential aspects of a plugged tire’s lifespan depends on the damage location and intensity. If your tire got a relatively larger slit, plugging might not prove useful enough. Also, in case the damage was on the sidewalls of the tire, plugging might not last long.
Is Tire Plugging A Good Idea?
Now that you know all about plugging, do you think it is a good idea? Well, plugging or plug patch is a reliable option if conducted by a professional. To further help your decision, here are the pros and cons of plugging.
Benefits of Tire Plugging
- Reasonable: The best thing about plugging is its low cost. Whether you compare it to patching or changing the tire, it is a considerably inexpensive option. You can get your vehicle’s tire plugged within $5 to $15.
- Quick Repair: Another amazing aspect of tire plugging is reduced time consumption. If you do not want to leave the tire at the mechanic’s shop, it is an excellent choice. That is because it only takes 5 to 10 minutes for the tire to be plugged.
- DIY Option: Though this is not a significant advantage still if you have the necessary tools, you can plug the tire yourself. It is an easy process and usually does not require dismantling, unlike patching. However, tire repair DIY is not recommended.
Downsides of Plugging
- Multiple Limitations: One of the biggest downsides of tire plugging is its limited use. You cannot opt for plugging in situations where the damage is big, outside the tread area, diagonal, etc. Patching, on the other hand, can be used in case of diagonal damage.