Is it true our tires can’t be patched?

[Gprodigy]

I have a slow air leak in my rear Goodyear tire. Without examining the leak, two shops mentioned that exact tire cannot be patched bc they are custom.

Has anyone patched theirs?

Or do we have to buy a new tire every time there’s a nail?


Update:
Top Answer: "HELL NAHH"

 

[morphious]

I have a slow air leak in my rear Goodyear tire. Without examining the leak, two shops mentioned that exact tire cannot be patched bc they are custom.

Has anyone patched theirs? Or do we have to buy a new tire every time there’s a nail?

I had a 3 inch screw go through my 700 mile rear cup 2 and just unscrewed it and put a plug in it, been fine for 500 miles.

 

[Blackthought_]

I have a slow air leak in my rear Goodyear tire. Without examining the leak, two shops mentioned that exact tire cannot be patched bc they are custom.

Has anyone patched theirs? Or do we have to buy a new tire every time there’s a nail?

Hell naw no need to buy a new tire. I got a screw while on a trip to Vermont on my Goodyears and a random local shop patched that sucker right up. 6k miles later all is well.

 

[Gprodigy]

Hell naw no need to buy a new tire. I got a screw while on a trip to Vermont on my Goodyears and a random local shop patched that sucker right up. 6k miles later all is well.

That’s what I thought! Good talk.

They wouldn't even check for the screw.

 

[KAR120C]

I have a slow air leak in my rear Goodyear tire. Without examining the leak, two shops mentioned that exact tire cannot be patched bc they are custom.

Has anyone patched theirs?

Or do we have to buy a new tire every time there’s a nail?


Update:
Top Answer: "HELL NAHH"

“Custom” tires? You can buy them from Tire Rack. I agree my Emira looks exotic, but it’s not an F1 car!

 

[Gprodigy]

“Custom” tires? You can buy them from Tire Rack. I agree my Emira looks exotic, but it’s not an F1 car!

lol Everyone when they see this car = $$$$$$

 

[Six Speed Stephen]

lol Everyone when they see this car = $$$$$$

I’m getting that often from others

 

[John777]

I had a 3 inch screw go through my 700 mile rear cup 2 and just unscrewed it and put a plug in it, been fine for 500 miles.

plug is just temporary needs to be patched as well.

 

[netsinah]

To answer the OP question, I’ll differ from those suggesting either a plug (alone) or patch (alone). I saw this same debate about whether you could repair or had to replace a C8 Corvette flat tire, on the Corvette Forums, with some repair shops claiming you could only replace the entire tire and refusing to do otherwise, saying they were high speed/performance tires and you risked disaster with any repair, especially with track use. The consensus from “the gang on the Corvette Forums”, including those who had done repairs at tire shops, was that tire shops insisting on a new tire were just overselling for profit, BUT you needed to do BOTH patch and plug, to be on the safe side and ensure a strong lasting repair. Never having a flat on my Corvettes nor Emira (touch wood), I plan to follow that practice. But that’s just me; we each decide our own preference.

 

[tnbuilder]

I have one tire that is lucky enough to have 2 patches . Both times taken off the rim and patched properly.

 

[Blue Dude]

America's Tire/Discount Tire will fix tires for free if they deem it repairable. This includes dismount, remount, and balancing. Personally, I'd take the wheel/tire combo off and bring it there with the daily driver.

Edit: They offer this even if you didn't buy the tires from them.

 

[Aero]

Also heard high speed rated tires can not be patched/repaired. I took a Z rated tire to Discount tire under warranty and they said they would patch it no problem. Other times ( I think Firestone) the shop said no to a patch.
If you're not doing sustained high speed runs the tire should be fine when patched properly.

https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-garage/does-a-repair-change-a-tires-speed-rating

 

[cyanmauve]

I had a flat this weekend on a road trip. I just posted a super long-winded sotry about it under the title" Beware Tire Repair, or How to Deflate an Anniversary"

To answer your directly, there is nothing "custom" about these tires. They are production line items from Michelin and Goodyear.

Ultimately, this sort of thing will come down to the knowledge and expertise (or lack thereof, see my post) of the tech doing the repair. I won't argue with a man who doesn't want to repair my tire to convince him to do so.

My interactions over the weekend would suggest that a lot of tire techs are at best intimidated by the relatively uncommon tire type and size on our Emiras, or at worst, ready to sell you a brand new tire when a successly repair could be done.

 

[cyanmauve]

Also heard high speed rated tires can not be patched/repaired. I took a Z rated tire to Discount tire under warranty and they said they would patch it no problem. Other times ( I think Firestone) the shop said no to a patch.
If you're not doing sustained high speed runs the tire should be fine when patched properly.

https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-garage/does-a-repair-change-a-tires-speed-rating

Excellent link.

This might be worth printing and keeping in your car incase you get a flat and need to show a shop that is honestly leery of attempting a repair on an unfamiliar tire.

 

[John777]

To answer the OP question, I’ll differ from those suggesting either a plug (alone) or patch (alone). I saw this same debate about whether you could repair or had to replace a C8 Corvette flat tire, on the Corvette Forums, with some repair shops claiming you could only replace the entire tire and refusing to do otherwise, saying they were high speed/performance tires and you risked disaster with any repair, especially with track use. The consensus from “the gang on the Corvette Forums”, including those who had done repairs at tire shops, was that tire shops insisting on a new tire were just overselling for profit, BUT you needed to do BOTH patch and plug, to be on the safe side and ensure a strong lasting repair. Never having a flat on my Corvettes nor Emira (touch wood), I plan to follow that practice. But that’s just me; we each decide our own preference.

like i just said above..need both

 

[Finbarqs]

I had a 3 inch screw go through my 700 mile rear cup 2 and just unscrewed it and put a plug in it, been fine for 500 miles.

Had a nail in it, America’s tire fixed it, took it to the track and back no issues… (first 500 miles with nail, post 1k no issues) Cup 2’s

 

[netsinah]

like i just said above..need both

Yup. I was typing and posted, before seeing your post.

 

[JimBo1953]

Had three punctures over the years in several Porsches shod in Michelins. All plugged satisfactorily. Just depends where the puncture is. Providing it’s in the body of the tread, not the sidewall, shouldn’t be a problem.

 

[Gprodigy]

update. I got the tire patched, to be safe I just paid for one of those mobile services that drives to your house to patch it.

Which is still far cheaper than buying a new tire every time lol.

 

[seriously]

Had three punctures over the years in several Porsches shod in Michelins. All plugged satisfactorily. Just depends where the puncture is. Providing it’s in the body of the tread, not the sidewall, shouldn’t be a problem.

this. as long as the hole is in the body not the shoulder- a plug will get you home. a patch will fix it right. some shops don't even want to deal with low profile tires for fear of damaging the rim I think.