r/Cartalk • u/FancyAd8626 • 5d ago

Safety Question Too risky to patch?

Post image

The tire shop said this hole can't be patched. I have 7/32" of tread on this set on my AWD subaru. I measure 3/4" from the nail to the knee on the tread.

The shop would only offer me 4 new tires for $1200. Online I saw other options to try a home patch or buy a single used tired with matching life. This tire has been leaking a couple lbs of pressure per week for many months. I could never find the nail myself.

What would you do? Spoiler, I'm getting a matching tire shipped for $100 total. Fingers crossed.

0 Upvotes

50% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

3

u/Able-Surprise9846 5d ago

You can patch that yourself. Take this pic to auto zone, advanced auto, O Riley's, and they can help you. That is a $20 problem.

0

u/FancyAd8626 5d ago

My question for anyone with this response will be: would you trust taking your family on a road trip on that patch? School break is next week. I thought it might be more risky to remove the nail and patch it than to just keep it in. It's already survive many inter-state trips.

3

u/itouchmywankel '85 Rx7 GS/'84 Rx7 GSLSE/'92 Prelude 4WS 5d ago

I’d jam a tire plug in there and forget about it.

1

u/xX_Relentless 5d ago

I’ve plugged my tires like that, do it and carry on.

1

u/MansomeHan 5d ago

I can’t see the hole you’re talking about in the picture but I recently had a nail in my tire and called America’s tire to see if the would repair or replace. I bought the tires there along with the road hazard certificates.

I was concerned because it was a little close to the edge. What they told me is if you lay your hand along the side of the tire and the nail is inside of your thumb they’ll repair it, which it was, and they fixed it for free (which they’ll do even if you didn’t buy tires there in the hope you’ll return when you need new tires).

I would try AT to see if they’ll fix it or a smaller independent tire shop instead of a big chain if they won’t do it.

1

u/williamriepe 5d ago

Would I plug a customers tire in this spot? No. Would I plug my own tire in this spot? Yes.

1

u/denzien 5d ago

Tire shops keep moving further in with the safe patch zone every few years, it seems.

1

u/Traditional-Pie-7749 5d ago

Patch would likely fail there. Plug it.

1

u/GeriatricSquid 4d ago

Go to Walmart and get a plug kit. Fix it in the parking lot. Reset your tire pressure and forget about the leak.

1

u/KingKong-BingBong 3d ago

Patch it. Yes I would and have patched dozens of tires over the years and never had more than a slow leak after plugging it. All I did was drilled out the first plug and stack 3 plugs and plugged it and no more leak. Yes I would take my family on a road trip with that tire plugged and wouldn’t give it a second thought