Screw in tire...what to do? (pics)

[sl55g]

Just noticed this today in my left rear tire. The tires are only about 3 months old. Should I try to remove it, screw it in deeper, leave it alone and hope that it doesn't blow out and kill me instantly, or none of the above? Thanks

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn203/sl55g/tire1.jpg

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn203/sl55g/tire2.jpg

[M62pwrdE38]

I would have the tire fixed, as in go to a shop and tell them you need a flat repair. How is it going to blow out an kill you?

[sl55g]

Gotcha, that's probably what I'll do.

Haha, no idea, but I know a guy whose range rover blew out a rear tire on the highway and flipped.

BTW sorry for the noob question, but any estimate on how much this might cost?

[easymoney]

Go to America's Tire and they will fix it for you free even if you didn't buy the tire from them.

[sl55g]

^
Awesome, thanks easymoney!

[slocar]

Gotcha, that's probably what I'll do.

Haha, no idea, but I know a guy whose range rover blew out a rear tire on the highway and flipped.

BTW sorry for the noob question, but any estimate on how much this might cost?

10 bucks ... if that.

Buy a tire repair kit and fix it yourself? It's easy and takes a minute.

[kosta]

i went to walmart bought a kit

much easier than running to the tire shop all the time

1. remove screw
2. stick agitator tool in there and rough up the area inside the hole
3. put the rubber sticky thing in the tool
4. dip in glue
5. shove the tool/rubber insert into the hole 3/4 of the way in and then pull up to clip it
6. cut excess off with pliers

that's my very technical explanation lol

[mryakan]

i went to walmart bought a kit

much easier than running to the tire shop all the time

1. remove screw
2. stick agitator tool in there and rough up the area inside the hole
3. put the rubber sticky thing in the tool
4. dip in glue
5. shove the tool/rubber insert into the hole 3/4 of the way in and then pull up to clip it
6. cut excess off with pliers

that's my very technical explanation lol
I don't think that is a recommended repair anymore esp. for high performance tires. The proper repair should be done with a patch on the inside, so the tire has to be dismounted, patched and then mounted and rebalanced. So I am not sure how some claim it is done for free. I believe this quick method you describe is discouraged by tire manufacturers since it could lead to a potential blowout, but I could be wrong! Any of the techs here to comment?

Here is a good link:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=77

Any repair attempted without removing the tire from the wheel is improper.

Simply plugging a tire from the outside without removing the tire from the wheel is improper.

But be aware that if they say they can repair a tire in 10 minutes for under $10 dollars without removing it from the wheel, they aren't following the Rubber Manufacturer's Association procedures.

correctly done flat repair that follows the multi-step repair procedures will take approximately 30 minutes and probably cost around $20. Driving on an improperly repaired tire is dangerous because it can further damage the tire and/or allow its strength to deteriorate over time. An improperly repaired tire driven at high speeds may suddenly fail, causing loss of vehicle control. Additionally, the use of an innertube as a substitute for a proper repair generates additional heat and should not be considered.


If I were you OP, I would not do a cheap repair on a BMW tire. Most of us drive these cars hard around corners and at high speeds, so the last thing you want is a tire failure under such conditions.

[sl55g]

Hmm...thanks for the additional info myryakan, but would a patch from the inside be necessary in my case since I'm not losing any air? My understanding is that the screw has not fully penetrated the tire, therefore it is safe to patch from the outside, is that a safe assumption?

[slocar]

Hmm...thanks for the additional info myryakan, but would a patch from the inside be necessary in my case since I'm not losing any air? My understanding is that the screw has not fully penetrated the tire, therefore it is safe to patch from the outside, is that a safe assumption?

Even if it penetrated completely, a plug works ... nobody uses patches any more.

As for your situation, since it has not penetrated, depending on how deep it went in, I'd just take it out and not do anything. If it's almost all the way through, then yeah, puncture it and plug it just to be safe.

[Critter7r]

Hmmm... I'd think that the screw has penetrated the tire, it'd have to be an awfully short screw to not go thru the 5/16" thickness of a tire carcass. If it was stuck in a tread lug, then maybe not, but it's right in the thinnest spot of the tire. (If you've already removed the screw and no air came out, then disregard my assumption).

Mryakan: Unless you plan on tracking your car (and probably even then), a conscientiously applied rope plug is as effective a fix as any. A patch plug from the inside would be more ideal, but I've never had nor heard of anyone ever having an issue with a rope plug.

[mryakan]

Mryakan: Unless you plan on tracking your car (and probably even then), a conscientiously applied rope plug is as effective a fix as any. A patch plug from the inside would be more ideal, but I've never had nor heard of anyone ever having an issue with a rope plug.
Well I am not sure. Driving at very high speeds on a hot day can get those tires pretty hot, you don't need a track for that. Wouldn't that cause the rubber to expand and the tire to possibly start to leak air and possibly fail? Never tried that myself nor do I plan to try it. I'd rather pay the 10 extra bucks and be on the safe side, but that is just me.

[hefftone]

Meh....

I plug mine all the time. They work damn good.

[mryakan]

Meh....

I plug mine all the time. They work damn good.

Well I guess it must be another conspiracy by the tire manufacturers and the tire technicians then behind why they recommend against it then. Everyone says Meh, until a failure happens to them and then they go scream lawsuit. But suit yourself, I am not here to convince anyone of anything, I just give you the info and you make the decisions. Life goes on, for some at least.

[samger2]

Even if it penetrated completely, a plug works ... nobody uses patches any more.

As for your situation, since it has not penetrated, depending on how deep it went in, I'd just take it out and not do anything. If it's almost all the way through, then yeah, puncture it and plug it just to be safe.

wow...that's actually a comical statement...I've not seen a shop use a plug since I was a tire tech in 1997...every shop I've ever worked at since fully breaks the tire down fully inspects the tire to make sure there was no damage then does either a patch or a patch/plug combo to PROPERLY repair the tire from the inside out.

[easymoney]

wow...that's actually a comical statement...I've not seen a shop use a plug since I was a tire tech in 1997...every shop I've ever worked at since fully breaks the tire down fully inspects the tire to make sure there was no damage then does either a patch or a patch/plug combo to PROPERLY repair the tire from the inside out.

This is what America's does. Plug on the outside and patch on the inside.

[BavTuner]

A patch plug is the best way to go, which has to be done with the tire off. A rope plug is not going to work in the long term, you have to enlarge the hole in your tire to get it to work which is not what you want to do at all. Its best to keep the whole in your tire as small as possible to minimize leakage and prevent further damage to the cords and belts in the tire.

A patch plug will seal the best and make your tire like new, well the best it can be. It looks like the screw went in straight so thats a major plus.

Another thing to consider when going to a shop is what kind of tire machine do they use? Is it a rim clamp or a newer style with touchless mounting designed for aftermarket wheels? If your a neat freak with your wheels and keep them as clean as possible find a shop that specializes in aftermarket wheels, they will hopefully have the most up to date machine that can dismount and mount your tire safely without damaging the wheel. If its a rim clamp style your risking damage even if they say there careful......stuff happens

[sweet e36 pimp]

Lol plugging a tire is so easy, I do them right on the car... If your quick you don't even need a jack. I don't use one...

Roll the car where you can get at the screw easy, take a pair of side cutters or pliers... pull the screw and immediately push the rasp into the hole. Ream the hole good, insert your plug into the "threading" tool so the plug is about centered in the tool. Pull the rasp, insert the "threader", then slowly pull it out so there is some excess plug sticking out. Razor blade the excess on the outside of the tire and your done.

I could probably do it in 2 mins tops...


wow...that's actually a comical statement...I've not seen a shop use a plug since I was a tire tech in 1997...every shop I've ever worked at since fully breaks the tire down fully inspects the tire to make sure there was no damage then does either a patch or a patch/plug combo to PROPERLY repair the tire from the inside out.

Guess your shop likes to rip people off then. They must try and sell you a tire instead. Every shop I've worked in plugs them just like I mentioned above. A clean puncture like the OP posted is not going to do some astronomical damage to the inside of the tire. I've never seen a screw do that. Hell, I even removed someones house key from a tire, and used a plug. To this day, the tire doesn't leak air whatsoever. Guess what I'm trying to say is there isn't really a need to pull the tire for something like this.

Does your shop just "black socket" the wheels on after? One place I worked not only used torque sticks, but they made you hand torque every rim you removed. There is a difference from being thorough and trying to "sell" things. Most shops are just geared toward sell, sell, sell!

[Critter7r]

Well I am not sure. Driving at very high speeds on a hot day can get those tires pretty hot, you don't need a track for that. Wouldn't that cause the rubber to expand and the tire to possibly start to leak air and possibly fail? Never tried that myself nor do I plan to try it. I'd rather pay the 10 extra bucks and be on the safe side, but that is just me.


When a given material with a hole in it expands (whether it's metal, rubber, plastic or whatever), the hole gets smaller, not bigger.

But really, I've driven to Texas with rope plugs in my tires.

Not that it isn't possible to have a problem, but the tire mfrs are really just playing a game of "cover out ass" when they tell you that a rope plug isn't safe, or that you need to replace a runflat tire when it gets punctured.

[BavTuner]

Well we hand torque everything, everyone one is very thorough where I work and accept nothing less than the best.

Were also a Preferred installer through the Tire Rack, we have a five star rating and every customer review is a good one. The only bad one is from the shop across the street trying to bad mouth us. If you want search us on Tire Rack the zip code is 19607 and the shop is Kam Specialties.

[M62pwrdE38]

I wouldn't take my tire to a shop that plugs from the outside. I've seem many of those leak again and it is NOT considered a permanent repair. The correct way to repair a tire is to patch it from the inside.

[BavTuner]

Lol plugging a tire is so easy, I do them right on the car... If your quick you don't even need a jack. I don't use one...

I would love to see this......so what happens when you pull the nail out and the tire completely deflates. You leave it just sit on the the rim while you shove a rope plug in? Doesnt seem like the best idea to me...:shifty

[Critter7r]

I would love to see this......so what happens when you pull the nail out and the tire completely deflates. You leave it just sit on the the rim while you shove a rope plug in? Doesnt seem like the best idea to me...:shifty


"Roll the car where you can get at the screw easy, take a pair of side cutters or pliers... pull the screw and immediately push the rasp into the hole"

Shoving the rasp in the hole keeps more air from coming out. Then you prepare the plug, ream the hole (huh huh) and then put the plug in. If you're quick, this is actually not very difficult.