# Should I have plugged this tire?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-plugged-this-tire/802420>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [November 22, 2017, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-plugged-this-tire/802420 "2017-11-22T17:12:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-plugged-this-tire/802420/21 "2017-11-30T14:03:43Z")

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I think safety should be the primary concern. Do you want a sudden blowout as you’re merging onto a busy freeway? Of course not. But if you just go with a plug and/or patch, you’re accepting a greater risk of it happening than if you go ahead and invest in a new tire. It might be that most of the time a plug might hold. I just wouldn’t want to take the chance on it not holding.

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**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-plugged-this-tire/802420/22 "2017-11-30T15:23:55Z")

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Stupid story: I’ve got a Jeep tire with a plug in it. Right at the edge of the tread and sidewall. Looks like a hunk of beef jerky at this point.

The weird thing is this- damn near every time I stop and get out of the Jeep, that plug is between the 11:00-1:00 position. Scary! I drive this thing almost every day, to different places all over the desert. Stop, get out, and there it is! It’s really weird.

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**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-plugged-this-tire/802420/23 "2017-11-30T15:42:50Z")

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> [@BobLibDem](#):
>
> I think safety should be the primary concern. Do you want a sudden blowout as you’re merging onto a busy freeway? Of course not. But if you just go with a plug and/or patch, you’re accepting a greater risk of it happening than if you go ahead and invest in a new tire.

How do you know this? Are you familiar with cases in which plugs blow out? I’ve never heard of such a thing happening. (I have heard of people being hit by lightning, though.)

> [@Gatopescado](#):
>
> Stupid story: I’ve got a Jeep tire with a plug in it. Right at the edge of the tread and sidewall.

I don’t think plugs are intended to be used at that location. AFAIK you can only plug away from the sidewall, where there are cords.

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**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-have-plugged-this-tire/802420/24 "2017-11-30T15:51:11Z")

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> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#):
>
> I don’t think plugs are intended to be used at that location. AFAIK you can only plug away from the sidewall, where there are cords.

You plug your way, I’ll plug mine. 😉

Been holdin’ for nearly a year now. Hence the beef jerky look.

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