Does Tire Repair Require Alignment?

I know this is a controversial topic, but most of what I have read on the subject, patching speed rated tires is not recommended. Others on this Forum disagree.

[986Jim]

Patching a speed rated tire is not a great idea. You can do it and get away with it, but your asking for trouble.

If your doing 150mph and it lets go because the tires do get hot then what? You're dead. If it's in the deep part of the tread then usually ok, if its in the shallow part near the wear bars your askin for it but can get away with it. If you on the outside near the sidewall your just retarded for fixing that.

I know tires are expensive but so if your car and life is pricess so don't chance it.

Regarding the algnment, if you hit a curb and poped it then yeah you'll need an alignment. If you just picked up debris off the road, I wouldn't worry so much about it.

[MNBoxster]

HI,

I've been around Racing enough that I've seen many Tires Blowout at high speed. The results often aren't pretty.

I'm not a Fan of repairing a Performance Tire, because the Tire is compromised for further High Speed use. But, there is a repair method which will allow a Tire to perform on the Street (albeit usually for a shortened lifespan). This is the Plug & Patch method.

This requires unmounting the Tire, pushing in a Plug and adding a Patch over the Plug where it protrudes on the inside of the Tire. Then the Tire must be remounted and balanced for a proper repair.

Unfortunately, most Shops do not perform this repair unless specifically directed to do so, and most Drivers are either averse to the added cost - $50+, or oblivious to the procedure altogether and don't insist on it.

As mentioned, you, your passenger and your Car are worth biting the bullet and getting the Tire replaced, and so are the other folks on the road, like me. I don't relish the thought that drivers I'm sharing the Road with are all on compromised Tires. Let your conscience, not your wallet, be your guide...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[RandallNeighbour]

Hey Jim, what is it exactly that causes a really good plug and patch job to come loose at speed, causing a blowout?

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

Hey Jim, what is it exactly that causes a really good plug and patch job to come loose at speed, causing a blowout?

Randall,

The issue is Heat. You increase the Mass (and consequently the Heat storing capacity) in the area surrounding the Puncture allowing Heat to Build-up - you create a Hot Spot.

The main difference between a High Performance Tire and a regular one lies in it's ability to shed this Heat, not in Grip, Water Channeling, or Agressive Tread Patterns. Tires under the stresses of Performance Driving can reach temperatures exceeding 300°F for short intervals. These Temps can soften and reduce the adhesion abilities of the Glue used to secure the Plug and Patch, and they may just come loose.

With this newly created Hot Spot, you compromise the Tire's ability to work as it should and a Heat induced Blowout (at high speed) is more probable.

Not only this, but the Puncture may have also severed some of the Belt Cords, these run diagonally from sidewall-to-sidewall and work in unison. If these cords are severed, they cannot do this and so the strength of the Tire, along a diagonal axis in the affected area, is lessened as well. Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[RandallNeighbour]

HOLY CRAP! Heat. Never thought of it before. I was always thinking it was a structural integrity issue.

That settles it. No more high speed driving until I can replace all the rubber on my car. I think I've had at least two of my tires repaired.

Actually, I can turn my frown upside down... I really needed an excuse to get new rubber, and the 18 inch rims to go inside that new rubber. This makes me feel a lot better about the upgrade. I'll tell the wife it's a matter of personal safety!

She always lets me play the safety card. After all, she's been training me in husbandry for nearly 20 years now and has a lot of time, energy and emotion wrapped up in the investment.

[Ronzi]

Small correction to Jim's description of tire construction.
The carcass plies run side-to-side from bead to bead, the belts are under the tread area only.