Has anyone permanently fixed a sidewall puncture. I got a hole on mine and stoped the leak with 2 plugs. I want to know how reliable is it now like that. The tire is brand new and don't want to through it out just yet. I also heard of a hot patch you can put on the inside and would this work. One last thing is a tube but I would think the valve would rip out with agressive driving. Any ideas or experience anyone might have on this. THNX.

 

I've had two of these holes ... it's easy to fix!

1. patch the sidewall with a well fitting patch and lots of cement
2. add a tube

200 miles of muding and no problems.

 

if you plugged it, now use slime and it will be sealed w/ no problems. ive use it for 1/4 holes and it workedd good.

 

radial or bias ply tire? plug/patch combo will work on a bias, but sidewall flex on a radial will probably work the patch/plug loose quickly.

 

I have a tube in my front tire and its held up for 2000 miles... i hit the railroad tracks at 40 and smashed my rim and sliced my tire... i got some new ITP rims and a tube and it holds up well

 

Thanks guys for all the replies. I have a radial tire. Makes sence that a plug might not hold in it because of the soft rubber compound. Anyone ever buy itp delta steel rims before. I was thinking about buying some with mud lites. Can a 10" tire fit in front with an off set rim like that without rubbing.

 

I must disagree with the plug working loose. I puntured my raidal's sidewall just days after buying my ATV. I put a plug in it and have not had a problem at all. I now have a thousand miles with the plug in and not a single leak. I also have my tires slimed and I'm sure my tire is as good as new.

 

You can take it to a tire repair shop like what semi trucks use and they will cut out the old spot and mold in new rubber. We do this all the time and it is a perminant repair. A hot patch will work also. I would not recommend using a tube because if you do get another hole you can not fix a tube on the trail and it will leave you stranded. At least without a tube you can still plug the tire and get you back.

 

That's true 2manytoys, If it leaks again with a tube i'm f*#@&%. I'm just going to use it for shot trips and buy a new set for play. Going to be shopping around tomorrow.

 

Do NOT trust a repaired sidewall on a radial........had a failure on a "repaired" tire.......sidewall on a Highlifter radial...........in the middle of the Black Rock Desert, last week.
No amount of "rope" type plug repair could fix it..........hole was about the size of a dime.
It seemed to have as more to do with the thin sidewall than the size of the hole.
Ended up riding 60 + miles on it back to base camp. (the tire actually stayed on the wheel, but was obviously destroyed)
It should be noted that this same set of Highlifter Radials has suffered numerous sidewall failures in the past........including having 2 tread lugs tear holes in the sidewall.
The debate over repair vs replacement becomes fairly one-sided in the middle of the desert................