Scratch & tire puncture

[quk@sievers.com (Phil Payne)]

In message <199705281556.KAA16307@dfw-ix10.ix.netcom.com> Jim Jordan writes:

> Use the plugs only in an emergency when you
> have no other choice.

The plugs I was referring to are applied from the inside of the tyre.  They're 
roughly mushroom-shaped - a 2" or so diameter "head" is glued to the inside of 
the carcase (after surface preparation) and residual air bubbles are driven out 
with a tool like a paperhanger's joint roller rolled across the patch from the 
centre outwards. The plug is at the centre of the disc and is threaded through 
the hole, then trimmed flush with the surface of the rubber.  The wheel has to 
be rebalanced -no question.
 
IMO it is extremely reckless to repair a high-performance tyre from the outside 
only.  Visual inspection of the interior is _essential_.  If possible, this is 
_even_more_ important if the puncture caused deflation in use - all of mine 
were discovered with the tyre still at normal pressure.  I would have serious 
misgivings about reusing a tyre that had run deflated with a foreign body in it.

--
 Phil Payne
 phil@sievers.com
 Committee Member, UK Audi [ur-]quattro Owners Club