I dont know if this is the right section to post this question in but here goes. I got some nice 17's not too long ago and as my luck would go I must have ran over a nail. Now my tire is losing pressure. I would normaly take it to my local tire shop and have them patch it for about 20 bucks. I am a little worried that they will scratch up my rims or something. Also is it alright to get low profile tires patched or is there a better way? any help is appreciated.

 

buy a new tire?

 

well i'm trying to avoid that.

 

plug it... but eventually you will need a new tire, no way around it.

the patch kit runs maybe five bucks and comes with a reamer and a tool to insert the plug--just add contact cement. let the air go out of the tire, open up the hole to where you can get the plug in it and insert the plug after coating it with contact cement and let that dry. trim the excess off the plug and pray to the car gods... then refill the tire.

the plug will hold for a little while, but if you puncture the tire the question isn't if you'll need a new tire, but when.

 

sounds like a good plan. Now that I think about it I might even have one of those kits lying aroung. does the Plugging at the tire place last longer? since they plug the tire from the inside?

 

that's a way better plug, yeah--but it may also throw off the balance a little bit.

 

thats what I'm going to do. Would it throw off the ballance enough to make reballancing them worth it?

 

it depends on how they patch the tire, i don't think it should throw it TOO far off balance. they shouldn't use much to patch it... but i am not familiar with the inside tire patches.

 

Now that I think about it we always get our tires pathched(seems that everytime I drive my moms car i manage to run over something sharp) and I never have noticed a difference.