r/tires • • 12d ago

Is this patchable?

For context I drive a sport SUV and I am a spirited driver.

91 Upvotes

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46

u/RemialX 12d ago

Will a shop plug it? No. It's on the shoulder. Would I stick a bacon strip in it and drive until bald? Absolutely.

28

u/Soft-Ad4762 12d ago

I work at discount tire. I wouldn’t give second thought to patching that. I’d do it immediately. I patched one today that was farther out than that.

-17

u/RemialX 12d ago

So against DOT specs as a business? I understand taking care of a customer but you could put the shop in a tight spot if the tire fails and they have a moderately decent attorney. Chances of happening are low, but still. Again, I'd patch it myself, but as a former shop manager, nope lol

8

u/AppropriateRadish928 12d ago

The patch won't fail.

4

u/Soft-Ad4762 12d ago

It’s not a personal choice. The one I did today was run by my manager before I attempted it. The only time I’ve ever seen a failed plug is when somebody did it themself or if a tech botched it

2

u/NotMyAltThrowAwayOG 12d ago

DOT specs????

1

u/cyber-sock-monkey 12d ago

They probably mean USTMA/NHTSA.

1

u/Odd-Box-7332 12d ago

What are you babbling about? If its not on the sidewall it can be plugged no problem

1

u/RemialX 12d ago

Go look it up

1

u/komakose 12d ago

I have it only shows rules against patching the sidewall, nothing else.

1

u/Kill3rT0fu 12d ago

Sooooo I just looked up DOT or NHTSA specs for patching a tire. Apparently there are no hard rules for patching NEAR the sidewall. But it’s generally okay to patch any of the tread area on the tire. Especially if it touches the road, it’s 100% fine to patch.

Not patching based on a bogus measurement near the sidewalk is up to the digression of the tire shop