OK to Use a tire patch for leak that was repaired but has slow leak

[Captn Conch]

I had a very slow leak that had a rectangular about 1/8 x 1/4" little piece of metal down in between tire lug tread. installer used the tire plug but has very slow leak. they said can't fix it. the tires have little wear but a new tire of that brand is not being made anymore. Could a rubber oval inner tire patch that is glued in and a tube do the job? I don't want a new set of tires. If this is not possible. I am going to put on 2 new tires of the same type with somewhat similar lugs. Current tires are Dick Cepek Extreme Country 33x10.5 r15 new tires are Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ. would put on same axle of course. Is that a problem as there my be a little difference in diameter d/t some tread wear etc...

 

[JohnnyC]

Depends on the hole… I pin hole could be successful… yours sounds more of a tear …. So not really … there’s not much meat there and the sidewall flexes to much … making the spot susceptible to separating later

You don’t have a matching spare?

 

[rlong]

I would, I have also used a second plug with long term success!

 

[charliemeyer007]

Slow leak - clean area as best you can with a good solvent mek, acetone, break clean both inside and the outside. Paint with several coats of patch adhesive - you could try to work the glue in with an old syringe on the first go.
https://www.autozone.com/p/slime-rubber-cement-1050/487520

Sidewalls don't patch well - especially for highway speed or extreme off road.

There were patches made like mushrooms that were installed from the inside - the stem was pulled threw the hole from the inside the cap did the sealing. Then there were the heat vulcanizing ones that were clamp in place and set on fire. Big metal cup about 1/4 inch deep full of some sort of burning compound with the rubber patch on the other side of the cup.

I fixed a buddies 4 wheeler tire with like 14 plugs in the hole - they lasted years until the tire wore out and never leaked. Buy extra plugs and a big can of glue - those little tubes dry out after the first use.

 

[Gotta40]

if its in between the tread theres no reason you can't put a patch on it from the inside. never had an issue. clean the ribs off to make it smooth, spread some glue and let it dry, then lay in your patch. I use the back of a screwdriver handle to press it down and spread it out nice. never had an issue.
I fixed a sidewall before as well, with a patch/plug combo. been working great for a few years. wouldn't do it for anyone else, but works great for me.

 

[Shark56]

If it is a slow leak then this stuff is like magic.

 

[JohnnyC]

Looks like a variety of opinions on this one

You could even patch it then run a tube... I run tubes in all my rims .... I got Toyota split rims lol

really a picture of the puncture would be quite helpful

 

[Captn Conch]

Alright, After all the wisdom of the Mudders, I went to Discount tires, they checked it and ya they could fix it, push out the previous plug, clean, stick in a new plug so it wouldn't let moisture into the steel belts and then put the boot patch inside. looks good, not leaking, Time will tell. The tire man said it's not going to leak it was small damage. Not only that but no charge to repair.
That's a load off!
I only bought 4 tires back then, I remember why, The 10.50s were too fat to go on the spare tire carrier so I used one of my previous 33x 9.50 15 BF goodrich Mud Terrains T/A which still had good tread but aged out by a few years. So I will still keep on for a spare. I wanted to keep 33/9.50 tires but they were out of production back then so I had to go with the 10.50 Cepeks, Of course when I did that I had to do a 2.5" lift for tire clearance. One thing always leads to another.

Thanks guys for the advice!