Tyre repair plugs

Yep mushroom will do the trick. YOu can get a tyre repair place to do it, or you can treat it as practice for your Canning Stock Route trip (you know the one you haven't discussed witth the wife yet). :-)

Get your self a tyre rasp thingy (technical name), a stitching wheel thingy (another technical name) (4wd shop will have them) some methylated spirits, a clean rag (cotton preferably), a good size tube of vulcanising fluid, and a mushroom plug.

Remove the tyre from the rim using the tools you would use on that previously mentioned CSR trip :-). find the hole, rasp the inside of the tyre around the hole. Do a large enough area for the mushroom to cover, then some. One it is roughed up real good, give the rasped area and the back of the mushroom plug a good wipe with metho and allow to dry.

Now spread one coat of vulcanising fluid on the rasped area and leave to dry for 10 minutes or more until dry. Then spread more vulcanising fluid over the same area, and on the back of the plug and on the shaft ie where it will contact the tyre. Allow to dry until slightly tacky, then place the plug in the hole from inside the tyre ie so the mushroom head is inside the tyre and the stem is sticking out thru the tread. Plane the tRoll the stitching wheel firmly over the mushroom head forcing it into firm contact with the inside of the tyre. Allow to dry. Trim the shaft flush with the tread using a single sided razor or hobby knife.

Then tell the wife how good you are and that the CSR trip will now be a breeze. :-)

Cheers

Here is some really good info on tyre repair that I have used :
patch rubber co.

Never mind the rest of the stuff - which tyres will last 120km?

Mike Harding

Hear hear ........ I'm all ears

Cheers

I want a set of those, especially on a 4WD. My Camry tyres, silica impregnated ones lasted 85000K and I thought that was bloody excellent.

On the subject of those plugs (waxy string type such as Safety Seal), they are not legal as a permanent repair in a few states as far as I know. That said, I have seen as many as four in a single hole...you just keep pushing them in until the thing stops leaking.

If I need to repair a tyre like this on a trip, I tend to take the wheel off, repair the tyre and then put the spare on, keeping the repaired tyre as my spare.

I also have seen 4 in one hole... Can't say the look of it thrilled me but they will get you out of the crap. With regard to the 120,000k statement, I was on an american bike site last night reading an OT post. Blokes talking up the Cooper St on their F trucks with comments like "90,000 miles" thats right MILES, thats 145,000k.

How did you go with the spotties Paul?

Hi all, I have had 4 sets of Bfg 265.x75 16, two sets ot the old style and 2 sets of Ko's, all averaged about 105,000 ks. My last set went to 120,000k's still only just legal. The long life is probably due to mainly to freeway travelling from Moss Vale to Bankstown, six days a week. No braking, no turning, just straight driving.

And so much for the new 90,000km guarantee for Cooper tyres.... I believe you have to follow a regular costly maintenance program to keep your guarantee...

It's just normal maintainance procedure.... most tyre shops recommend balance, rotation and wheel alignment every 10 000kms. This way the alignment is in check (only takes one weekend of playing to throw the alignment) and front end / suspension problems are found early before wear patterns can start in the tyres.
They are offering a warranty on tyres.. you don't have to take the warranty up on them. You'll more than likely get the kms anyway. But if you do take it up, there are always going to be some guidelines. How can they warrant mileage on tyres from a vehicle thats alignment is so far out and scrubbing tyres?

150 000km on a set of Federal Dueller 351 ATs 31.10.5 R15 these tyres are very cheap at only about $130 each fitted in Sydney (jax or quick fit Campbelltown) They were not even totally worn out after the 150 000km but not too far off.

Did two trips to Alice from Sydney-Bris-Boulia-Tobermorney-Coober-Adelaide-then coast all the way back to Sydney. 7 crossings of the Nullabor and many weekends at Stockton Beach, Spicers Gap, Barrington tops, Noosa/Rainbow Beach. They were not just highway tyres, used every day in Sydney traffic (90km round trip) and heaps of offroad.

Even repaired a few punctures, from shale in Longreach, nails and screws etc and these Safety-Seals stayed in the tyres till I dumped them!! I have even repaired a Case W36 loader tyre with them, but due to the thickness had to demount and push the plug through from the inside (over 10cm of rubber).

So as for the plugs, rate them highly and DO consider them a permanent repair and for tyres, geez I rate those Federal Duellers for grip (on and off road) in the wet and for awesome longetivity!!

Matt.

Ahh here you go FYI if you are interested.....

http://www.carscene.com.au/newsevents/federal

There is a link to the Federal website there too, buts its

www.federaltyres.com

Enjoy! Matt.

These are so succesful I use them instead of carring the spare tyre.
A compressor and a repair kit take up a lot less room then a tyre, jack and tools.
Its a damn sight quicker and a lot les messy as well.

shadow

"The most important part is to make sure you twist , before you pull"

there's a line there Eric - but I'm not touching it :)

Lyn

Pop into beaurepaires in cambellfield near carrols springs (they supplied my MTR's for the jack) they have the proper radial reinforced patches for inside the tyre, get them to fix it and grab a few for personal use as well.

Thanks Brad - I just might do that tomorrow morning.

wombat,

happy to oblige, I have learned heaps from this forum and others. When I had to do my first mushroom plug repair, I had heaps of advice from a tyre sales rep, who not only gave me all the advice I just gave you, but supplied me with all the bits, including the metho. 5000k from home in , I did my first repair, and felt so confident after his help. The tyre is still in use.

Dave O