hippiefreak67

UPDATE
After reading all the replies and Michelin's policy provided in a reply, I feel it will be best to order a set of rear tires.
Yes, it may be fine NOW, but one day, right in the middle of a tight corner having some fun, it may not be, and we all know how that would end.
i don't want to be the guy on YouTube or Instagram or TICKTOCK (lol) that ruined his Corvette for the price of a tire.

Thank you all for the input.

Smiles for miles.

Ugh...
A roofing nail in my right rear tire.
Losing pressure very slowly so it went through.
'22 C8, non-Z51
4,036 miles
Right in the center of the tread patch
Dealer doesn't have the machine to do Corvette rims so they plugged it so I could get home.
What are your thoughts on driving on it plugged?
I have not tracked the car and really don't plan to. I have other cars for that.
But I do enjoy some spirited driving on nice back roads.
Thoughts, past experiences, good or bad, are appreciated.

Korbek

How did they plug it without taking it off the rim? Assuming that is what you mean by not having machine.

I thought a proper plug needed to be installed from the inside?

Either way if it was plugged properly I wouldnt sweat it. People drive on discount tire plugs/patches for thousands of miles. I know I have (and very spiritedly).

hippiefreak67

Good morning Korbek, and thanks for the quick reply.
A plug is done from the outside without removing the tire from the rim. Pull the nail, ram a reamer thru the hole to clean it up, stuff a glue coated rubber plug in and twist to seat and seal.
You may be thinking of a PATCH, where they remove the tire from the rim, smear glue over the hole and put a patch over and it is airtight.
I also have driven on patches until the tires need replaced, but not a plug, other than my tractor, 4 wheeler, and an old beater car years ago.

Missouri Vet

A plug should be fine. I've plugged many tires and had no problems with them.

RKCRLR

If a mushroom plug was used I wouldn't sweat it. However, if it was some type of noodle plug I'd have it repaired properly. Technically, the tire should be removed from the rim so a thorough inspection can be performed and then patched from the inside. Discount/America's tire will do tire repairs for free even if you didn't buy the tires there but I'm not sure about a tire that has already been plugged.

proeagles

I've plugged tires from the outside all the time at the golf course where I worked for 9 years in maintenance. Our equipment couldn't go 194mph however. Michelin recommends placing a patch on the inside of the tire I believe and that is what I would recommend. That's how NTB fixed a flat on my C8.

spinsane

Plugs are a temporary solution, patch is permanent. Some tire shops will not patch a hole once it has a plug.

Netsinah

My vote is to both plug and patch. I've not had problems with a tire shop installing a patch over a plugged area, so perhaps that depends on the tire shop, as indicated by spinsane. Safety first for a high speed performance tire, even if it's not used on the track. Good luck!

Foosh

Per Michelin guidelines, plugging from the outside has rendered that tire "unrepairable," and it no longer retains its speed rating. One center tread block repair is approved by Michelin, but that requires dismounting, and a plug/patch placed inside the tire.

Of course, many folks have had outside plugs hold indefinitely. I suppose if you only drive tamely on sunny days, you may never have a problem. However, it's not uncommon for them to fail, and that's why they are only regarded as a "temporary" repair.

See link below for Michelin's policy.

https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-gar...!&gclsrc=aw.ds

Skioutwest

Definitely take it to a tire place and get it patched from the inside. Plugging from the outside is just temporary. The patches also have a plug portion.....should run about 30-40 bucks

oregonsharkman

Definitely have it removed, patched from the inside and rebalanced.

A decent local tire shop should have no problems with it.

Wife said I could

You're plugged? Run it.

hcvone

I plug tires often, and they always hold air, but when I get the chance I take the tire off and patch it from the inside,it makes me sleep better at the speeds I drive

Vega$Vette

What dealer would have plugged it? I do not know of any reputable tire shops that would take on the liability of plugging a tire.

Foosh

Larger dealers like forum dealer, Criswell, has all the latest Hunter equipment. I've had all my tires repaired or replaced there. They sell a lot of tires at competitive (Tire Rack) prices, and it's a large business for them since they are the 3rd largest seller of Corvettes. They keep all OEM Corvette Michelin tires in stock.

They've done the Michelin-approved interior plug patch for me a couple of times.

hippiefreak67

Small town Chevrolet dealership in a rural area, which is why they didn't have the correct machines for working on Corvette rims.
Things like this NEVER happen at a convenient time/location.
My tire pressure bell chimed, and pressure was getting lower as i drove. It was down to 22lbs when I stopped.

hippiefreak67

Unfortunately, I am not near any of them.
I have contacted my dealer, that does have all the right equipment, and I am ordering a new pair of rear tires.

Samuel Clemens

Hippie freak. I’m in Saint Louis. What city do you live in? Sam

449er