I have read many places here that going to "normal" tires is a good idea. Just carry a compressor and a plug kit and off you go. However, I was at a tire store yesterday and was told that if you plug a tire yourself and bring it in they cannot leagally fix it at the tire store....some new law. If my plug job isn't 100%, I have to buy a whole new tire.

Anyone hear of this?

 

Never heard of that. If that's the case, pull the plug out, stick a nail in and take it to the tire shop. Then they can fix it?

 

Sounds like BS to me. Look for a new tire store.

 

Putting a plug in can cause, over time, a separation of the inner part of the tire from the tread. ie a bubble on the inside layer that grows over time, and eventually the tire fails catastrophically. If the separation has started, the shop replacing the plug with an inner patch won't stop it. They don't want to be liable for causing the eventual tire failure. I don't know how often this really happens, but that is the concern. I will plug my car tires with those plugs that have a mushroom on the inside that seats against the inner wall, and continue to use it that way. But on my motorcycles, I will only plug it long enough to get to the nearest tire shop to install a brand new tire.
This is the kit I carry for plugging my cars and motorcycles:

http://www.stopngo.com/automotive.asp
Did you know that the Rubber Manufacturers Association of America has definitively stated that:

"No tubeless tire is considered permanently repaired unless it is dis-mounted, inspected, drilled out, and patched from the inside/out by a tire repair professional." That means that any tire repair facility that plugs your tire 'on the wheel' is breaking the law. So whether the plug is shaped like a string, cone, noodle, or even mushroom! ...it is considered temporary.

"With that being said, take a close look at the Stop & Go - Pocket Tire Plugger. You can easily perform the best possible repair by yourself anywhere to prevent being stranded."

 

Well, I think "breaking the law" might be a bit of a stretch, unless the Rubber Manufacturer Association of America turned into a legislative body while I slept last night. And frankly, they have a vested interest in the sale of new tires, so they'd probably like to see you replace tires when they get dirty, much less have a plug in them.

But with that being said, the owner/operator of the tire shop has every right to limit the amount of liability he's exposed to, so it's no good arguing with the shop, whether there's actually a law driving his decision or not. If for whatever reason your plug doesn't hold, either replace the tire or find another shop to fix it.

 

Yes you are right. I didn't see how they made that leap either.

p.s. nice signature graphicyou have there ... the raised letters

 

The proper radial tire repair is with a plug patch. Not only does the plug patch seal the tire from leaks, it also seals the injury from water. Remember the sealcords are coated with bronze to seal the steel and give a better bite for the rubber to grab onto. Getting water into the injury will cause rust which over time will delaminte the tire. So remember that a tire repair will lower your speed rating by at least 1 eg.. a V to an H.