Tire patch?

SteveW

SteveW

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Dealer let me know that I have a small nail in my right front tire. Apparently dealer no longer allowed to offer patching as per Porsche directive. (I guess they want to sell more tires)
Service rep didn't think new tire was needed and suggested I find somewhere else to do the patch. Any recommendations?
 
First question is does it actually leak air if you start to pull the nail? If it's a small enough nail you may have gotten lucky. Otherwise, any place that can handle the Porsche rims and uses a stem patch should be OK so long as they also have a decent balancing machine.

I checked Tire Rack for approved installers and the type of equipment they had when I needed to get mine taken care of on short notice in the Atlanta area. While I was a bit skeptical they did a decent job (it was a national chain) and I was able to watch the entire process via the waiting area.
 
Big O and McCleas will patch as long as the object is inside the first (outer) tread and they use a hot patch and plug. The tire is removed a plug inserted then an inner patch is applied that bonds with the interior rubber. They claim it lowers your speed rating by one and is safe to track on as long as you don't exceed the lower speed rating of the tire.
 
You need to go to Custom Alignment. The have some special patches that can be applied in the tread area. The patches are high speed rated. Give them a call at (650) 961-5311. They can explain it much better than I. Also, they IMHO do the best tire balancing and alignment. You will also be very pleased with the way they handle your rims and your car.

http://www.customalignment.com/

They also have a $25 referral program http://www.customalignment.com/images/index/coupon%20CA-0711W-ver2.pdf

I highly recommend Custom Alignment.

Regards,

James
 
The theory is that the tire loses its speed rating if it has been repaired and most of the time if you're going to track the car you can't have a repaired tire. That being said if you're only driving on the street you should be fine.
 
flintworks said:
The theory is that the tire loses its speed rating if it has been repaired and most of the time if you're going to track the car you can't have a repaired tire. That being said if you're only driving on the street you should be fine.
Click to expand...

You don't know anyone whose tracked with patched tires do you?:D
 
I had a right rear flat on my Boxster repaired by custom alignment a few weeks ago and can vouch for the work and technology. While they can't repair all tires, most "normal" nail/screw damage in the contact patch is repairable and they will even certify the original speed rating.

The patch itself is ingenious, but requires that the tire be removed, repaired and rebalanced. Instead of a cord plug that is push in from the outside and depends on glue and pressure to keep it in, this plug in mushroom shaped and is inserted and glued from in side the tire to ensure that pressure and heat won't weaken the repair or blow it out. Below is an image of the plug so you can see what is going on. The hole is drilled larger if necessary and the pointed end of the plug inserted through the hole, glued, pulled tight and trimmed flush with tire.
 

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Excellent recomendation. They had the tire fixed in less than an hour and for about $50.
Thanks.
 
I don't see what the big deal is - in fixing tires - keep looking at your "average speed" during your weekly drives, and you will be sure that any of these fixes are just fine. Even if you track your car, I do not see how any "normal" repair could be stressed badly enough - during the course of a tyre's life.

Feel free to correct me if I am wrong, but most Porsche dealers are full of it.

Sincerely,
Bapcha
 
bapcha said:
I don't see what the big deal is - in fixing tires - keep looking at your "average speed" during your weekly drives, and you will be sure that any of these fixes are just fine. Even if you track your car, I do not see how any "normal" repair could be stressed badly enough - during the course of a tyre's life.

Feel free to correct me if I am wrong, but most Porsche dealers are full of it.

Sincerely,
Bapcha
Click to expand...

I was told the major issue is that the tire structure is potentially damaged from the puncture. Which is why Porsche will not repair the tires. In theory the puncture unacceptably increases the potenital for a high speed failure. I don't worry at highway speeds... but at 100+ it does have my attention
 
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