Plugging tires? Yes/No?

A lot of reasons for that. Liability is the biggest as far as shops go. Another is we've seen a lot of them get pulled back out while the drivers were driving. Mostly most of people using them don't know how to install them properly and understand its for center tread only. Side wall and shoulder of tires have entirely too much flex. Even if installed properly the puncture can be prone to become oblong during the stretch phase of tire travel and losing air.
If unfamiliar with tire travel phases a drag car shows it to the extreme -


Essentially as the wheel has torque applied the back of the tire stretches around from the the force and friction, "whips" around the top and bunches back up to the front of the tire trying to go back into shape, as it does it meets up with the portion that is now loaded and slowed down due to the contact, weight and friction slowing down the momentum until the torque again over takes those and drags it under to then again stretch. The sidewalls and shoulders will stretch and twist in more varying ways than the center tread will.

 

Plugging works fine if the job is done properly, as mentioned it really depends on where the so called "nail" went in, most tyres can actually be fixed its just that the person doing the repair can't guarantee that nothing will happen, so its a case " we'll repair it" but you take the risk. Like you say its a shame to throw out an otherwise perfectly good tyre. I would never run a repaired tyre on the drive or if hauling fuel or other dangerous goods.

 

I have plugged many a tire. Even plugged a steer once, but got it patched as soon as possible.

 

That’s the kit I have

 

Most any job can have a different outcome depending on the skills of the person doing the job. Originally I bought this to get me to a tire shop. I micromanage every aspect of my rig’s maintenance and found when properly done, my tire will go many more safe miles with a plug in it with regular inspection.

 

I run a lot of construction sites and scrap yards. A properly installed plug will last until the tire is wore out.

 

No

 

Yes

 

Plugs? Yes on everything except the steer tires.

 

when I drove I mainly pulled containers. 40 plugs is probably less than I’ve done.