my tires are almost bald?!?!

[loggerbomb]

ok so i went to a local midas to get an oil change and discovered that a picked up a nail somewhere and had a leak. So when theyre changing the oil I ask them to plug the hole. They come back and say that the hole is too close to the sidewall and they cant plug it, and to top it off they say the tread is almost worn and should be replaced! They wrote down that i have 4/32 left on the fronts and 5/32 left on the rear, but im wondering how the hell that can be when i bought them LAST spring. Also, I use snow tires through the winter (aprox dec-march) The tires are Goodyear Regetta 2's. I geuss now I have to find a replacement for the one tire or just go ahead and switch to the snow tires. Is it at all feasable to still plug the hole when its close to the sidewall, or will it really just flex so much that the plug will come loose? I geuss it wouldnt matter what i replaced the one wheel with?

 

[m4gician]

take a tread meter, or measuring tool and basically tell them to go f**k themselves.

 

[loggerbomb]

so what you guys think about plugging the hole>? Anyone tried it when its close to the sidewall, or is it not going to stick>? Its about 2 inches from the side of the tire.

 

[Tony2005]

"so what you guys think about plugging the hole>?"

You're fine. Two weeks ago, I got a screw in my driver rear tire. $10 (tire repair kit from Advance) and 15 minutes later, I was all set. You also need a box cutter (sharp knife) to cut off the excess and a 12 volt compressor ($20) to fill up the tire. After about 500 miles of high speed driving, you won't even be able to tell where the plug is (if it is on the top and not the "channels"). It wears it down to where you can hardly see it.

"Anyone tried it when its close to the sidewall, or is it not going to stick>? Its about 2 inches from the side of the tire."

Mine was about 1.5 inches from the side.

As for your bald at the side issue, if it is both sides, then the tires are underinflated. If it is one side only, then it could be alignment, or high speed turns.

Edit. Click on Patching a tire.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/cars/experts/?nav=left

If the hole (nail) is closer to the outside edge (like mine), you don't even have to remove the wheel to plug it. Just reverse (or go forward) until the hole (nail) is facing the rear (for rear tires) or facing the front (for front tires). If it is closer to the inside edge, then it might be a good idea to remove the wheel rather then mess with it up on a jack stand.

 

[loggerbomb]

thanks for the advice tony. The tires arent "bald" in one spot, I keep close eye on tire psi and keep it in alignment, its just that the shop I got the oil changed at said my tread is "low". Ill get it patched up and see what happens, not that Im going to be using them much longer, as the snow is flyin here and I should put the winter tires on.

 

[Y2KSVT]

I've had 2 different tires get nails close to the sidewall. It's a liability issue for the tire shop, so they won't fix them. The reason is, there are no belts on the outside ~1" of tread. The outside treads usually don't have any belts, so the plug doesn't have anything to bond to but rubber. Some say you'll be fine, while others will tell you not to do it. But good luck finding a shop to do it.

Mark

 

[loggerbomb]

I've had 2 different tires get nails close to the sidewall. It's a liability issue for the tire shop, so they won't fix them. The reason is, there are no belts on the outside ~1" of tread. The outside treads usually don't have any belts, so the plug doesn't have anything to bond to but rubber. Some say you'll be fine, while others will tell you not to do it. But good luck finding a shop to do it.

Mark

my mechanic back home will do it. I've been going there for almost ten years. I highly doubt he would tell me no for such a little thing.

 

[Tony2005]

my mechanic back home will do it. I've been going there for almost ten years. I highly doubt he would tell me no for such a little thing.

Yes, most "friendly" indies will try to save you a buck or two here and there. Mine has gone to a comfort level where he advises me to get my own parts to save on their 50% or 100% mark up (for some of their "gold plated" parts).