Hey, folks,

I'm signing up for a day at the race track and I'm concerned about one of my tires. It had a puncture about a year ago right in the center, and I had it repaired. The tire dealer installed a plug. I've been on road course with it once, but the track I'm going to (Rockingham, NC) will be using some of the NASCAR straights and I'll probably be seeing 120mph+ all day long. So I'm a little concerned that the plug won't hold. My Dad has been a mechanic for his entire life and doesn't think there is anything to worry about.

Anyone have an opnion or experience?

Thanks in advance.

RxRox

 

plug bad, patch good. on track replace tire.

beers

 

Any time you patch or plug a tire it loses its speed rating. We have autoxed on repaired tires but I would not run a track day on one. On the track tires get very hot and you are loaded in those turns for a long time. A new tire might cost you a few hundies, but it will cost you more if that one fails.

 

Your dad is a mechanic. If you mean he works on race cars then I'd take his advice. If you mean he works on regular street cars then that's like asking a regular plumber about cooling requirements for a nuclear reactor.
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Fisting Movie

 

Thanks for the advice guys. You confirmed my gut feeling about it. Now I just gotta decide whether I should buy one OEM Dunlop or a whole set of something else.

 

one oem tire is 223 each

a kdw is only 156

id say get a new set of better tires, and if you damage one in the future, it now doesnt cost as much to replace

 

leave the kdw's out. I have them, and they get real hot on track. mine were almost melting. i had nice melted strands of tire in the tread grooves after each session. I will not be buying anther set.

i don't know what organization you are tracking the car under, but NASA has a rule that is self enforced about no repaired tires, plugs or patches. because as mentioned, they can cause failure at track speed and temperature.