[Dandelion]

I think it would be helpful, Aaron, if you introduced yourself - from searching, I see you are the PCA National Treasurer - but with only 4 posts here, and none which describe your background and experience, most casual readers will have no context in which to assess your advice.

As you know, it's sometimes hard to match the name to the face at a DE.

[roundel]

I blew a tire at about 145 mph a couple years ago. Not really that big a deal. I wouldn’t sweat it.

https://youtu.be/BFWRTDqR3Ws

[Dr K]

Originally Posted by roundel

I blew a tire at about 145 mph a couple years ago. Not really that big a deal. I wouldn’t sweat it.

https://youtu.be/BFWRTDqR3Ws

You've gotta admit - you look awfully calm in that video!!

[N0tt0N]

I like my version better

[roundel]

Originally Posted by N0tt0N

I like my version better

A: Don’t you always.

B: Post it Boy-0

[Aaron Ambrosino]

Originally Posted by Varejao17

I think it would be helpful, Aaron, if you introduced yourself - from searching, I see you are the PCA National Treasurer - but with only 4 posts here, and none which describe your background and experience, most casual readers will have no context in which to assess your advice.

As you know, it's sometimes hard to match the name to the face at a DE.

Ed, I would be happy to introduce myself. Thanks to the power of Google you are correct that I am PCA's National Treasurer. As part of that duty I over see the National DE Committee. I will be celebrating my 28th year in PCA this May and have been involved in DE form the beginning. I am a second generation PCA member so I got my start DE'ing thanks to my father who was also my instructor. I have been instructing for 15+ years and completed the PCA National Instructor Training program in 2004.

[Aaron Ambrosino]

Originally Posted by Vicegrip

Do you know of any tire failures due to a plug?

Tires fail on track from time to time. We take that risk as a given knowing before we go ontrack that there is a known chance that a tire can fail. Do you replace any tires that were tracked at higher or lower than proper pressure? Those and other things like improper camber, overloading and overheating are known paths to reduced carcass life. It is the failure of the carcass that causes the high drama on track events.

Vicegrip, I cannot point to an instance where a plug failed on track. My point is why take a chance by plugging a tire that you know has been damaged. The safer bet is to replace the tire or depending on wear replace both.

With regards to your other hypothetical questions, if damage to the tire is evedent due to one of those issues then yes the tire should be replaced. Sometimes the damage is not easily visable and that is when bad things can happen. When in doubt replace the tire(s), in the long run it will be the cheaper option.

[Vicegrip]

And this is my point. Perception of risk driving recommendation rather than actual calculations. All the years of DE involvement, armed with no known evidence of a plug related carcass failure, the recommendation is still “replace” with the nod to “think of those around you too”. Often times and far more so with the heavy high HP cars damage or wear is not visible and best calculated out via usage profiles. Things we see or "feel" tend to be given far greater weight than risks we should be tracking but don't.

Way too easy to say “$100 head get a $100 helmet” or “best change it” while it is harder to find the root of and manage the real risks.

[Aaron Ambrosino]

Originally Posted by Vicegrip

And this is my point. Perception of risk driving recommendation rather than actual calculations. All the years of DE involvement, armed with no known evidence of a plug related carcass failure, the recommendation is still “replace” with the nod to “think of those around you too”. Often times and far more so with the heavy high HP cars damage or wear is not visible and best calculated out via usage profiles. Things we see or "feel" tend to be given far greater weight than risks we should be tracking but don't.

Way too easy to say “$100 head get a $100 helmet” or “best change it” while it is harder to find the root of and manage the real risks.

One issue with plugging or patching a tire is the quality of work done on the repair. The RMA has issued a Puncture Repair Procure for properly repairing tires.
http://www.rma.org/wp-content/upload...lchart1111.pdf

According to Michelin for a tire to maintain its warranty and speed rating it needs to be repaired by an authorized dealer to the RMA standards.
"For a repair to be considered acceptable the puncture must be smaller than 1/4 inch in diameter and repaired with the combination of a patch and a plug. The puncture must be far enough away from the sidewall and shoulder area to place a patch inside the tire without coming in contact with the sidewall and shoulder area. There is a maximum of 3 repairs per tire or 1 repair permitted for a run flat tire. Each repair location must be a minimum of 90 degrees apart. If these steps can't be followed then the repair is not acceptable and the tire must be removed from service. A speed rated tire will retain its speed rating as long as the tire is repaired to RMA standards."

For some brand of tires the speed rating may be reduced due to the repair.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret...jsp?techid=225

Lastly we do not know what damage could have been done to the tire if it was driven on below the recommend tire pressure due to the puncture.

[BlackTalon]

Is this a PCA De requirement?