Can EMTs be Patched/Plugged?

[Pat M.]

I removed and preserved my original wheels and tires from my 8K mile 96 LT4 roadster. I replaced them with identical wheels and tires (Eagle GS-C EMTs), which were more than $250 per tire.
These replacement tires have less than 50 miles on them, and today I discovered one has a screw in it.
I'm now told that EMTs cannot be patched or plugged like normal tires. A new identical tire, even if I can get it, is quoted at $500!
Does this sound correct? These tires will be under minimal stress - I wring the car out once or twice per outing, and this means 0-60 mph, not a high top speed.
Can these tires be acceptably repaired for the use I've described?

[Jim T.]

Re: Can EMTs be Patched/Plugged?

Have you removed the screw and confirmed that it punctured through the tire tread? 0-60 in a LT4, that's just in first gear right?

[Paul D.]

Re: Can EMTs be Patched/Plugged?

I know they advise against it, but my 2000 picked up a large nail when only 2 months old. I decided to try plugging it since it was on the rear and in the tread. It was still holding and never leaked 8 years and 10K miles later when I sold it.

[Dan S.]

Re: Can EMTs be Patched/Plugged?

I have an 01 Coupe and have had two tires patched. It can be done successfully unless the puncture is too close to the sidewall.

[Terry M.]

Re: Can EMTs be Patched/Plugged?

I don't know what would be different between those older EMTs and the ones on the 2008, but they do allow for patching (not plugging) the newer Goodyear EMTs if the hole is not close to the shoulder.

[Pat M.]

Re: Can EMTs be Patched/Plugged?

Have you removed the screw and confirmed that it punctured through the tire tread? 0-60 in a LT4, that's just in first gear right?

Jim, I haven't removed it yet, but it sure looks like it must've punctured through, because it stuck right betweem the raised tread in one of the little "channels".
And OK - it's more like 0-100.
Terry and Dan - does this look too close to the sidewall?

[Terry M.]

[Pat M.]

Re: Can EMTs be Patched/Plugged?

Thanks everyone, I'm gonna give it a shot.
Terry - another independant, G & H Tire, is nearby and they mounted these very tires for me. They did a great job, and these are even more of a bitch than normal run-flats because the old tire pressure sensors are huge. Thanks again.

[Jim T.]

Re: Can EMTs be Patched/Plugged?

Pat some screws are real short and just perhaps that is what you have picked up. You are not going to know until you remove it. It is not embedded so you might just get lucky.
I have removed a screw, or even a nail from a tire and have had not enough length of either to penetrate.
My wife went on a errand one day in the 85 and came home and said she heard a noise from the left rear. It was a screw that did not penetrate.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Can EMTs be Patched/Plugged?

I had an ETM tire patched and what they did was put a cold patch on the inside like was put on a tube in the old days.

[Pat M.]

Re: Can EMTs be Patched/Plugged?

Jim - no such luck. I began unscrewing the screw and could hear the air leaking, so it did penetrate. But, based on the positive results of the others, I'm gonna try a patch, and my local place said they'd do it for me. Thanks for your input.

[Terry M.]

Re: Can EMTs be Patched/Plugged?

It probably helps that you have a relationship with them. Some places get overly concerned about liability issues around these kinds of things. It sounds like you got past that. I had forgotten how big the old tire pressure sensors are -- those are the ones that strap to the drop center of the wheel, right?
The new ones that are part of the valve stem are no bargain either. They are just in the wrong spot. I have been thinking about how the future judging will go when all these TPS have dead batteries. Boy will that be fun.

[Pat M.]

Re: Can EMTs be Patched/Plugged?

Terry - yes, these are the really big sensors that are clamped to the center of the wheel with a gigantic worm, or hose-like, clamp.
To begin with, the tire has to be really stretched just to fit over the rim of the wheel. And that ain't easy, since the run-flats are pretty damn stiff.
Next, the sensor sticks up nearly as high as and just behind the rim, yet you obviously can't use the sensor to pry the tire over it like you can with the rim.
It's really a difficult AND delicate operation. I watched them do it once, and it was really amazing it could be done at all.
As for batteries in the sensors, I didn't know they had any, I thought the car's computer read some sort of magnetic signal. If they do have batteries, how long do they last? The sensors in my original tires are still working fine after 12 years.

[Terry M.]

Re: Can EMTs be Patched/Plugged?

I'm not sure if your TPS have batteries or not -- I would have to read up on them. I think I'll lazy out on that job -- do you have the FSM for your car? If they do, I am sure like mine, they are not designed to be replaced.

The C6 ones that are part of the valve stem do have batteries in them. They are supposed to be good for 7 to 10 years. These newer sensors go to sleep when the tire doesn't move for an hour or two, but even at that I'm sure in twenty years someone will have to face the challenges of making them work for NCRS. Maybe I should hope it is I, but I'm not too sure if I want that challenge. It strikes me that could be one of those "be careful what you ask for -- you just might get it" kinds of situations.

[Bill C.]

Re: Can EMTs be Patched/Plugged?

Pat; I don't know if the tire is already off the wheel; but run flats can be repaired. You need a tire shop that has the equipment to handle run flats. They use a plug & patch combination. It looks like an umbrella. It is repaired from the inside. Your tire looks too good not to repair.
Good luck
Bill