I always travel with repair options for tire punctures in addition to a spare. Can't be over-prepared where I wander.
Traditional string-type plugs have always worked, though they are sometimes a bit difficult to get in the hole. I just ran across some threaded type plugs that I do not remember ever seeing before and have certainly never used. I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with them and if they are worth having on-board. They go in with a bit of lubricant/adhesive and a phillips screwdriver.
I am thinking that if they work, they would be perfect in a pressure situation, like a rainstorm or late at night in an area where I would not want to be hanging around any longer than necessary. (There are places like that where I travel.) Also, they might be a better option for a very small puncture.
Here's a picture of them:
Here'a an Amazon link to one of the versions of the product.
So, has anyone used them? Do they work? Should I just stick with the string-type plugs?
Also, what about sidewall repair slugs? Anybody used one of those on a sidewall puncture or cut?
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Just an anecdote: I have a friend who used to live in Paraguay, in an area called The Chaco. It is affectionately referred to by locals as El Infierno Verde (The Green Hell), and that is not an exageration! Between flora and fauna, the place will eat you alive. 10" dust in the dry season, 12" mud in the rainy season. Everything there either has big thorns or big teeth.
There are little ranches and villages scattered throughout this inverted paradise and people are very hospitable. My buddy carried TWO spares in his truck. We had a puncture on one outing, stopped and changed the tire, and then stopped at the next ranch to patch it. There, we were treated to typical country-folk hospitality, given refreshing drinks and rest in the shade while my buddy fixed his tire. His truck had split rims and he ran tubed tires; he would either patch the tube or replace it, so he had to manually brake the tire down.
He told me that nobody traversed that place with less than two spares as big thorns abounded and getting caught without wheels could actually mean death!
Maybe that experience is why I am a bit anal about having backup for my tires.
Traditional string-type plugs have always worked, though they are sometimes a bit difficult to get in the hole. I just ran across some threaded type plugs that I do not remember ever seeing before and have certainly never used. I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with them and if they are worth having on-board. They go in with a bit of lubricant/adhesive and a phillips screwdriver.
I am thinking that if they work, they would be perfect in a pressure situation, like a rainstorm or late at night in an area where I would not want to be hanging around any longer than necessary. (There are places like that where I travel.) Also, they might be a better option for a very small puncture.
Here's a picture of them:
Here'a an Amazon link to one of the versions of the product.
So, has anyone used them? Do they work? Should I just stick with the string-type plugs?
Also, what about sidewall repair slugs? Anybody used one of those on a sidewall puncture or cut?
——————————————————-
Just an anecdote: I have a friend who used to live in Paraguay, in an area called The Chaco. It is affectionately referred to by locals as El Infierno Verde (The Green Hell), and that is not an exageration! Between flora and fauna, the place will eat you alive. 10" dust in the dry season, 12" mud in the rainy season. Everything there either has big thorns or big teeth.
There are little ranches and villages scattered throughout this inverted paradise and people are very hospitable. My buddy carried TWO spares in his truck. We had a puncture on one outing, stopped and changed the tire, and then stopped at the next ranch to patch it. There, we were treated to typical country-folk hospitality, given refreshing drinks and rest in the shade while my buddy fixed his tire. His truck had split rims and he ran tubed tires; he would either patch the tube or replace it, so he had to manually brake the tire down.
He told me that nobody traversed that place with less than two spares as big thorns abounded and getting caught without wheels could actually mean death!
Maybe that experience is why I am a bit anal about having backup for my tires.
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