OK folks, I know this isn't a Volvo-specific question, but I am hoping someone has some info on this. A few years back I was surprised to hear a local machinery whiz say that "steel belted tired can't be plugged. The belts shift and shear off the plug." I asked a tire store salesperson and he said the same thing. Now, that sounds like a reasonable argument, but I have a tire with only 5K miles on it that was punctured, and boy I would like to repair it if possible.

My puncture is in the heart of the tread (not a groove) on the outermost band away from the car (if that matters). There is no evidence of what punctured it, but I can see a very short narrow slit where something went in.

At the time of the conversations related above, I was advised to use the green goo fix a flat stuff to stop my leak. It worked and I put on 20K miles with it in there, drove speeds of 75mph, but I never felt comfortable. I also don't think you are supposed to drive that hard on a tire filled with that stuff.

So, my question is, has anyone else faced this problem? Do tire stores routinely fix punctures (in the old days I thought as long as it was in the tread you were ok), or do I need to go get a new tire (already ): )

Thanks for any replies.
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Don

I've plugged my own tires for the past 10 years and have never had a problem. I like the fact that I don't have to waste my time at a repair shop or even take the wheel off of the car. Two minutes and $2.00 and I'm ready to go.

the correct way to fix a steel belt puncture is to take the tire off the rim and put a patch on inside of tire. around here it costs about $10.00

Maybe I was trying to avoid dismount/remount/balance cost at that time (tire also had a sidewall bubble so I knew I needed to replace it soon), and was asking if a plug could be put in for that reason. Your response makes perfect sense - I'll call the store tomorrow and ask. Wrote tonight because I was wigging out with my 850 front corner unexpectedly sitting on the ground. I think they charge more here - around $24 all together, but way cheaper than a new tire! Thanks for setting me straight.
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Don

If it has a sidewall bubble, get it replaced by the store that sold you the tire. Defective and unsafe.

Klaus
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98 V70Rawd(108Kmi), 95 854T(88K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)

I've had new steel belted tires plugged by Discount Tire and they worked fine.