ARE TYRE PLUGS SAFE?

About six months ago, the left-front tyre on my Audi TT suffered a puncture which was repaired with a mushroom plug. I have had no problems with the x.

I have been an avid reader of CAR since the mid-1960s and have reached an age where bucket lists are important. Having followed your Performance Shootouts since their inception, I plan to visit the Cape and drive some of the many passes mentioned in your magazine.

Bearing in mind the car’s performance, I would greatly appreciate your opinion on the safety aspects of the above-mentioned tyre when subjected to this type of road trip. JOE VERCELLINO Port Elizabeth

If the tyre sustained no structural or internal damage and the round hole (not a slice or tear) is in the middle of the tread, a mushroom plug is safe. A reputable tyre-repair shop will check all the above before installing such a plug to ensure safety.

We asked the advice of Ryan Visagie, product communications manager at Continental Tyre SA:

“For road driving, we feel a professional repair is a good temporary solution. The exposed strands of steel can have a cutting effect on the rubber plug over time (due to exing in the belt which depends on the driving style and road conditions) causing the tyre to lose pressure.

“There is a higher risk associated with fast driving. Tyre pressures are usually increased to ensure less sidewall ex and better handling characteristics and the increased friction and heat play a role. A road tyre is not designed to withstand the severe forces and heat associated with a full performance-driving day. In an extreme situation, even a mushroom plug could lose adhesion and dislodge from the tyre, or even worse, the tyre could delaminate.”