Right!� Good, deep tire-tread squishes all the rain water out.� Or maybe grips a little in slippery dirt.� But, it's the sides of the tires (figuratively speaking)� that hold the car up.� Lot's of flexing and heating and "invisible" wear there.� Any compromises, like your current problem, or even "age" will take down an otherwise cosmetically perfect tire.� Catastrophically.

Don't cheap out with your life, or the other cars behind you or coming at you.

(I had a major rear tire blowout due to age on 14-inchers...made up my mind right there to get some good stout tires on 16" wheels; no more messing around.� No regrets.)

Rich
85 GL
San Diego

--- On Thu, 10/29/09, Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET> wrote:

From: Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Tire Damage Question
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Thursday, October 29, 2009, 6:16 PM

� In younger years, I, too, drove many miles on plugged tires.
� Times and tires have changed.� So has my willingness to take such chances with my (and my families) lives. 
� I've had a right rear tire blowout at 70mph, it's the closest to a near-death experience that I've ever been in.� Tread separated from a previous plug repair job.
� I don't even want to go down the highway on old tires that may otherwise look great and still have alot of treadlife left.� 
� Liability is a major factor in these modern times.� Ask any professional if this type of fear has any grounds in reality; don't take my word for it.....

Mike B.
� ----- Original Message ----- 
� From: Rob 
� To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
� Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 8:33 PM
� Subject: Re: Tire Damage Question

� At� 10/29/2009 05:14 PM, Mike wrote:
� >
� >���BTW, a plug is not good, as air pressure will work it's way
� > around the plug and get between the plies, ultimately causing tread
� > separation at speed.� Only a patch from the inside is acceptable
� > and even then, NOWHERE near the sidewall or shoulder due to
� > excessive flex that is normal on those areas.
� >
� >���If you do find someone willing to plug/ patch this hole, your
� > surviving family members will know who to sue when it fails...........
� >
� >Mike B.

� I have NEVER had a plug fail like that and I've had a LOT of
� experience with tire plugs (they are not for the sidewall, with that
� damage you are screwed).

� As a plus I can't tell you how delighted I am to see someone use FEAR
� as a selling point for their own particular view point, that was one
� of the reasons I stopped reading the tire threads...

� Rob
� becida@comcast.net
� Western WA state with a Subaru powered '84 Westy