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From: gvcormack@watdaisy.UUCP (Gordon V. Cormack)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Tire patching
Message-ID: <6540@watdaisy.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 28-Mar-84 20:55:21 EST
Article-I.D.: watdaisy.6540
Posted: Wed Mar 28 20:55:21 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 29-Mar-84 05:40:18 EST
References: <699@ihuxv.UUCP>, <2546@ncsu.UUCP>
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 18

I have successfully used the tarred-string-inserted-with-a-needle
tire repair on both radials and bias-ply tires.  At least one of
my patches has lasted 5 years and 50k miles.  Near the very end of
the tread life (less than 1/16 inch) that tire started to lose about
1 psiweek of air.

As far as I know the only problem with radials is pushing the needle
through the steel belts.

I have also repaired holes in the sidewalls of tires.  The trick
here is to use several of the cords as the unbelted sidewall
stretches more and is therefore not as tight a fit.  I once used
an inadequate number (2) and had them loosen on my first freeway
trip.  Using 4 fixed the problem permanently.  Now my rule-of-thumb
is that if it doesn't take about 50 lbs. force to get the needle in
you haven't used enough cord.

-- Gordon Cormack, University of Waterloo department of computer science