Assuming that by "repaired" you mean patched or plugged and not just filled with sealant, then whether you replace the tire after a puncture is a judgment call. It depends on several factors: the age of the tire, remaining tread life, conditions of roads you drive on, type of driving you do. I wouldn't take a patched or plugged tire on a track day under any circumstances, but, strictly speaking, if a tire is otherwise in good shape, if it's a small, clean puncture, and if you drive moderately on well-maintained roads, then a competently-done patch or plug will last the remaining life of the tire. So IMO no, you don't need to replace a repaired tire.
Is the tire-repair kit multi-use?
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I prefer the same approach to be honest. Tire plugs are easy to apply and they patch better than the goo does, if you follow the directions. They are however only temporary in nature.. so the tire still needs a proper R&R from a tire shop.
If you cant patch it with a plug kit and a tire inflator... then you won't be able to do so with the stock inflator kit with goo canister either.
A tire shop will evaluate if the tire can be patched or not. Discount Tire / Americas Tire does tire repairs at no charge, so it makes complete sense to head on over and let them properly patch the tire on the inside so that it is a permanent repair. for a proper repair, they will insert a plug with a flat top to it, then a patch over top of the plug all glued and sealed.. good as new. (there is a limit to the number of patches a tire can have, so still best not to drive over road hazards.
Plugs though... except for a normal small nail hole.. generally will work loose over time and are not a permanent fix. I have actually successfully temp-fixed a 6mm hole in one of my tires a few months after I purchased my 2017 CRV. The hole was from a machine screw, and I was not sure a plug would do it.. but it did... and lasted until I got to the tire shop to have it permanently repaired.
And to note: the tire tech at Americas Tire was confused as to how I patched the hole. He was wondering why there was no goo all over the inside of the tire to clean out.. and I asked him how come he did not see the black rubber tire plug inserted and glue-melted to the tire rubber. He laughed and said he did... but he did not realize it was an old school plug but some new fangled goo that was injected into the puncture, as he rarely sees tire plugs by owners anymore.
How difficult is it to use the plug kit to use on the road, can you briefly describe the process?
It's quite simple, you push the plug with special "screw driver" through the punch and off you go with compressor. I think the most severe issue is to discover the punch, and then drill through to clean up the whole before installing the plug. Most kits manufactures, at least over here in EU, limit the max speed allowed after this process thou, yet the range. Meaning to say how far you can go before getting proper fix on the tire. I've seen limits 60-80 km/h max and no more than 80 km range (50 miles).
In theory it's simple. You find the puncture, use the kit's included reamer to clean up the puncture, force the plug in, fill the tire, and drive off. You're warned to not drive fast or far on the plug, but I and others have used plugs for the remaining tread life of the tire (including motorcycle tires). You just have to use common sense--it's a damaged and repaired tire and should not be used for any kind of extreme driving. Note I said the plugging process is simple in theory. In practice, a lot can go sideways, including the puncture itself. The kit can't be used for just any puncture. The puncture might be in the sidewall, often unrepairable via a plug (or any other way). A nail, screw, or other object can be stuck in the tire at an oblique angle, which makes it difficult to ream a clean hole that the patch compound can adequately fill. If the hole is too big (depending on the object's size or how it's been moving as the rotating tire has forced it ever deeper into the rubber), the plug may not work at all or you might require multiple plugs that may not hold air long, if at all, and those tires should definitely be discarded/replaced ASAP. You may be forced to stop in conditions that don't allow easy access to find, ream, and fill the puncture. The plug kits are inexpensive and work well within limited parameters, so it's a good idea to have multiple solutions available--like both a plug kit and a filler kit--if you're going to travel in rural areas. Best to buy a kit and practice installing a couple of plugs on a junk tire so when the real thing happens, you're not a plug virgin. Last, if you use a plug, it's a good idea to eventually have the tire pulled and have a tire shop do a proper repair that will definitely last the remaining life of the tire without anxiety.
Still, I recon this solution to have an advantage over the foam. Many tire companies do not want to touch the tires filled with "repair kit" since the cleaning process is simply overwhelming. Such a tire is then most likely simply to be replaced. However, then depends on the tire wear you might even have to be forced to go for 2 new tires or more. I'm not exactly sure how it works with AWD in Honda, but I know that some 4x4 systems are not allowing too much difference in wear in between front and rear axle also, thus you may end up with need to replace all 4 tires in worst case scenario. Personally, I just go for a decent insurance package, including puncture option and I don't bother anymore. I recognize, insurance is as well as any other solution marked with downsides, but considering that I got puncture last time perhaps c.a. 6-7 ago ... I just keep on with this option as my favorite.
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Any tyre that has had to use the can of gunge is pretty much scrap.
Agree. The foam would never be my first choice, but there are circumstance where it might be the necessary choice.
I know for sure that a good tire shop can clean out the gunk pretty quickly and easily. It's messy for them, but it is part of their job with the proliferation of inflator kits now days.
I know this because whenever I take a tire into Discount Tire for a puncture repair.. the tech invariably comes out and asks me if I used an inflator kit with goo.. because he does not see any colored goo inside the tire. Which would be true, because I keep and use a plug kit, which I have found works well for any tire that can actually be repaired. So when I explain that to the tech, I generally get a smile and a "oh.. old school eh?" which I smile back and say "absolutely!"
When I inquire as to why the service tech has any concerns, the answer comes back "well, I just wanted to make sure that it was not some new goo that was not obvious garish color and that he missed it somehow". In reality, the tech is probably just double checking to make sure I did not use something other than approved inflator clue or an old school tire puncture plug&glue... Like.. I don't know... maybe I injected Jello pudding into the tire to seal the puncture.
Luckily, Hondas after ~2011 have indirect TPMS without sensors.
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Otherwise known as DWS - Deflation Warning System (least in the UK anyway!).
Which is exactly what it is in fact. Credit to the British, for generally using terms that actually tell you what is going on, or not going on.
But as soon as you folks drop into local colloquial slang.. all bets are off and it can be like you are speaking a foreign language.
One time in the engineering lab, a technician was frustrated trying to get a cabinet full of equipment properly initialized... and his team lead engineer (who happened to be British, talking to an American technician) promptly instructed him to put a torch to it so he can see what he is doing. Tech promptly lets out a huge sigh and says... yeah.. I'd love set fire to this piece of #$%^! And I'm over on the other side of the lab just laughing my backside off at the simple yet real language barrier for two professionals speaking English. LP
For any tire that has active TPMS monitors inside it, yeah, it is going to probably do a real number on the sensor and it will need to be R&R'ed as well. But a good tire shop should be able to take it in stride and get it all un-gooed... but it will likely requires some parts replacements.
In the case of Honda, they have your back on this as they saw fit to get rid of those active sensors a decade ago.
I guess Acura decided their buyers wanted the direct tire pressure read out. I liked it. And I never have to swap to winter tires, so no issue with that. HehFor any tire that has active TPMS monitors inside it, yeah, it is going to probably do a real number on the sensor and it will need to be R&R'ed as well. But a good tire shop should be able to take it in stride and get it all un-gooed... but it will likely requires some parts replacements.
In the case of Honda, they have your back on this as they saw fit to get rid of those active sensors a decade ago.
Wow--it's been so long since I've lived in snow country, I forgot changing to snow tires is a thing.
Which of course drives up repair costs, since those direct sensing systems really need to be R&Red each time tires are replaced. But the Acura brand is probably more tolerant of this additional maintenance cost compared to the Honda brand, even though they are both Honda brands.
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