Need buy one tire cause of stupid nail. Ok buy just one? Prius has 15k miles

one is fine. put them on the rear until the next rotation.

 

IMHO, this is an excuse to sell you new tires. Last time this happened to me, i purchased $8 quality tire repair kit, and used it several times now saving $$$.

 

How close to the sidewall, did they show you? I've been told that, with a finishing nail 1" from the edge of the tread, decided what the heck and plug repaired it. About 3 years back, no problems.

I appreciate it's frowned on, but it worked for me.

 

no, it won't affect your mpg's.

 

Any nail that is not on the very edge of the tire or on the sidewall, is repairable. If the shop refuses to repair it, then just buy 1 tire, they might even have a good used tire to sell you.....

 

It will affect fuel consumption, but only insignificantly, about ¼ as much as replacing all the tires with new ones. Why worry about that?

 

Buy 2, they are almost 50% worn, put the new tires on the front.

 

Oh hell yes that's ok to repair and you can do it yourself. Installing a plug in a tire is about the easiest thing you can do. Buy a plug kit from your local auto parts store or Wal Mart and follow the instructions.

 

I would, just DIY plug repair.

I've had a couple of punctures, both more-or-less exactly as you show, except near the outside edge. One was a small finishing nail our OEM Michelin Pilot's, the other a somewhat larger bolt in our Michelin X-Ice snow tires. Both repairs have held up fine.

I got one of these kits, for around $60 I think:

Kt-340 - BlackJack Tire Repair

It'll last a lifetime. Or you can get a cheap but effective kit at Walmart for around $10.

Check on Youtube for tire plug repair videos. You basically:

1. Remove the nail.
2. Ream the hole with reamer tool.
3. Thread plug through needle eye of plug repair tool, about half it's length, and apply a little goop to it. *
4. Push the needle through the puncture hole. This takes some effort, especially with tire partially deflated. Once you get through, push in until there's only about 1/2" of plug still protruding.
5. Pull the needle back out quickly. This is the magic part: the plug slips through the slot in needle tip, leaving a loop inside the tire.
6. Cut off excess plug with razor blade or what have you.

* It's worthwhile to do this step in advance of steps 1 and 2, to reduce the time air is leaking freely out of the tire.

 

this is a very common location for nails/screws, especially in city driving. i repaired several tires like that including almost a new one in my prius.

weird, pricy and no glue. i prefer the vulcanizing ones that are rated as permanent repair for $10 for 6 plugs.
the cheapest ones are at HF: $5 for 5 plugs: 9 Piece Tubeless Tire Repair Kit

 

The Black Jack kit comes with 20 small and 20 large VERY tacky plugs, and a tub of some sorta goop. Very solid handles on the tools, and nice case. The needle's replaceable, and a spare is included. The goop tub has hexagonal walls, sits in a similar recess, you so can unscrew the cap with one hand, it's locked in there.



All depends on what you want to spend.

 

The cost of that 40-plug kit would keep me away, especially when 37 or 38 of them will be wasted by aging.

At my household's normal rate, only a couple plugs will ever get used before the kit is too old. The 4 to 6 plugs in the small kits are plenty.

 

Never Mind.
Plenty of answers here.
I need coffee....

Good Luck.

 

Yikes. Never go back to that shop again. I've got a repair at that location on one of my front tires right now.

If you have an America's Tires near you, I'd suggest going there. They patched me up for free despite not buying the tires from them. They patched me up despite the dealer not being able to identify the source of the leak. Guess who I went to replace the tires when they wore out.

 

If you post a more specific location in your profile (ie San Francisco, Los Angeles, etc), we might be able to suggest better tire shops.