Tubeless Tyre Repairs

[bhg481]

In my early days of motoring it was considered safe and legal to repair puntures in tubeless tyres by inserting a rubber bung through the hole. As driving speeds increased it was found that these bungs were blowing out, so their use was banned (sometime in the 1980's, I think).
Whilst on holiday in France this summer I noticed that the repair kits had become available again and, on my return to the UK, found that they are also available here, albeit with a warning that they are only designed as a temporary repair.
Has their use been legalised again?

[FrogNog]

I believe they are fine as long as they are not too near the sidewall of the tyre.

[EDDIE51]

Modern repair plugs are shaped like a mushroom. The head of the mushroom is on the inside of the tyre and the stem is the plug that goes through the hole. The excess stem is then cut off flush with the tread surface. They are glued as well as being forced into the puncture.
I had a puncture repaired last week I watched them do it. As said they are not suitable for sidewall repairs only the main tread.

[tonyav]

I had a puncture fixed a few months ago and it was repaired exactly has EDDIE described.

[bhg481]

Not the type I'm referring to Eddie. The ones I've seen screw into the hole (no glue and no mushroom head).
Plugs inserted from the outside were made illegal many years ago; I'm trying to find out if they have been made legal again.
The type I'm referring to are only classed as temporary whereas yours sound like a permanent repair.
I don't think ANY kind of repair is allowed on the tyrewall.

[tonyav]

I don't think ANY kind of repair is allowed on the tyrewall.

Your right about that, bhg. It's scrap if it's punctured on the sidewall.

[EDDIE51]

^^Not seen that type, does not seem safe to me, I would not use one.

[bhg481]

Following replies from Eddie and Tonyav (thanks) , I obviously didn't make it clear that I'm referring to D-I-Y at the roadside jobs, then get it to a proper repairer ASAP. The D-I-Y type was made illegal years ago and I'm trying to ascertain that they have been legalised again, having seen them in the shops.

[tonyav]

Can't say that I have ever seen that type of puncture repair either.

[whiskeryron]

I have never understood why punctureless tyres have never been developed.
What I envisage is a solid tyre that is made up of thousands of bubbles ( similar to a certain chocolate bar). I know that people will say that it would put tyre manufacturers out of business but I do not believe that because drivers would still have to replace tyres with a certain wear of tread.

[bhg481]

There you go, Tony

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/breakdown-emergency/breakdown-kits/plug-go-7-piece-tyre-repair-plug-kit

[tonyav]

Thanks bhg, haven't seen those before but there again I've never looked for them.

[bhg481]

Whiskeyron - I think your idea's been tried and just doesn't work. Watch someone drive a car slowly up a kerb and see how much the tyre distorts - you can't get that amount of disortion with lots of mini-bubbles so the tyres give a very hard ride. No flexibility in the sidewalls either, so roadholding is impaired.

[whiskeryron]

thanks bhg ( I'm still learning)

Ron.

[TonyV]

Used to repair tyres when a lad with Saturday job - just using method that Eddie described. Can you still buy the sealant in an aerosol?

[ChillDoubt]

Ditto what Eddie and Tony said, mushroom style bung.

[bhg481]

As I said earlier Childout and Tonyv - I'm talking about temporary repairs made at the roadside. NOT permanent repairs at a garage.

[TonyV]

Sorry big no idea weather they are legal

[TonyV]

Halfords sell a system you described for about a fiver so I guess they are still legal