I have just got back from having my new tyres fitted, I have kept the old ones for potential track use.

 

When the fitter handed them to me he informed me that there had been a puncture repair to one tyre, okay I thought, no probs. He then went on to say that it was a plug repair and that it is only legal for agricultural use in the UK, and he's very suprised that it hadn't blown!!!!!!!!!!!

 

If you haven't come across a repair of this nature before, it's basically a bit of impregnated rope that is stuffed in the hole, thereby stopping the air leak.

 

I trying not to think about what would have happened if it had given out on Saturday on track!

 

A lesson there for everyone I think.

 

Tim

 

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mmm, a plug rope repair...

 

I actually had a plug repair a couple of weeks ago in a rear (tyre!). It was some sort of rubber that is bigger on the inside of the typre than out, it's pulled through with some sort of needle... and they claim it can block a nail hole better than a normal "sticker" type repair. Doesn't sound like your India rope trick fix.

No, yours sounds like a proper repair. Believe these are legal if vulcanised properly, but they are only allowed within the main tread of the tyre, if the hole is within a certain size and not within a certain distance of the sidewall.

Originally posted by Andrew:

 

I was running Michelin Pilots btw. They still have very deep tread, I think these tyres are indestructible, they've lasted forever.

 

Andy

 

These tyres are the bollox, I had them on my Soup but when I tried to get them for the Kirk they couldn't do aftermarket wheel sizes?

 

But if I don't change the wheels on my Z in the near future I'm gonna go with these tyres again. Excellent, and like you said Andy, they don't seem to wear at all.

 

They stood a good blast at 150 mph(private road) of course and grip like puke to the pavement!!!

 

 

Timmy (and others), just to give you an idea of just how well these things wear, on my current set I've done:

1 x trip to Le Mans (with many high speed bits )

2 x track days

15,000 miles (many of them pretty quick!).

 

And they still look new (ish). The surface looks a bit scuffed due to some sideways stuff at Kemble but apart from that they still look brand new. I might try Bridgestone S03s next time to compare grip but unless there is a significant difference in performance, the Michelins are definitely the ones to go for.

 

In addition to this, you can get Michelins from Costco. I was there last weekend and they did 18x8.5, Z rated Michelin Pilot Sports for £125 !!!! I've only got stock wheels at the moment but its good to know. Costco can also custom order funny sizes if you like but the one near me had most sizes up to (and including) 19".

 

Andy

Nice one matey, I'll remember that for the future, I was using ATS muppet show though! They sorted me out on the Soup but couldn't do the Kirk so I ended up with Pirelli P7000's...they've been pretty good aswell but I liked the tread pattern on the Pilots! Sad eh?

Bloody hell that's cheap.

I reckon a set of S-02's would last me 8000 miles (now that my tracking is right)

Does this illegal Jap tyre thing mean you have to change them 3 times if you drive across the continents to Asia and the U.S? LOL

 

ROFL

 

Fair point, I'm sure it's more for MOT purposes but hey, if you wanna drive around with tyres that are said to be lower spec. rubber compound in yer 175mph beast and not worry about it! Your choice mate! I know what I'd rather be driving around on...

P.S. with bits of rope stuffed in there as a pukka puncture repair??? I wouldn't take my Rottie out in a car that unsafe, nevermind my kids/wife/girlfriend etc.