If you have ever had a flat tire, you know it can be inconvenient and time costly. It is why we may fall into the temptation of driving immediately after a tire plug. Personally, I have had a tire plug after, and what I did was wait 2 – 3 minutes after the plug before I moved the car.
In this article, we will consider how long to wait after plugging tire, the implication of not waiting, how long it takes the plug to dry, and how long you can drive with a plugged tire.
How Long To Wait After Plugging Tire?
When you have a plugging tire, you are expected to wait for 2 to 3 minutes before having the tire installed and driven again. Although the plug and cement are meant to dry within seconds, you must give it a waiting period to be sure.
When plugging a tire, you use a sealing liquid called sealing cement. The sealing cement ensures that the plug does not come out while driving. It seals the plug in the hole and ensures all other space in the tire is properly sealed up.
The sealing cement takes a little while to dry up. When the plug is fitted into the leak, the plug is put in half before the tire plug cement is put into the hole. You will have to wait a while, between one to two minutes, for the cement ton to dry appropriately. After that, you can go ahead to cut the remaining plug.
What Will Happen For Not Waiting Long Enough?
If you do not wait enough after applying the sealing cement, the sealing will still be wet, and the cement will not hold the plug properly. The leak will continue, and the plug will push out.
It is essential to have a waiting time after the sealing cement has been applied. The tire has a lot of air pressure constantly pushing through weak parts or spaces in the tire. If the sealing cement is not dried correctly, the area will be a good spot for tire pressure to focus on.
When you install the tire in this situation, the vehicle’s weight will contribute to the risk. Once you start driving with the sealing cement still wet, there is a high tendency that the leak will continue, and you will lose tire pressure faster. As you continue, the leak may lead to a blown-out or shredded tire, which means the tire will be condemned.
Furthermore, if you have a blown-out or shredded, you cannot fix it. You will have to get a new tire to replace the shredded one, which will cost you more. Rather than being in this situation, you should be patient and have your sealing cement dry properly before installing the tire back into the vehicle and driving. The sealing will take 3 minutes for plugging and try to dry.
How Long Does A Tire Plug Take To Dry?
After putting a plug in a tire, it will take about 2 to 3 minutes before the seal dries off. The cement seal dries pretty fast and does not need any particular process to make it dry faster.
The cement is applied after the plug has been put in and just before the other half sticking out is cut off. You must ensure that you only cut the plug after applying the cement.
After applying the cement, you will have to wait for some minutes. Which is between two to three minutes; before cutting the other half of the plug, ensure that the cement is dried completely, then proceed to cut and fix the tires back to the car.
You might also be asking, how long do tire patches dry? Well, it takes about 30 minutes for tire patches to dry. Compared to the plugs, that is a lot of time.
Depending on the glue, some tire patches can take even more time to dry. If the patch takes more than an hour to dry, the glue might be bad. You also must constantly check for peeling, which is more stressful than plugging a run flat tire.
Can I Drive Long Distance With A Plugged Tire?
Unfortunately, you can drive with a plugged-in tire for only 8 miles. Professionals recommend the miles before you can permanently change a new tire.
The plug-in method of fixing tires is seen as a fast way of getting your tire back on the road. Plugging tires safe for a lot of time, and it is also reliable but only to be used for a short time.
Although, some people have pointed out that you can drive your vehicle for more than 8 miles, and then the plug can last up to 25 miles. However, experts have advised that you drive with the plug for a maximum of 10 miles.
Is Plugging A Tire A Permanent Solution?
The plug-in tire repair is not considered a permanent solution for your tire. It is a solution that you can use to get out of a difficult situation. We recommend that you do not drive with a plug repair for long; it could cause permanent damage to your tires and you feel vibration while driving.
Due to the immense pressure in the tires, the plugs and cement does not have what it takes to hold the pressure for a long time. The sea cement can easily break, and the plug can be pushed out in no time, especially when driving on a bumpy or rough road.
When considering patching vs plugging a tire, patching lasts more than plugging tires. You can use a patched tire between 7 and 10 years which is a more permanent solution.
Conclusion
Plugging your tires is a fast and reliable way to keep your tires going even after a leak. Even as good as the repair is, it has its downside. One downside of this repair is that you can not use it for a long time. It is a temporary solution for leaks in your tire.
After fixing the plug, you must wait about 3 minutes. It will allow the sealing cement to dry properly and avoid further leaks when driving.