How to Plug a Tire Near A Sidewall – Is It Even Legal?

So you’ve got a screw or nail close the sidewall, and you don’t want to spend money on a new tire if you can prevent it. 

Plugging the tire seems the quickest and cheapest option, but can it be plugged effectively and legally?

Contrary to what you may read on other websites, it is not recommended to plug a tire into the curved part of the tread. 

Plugging is only good for the center section of the tread, not the shoulder (outer parts of the tread) or near the sidewall.

Every tire manufacturer will say that a screw in the tire near the sidewall should not be plugged, and you should follow their guidance.

The reason for this is quite clear. The sidewall creates tension in the tire that keeps it from collapsing on itself. Any possible hint that a hole in the tread damages a sidewall could be bad news for the safety of you and other road users.

The flat area of the tire contains the majority of the tread. It is okay to plug a tire in the area.

The area closer to the sidewall is called the shoulder, as the tread slopes gently to the sidewall. 

This shoulder area doesn’t have steel belts underneath the tread – these are reserved for the main tread area – so it is weaker and, therefore, cannot be plugged. You can’t plug a tire on the edge. 

Nails or screws rarely go into a tire exactly straight. Often they go at strange angles that you would not expect.

Therefore as nails can be anything from a few millimeters to a good few inches, it is possible that any nail that has gone into the outer parts of the tread could be long enough actually to go in and damage the sidewall too.

Sure the temptation will be there to plug a tire, with a hole close to the sidewall but it is dangerous. A professional tire shop won’t plug a tire on the shoulder as they know the dangers. It’s best to do the same.

So what are the other options for repairing a tire close to the sidewall?  

The three options to repair a tire are a plug which we have ruled out because it is too close to the side wall. Tire sealant and also a tire patch

Tire sealant such as Slime or Fix a Flat is only a temporary fix and should never be seen as a permanent repair.

This is even more important if the leak is near or on the sidewall. Even if a tire shop would be prepared to repair a tire with a hole close to the sidewall, many aren’t interested in repairing ones with sealant inside. 

A tire patch is always the better repair for a tire leak. It involves taking the tire off the rim and repairing it from the inside. 

This gives the opportunity of inspecting the whole tire more thoroughly as often extra damage has been caused by a nail or screw to the inside of the tire that can’t be seen unless it is removed.

That being said, the fact remains that the damage is on a vulnerable area of the tire, and any reputable tire shop won’t repair it. 

The only option is to change the tire with a spare from the trunk or buy a new one. 

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Is It Legal To Plug A Hole Close To The Sidewall?

Laws change constantly, so it is difficult to know if any state has outlawed doing this. As you may know, some states have periodic vehicle inspections. Some are yearly, some over longer periods, and others are needed when you buy a vehicle. 

Most states will pass tires that have been plugged or patched in the permitted repairable tread area. 

However, having a tire repaired close to the sidewall will likely lead to the vehicle failing the inspection. So although it may not be illegal, if you get stopped by the police, it won’t pass state mandated vehicle inspections. 

No inspector will sign off on a safety issue in case the tire fails and people get injured due to their decision.

In Conclusion

You can’t plug a tire near the sidewall unless it is in the repairable area. The repairable area is the main center part of the tread and not the outside parts leading to the shoulder. 

Generally, the outside inch of the tread closest to the sidewall is in an area that cannot be repaired with a plug, a patch, or sealant. A new tire is needed. 

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