On 11/5/2014 1:11 PM, Jeff Strickland wrote:

"Dan Espen" wrote in message
...
"Sasquatch Jones" writes:

I have a slow lead in the side wall that came from scraping some kind
of sharp object laying by the curb. Looks like a 1/2-inch cut, but
jagged. Tire is tubeless radial. Is it possible to patch something
like this on the side wall? Patch kits say they are for the tread but
don't say specifically not to use them on the side.

2nd thought -- can I put a tube in it? Seems like I remember tire
places say tubeless can't be fixed with a tube, but I can't see why
not.

A tube should work, but any kind of cut could lead to a blow out.
Especially one on the side wall.
I say replace the tire.

--
Dan Espen


Worst advice ever. A tube will not work, that's why they do not put them
in. Firstly, without a rim that can be taken apart, the tire mounting
machine can pinch the tube and damage it before the first pound of air
goes in. Secondly, tubeless tires are built differently than tube-type
tires. Thirdly, the sidewall of a tire is by design the weakest part of
the tire, it is typically two-ply where the tread is four-ply. The
sidewall constantly moves and changes shape, and if there is a tear,
then the tear will be even weaker and a catastrophic failure is all but
certain.

At best, a tube will hold air. It will not make the sidewall sufficient
to carry the vehicle. Do not put a tube into a tubeless tire. You have
to go to the tire store to have the tire and rim broken down, so they
are the venue for putting the tube in and they will not do it.



Just out of morbid curiosity, did you ever work at a place that
installed tires (I did). If you had, you would know that practically
all auto and light truck rims are one piece (the OP didn't say what kid
of vehicle). You would also know that tires with tubes were routinely
installed on those rims without incident (except for the odd idiot that
was not paying attention to what he was doing). There was also a
specific tube for radial tires that could stand more flex than tubes for
bias ply tire tubes. A puncture in a bias ply sidewall could be
repaired. Not so for a radial. However, if it was just a puncture the
radial could be used by putting in the proper tube.

I agree that in this case the tire should be replaced, but not for the
reason you state.