I have had screws like that dozens of times in other cars. Sometimes they don't actually penetrate all the way in and sometimes they do. In the latter case I have always successfully had these addressed by the local tire shop near me--Delco in Encino. Their procedure was ALWAYS do remove the tire and patch on the inside--never caused any problems.

Doug

 

They were able to do a plug with a patch on the backside. Shop said it won't affect the performance of the tire at all. Tons of tread.

 

Good news, indeed. Did the screw penetrate the inner liner?

 

I'm not sure on that. They just said it was a shallow screw in the thick of the tread. Simple plug as well as patch from inside. I'll keep an eye on it over the next couple weeks.

 

Right, you did say they used a plug. Duh. So the screw likely went all the way through. In order to prepare the tire for the plug, they push an awl-type tool through the punctured area into the inside of the tire.

 

Ahh yes that makes sense. As you can see I haven't had many tires repaired in the past. Hopefully this is the last.

 

"Delta" is right. If you were losing 18 psi in 24 hrs., it penetrated the inner liner. Had it been the 1/4" sheet metal screw that I was originally suspecting it might be, it probably would not have, and wouldn't have needed a plug or patch.

I recently did some gutter work on a building on my property, and the picture of that screw you posted looked just like the 1/4" ones I was using. However, they do come in different lengths.

 

Nasty littl' critters, those sheet metal screws aren't they? I replaced my gutters a couple years back and found them on my driveway, walkways and flower beds. Ended up doing a face-to-driveway "flashlight sweep" looking for 'em before they found me. Got one too!

 

Probably because they have such a big head that they almost always land screw side up. With the amount of junk there is on the road I'm surprised tires last as long as they do.

 

Yep, they are dastardly little creatures.

 

Yes this is exactly what I did a while back on my Lexus, and I regularly drove that car at triple digit speeds and had no problems whatsoever.

 

On the subject of plugs and patches on Lexus vehicles, thought I'd share this with y'all.

My oldest son and his wife flew up from San Francisco several weeks back. He drove his in-law's Lexus RX350 to get around town while they were here. One afternoon, my wife and I decided to meet up with them and some mutual friends. Afterwards, we all walked out together. As I was unlocking my car, I looked over and spotted my son bending down by the driver's side rear of his vehicle. At that moment, he quickly pivoted around and said to me, "Hey! Come over and check this out." I walked over and was certainly surprised. No doubt on that one (and thankful for his discovery too).



Here's one puncture that definitely won't make any Eligible for Patch Repair list. But, he has now taken over First Place in our family under the category of Best Tire Puncture Impressions.

 

Hi
mine had 1500 miles on got a screw in centre had it internally patched no problem


Burnie

 

I had a nail in right front tire, and plugged it. Since then, I've had tire up to 150 mph with hard braking at end of straight away. No problem...
I may look at TOYO tires for off track use.

 

To my way of thinking, there's a world of difference between cruising down some highway at triple-digit speed and racing down a track traveling at speeds that require a V, Z or Y rating and where the tires are subject to multiple and sudden loading, scrubbing, and increased heat build-up.

Whereas I wouldn't (hypothetically) give a plug/patch a second thought in the former situation, I would and do on the track where I try to stay focused like everyone else and minimize my distractions. Having a thought about whether my tires are able to make it through the next session would be a distraction for me, especially if that thought pops up just as I'm entering a turn a little too hot.

 

Had to plug mine with 5000 miles on the tires, am now at 15,000, plug still in and had a track day with it in and it held up.

 

Never said tracking on plugs can't be done. Heck, some of my buds have done it too. Just not the way I roll. As I remarked earlier in this thread--to each their own.