I found a screw in my tire and plugged it last week. It has gone down about 1 PSI per day since then. I used soapy water and found a very slight leak (one bubble shows up and then slowly grows.)

Do I need to rip out the old plug and redo it? Or do I have other options like using more of the plug cement gel? Or carefully heating up the plug with a soldering torch to "cauterize" it?

I don't wanna deal with redoing it if I don't have to.


A tire plug is a TEMPORARY repair. Plugs are never designed to be permanent (although lots of people install a plug and never bother to have it repaired correctly--it's still not the right way to repair a puncture.). Yes, you have to remove it and repair it properly with a patch plug from the inside of the tire.

  • 1
    Just looking, even Slime's instructions state it is only for temporary use until you can get it to a service center for repair. However, I've only EVER used them until the tire wears out and not a second later. The rope tire plugs work that well. I've used 100's of them and never had an issue with them. – Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 Sep 1 '19 at 3:36
  • I've implied this before and I'll say it again, tire plugs can be exceptionally reliable – Zaid Sep 1 '19 at 14:44
  • Id just like to add that in some countries plug repairs may not be legal. – Sir Swears-a-lot Sep 2 '19 at 10:09

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