Simple, small punctures in the tire’s tread face can often be repaired successfully, but
how they are fixed can be crucial to their continued service life. The use of a rope plug, applied from the outside of an inflated tire, is a common DIY repair but it’s full of risks. Before these types of plugs can be inserted, the hole often has to be enlarged with a rough-edged, rasp-type probe. The problem is that the support cords/wires/belts under the tread can be inadvertently broken, leading to a weakness that may develop into a bulge or a belt shift.