I currently am running 305/70-17 MTRs with Kevlar. I got a sidewall puncture a month ago, I got a commercial tire place to patch the sidewall so i can use the tire a spare. The problem is that If I blow out another sidewall when I am 5-6 hours from home, I will have to drive home on the tire with the sidewall patch. Not sure this is a good idea. Should I replace it with another MTR in that size? I kinda wanted to go up to 35s next and I hate to spend $ on buying another 34 inch tire but dont have the cash to replace all 5 since I just regeared and installed a locker and did my rear DS so I am broke. Should I just buy a 35 and use that as a spare and then get 4 more later this year?

I keep telling myself to jsut run what I have but I keep thinking driving home on a spre with sidewall patch sounds dumm. If I wheeled close to home all the time I wouldnt worry but I have three 5 hour drive wheeling trips planned and 3 or 4 three hour trips. What do you guys think I should do?

I am not even 100% sure I want to go with the MTRs next either. Very confused.

 

If you had a commercial tire place "patch" the sidewall, can to tell if the
tire pressure has leaked any? . . . . If you do so much driving, get some new shoes for the Jeep. . . . . If you find a used tire in good shape, use that one for your spare untill you get the money for a new set of tires later in the year.

Magnum306

 

I dont think its leaked at all but they told me that it was a spare only and dont use it for extended trips since they had to repair sidwall puncture. It was small but in the sidewall. I am not worried about it holding air for short trips but since I go on multible long trips not sure I want to drive 6 hours on highway with it if I blew another sidewall wheeling.

 

Do not use a spare that is a different size than the other tires on the Jeep. That's a good way to screw up an axle, especially offroad. If I were you I'd just buy another 34 mtr and be done with it. I would never want to be in the position of having to rely on a tire with a patched sidewall on a long road trip.

 

Can't speak for anyone else, but I would not accept a sidewall patch, and would certainly never run a sidewall patched tire at freeway speeds.

Put a feeler out to see what you can get for your four good tires and look at upgrading. Or get a cheap used tire to use as a spare.

 

The problem with getting a cheap good used tire is that fact I made a dumm mistake and bought an oddball size tire. 305-70-17 is only made by a couple of companies. I probably should just buy another 34 as much as I hate to do it.

 

As long as you aren't running auto-lockers, a small size difference should be ok to get you home. And if you think about it, a worn down used 35" should be pretty close to a non-worn 34".

 

Buy a 35" (since most are 34's anyway) and make sure that you only mount it on your front end and only use 2wd if you need it.

Get what you want, times are tough and money is tight. Don't piss it away on a tire you don't want.

 

If you had to run a sidewall patch, put it on the REAR of your vehicle. I have plugged sidewalls to get out of a trail and even driven home on them. Just drive conservatively.

Personally, I'd be done with the tire and replace the single tire. Running a 34" spare with a new set of 35s is fine if you have selectable lockers or an open front diff. the size difference can mess up limited slips however. Since I run selectable lockers I've never worried about a small size difference. Right now I have a 37" spare but run 38" tires.

 

Any chance you can get some mfg warranty out of the tread left on the tire and at least soften the out of pocket expense to replace it?