Plug hole in tire

[Randy 4541]

I have a slow leak in right rear tire. I have a kit that I have used in the past where you remove the screw, drill out the hole, and stick a plug in. Is that possible on the 2025 Mach E Select? Can I use my hydraulic jack to lift the right rear wheel off the ground?

Sponsored

 

[RickMachE]

I have a slow leak in right rear tire. I have a kit that I have used in the past where you remove the screw, drill out the hole, and stick a plug in. Is that possible on the 2025 Mach E Select? Can I use my hydraulic jack to lift the right rear wheel off the ground?

There is nothing unique about the Mach-E tires, but there is a VERY UNIQUE way of jacking the vehicle (which your manual explains). I would go to America's Tire, which is within 10 miles of you, which is what Discount Tire is called out there, and have them do a free flat repair. They will patch the tire from the inside. It is a free service.

 

[rhougey]

I have a slow leak in right rear tire. I have a kit that I have used in the past where you remove the screw, drill out the hole, and stick a plug in. Is that possible on the 2025 Mach E Select? Can I use my hydraulic jack to lift the right rear wheel off the ground?

I have a plug kit too, but only for emergencies. As Rick said, go to an Americas Tire store and let them patch it correctly for you for free. But do your due diligence and make sure they jack the car correctly. Some technicians know, but others don’t. I watch them from just outside the bay door and talk to them if I need to.

 

[Beerbronco]

I used my kit to plug the hole so the tire would hold air so that I could get to discount tire and have them fix it correctly (AKA Patch from inside). I think it would be a piece of mind thing if you trust your plug skills go for it, if not do what Rick and Rich suggest and go to American Tire.

 

[Teslaeata]

If you’re thinking about permanently plugging a tyre yourself, there’s no need to worry about where you jack the car up

Tyres should be professionally plugged if possible & legal dependent on where & how the tyre was punctured and the repair should be vulcanised.

You’re welcome

 

[Tosh]

Les Schwab (PNW chain, very trustworthy) does an interior patch and a plug, which they shave down to match current tread depth. They do this because a plug with no patch, or a patch with no plug, allows water and dirt to get in the hole and corrupt the seal.

The "plug kit" is just to get you down the road to a tire service center. Don't rely on it for a long-term fix.

 

[OH2AZ2OH]

I had my local tire shop plug a hole from a big screw in one of my tires. Was around $30, money well spent in my opinion. It held for the remaining life of the tire, just like most -but not all- of the other tires I've had repaired.

 

[Zardoz]

If you take it to a tire shop DEMAND to be there when they lift it. Don't trust them. I just had my car damaged by Discount Tire and it's going to be a huge pain.

 

[Burley1]

I have a slow leak in right rear tire. I have a kit that I have used in the past where you remove the screw, drill out the hole, and stick a plug in. Is that possible on the 2025 Mach E Select? Can I use my hydraulic jack to lift the right rear wheel off the ground?

Is what possible, jacking up the car or using a tire plug? Sometime I really have a hard time with the questions people ask. Of course you can jack it up, look at the owners manual if you are wondering how. Of course you can plug the tire, make sure you have the specific plugs that only work on the Mach-e Select, the GT uses different plugs KIDDING.

 

[rhougey]

If you take it to a tire shop DEMAND to be there when they lift it. Don't trust them. I just had my car damaged by Discount Tire and it's going to be a huge pain.

The problem Discount/Americas Tire has is not any different than the problem many other businesses have - employee turnover. Any particular location may have worked on many MachE’s, but that doesn’t mean the technician who is working on your car has. Also, in my experience, the communication between the guy at the front desk and the crew in the shop is not perfect. And it is really hard for any business to have every new employee fully trained before they put them to work no matter how hard they try. So if you want to avoid a really frustrating situation, know before you go what the jacking guidelines are, be assertive at the front desk, make sure your concerns are documented, and then follow your car into the shop and be assertive with the guy(s) in the shop.

 

[Randy 4541]

After reading all the responses (as well as some other posts throughout cyberspace) I decided that my best option was a Ford service department. Needed to take care of 2 recalls anyway so I went. Ford told me that they could not find a leak. I must say that I'm very puzzled by this. Tire seams to only deflate over night. My security cameras prove that a serial tire deflater is not responsible. It isn't the Ideal Gas Law because all 4 tires are at 43 psi when I park and in the morning 3 are at 39 psi and the right rear is at 20. Only thing I can think of is that somehow the bead got a microscopic particle in it that is small enough to reseal as the tires heat up but big enough to create the leak when completely cooled off. Any thoughts?

 

[rhougey]

After reading all the responses (as well as some other posts throughout cyberspace) I decided that my best option was a Ford service department. Needed to take care of 2 recalls anyway so I went. Ford told me that they could not find a leak. I must say that I'm very puzzled by this. Tire seams to only deflate over night. My security cameras prove that a serial tire deflater is not responsible. It isn't the Ideal Gas Law because all 4 tires are at 43 psi when I park and in the morning 3 are at 39 psi and the right rear is at 20. Only thing I can think of is that somehow the bead got a microscopic particle in it that is small enough to reseal as the tires heat up but big enough to create the leak when completely cooled off. Any thoughts?

20 lbs in the morning when it should be 39 is not a slow leak. What I’ve done in the past is pull the wheel off and find the leak myself. And then mark it and tell them where it is. Last time, I just filled a wheel barrow with water to put the tire in. It took me a while to find the leak because it was much slower than yours. Alternatively, take it to America’s Tire and have them fix it. Contrary to popular assumption, the dealership is not necessarily the best place to have your car worked on.

 

[Teslaeata]

Take the valve cap off, reinflate tyre and place a bit of spit off you finger across open end of the valve stem to see if that bubbles due to a leaking valve is an easy starting point.

Then, I’d jack up that wheel, lie down with a torch and veeeeerrrrryyyy slowly rotate the wheel paying close attention to the entire width of the tread surface area around the entire circumference of the tyre to see if there’s evidence of something puncturing tyre which is still in there or which has come away.

Seal at bead of wheel rim & tyre is unlikely to leak on a new-ish car unless somebody’s had tyre off and done, or not done something to cause this.

 

[Randy 4541]

20 lbs in the morning when it should be 39 is not a slow leak. What I’ve done in the past is pull the wheel off and find the leak myself. And then mark it and tell them where it is. Last time, I just filled a wheel barrow with water to put the tire in. It took me a while to find the leak because it was much slower than yours. Alternatively, take it to America’s Tire and have them fix it. Contrary to popular assumption, the dealership is not necessarily the best place to have your car worked on.

According to Ford, that's what they did. It doesn't leak at all when the tire is warm.

 

[Randy 4541]

Take the valve cap off, reinflate tyre and place a bit of spit off you finger across open end of the valve stem to see if that bubbles due to a leaking valve is an easy starting point.

Then, I’d jack up that wheel, lie down with a torch and veeeeerrrrryyyy slowly rotate the wheel paying close attention to the entire width of the tread surface area around the entire circumference of the tyre to see if there’s evidence of something puncturing tyre which is still in there or which has come away.

Seal at bead of wheel rim & tyre is unlikely to leak on a new-ish car unless somebody’s had tyre off and done, or not done something to cause this.

I did all of those things. Ther is absolutely no damage to the tire or valve stem. Also, I took it to probably the best Ford service center in the world. I doubt if they missed some damage. Only logical conclusion at this time is the bead.

Sponsored