So long story short... Caught a guy stealing from work and walked him out yesterday. Went out to my truck with my brand new cooper discoverer stts (33x12.5r15) to see that one was flat. Got on hands and knees looked behind the tire... A freaking screwdriver had been pushed into my sidewall on the inside. I dont have another 250-300 bucks after i.just spent over 1000 on all 4. anybody have one cooper discoverer stt that they can sell me?

 

You should post in classfied "wanted section", this isn't 86-95 specific and you'll likely get more attention there.

 

file a police report?? make him pay for it!!

 

Yeah, do that. Be silly not to.

 

I tried but no solid evidence pointing to him... I filed the report but our cameras didn't catch it.

 

Its such a hassle just trying to get my tire replaced. Guess he knew that slashing my 300 dollar tires would hurt...

 

You'd be surprised how large of a hole/split/tear in the sidewall can be patched. I've patched a ~2 split in one that held for years.

 

Weird, I've always hear never never never patch a sidewall. What's the best method?

 

I've been hearing different things... I grew up hearing dont do it.... But I've had 5 or 6 people say it is "ok"

 

A sidewall patch. They make them, but they can be hard to find. I've got a couple that came in a box of various size/type patches that I bought at Harbor Freight. The one I used for that tire I bought at the local Ace/True Value. But they don't sell them anymore.

They look like this.

http://www.wdshopsupply.com/patches.htm

 

I'd be okay with this one an "around town rig" or trail rig. Not on the family Sequoia. I can afford a $250 tire over the potential cost of a blowout.

 

Do not patch a sidewall I'm a tire guy and have been for 6 years. It's not safe especially on a radial tire where the tire does all its flexing in the sidewall it can cause the tire to separate the patch can work loose do to the flexing the integrity of that tire is ruined unfortuantly according to TIA standards a tire should only be repaired within the crown area of the tire. You can go a little bit past the crown area and be ok but the sidewall is a no go!

 

Took it to a shop, thankfully it was right on the shoulder. So its fixed!

 

I agree with Vance164.. never a good idea