Self-healing tires promise to help mitigate the dangers and frustrations associated with getting a flat tire, but do they actually work?

I remember one ride on the Paiute when a rider passed a sharp rock and put a slit in the sidewall of one of his tires. It took 13 plugs, but it held air for the rest of the ride.

Tires that patch their own holes? 2020 Ford Explorer represents upcoming trend. Mark Phelan. ... or the damage is in the sidewall, then self-sealing tires don’t solve the problem.

The 2020 Ford Explorer will offer tires that patch their own holes. ... But if the puncture hole is too large, or the damage is in the sidewall, then self-sealing tires don’t solve the problem.

A small hole isn't a big deal--just break out the Safety Seal kit and plug the sucker, er, blower (see "The Hole Truth," July '96). It's the big hankin' sidewall gashes that get fun, but we ...