Are tyre plugs legal in the UK?

Legality of tyre plugs

As per British Standard BS AU 159, a plug that is only applied from the outside of the tyre without removing the tyre from the rim is not considered a permanent legal repair.

What is acceptable

The only legal repair considered proper is a professional internal plug-and-patch repair. This means the tyre has to be removed from the rim so that the professional can look for other damage that may not be visible and then place a plug and a patch.

While external plugs can be used to temporarily repair a tyre to allow travel to a garage, an internal repair must be done as soon as possible.