I've ridden on two tires with this type plug, only safe way since they won't blow out. If you use a tube you risk the it getting pinched if the tire linning has a hole in it, ask me how I know. Everytime the tire rotates it flexes the hole and eventually can pinch the tube.

 

+2 on the tube

 

If you have to pay someone else to remove, repair, and remount tire I would install a new tire unless there was a lot of tread left.

 

So would I. But that's another advantage of DIY tire mounting--you don't end up throwing away half worn out tires.

 

I plugged my front tire 20k miles ago. Works great. Just used cheapo tire plug kit from Autozone.

 

can you yes should you no

 

Plugged my front tire still holding fine went to Key West and back no issues.

 

"wurd"

 

I think the first thing I would do is pull the nail and see if the tire looses air, if it does I would plug it and ride on, lets just say that the plug begins to leak at some future point, the tire is not going to disintigrate, it will get low, you do check your tire pressure from time to time right!
Terry