[mmcnickle]

As a tyre mechanic for 4 years, I can tell you that patches are far more reliable than plugs. So much, in fact, that we stopped using plugs.

[tgrass]

I don't disagree - but here in the desert where my tires only last four or five years due to heat and sun, my plugs survive for the life of the tire; by increasing the factor of safety with a patch I gain little but confidence.