Nail in race tire, what should i do?

[SmoothIsSlow]

I found a nail (or rather a large staple?) deep in the treads of in one of my GT Radial SX2 (miraculously it didn't seem to be leaking air and I drove on it for quite a couple of months after the race season was over).

Now that race season is starting, I am left with 3 options:
1) Buy another 225 45R17 GT Radial SX2 to replace this one. Keep running 3mm spacers for front strut clearance.
2) Patch the existing tire, keep running spacers up front (and 225 square)
3) Buy a pair of 215 45R 17 GT Radial SX2, run the 215s up front (hopefully without spacers) and 225s in the back.

By the way, the wheels are Enkei VR5 w/ 45mm offsets. I really disliked having to run spacers (although if I dial the camber from -2.4* back to -2.0*, I may be able to run without spacers)

[Subsonic]

Pull the metal out of the tyre. If it doesn't leak, race on. If it leaks, plug it and race on.

this has nothing to do with running a staggered setup or not. You obviously have the wrong wheel offset if you need a 3mm spacer, but that's so small I wouldn't even think about running a different tyre up front to remove it.

Race on!

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by SmoothIsSlow

I found a nail (or rather a large staple?) deep in the treads of in one of my GT Radial SX2 (miraculously it didn't seem to be leaking air and I drove on it for quite a couple of months after the race season was over).

Now that race season is starting, I am left with 3 options:
1) Buy another 225 45R17 GT Radial SX2 to replace this one. Keep running 3mm spacers for front strut clearance.
2) Patch the existing tire, keep running spacers up front (and 225 square)
3) Buy a pair of 215 45R 17 GT Radial SX2, run the 215s up front (hopefully without spacers) and 225s in the back.

4)Get sponsored by a tire company.

[treedodger]

I have patched a few SX2's and they have never leaked. As long as the hole is not near the sidewall, a proper "tire off" patch will work fine.

I would stay with 'square' setup to maintain your over/under steer balance. Also better tire life, as you can rotate your tires.

Originally Posted by SmoothIsSlow

I found a nail (or rather a large staple?) deep in the treads of in one of my GT Radial SX2 (miraculously it didn't seem to be leaking air and I drove on it for quite a couple of months after the race season was over).

Now that race season is starting, I am left with 3 options:
1) Buy another 225 45R17 GT Radial SX2 to replace this one. Keep running 3mm spacers for front strut clearance.
2) Patch the existing tire, keep running spacers up front (and 225 square)
3) Buy a pair of 215 45R 17 GT Radial SX2, run the 215s up front (hopefully without spacers) and 225s in the back.

By the way, the wheels are Enkei VR5 w/ 45mm offsets. I really disliked having to run spacers (although if I dial the camber from -2.4* back to -2.0*, I may be able to run without spacers)