| Author | Message | ||
     Drfudd |
Well I got up this morning getting ready to take my motorcycle to work like I usually do and what do you know, the back tire only has about 5psi in it, the last time I drove it was 3 days ago. The tire is capable of holding pressure(long enough to get to a repair shop), I did find a small pin hole leak in the middle of the tire. Not sure what caused it, right now my cats are suspect #1 as they use my tires as a scratching post. Although I don't see their claws capable of piercing my tires. So the tires only have 3000 miles on them, the question is, do I use a tire repair kit on it, take it and get it repaired, or just get a new tire. What would you guys/gals do? I heard different results and whether or not its safe to use a tire repair kit on a motorcycle, some say do, some say never. | ||
| Rich |
I generally fix them. Depends, though. The size of the hole, tread wear, etc., helps make the decision. (Message edited by Rich on July 31, 2007) | ||
| Etennuly |
I have plugged many with out a failure yet. Use the smallest plugging tools and plugs that you can so they don't break any belts in the tire. I have been able to get over 3000 miles on a plugged tire to its regular change tread wear. It's not what I like to do, but a tire that will go many more miles needs to unless it shows to be a problem or you are worried about it every time you get on the bike. Just monitor the tire much more often than what you otherwise would. | ||
| Rah7777777 |
if they are fairly new, i'd patch it up! unless your doing over 100 and hitting some major corners on your way to work. | ||
| Acejay |
take it to a shop and get it repaired. if they use a proper plug kit and not that wax rope crap i cant see any problems happening. I went through a real nasty stage where i had 4 punctures within a couple of months. got them repaired each time and had no troubles at all with the tyre. there is no way i would have been paying $1400 for 4 new tyres with no wear on them. never did workout were all the punctures were coming from...... | ||
| Djkaplan |
I go to Wal-Mart and get the tire repair kit with the gummy string and the T-handle tools. It comes with enough 'plugs' to fix 5 tires and it's made in the US of A. Never had a problem with them... but you could, so use your own disgression. | ||
| Kyrocket |
I agree with the Wal-Mart plugs. I bought some years ago and have only had to use them a couple of times so they've already paid for themselves. They're still waiting in the toolbox for the next gremlin. | ||
| Xb12randy |
I disagree with standard walmart tire plugs but that is just my opinion. A boot plug from inside the tire is the only safe way to plug a motorcycle tire. Yes it requires that the tire be broken down off the rim but they are safe to stupid speeds. For a temp and only very temp repair you could use a standard plug but boot plugs are the only ones that are truely fool proof on motorcycles. | ||
| Djkaplan |
"I disagree with standard walmart tire plugs but that is just my opinion." Could you explain why you disagree? I'm not pushing this one way or the other, I just want to know what problems you've personally had so I can take them into account the next time I repair a tire. | ||
| Drfudd |
Right now the tire is only loosing about 2 psi in a 24 hour period so its not all that bad of a leak. But leaks are only gonna get worse, only going to get worse the more I heat up the tire. I'd figure a rope style tire plug will get me to and from work until tax time when I have money to spend on good tires. Called my dealer up and stock tires are 191 for rear & 151 for front, & 63 to mount and balance per tire. I have heard that the inside tire patch is much safer but I'm only going a couple of miles a day and I'm not trying to do 100 mph so based on what I heard I think I'm ok to use a patch kit. | ||
| Djkaplan |
"I have heard that the inside tire patch is much safer..." I had the exact opposite experience with a leak patched from the inside (on a car) once. The tire shop would only patch it from the inside. They had to take the tire off to do it and said that was their policy. It lasted a few weeks and then slowly started leaking a few pounds everyday. I tried to go back, but they said there wasn't any implied warranty on the repair. I saw another garage use the sticky string stuff and they said they never had a problem with them, but they were very careful not to repair anything but simple punctures. Sounded reasonable to me so I bought my own kit and just use my best judgement. My best judgement has screwed me more than once though... | ||
| M1combat |
Get the tires online (should be about 1/2 to 2/3 that price... Take both wheels off yourself and take them to the nearest UJM shop. They generally charge about 15-20 per tire for rubber swap and balance. Most can't balance the rear tire but as long as they mount it correctly it shouldn't cause any trouble. | ||
| Xb9ser |
My local ind. shop for a con. road attack rear was $120 mounted and balanced and front was $97 tax not included. This was wheels off bike. | ||
| Djkaplan |
"Take both wheels off yourself and take them to the nearest UJM shop. They generally charge about 15-20 per tire... " Believe it or not... the only place I can get a deal like that is at the local Harley dealer. Every other place (dealer or independent charges $60 to mount and balance a tire you bring in unless you buy the tire from them. They make it so it's always more expensive to bring your own tire in. I'm getting a tire changer soon... crazy world sometimes. | ||
| Damnut |
I'm getting a tire changer soon... crazy world sometimes. Harbor Freight or the No-Mar bar. Cheap-Cheap tire changers that work great. They pay for themselves in a couple of tire swaps. Also I have used the string type plugs on more than a few occasions without a problem................... so far. But like Megadeth's album says: SO FAR......SO GOOD......SO WHAT!!! | ||
| Aldaytona |
I also disagree with the string plugs. Have used them to make an emergency repair to get home, but they will come out. Had one come out on expressway (after emergency repair within 10 miles of home) and know of a guy who had a near fatal crash from the same thing. Tire manufactures do recommend a plug/patch from inside as a repair, haven't seen one who recommends string plugs. Glad they haven't killed you yet........... | ||
| Xb12randy |
djkaplan I have seen and heard reports of rope plugs working there way out of a bike tire at high speeds. A boot plug installed properly (not a simple inner tire patch) will not leak and there is no way for it to come out. I don't know how to post a picture on here but here is a URL to the type of plug I'm reffering to. http://www.timgilles.com/photogallery/13.60aplugpa tchcombo.jpg (Message edited by xb12randy on August 01, 2007) | ||
| Acejay |
I agree with everything about boot plugs, the only way to go. you should always be taking the tyre off to check the inside of it when you get a puncture for two reasons - a) to properly see the damage on both sides, and b) to make sure there is nothing left in the tyre like a nail or slice of metal. I had my shop repair a tyre once and did not realise they had used a rope plug. it went down again in a couple of hours, and when they took the tyre off turned out it still had a metal splinter buried in it! | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
As usual, I have to agree with Danny. I plugged a good Qualifier with the string stuff, and it has been tight as a tick for almost a thousand miles. The hole was made by a small self tapping screw, just off the center of the tread. Another time, at March Badness IV, I discovered my trailer tires were dry rotted, and I was a thousand miles from home. A good old boy at the local gas station/general store introduced me to the wonders of Green Slime. He put some in the tires, filled them up and then pointed me to the nearest WalMart Super store some fifty miles away, where he assured me I could get some new tires mounted. He was right on all counts. Very nice fellow.  (Message edited by gentleman_jon on August 02, 2007) | ||
| Djkaplan |
"As usual, I have to agree with Danny." You're eventually going to get screwed if you keep doing that, Jon. Like I said earlier... "My best judgement has screwed me more than once..." | ||
| Diablobrian |
Umbrella plugs are the best way to go for a plug, but a plug is never a permanent fix. Tires on a bike are critical to safety, and performance. I had a really nasty experience last year at homecoming, took a nail the day before homecoming, Diablo corsas had less than 300 miles on them. put a plug in it and intended to change out the tire at the track if not before then if someone at a dealership had Diablos in stock. Anyway with about 100 miles on the rubber plug The tire suffers a rapid decompression on the highway at 65 mph in a group of bikes with my son on back. Friday night, middle of nowhere. I was able to ride it to a stop (and it was NOT easy). the "wake-ups" on the edge of the road even broke the beads on the tire! it was a HAIRY ride. If my son wasn't the best passenger that anyone could ask for, and if Steve_Mackay hadn't realized how badly things had suddenly gone for me and backed of and kept traffic off of me....It could have been BAD. I don't relish the thought of sharing an ambulance ride with my son. The bottom line is...Tires aren't cheap, but they aren't that expensive either when you consider how much you have riding on them. (pun intended) I know that there are stories of guys getting thousands of miles out of plugs. Anecdotal evidence is worth about what you pay for it. Even though someone got away with it doesn't mean everyone will. Is it really worth the risk? | ||
| 04buell |
This thread would be a good time to say "Thank You" to the bueller who informed my wife that her back tire was going flat on the way to road america from Hal's on saturday of Homecoming. Also, Thanks to the whole group for stopping to aid in attempted repair. We found air and a tire plug kit at Wall Mart which lasted to road america and back to effnham ill[spiderman] The plug worked great and saved much grief and expense. Homecoming was Awesome! Thanks, Jerry & Carol | ||
| Diablobrian |
Stopping with a Bueller in trouble is only the right thing to do. I stayed on my bike as it looked like you had all the hands on help you needed. I know when I had my blow-out I was...and still am...very grateful for the help of the Buellers of the "Friday night Buell relay team". |
