| Author | Message | ||
     Chuckc |
Hey Guys quick question. I had a small nail in my back tire and was able to plug it and now it holds air. The tire only had approx. 1500 miles on it. In your opinion is this safe. I found both views. Some say No way and others say No problem. Thanks in advance. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I think you will find the same varying opinions here. | ||
| Pizzaboy |
I got a nail in my first rear tire with less than 1000 on my odometer. I was pissed. It happened in the middle of a long day ride. I made it home and it was still holding air perfectly so I continued to ride on it. I wore my tire out with the nail still in it, still holding air. As it turns out, the nail didn't make it all the way through the tire, just sideways through a bunch of tread. I recommend not riding on the tire, change it asap. You DONT want to take chances when youre on 2 wheels | ||
| Bikejunky |
I would have to say that you would find very few service centers that would recommend riding on a plug with a bike that is capable of moving at over 150MPH. It's likely that most Buell dealers would refuse to plug a tire because of the liability associated with a plug flying out of your tire and you possibly crashing. Owners don't like being sued out of business... | ||
| Teddagreek |
Plug then Patch from the inside.. | ||
| D_adams |
Patch if required to get you through until you get a new tire. Personally, I'd not ride more than 1 day on a patched tire, but in a pinch, maybe 2 or 3 days if I were a long way from home. Sure, the patch "might" hold for a long time, but it's your life you're dealing with. Are you willing to add more risk to the sport of riding? | ||
| Clarkjw |
Front tires should never be plugged. You can ride on a plugged rear if you seal the plug right from the inside. | ||
| Carbonbigfoot |
FWIW: I have plugged a tire and then very carefully ramped up riding all the way up to doing a big smokey burnout with the PLUG IN THE CENTER OF THE CONTACT PATCH, TRYING to get the plug to fail. Could not MAKE it go poof. Do what you are comfortable with, bottom line, but I have found that the guys that say Plugs = Death are the ones that never do it, and the guys that use plugs say "Eh, no big deal. I do it all the time." Once again, do what you feel comfortable with, you are taking your life in your hands. But then again, you do that every time you fire your bike up. See dealer for details, tt&l not included, your mileage may vary. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, DPS, DOD, DOE, MADD, DAMM, NRA, OSHA, OR BMC. R | ||
| 1_mike |
Question - If you know you are going to get varied answers...why are you asking ? My answer, I've had very good luck with the conical plugs that go in from the outside. I've had one fail...and that was before I put air in the tire...! Operator error. That said, I've gone no faster than 100mph...and that was an experiment. I've also stayed away from the canyons with plugs. For the record...the most plugs in one tire was....7..! Do NOT do this at home..! Mike | ||
| Avc8130 |
Check out Dunlop. They allow for repairing their motorcycle tires under certain conditions. ac | ||
| Slypiranna |
Replace the tire, period. | ||
| Doctorneon |
Ok my turn. Remove the tire take it to someplace that can put a patch plug in it from the inside. Try somewhere like ntw etc. Now how bout that? | ||
| Semper_1120fi |
I grew up fixing tires at my 'ol man's auto repair shop and I say either patch it from the inside or lay down the cash for some new rubber. If that happens to me I'm buying a new tire. | ||
| Teddagreek |
Motorcycle Tubeless Tire Repair Information Dunlop recommends only permanent repairs performed from the inside of the tire, using a combination patch/plug method. Never attempt a repair from the outside, or inject a sealant, or simply use an innertube, a patch or a plug as a substitute for a proper repair. Only a qualified tire repair shop or motorcycle tire dealer should perform repairs. Inspection of the tire and adequacy of repair becomes the responsibility of the person actually performing the repair and Dunlop does not warrant the results of a repair in any way. Combination patch/plug repair kits for use by the repair shop or dealer are available with accompanying instructions from companies such as: Remarco Inc. 200 Paris Ave. Northvale, NJ 07647 (201) 768-8100 Technical Rubber Co. P.O. Box 486 Johnstown, OH 43031 (740) 967-9015 Tip-Top/Moto Combi Kit Tech Uni-SealŪ Repair Kit (Also has been marketed by Honda, Kawasaki, and Yamaha with their own part numbers.) NOTE: There may be suitable repair kits and materials provided by manufacturers other than those listed above. | ||
| Jdugger |
At 1500 miles, the tire is so worn out it's not worth trying to save anyway. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I've never had a problem with any internal patches... I think I have done it three times and run the result for at least 5000 total miles under all sorts of conditions. The classic "external" patches (sticky rope) seem to do an awful lot of damage when going in. I keep some on the bike "to get me home", but I will decide up front if I want to use them to get home or leave them out and get the bike home some other way and repair the tire right from the inside. Obviously, adding a patch on the inside can't undo structural damage. So if its a slice or a lot of steel has been cut, the tire is toast. | ||
| Carbonbigfoot |
If there is damage to a cord, and you can see or feel a ball, obviously there are some safety issues. But I'm telling you guys, I have done this (external plugs as a permant repair) on motorcycle tires that i ride on every day at least 6 times that I can count, probably more like 10. My memory sucks. My all means, do what you are comfortable with, but I hate pissing off money. I change my tires when I can see the cords. R | ||
| Jdugger |
> I hate pissing off money. I change my tires when I can see the cords I hate pissing away money, too. Like, repairing a crash that shouldn't have happened. I replace my tires when they don't feel right anymore. I've had some go all the way to the cords, but a lot of times they will have had enough heat cycles on them to get crispy before they even make the wearbar on the sides, and there's LOTS of center tread left. You can feel them starting to give -- you get a lot more squirm and some drift you don't get with new tires. At that point I just sell 'em to the squids. They think they are getting a deal. | ||
| Zac4mac |
+1 Rob Last tire on Loretta only lasted a little over 5k until cords were showing. It took several minutes of smoking in first and second before it popped. A local "patch-holder" commented "he's crazy" or some such. Guess he's never been to the Full Throttle Saloon at Sturgis... Only sustained minor damage from the steel belts flapping. I shut her down as soon as the tire popped. Sounded like a .38 Oh yeah - Thanks to Alex Tinsley for the photos, his Uly is in the last photo.     Z | ||
| Chuckc |
New Tire ordered today. Like Carbonbigfoot said it comes down to what I am comfortable with. If I have to question its safety every time I get on the bike, I am going to replace it. A new tire is cheaper than an emergency room visit or worse. Thanks for the input. | ||
| Bigblock |
I have found the rope plugs to work the best, and have even plugged a front tire, but I had a new one on the same week, and I have had rears last a couple thousand miles. However, I would only recommend plugs as a way to get you home, and certainly wouldn't feel comfortable doing any real high speed stuff. Of course, a patch from the inside is probably best, but if you're taking it off, why not just put a new tire on? | ||
| Jdugger |
Sometimes they last to the very end.... sometimes they don't  | ||
| Bearly |
My 2 cents is that a patch should be done only to drive to a place where a tire change can be accomplished. When Im changing a worn out tire, I'm always amazed on how thin these tires are when the tread is gone. | ||
| Avc8130 |
Jdugger, I don't see any damage from a plug...is that what we are supposed to see in that pic? That looks like a tire that just wored to the cords. ac | ||
| Jdugger |
There's no plug in that tire... more of a response to the "feel" thing than anything else. Replace them when they start to give. Sometimes that's half-way through the tread. Sometimes it's at the cords. Depends on what you have been doing with the tire. The tire in that pic probably has less than 1,000 miles on it. How people here get 5k+ on a rear is beyond me... | ||
| Carbonbigfoot |
Just took another look at this thread... Awesome pics, Zac! Nothing like giving your inner child a lungfull of smoke! R | ||
| Clarkjw |
Jdugg, please see a suspension tec at your next track day. Unless you've been riding ovals, your fork settings are either WAY off, or you have a side car. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
The tire in that pic probably has less than 1,000 miles on it. Have you considered becoming a Pirelli dealer? That would have to save you a ton of dough. | ||
| Jdugger |
That tire is a combination of 3 days of Cresson Motorsports Ranch and then about 600 miles in Arkansas Ozarks twisties. The track is notorious for eating tires, and it's heavily left-oriented. The right side is actually at the wear bar, just the picture doesn't show it. | ||
| Slypiranna |
"New Tire ordered today. Like Carbonbigfoot said it comes down to what I am comfortable with. If I have to question its safety every time I get on the bike, I am going to replace it. A new tire is cheaper than an emergency room visit or worse. Thanks for the input." Gentlemen, The thread starter just thanked YOU ALL! Why is this thread still rambling on? Stop sign ahead! Who's gonna run it!? |
