I'm going to plug my tire

[Guest]

Hi everyone,

I was going to take a quick afternoon spin though my favorite local canyons. I had been working hard in the yard all day and was going to treat myself. But when I got the garage I found a hex head screw in my rear tire and it was flat. This tire still has plenty of life left in it, at least 3000 miles, but the front tire is almost finished. I was hoping to poke in a plug patch and ride it for another 1000 miles or so, then replace both the front and rear tires. I can afford them better next month.

Will you share your tips and suggestions on how to properly install a plug so that it will give me no grief? I talked to a mechanic friend of mine who uses plugs all the time. He said that if properly done, they will outlast the tire. But this will be for only a few weeks of daily commute. I'll replace the tires as soon as it fits in the budget. Thanks for your time.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[80GS1000]

Most people you ask will advise you NOT to patch or plug a motorcycle tire.

You have two tires and one life. Think of a new tire as a very, very cheap life insurance policy. A blowout on a bike tire would be disastrous. Then pick up a new front when you can afford it.

I had a new Michelin Pilot Power on my bike that picked up a nail within 500 miles. Aggravating and expensive as it was, I replaced it. Peace of mind is worth a lot.

[chef1366]

Put a tube in it Cliff.

[Billy Ricks]

These are the only patches I trust. I've used just plugs and just patches and had problems with both. Never had a problem with these though, a combination of both. They require removing the tire from the rim but they do work.

http://www.blackjacktirerepair.com/index.asp?child=6

[jed.only]

These are the only patches I trust. I've used just plugs and just patches and had problems with both. Never had a problem with these though, a combination of both. They require removing the tire from the rim but they do work.

http://www.blackjacktirerepair.com/index.asp?child=6

firestone uses these at their locations. im willing to bet if you went by there, they'd probably give you one for nothing. IIRC they are called "the patch".




the thing about patches is, you have to buff the inner liner to give the patch something to adhere to. all of the oils within the tire compound migrate to the inner liner. you also have to apply a glue,even though the patch has adhesive. you can buy patches and stuff at parts stores.

[Nessism]

A proper tire plug has a mushroom shaped detail that covers the hole from the inside thus eliminating risk of throwing the plug. I'd get one of those or install a tube like Chef Bill suggests.

Edit: guys above posted while I was typing and beat me to the mushroom patch info.

[Planecrazy]

I'm in the "cheap life insurance" camp, Cliff. I'd just replace the tire and suck up the fact that it might be financially tight for a few weeks - sure beats the hell out of "vacationing" in a hospital bed or worse because the tire blew.

Now, I'm not opposed to the idea of using a good patch or putting a tube in the tire, but if you're going to go to the trouble of taking the tire off in the first place (and you know you'll just have to do it again within a few weeks/few thousand miles) you might as well just replace the darn thing with a nice, new, safer one.

My .02

Regards,

[alke46]

I had a similar experience only mine was on the front. I took the tire off the rim, installed a plug then smoothed it out real good and just for safety and peace of mind, I also installed a tube.
The tire ran just fine until it was time for replacement. All this is contrary to what everybody told me to do. They all seemed to think it would be too risky to run a front tire with a plug.

[tkent02]

+1 on the inner tube. Cheap and safe.

[GQROD]

Here is a link to a you tube video showing the Mushroom Head Patch that was mentioned, i think this would be the safest one especially if you have a lot of tread on your tire. But for long or continious cruising i think replacement would give the best peace of mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPCKda624x4

Hope it helps.

[Planecrazy]

All this is contrary to what everybody told me to do. They all seemed to think it would be too risky to run a front tire with a plug.

(Steps up on soap box)

...So the question becomes, "Because you were lucky and got away with it does that mean it was a good idea?"

I'm not trying to be snide - only to suggest that betting one's life against the chance that a compromised tire might rip apart and cause a potentially fatal accident seems rather foolish compared to spending under $200 for a brand new tire. There was a time when I wouldn't have thought twice about doing exactly the same thing you did, so I'm not judging you ... just saying that with time and age comes wisdom, and those of us who have acquired that wisdom are merely trying to share it with those who will one day acquire it themselves.

When I was young, single, and invincible I did a LOT of reckless things that put my personal safety in jeopardy. Now that I'm older, married, and have two young kids I'm more careful to weigh the risks in everything I do. I don't let fear stop me from living life and trying exciting things (being a motorcyclist certainly confirms this) but I DO attempt to minimize the risk as much as possible without compromising the things that make life worth living. That's why a new tire seems like the obvious choice to me - it truly IS cheap life insurance, especially if it's a front tire.

(steps off soap box)

Regards,

[Billy Ricks]

I've run the plug/patches for a couple thousand miles before, sometimes well over 100mph. I've used them several times on tires too new to discard. Call me crazy, but I never had a problem with any of the tires I used them on.

[spyug]

BC, I was shocked to read your post. I was sure you would never take the chance of plugging a tire especially as you ride the "slab" daily and at a fairly high rate of knots if memory serves. Mighty dangerous no?

I am no expert but I've always understood that you shouldn't plug an m/c and running a tube in a tubless tire can cause a major blowout if the tire is run at speed. I have notes on it somewhere but from memory friction between the inner skin of the tire and the tube causes heat which causes tube expansion and poof!

I think if you're just tooling around town at 30 or 40 mph you could get away with a repair for a week or two but high speed runs would be pushing your nine lives.

Aren't tires cheap down your neck of the woods and don't you.....ahem....have a tutorial on changing same????

Bite the bullet bud and get some new skins....please.

Stay safe.
Cheers,
Spyug

[focus frenzy]

These are the only patches I trust. I've used just plugs and just patches and had problems with both. Never had a problem with these though, a combination of both. They require removing the tire from the rim but they do work.

http://www.blackjacktirerepair.com/index.asp?child=6

very good design, the stem anchors the patch preventing it from rolling up and coming off.

the only way to repair a tire if you choose that path.
the stem also seals the hole preventing water from getting and causing the belts to deteriate or rust.

Most people you ask will advise you NOT to patch or plug a motorcycle tire.

You have two tires and one life. Think of a new tire as a very, very cheap life insurance policy. A blowout on a bike tire would be disastrous. Then pick up a new front when you can afford it.

I had a new Michelin Pilot Power on my bike that picked up a nail within 500 miles. Aggravating and expensive as it was, I replaced it. Peace of mind is worth a lot.

10 miles, 10 &*$%#!*!! miles on this tire, just long enough to pick up the bike and ride home.

180/55-17 radial tires are not cheep!

[Joe Nardy]

One thing that can, and often does, occur when a tire gets punctured is that the threads of the belts in the carcass are damaged. This is much more dangerous than the rubber alone being punctured by a thin object. The threads in the carcass are the real structural strength of the tire and any damage to them seriously compromises the integrity of the tire. While I have never ridden on a plugged tire, I have seen people do it for various distances. Personally I would only ride on a plugged tire far enough to have the tire replaced. Like others have said, it's cheap insurance.

Thanks,
Joe