I'm going to plug my tire

[Planecrazy]

sadly my life is not worth much, and if I went poof today I would be forgotten tomorrow.

No chance of that, Pal! We, here, at the GSR would notice the "rip" in the continuum immediately!!

Regards,

[BassCliff]

You guys are great!

Wow, this is kind of like an oil thread.

Anyway, I plugged the tire and it's working fine. I'm not dead yet. I'm riding very gingerly on my daily commutes, checking the tire pressure every time before I ride. It hasn't lost any pressure at all. I understand about possible/probable damage to the tire's belts and will replace the tires as soon as I get a chance. I can still opt to drive my old truck too.

Thank you all for sharing your expertise and your concern.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[82Shafty]

I see both sides of the argument: certain styles of plugs will get you home if that's what you need them to do, but be forewarned that a plug should (in theory) only be used as an emergency on a motorcycle.

I'm a bit more with Steve on this one, as insurance costs are outrageous enough right along with hospitalization costs on top of everything else, and in retrospect, I think that all of us, if at that fork in a road, would gladly pay 125 dollars to keep safety as a number one priority.

It appears that some riders on here have not only successfully plugged cycle tires, but have ridden on them for a decent amount of time: good to know.

http://www.soundrider.com/archive/tips/tire_sense.htm

Dunlop Recommends

Some punctures in motorcycle tires may be repaired.

Dunlop recommends only permanent plug-patch repairs of small (maximum 1/4-inch diameter) tread area punctures from within the dismounted tire by a qualified tire repair shop or motorcycle dealer. Never perform an exterior repair and never use an inner tube as a substitute for a proper repair. Speed should not exceed 50 mph for the first 24 hours after repair and the repaired tire should never be used over 75 mph. Check inflation pressure after tire cools for at least three (3) hours following run-in, or sooner if air loss is suspected.

No form of temporary repair should be attempted because secondary damage caused by a penetrating object may not be detected and tire or tube deflation may occur at a later date.

Dunlop does not recommend the use of liquid sealants. These are a form of temporary repair, and they may adversely affect ply material and mask secondary damage caused by a penetrating object. Reliance upon sealants can result in sudden tire failure and accident.

http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/infocenter_tiretips.asp?id=13

Everyone please ride safe out there!

[duaneage]

I keep tubes on hand and I have a tire machine so that represents my options on flats. I also keep old tires on spare rims. They may be slim on tread but they hold air. In 30 minutes I can change a wheel right out.

Obviously if the tire is close to worn out replacement is the answer.

[MelodicMetalGod]

Wow, this is kind of like an oil thread.

Anyway, I plugged the tire and it's working fine. I'm not dead yet. I'm riding very gingerly on my daily commutes, checking the tire pressure every time before I ride. It hasn't lost any pressure at all. I understand about possible/probable damage to the tire's belts and will replace the tires as soon as I get a chance. I can still opt to drive my old truck too.

Thank you all for sharing your expertise and your concern.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Well, sounds like you've made up your mind to run with the plugged tire for the short term. My two cents, like man others, is that while it can be done, it's just not a risk I'm willing to take if a new tire is available.

That said, keep us posted on how the patch/plug works over the next few weeks and, for goodness sake, let us know when you've gotten a proper replacement on there!

Best of luck!

[twr1776]

This is definately like an oil thread

I was about to post the exact same thing -- I've used the "gummy worm" string type plugs several times for far more miles than advised, with never a problem. I now simply carry the sticky strings, glue, and the installing tools, along with a tiny electric air compressor.
These Nealy kits are considered some of the best available:
http://www.tirerepairkit.com/

I can attest to the string type plugs working. On the way to the SE Rally last year somewhere if BF North Carolina Al picked up an arrow shaped rock in his rear tire and it went flat. We were VERY fortunate that BWringer was with us and had his tire repair kit. After plugging the tire in a gas station parking lot we were able to keep going and unfortunately Wheelers did not have a decent sticky tire to replace it with. We kept checking and the patch did not lose any air and I think the plugged tire ran about 1000 miles but it got him home. I probably would not run a plug on the front for more than getting to somewhere for a replacement tire but on the back it seemed to hold up pretty well. I am definately going to start to carry a kit on long trips, without them we would have been SOL.

[alke46]

Was it this hotly debated item that caused the site to go down for so long? Sure hope not.

Oh by the way, if any of you knew me and my kind of luck, you would know that I was not "just lucky". Heck I can buy a hundred lottery tickets and probably not have more than two matching numbers on any given drawing.

Happy New Year and happy motoring throughout '09.

[Planecrazy]

Was it this hotly debated item that caused the site to go down for so long? Sure hope not.

Oh by the way, if any of you knew me and my kind of luck, you would know that I was not "just lucky". Heck I can buy a hundred lottery tickets and probably not have more than two matching numbers on any given drawing.

Happy New Year and happy motoring throughout '09.

See? There it is!!! You used up all your luck on the tire repairs instead of putting it where it really counts ... in lottery tickets!

Regards,

[bonanzadave]

Dunlop Recommends
never use an inner tube as a substitute for a proper repair.

This also came out of that Dunlop website...

"With a tube inserted, a tubeless tire may be fitted to a tube-type wheel."

I guess I have the opposite - A tube less tire (Dunlop 491), on a tubeless rim, with a tube in it. Ive never changed my own tires so a tire shop must have done that. When I picked up a screw last summer the shop just put a new tube in it.

[tkent02]

I don't agree with a lot on this thread.

If flats were that dangerous, a lot of us be dead any times over.

Don't see how an inner tube is any more dangerous in a tubeless tire/wheel than in one that is made for tubes, they were plenty safe before tubeless bike tires were invented.
The idea of more heat being generated with a tube may be true, but if the air pressure is anywhere near correct it will never be an issue.

Sure the manufacturers say replace, that's their business, and if everyone in the world ran old poorly repaired tires there may be a few problems. Does not mean if I run a plugged tire a few days it will explode.

If the tire was damaged and started to come apart you would notice long before it failed.
They get lumps that you can feel, if you keep running it chunks of tread may eventually come off. Not going to be rolling perfectly smoothly and then instantly blow, unless the rubber is very old, or heat damaged by running with low air pressure, or grossly overloaded/overinflated.

That said, tires are cheap, get a new one when you can.

[flyingace]

My $.02

If running on plugged tires is so dangerous, where are the testimonials from GSers that have had them blow while riding? I haven't found one yet. I don't think they ALL died from it. If anyone has had this happen to them, please let us know. It would make me rethink.

To me, it's a choice, not a dogma (i.e. 'you must replace a punctured tire'). If I had a brand new, high-dollar tire, I would patch it. If my tire was old and within 2K miles of needing replacement anyway - I would.

[Steve]

I have had trouble inserting a plug or two, but that was before I discovered that you need to use PLENTY of glue when you install the plug. The glue also acts as a lubricant to get the plug through the hole. I was afraid that more glue would mean longer drying time, delaying when I could add air and ride. I was about 500 miles from home, on my way home, and didn't want to sit still any longer than absolutely necessary.

Once the tire was plugged correctly (meaning that the gummy worm was successfully inserted), I have never even had an air leak, let alone any kind of failure with a plug.

.

[bonanzadave]

So plugs and tubes are OK for some but not for others.

How about retreads ?

http://www.cycletires.com/faqs.htm

[flyingace]

So plugs and tubes are OK for some but not for others.

How about retreads ?

http://www.cycletires.com/faqs.htm

I've seen too many truck tire retreads by the side of the road to consider using them. The difference here is that you choose a retread to replace a worn tire - different from getting a nail in your new tire. If you mean use a retread to replace a punctured tire - see sentence #1.

[bwringer]

I've seen too many truck tire retreads by the side of the road to consider using them. The difference here is that you choose a retread to replace a worn tire - different from getting a nail in your new tire. If you mean use a retread to replace a punctured tire - see sentence #1.

Better not fly anywhere ever again, unless it's on a float plane... the main business of the company that makes the retread motorcycle tires is retreading aircraft tires.

They don't make tires in GS sizes anyway, although it would be fun to have a set of blue tires to match my GS850.