I'm going to plug my tire

[Planecrazy]

In my opinion, the bottom line is this:

In a four (or more) wheeled vehicle one's life does not depend on two small patches of rubber in contact with the road. Instead, there are at least four patches, and only two directly control the steering (except in rare instances). The result is that when one of those tires blows it is still possible to maintain a large degree of control while bringing the vehicle to a safe stop.

By contrast, a motorcycle relies on both tires for both stability and steering. If the rear tire blows it's difficult but possible to bring the bike to a safe stop. If the front tire blows the ability to safely steer the bike is largely lost, but if one is lucky it will still roll smoothly enough to stop. If one is not so lucky, the tire will bind up somewhere and cause an abrupt skid with the rider likely flying over the handlebars and off the bike.

It seems like a no-brainer to me ... Whether the chances are a million to one or not do you REALLY want to be that one in a million who runs out of luck because your life wasn't worth a couple hundred bucks to insure with 100% reliable rubber? Go ahead if you must, but aside from safely and slowly milking a bike home from a roadside repair I find it to be incredibly bad judgement to even take the chance, certainly not on a front tire and only minimally less reckless on the rear.

So having said that, I consider this thread to be useful to anyone riding the fence on the issue. Those of you who have successfully skirted the odds most likely won't be convinced even if logic is on my side, and those who agree with me have had their own opinions reinforced by what they've read from others who share their view.

Stay safe!

Regards,

[tone]

This is simply not possible. No matter how well done a repair (professional or otherwise) is done, the tire will NEVER be as safe as an undamaged tire, simply because the belt structure has been compromised.
Regards,

This is your opinion only mate, as stated before mine & that of others differs, none of us are tyre manufacturers so thats all anything posted on this thread is ......AN OPINION

Mine is based on experiance, i dont know what yours is based on but you are still entitled to that opinion one thing to think about tho is would people be able to sell repair kits specifically for bikes if there were safety issues ? i'm particularly thinking of in the US here because i'm sure someone over there would have sued for damages if there really were issues

cheers tone

[BassCliff]

The Plug Report

Hi everyone,

Terrific discussion. I've learned a lot about tires. Believe me, I would replace the tire if I could, but it has lots of wear left and a new tire will not fit into the budget for another three weeks.

This is my sixth day with the plug. It hasn't lost an ounce of air yet. It feels fine, no odd behavior. I am being rather conservative in my riding. I check the pressure every time before I ride and visually inspect the plug at least once a day, usually in the morning.

This is the plug kit I used, the Slime 1043-A kit which I picked up at my local AutoZone.



I put a little bit of glue on the rasp tool before reaming out the puncture. Then I coated the plug string with glue before inserting. Just follow the directions and it should work fine. My puncture was caused by a 1 1/2" sheet metal screw. It came out cleanly and wasn't bent. For screws it is recommended that you actually un-screw them from your tire to minimize damage to belts or cords in the tire's construction.

Please excuse me if I've repeated myself or become redundant.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[flyingace]

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.

I didn't know that, but I've never seen a plane screech thru a curve at 90+.

[tkent02]

I didn't know that, but I've never seen a plane screech thru a curve at 90+.

I have, way more than 90+, (more like 160) on all retreads. Most all commercial airplanes run retreads. They all go two or three or four times retreaded. Never seen one fail except for brake failures, punctures from debris, and because of running with low air pressure.
These tires are inspected visually every flight, pressure checked daily, and retreaded under very strict quality control.

Would I run a retread on my bike?

Hell, no. I WOULDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.

[Planecrazy]

Right here goes .... ive run properly plugged tyres for thousands of miles with no problems, note i said PROPERLY eg the plug is fitted by a professional from the inside of the tyre (glued mushroom type) & only ever in the reccomended area (the certral 3rd of the tread) this type of plug becomes an integral part of the tyre & is as safe as a tyre with no plug

The reason people not in the know about such things dislike the idea is because of the temporary plugs which are available that have speed & load ratings which if exeeded can cause problems

So imo if you cant get it done properly dont bother but if you can carry on you wont have a problem

This is simply not possible. No matter how well done a repair (professional or otherwise) is done, the tire will NEVER be as safe as an undamaged tire, simply because the belt structure has been compromised. Riding such a tire at speed (especially speedy twisties) is asking for trouble that somebody will eventually experience. Note that I acknowledged above the low likelihood that it would happen, but ANY risk, IMO, isn't worth the cheap price of a brand new tire. I, personally, would plug a tire long enough to safely pilot the bike home and then bite the bullet and replace it...

Regards,

This is your opinion only mate, as stated before mine & that of others differs, none of us are tyre manufacturers so thats all anything posted on this thread is ......AN OPINION

Mine is based on experiance, i dont know what yours is based on but you are still entitled to that opinion one thing to think about tho is would people be able to sell repair kits specifically for bikes if there were safety issues ? i'm particularly thinking of in the US here because i'm sure someone over there would have sued for damages if there really were issues

cheers tone

Not to press the point, Tone, but while your original post IS an opinion mine is a fact. You base your opinion on your own experience, while I base the factual statement I made on what science knows about metallurgy and fabrics used for the belts, and what the laws of physics state about compromising both the structure of those belts as well as the strength of the material itself once it's been stretched and/or ripped by a screw or nail. No matter how well done the repair, it is physically impossible for the repaired part of the tire to be 100% as good as an undamaged tire ... simple as that.

Am I saying a properly repaired tire isn't roadworthy? No, not necessarily - your experience proves that they CAN be and I accept that. However, I'm not willing to risk my life on the admittedly long odds that the tire would hold up under regular exposure to superslab speeds and "spirited" carving of twisties (which is the way I ride). I simply want the most important part of my motorcycle, bar none, to be 100% structurally acceptable, not 75%, not 95%, not 99%.

That's part of the reason I actually replaced my tires well before they were worn to anything remotely considered questionable (and gave them to another GSR member who is happy to put thousands more miles on them before they'll actually need replacing). No, I'm not made of money ... I just feel that it's extremely cheap life insurance and I'm willing to bite the bullet and pay a premium for peace of mind.

You feel differently about the risks you're willing to take ... that's fine with me. I suspect you'll never have a problem with your properly repaired tires (and I hope that turns out to be the case), but I'm just not willing to bet my life on the possibility that those compromised belts might just let go at an inopportune time. There was a time when I was younger (as I mentioned in a previous post) when I wouldn't have thought twice about plugging a tire and going along my merry way. I'd still do it on a car tire without concern.

Regards,

[flyingace]

Not to press the point, Tone, but while your original post IS an opinion mine is a fact. You base your opinion on your own experience, while I base the factual statement I made on what science knows about metallurgy and fabrics used for the belts, and what the laws of physics state about compromising both the structure of those belts as well as the strength of the material itself once it's been stretched and/or ripped by a screw or nail. No matter how well done the repair, it is physically impossible for the repaired part of the tire to be 100% as good as an undamaged tire ... simple as that.

Am I saying a properly repaired tire isn't roadworthy? No, not necessarily - your experience proves that they CAN be and I accept that. However, I'm not willing to risk my life on the admittedly long odds that the tire would hold up under regular exposure to superslab speeds and "spirited" carving of twisties (which is the way I ride). I simply want the most important part of my motorcycle, bar none, to be 100% structurally acceptable, not 75%, not 95%, not 99%.

That's part of the reason I actually replaced my tires well before they were worn to anything remotely considered questionable (and gave them to another GSR member who is happy to put thousands more miles on them before they'll actually need replacing). No, I'm not made of money ... I just feel that it's extremely cheap life insurance and I'm willing to bite the bullet and pay a premium for peace of mind.

You feel differently about the risks you're willing to take ... that's fine with me. I suspect you'll never have a problem with your properly repaired tires (and I hope that turns out to be the case), but I'm just not willing to bet my life on the possibility that those compromised belts might just let go at an inopportune time. There was a time when I was younger (as I mentioned in a previous post) when I wouldn't have thought twice about plugging a tire and going along my merry way. I'd still do it on a car tire without concern.

Regards,

Plane,

I do believe you are a little bit mental about your tires. Just my opinion

[argonsagas]

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

This is good, so far, Cliff.

Along with the ginger, I would add some lime juice, garlic, coriander leaves and maybe a few peanuts, to ensure the right Thai pressures.

[BassCliff]

Very punny!

This is good, so far, Cliff.

Along with the ginger, I would add some lime juice, garlic, coriander leaves and maybe a few peanuts, to ensure the right Thai pressures.

GROAN!


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[bwringer]

Plane,

I do believe you are a little bit mental about your tires. Just my opinion

I do believe he'd happily agree with you, too!

Nothing wrong at all with erring on the side of caution. Steve has three or four very good reasons at home to do so.

[Planecrazy]

I do believe he'd happily agree with you, too!

Nothing wrong at all with erring on the side of caution. Steve has three or four very good reasons at home to do so.

Yes ... I agree, hehe!

Two little reasons and one grown up reason!

Regards,

[chef1366]

55 posts and growing.

[tone]

Hey planecrazy
I understand your opinion completely & do not wish to argue with you on the point but feel i have to answer that last long post

Heres some facts of my own
I'm a single dad with 2 good reasons of my own to stay safe so would never use a plug if i deemed it dangerous, my family have more to lose than most !

Ive been having plugs professionally fitted for many years with no problems but would never use an off the shelf kit

I deem a tyre with anything more than a direct round hole puncture scrap eg any ripping away from the hole i throw the tyre

With the type of puncture described above (as caused by a nail or screw) the integrety of the tyre remains intact, all that will have happened is the belts will have parted as in when putting a needle through cloth

I agree that if you are in doubt you should replace the tyre the judgement is down to the individual & the professional doing the job

As mentioned before properly plugging a tyre would not be allowed if there were safety issues involved

regards tone