| Author | Message | ||
     984gasm |
Can anyone tell me their experience with plugging/patching their tires. I have a brand new pirelli and just noticed a nail dead center, and really don't have the money to replace the tire and then have it mounted again. | ||
| Diablobrian |
do a search of plug and tire. I'm very much against tire plugs, having had a bad experience with one. However the umbrella plugs are the best of the bunch. Other people have had better experience, but I'm of the opinion it only takes one to do you some serious hurt. It's up to you ultimately. | ||
| Boogman |
I used a plug ... on my new pilot powers .. same deal .. picked up a nail .. on the second day .. its held up great ..have done about 2000miles .. I check the plug regularly .. it has a slow leak now .. but I wouldnt trust it on the track .. there will be lots of comments / opinions about this .. personal choice .. for me Ive used the same plugs for years .. but it is in the back of the mind ... will be replacing the tyre soon ( its just over 1/2 warn) but atleast i got some riding out of it .. and tire pricing in OZ is expensive in comparision to the US .. AUD$300 (US$225) for the rear pilot power ... it is a shame that a nail can cause so much grief .. My 2c worth | ||
| Brewtus |
"I'm very much against tire plugs, having had a bad experience with one." Can you go into more detail about this? Just worried about it because I ride through a LOT of construction sites and I KNOW I am going to pick one up. What happened? Thanks, Rob. | ||
| Xring |
Got a nail in my original Dunlops. Had a group ride next day, and plugged it and rode. It leaked pretty bad. I tried again and it still leaked, and I replaced the tires with Scorpions. I didn't have a catastrophic failure with the plugs; the tire just leaked down slowly. If there is no structural damage to the tire, a tire shop may put a patch on the inside for you. One shop I used to go to said that is the only way they'd do it. Good luck, Bill | ||
| Soggycal |
I picked up a nail about 300 miles into my original rear Dunlop, I plugged it and have been on it ever since, almost 6000 miles with no problems. No leaks at all. I planned on replacing the tire right away but decided to see how far the plug would go. I am getting close to replacing the tire due to normal wear and the plug has lasted. | ||
| 984gasm |
I guess it's hit and miss, I'd rather plug it so I don't have to pull the tire and have it dismounted and remounted to patch.. | ||
| Jackbequick |
The issue with plugs is that bike tires are rather thin and do not have much holding power for plugs. Also, the nature of the plies in radial tires can sort of "saw" or "work" the plug as the tire flexes, especially in steel belted radials. Those can combine to get the plug leaking. When the outside is worn off (and that does not take long at all, on a drive tire) the plug will fall off inside the tire. If a hole is large enough to allow the tire to deflate pretty quickly plugging can be very dangerous. If it starts deflating while you are riding, you may not sense it quick enough. Bikes can become uncontrollable as a tire goes flat. My experience has been that they tend to want to go into a side to side steering thing that can quickly turn into a high side. And trying to use the brake on the wheel with the flat can compound problems and do some horrible things. During the side to side steering thing the rim will be hitting the pavement on one side and then the other and rim damage can happen. The inside patch is probably worth trying but I'd really keep an eye on the tire pressure until it showed a period of holding pressure well. The flexing of the tire can eventually loosen even a glued on inside patch. I'd plug a small hole in an emergency and ride cautiously until I could get home and get it either inside patched replace the tire. A bigger puncture that let the tire deflate very fast, like from hitting a sharp object, is not a candidate for plugging or patching IMHO. Jack | ||
| Eexb |
I agree that plugs should be used for emergency repairs only. That said - has anyone had success with using the CO2 inflaters to re-inflate a tire after getting a flat. Thanks for any info. EE | ||
| Diablobrian |
Brewtus, I had about 300 miles on a new set of Diablo Corsas when I took a nail the the day before I had to pack up for homecoming this year. I plugged it, against my better judgment, because my options were very limited. I got 100 or so miles of riding during homecoming, before the plug came out at 12:30 friday night in a group ride on the highway heading back to Steve_Mackay's house where I was staying. The bike gave a little side to side wiggle a few seconds before the rear started going wildly side to side. There were a few seconds where I was sure my son and I were going to the hospital that night, but my son was a good passenger, and I was able to bring us to a safe stop on a narrow shoulder. It was a VERY scary ride. I may have gotten a bit of an adrenalin rush, ask the people that were there  (The Friday night Buell relay team) My intent for worst case was that I was going to get a new tire at the track on saturday morning. I thought the 200 or so miles I would have needed the tire to last would really be no problem other than my needing to take it east until then. I could have gotten a different rear tire, but mismatched profiles are a problem with a bike as sensitive to tires as the XB is so I chose to wait. I was at fault for what happened, but if I was to do it over I don't know that I would do it much differently. I did not want to miss homecoming, but for a lesser, or non-event I wouldn't patch a tire again except to limp the bike home in an emergency situation. It is a risky proposition, just because some people have gotten away with it does not make it less risky. A new rear tire is about $200, a front is even less Most people can come up with the cost of a new tire within a couple of weeks if they "have to". I'd call a punctured tire a "have to" situation on a motorcycle. If it's not your primary vehicle, park it until you can put a new tire on it. If it is your primary transportation that makes it that much more important that you have a set of good tires on it. Your health and well being are what you are what you're gambling with. Is it worth the risk? For me it's not. I don't need a refresher on just how bad it can go. Been there, done that. | ||
| Snackbar64 |
You are better off leaving the nail in the tire than you would be plugging it. | ||
| Damnut |
It's hit or miss. I got a nail in my tire the day after I replaced it because of a pretty bad slice that the original one got while ridding one day. I just bought the tire and didn't feel like buying another brand new one 2 days apart, so I plugged it. I've got about 4K on the plugged tire now with no issues of leaking, yet. It all depends on what you want to do. Buy a new tire, plug it, patch it. It's your bike!!! Do what you think is right. I think plugging it is OK and others don't. You will get that about any question about tires, grips, lights.....ect ect ect. Just my opinion. Do hate me for it  | ||
| Rich |
Being an old fart, as a young man, I worked in an actual gas station, so I patched and plugged a lot of tires, including bikes. I plug them, if they're in good shape. If it holds pressure, I run it. If it leaks AT ALL, it's new tire time. The co2 fix? Three will get you to more air, I carry six, in that kit. Those cheap 12V compressors are so small now, I generally carry one of them, when I go out of town. Used it on my Harley last fall, when I was 500 miles from home. By riding home, then changing the tire myself, I propbably saved $200. BUT, I was on backroads, not the Interstate. | ||
| Brewtus |
Thanks for the info guys. think I will take it as it comes, but Diablobrians story is enough to make me think REAL hard before I repair permanently . I too plug a lot of tires for emergency repairs ( My girlfriend seems to find EVERY nail in the road!)but on a bike I had not really thought about it. |
