| Author | Message | ||
     Gambit |
i found a slow leak on my rear and upon closer inspection noticed a small staple in the valley of a tire tread to be the cause. no tire shop around me is willing to work on a motorcycle tire for reasons not stated. would you recommend plugging the tire (DIY) using the kits they sell at Walmart/pep boys? | ||
| Badlionsfan |
the reason is liability. me personally, no plug. if i were to plug it, i'd use the mushroom type plugs from the inside. a patch might be a better idea, but i'd just get a new tire. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
I have used the string type plugs successfully. On a clean hole like a staple I see no reason why you couldn't still get many miles out of the tire with a string type plug. | ||
| Hogs |
I was just going to say That I have plugged many No problems, and also was going to tell ya that many would say " i'd use the mushroom type plugs from the inside. a patch might be a better idea," Its your call there, Wife put Brand new tires on her 05 xbscg12 within a week she picked a nail up dead center.. removed that and put a normal plug in, next week she picked a screw up , Go Figure, removed that and plugged it dead center, 4000 miles later still all good, Picked a nail up in mine as well 04 xbr12 plugged it , 3500 miles later still good.. if its in the valley of the tread I wd. plug it in a heart beat, any wheres close to the sides I wdn`t but thats just me... Also know of many others that just plugged theirs as well.. All comes down to YoU..! | ||
| Kyrocket |
Plug it. Especially if it's in the valley. I was about to go on a ride with some buddies and one of them heard air leaking out of my tire. I'd picked up a nail dead center like Hogs had. Stuck in the one tool to clean/rough it then plugged it with a string. Finished out the season with it, no problems. | ||
| Gambit |
by "string" you mean those gummy worm looking things, right? i'll try plugging it with that, i think the hole the staple made is too small for those "mushroom" type plugs. | ||
| Jos51700 |
I've never understood how the mushroom plug is favorable over the string, but I'd use either in a rear, never in a front. I've plugged many of my personal tires before, I just don't ride aggressively on them. | ||
| Teeps |
I would; but it's my butt on the seat, if something should happen. When I worked at a dealer we would plug a tire only at the customer's request,cash deal; no paper trail. | ||
| Kyrocket |
Right, the gummy worms. Although I wouldn't suggest using one of those, they're to yummy and delicious. Oh, and don't eat the plug strings either. | ||
| Randomchaos |
I have plugged my reartire on my FZ6 before. Rode another 4k miles on that reartire with no problems whatsoever. | ||
| Drfudd |
This tire has a string plug in it:  I plugged it a while back due to a small small leak, took it to MBV, and even road home with it, by the time I got back this is what my tire looked like, and yes it still holds air! | ||
| Kyrocket |
Fudd, it looks like the plug is the least of your worries. | ||
| Hexangler |
I plug 'em too, and I ride the rears down to the belts. Probably not the fronts though. I'm not that crazy. Hex | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
One thing no one has asked yet: Gambit, what kind of riding do you do? If you are a commuter, I would say patching is ok. If you are a canyon carver, new tire is in order. Me: I would replace it. But then ~$130 is worth less to me than the risk of something going wrong. | ||
| Birdy |
I'd replace it...heck I DID replace mine. picked up a nail with less than 800 miles on the bike. I bought a new tire because $130.00 is a whole lot cheaper than a trip to the ER. I was pointed out to me that you can't plug the side wall on a car tire. Well the way a motorcycle tire works the whole thing behaves like a side wall. I know I do feel a bit better about riding it now...aside from my wallet being lighter. | ||
| Buelet |
I ride until my belts show in the rear too. (When the belts start to show, I ease up through the corners a lot.) Plugs are a non-issue as well. I prefer the "gummy worm" type and consider them part of my emergency tool kit I carry, along with a small compressor, cell phone, & credit card. I guess I just like to "get all the good" out of some things... maybe almost to a fault. LOL, but I would never (and have never seen) a front that has been ridden till the belts show! That is way beyond my comfort level! | ||
| Gambit |
not much twisties here in south jersey, so i wouldn't call my riding "canyon carving" - mostly "commuter" style. i plugged the tire last night - although i plan to take it easy on riding it for now and will replace it in the near future. thanks for all the advice/opinions you gave!! off topic- D220's rears are on sale for $99 at a website/b&m store - is that a good deal for a commuter tire? | ||
| Jaimec |
Will I plug a tire? Sure! I've had lots of luck with the Metzeler Sportec M1 tires. Haven't tried the M3s yet, but the M1 sticks like velcro in the dry, and is also the most confidence-inspiring tire I've ever used in the rain to boot. How's THAT for a plug? | ||
| Ekass13 |
plug it!!! | ||
| Paint_shaker |
I'd plug a tire, depending. Off topic, I have run the Dunslops 220s, but only managed 4,000 miles of of it. The handling on them sucks when they start to go. I have had good luck with Bridgestone 020s, getting 7-8000 miles out of a set. I am currently running Conti Road Attacks. | ||
| Dynasport |
yes | ||
| Ratyson |
I picked up a staple in a rear tire after only having about 300 miles on it. It was just left of centerline. Plugged it, and got about 4500 miles on that tire with no ill effects. I used one of those patch/plug things (maybe what you guys referred to as a mushroom plug?). I has a flat patch, with the plug protruding from it. I had some pretty aggressive rides on that tire post fix. Only you can determine what you are comfortable with though. If you feel it is unsafe, by all means, replace the tire. | ||
| Froggy |
Plug it to get me home, then get a new tire on ASAP. No abusive riding till i got fresh rubber on it. Not worth risking my ass for $1xx tire. | ||
| Baybueller |
I have a generic bike shop install my new tires (Metzler) and buy their warranty for about 20 bucks. They pro rate wear so nail at 100 miles,new tire,no charge, nail at 2000 mi. 50 dollars. So far Im ahead of the game. | ||
| Ekass13 |
Does anyone have a story of a plug/patch failing??? | ||
| Frankfast |
"Does anyone have a story of a plug/patch failing???" Yes. Mine blew out at about 60mph at the rear after riding on it for a couple hundred miles. It wasn't much fun. I won't trust one again. | ||
| Acejay |
mushroom plugs are the goods, maybe use a string plug if you are stuck somewhere, but i haven't had much luck with them. best reason that i can give to use the mushroom plug is that you need to take the whole tyre off and have a good look at the damage inside and out. i had a real bad patch once where had about 4 plugs in the one back tire (never figured out where i was picking up the holes!!!) but it still ran with no problems, that included riding right to the edge of the tyre. the shop put in a string plug once and the tyre was going down over night, turned out there was still a piece of metal stuck in there, could not be seen till the tyre was taken off! |
