Nail in rear tire

[Nefilim]

I have a nail stuck in my rear tire and I was wondering a few things:

1. Can I remove the rear tire with just the centerstand or do I need to get a jack to hold it?

2. Can I just have the tire plugged or do I have to replace it entirely?

3. What size wrench do I use to remove the nut?

 

[crazy dave]

Well i don't know anything about taking the tire off but I know most people would say to replace the tire. I know I would feel safer that way then having a patched one. but that's my opinion. I'm sure a plug would work if the hole isnt too big. But I know i wouldn't risk a blowout over it on a motorcycle.

 

[afpreppie04]

You can take the rear tire off with the centerstand. I'm pretty sure there is a correct-sized wrench for the rear axle in the toolkit.

 

[Wade Poulsen]

I had the same thing happen about a month ago. I have caught a nail more times that I ever want to; however, this time the hole was just off center about 2-inches. I plugged it, and cut the plug cord even with the tread depth. Now after 250 miles the tire is still in great shape. Depending on the hole location, size, age of tire, and your comfort level the plug should work fine until you can replace the tire. If you are going to plug the tire, make sure you cut the remaining cord even with the tire's tread, or it can be pulled out if it catches on the pavement.

 

[reiobard]

depends on the hole and your comfort level. The tire can be removed with the center stand and you can plug/patch your tire if you are comfortable doing that.

I have plugged tires and never had an issue.

 

[Tailgate]

Have you done a search for "flat tire, nail in tire," etc.? There have been quite a few threads on the subject. Some will insist on immediately replacing the tire, others have no problem with patching, plugging a tire and will eventually replace while others opt to keep on riding on the patched/plugged tire and will put on many more 1,000's of miles. Is the nail in the center? If so, and the tire has decent tread, I would plug or patch it. It's up to you (and your pocketbook).

 

[abacall]

I'm in the "replace it" camp.
On a car, fine, you have three others tires and more than 20" of contact patch (more or less depending on the car).
On a bike, you have one tire left and its a mere 2" contact patch, and you don't have a cage to protect you if you crash. Too close for comfort for me.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

Why you have to freaking jinks me!

I'm borrowing my roomates R6 for a couple of days until I have time to install my new battery for my Fizzer. I just noticed a picked up a nail on his rear tire. Now, that damn battery is going to cost me two freaking new tires too. I won't mix and match with a new rear and a different brand up front. I just replaced my tires a couple of months ago from picking up a nail on my rear tire as well. It has not been a good week. Unscheduled maintenance = $$

 

[chimneydoc]

I would replace the tire. I have been there so I know what your are going through. I just wouldn't trust my life to a patch or a plug unless all you do is in town driving and don't exceed 25 mph.

Doc

 

[Boneman]

I would replace the tire. I have been there so I know what your are going through. I just wouldn't trust my life to a patch or a plug unless all you do is in town driving and don't exceed 25 mph.

Doc

Sorry but I call BS on that Doc. I got a plug in my almost new rear tire last year. Lucky for me it could be plugged as the nail was dead center of the tire (sidewall punctures cannot be plugged).

I had it plugged by professionals and having only one plug in it does not reduce the speed rating of the tire. If you have two plugs (max), then that would effect your speed rating.

I've been riding just fine with it for quite a while now and I far exceed your stated 25 mph! In fact you can't notice or tell any difference that the tire has a plug in it. I do commuting, highway and twisites without a second thought.

"Just replace it" is easy to say but hard to actually do unless your tire is near its replacement time anyway. Mine had only a few 100Km's on it and it cost me over $350 installed so I'm not just going to throw it out and neither would you.

 

[Yammi Dodger]

I have a nail stuck in my rear tire and I was wondering a few things:

1. Can I remove the rear tire with just the centerstand or do I need to get a jack to hold it?

2. Can I just have the tire plugged or do I have to replace it entirely?

3. What size wrench do I use to remove the nut?

You can remove the Tyre with just the centre stand but it dose make the bike more stable with a trolley jack under as well.


You can have the Tyre plugged, but if it was me I would have a new one fitted for piece of mind. It happened to me last year only did a few thou miles on the rear had a Screw straight through the centre. Tyre fitter said the hole was to big to plug. I understand there is a British Standard for motorcycle tyre repairs, You can't patch a hole beyond a certain size or if it's not in the tread area.

 

[abraxas]

It's easy enough to tak off the tyre with the standard tools. Just watch out, you CAN push the bike over if you try hard enough

As to plugging, most would say replace, it IS safer. If the tyre is more than halfway, you have no choice. If it's still new you can try plugging, although it has a way of nibbling at your mind whenever you give throttle

 

[jecht_sphere]

Well i have picked up a nail also in my rear tire 3 months after i bought the bike in march 2008. Based on the head and the little body (left protruding), the nail is about 1.5 or 2 inch perhaps. It caught my tire about 1 inch from its edge which i think is not pretty good as compared to that at the center.

Nevertheless, since it is new... i kept the tire but i hammered the nail fully in instead.

Until now, the nail is still there and i havent plugged/patched it yet since i dont have time. But im planning to 1 of these days because im not really comfortable riding it knowing that the nail is still there.

 

[Debaser]

It's easy enough to tak off the tyre with the standard tools. Just watch out, you CAN push the bike over if you try hard enough

As to plugging, most would say replace, it IS safer. If the tyre is more than halfway, you have no choice. If it's still new you can try plugging, although it has a way of nibbling at your mind whenever you give throttle

You shouldn't ride fast with a temporary plug (one done from the outside) it could come out resulting is sudden deflation and loss of control.

A permanent plug (done from the inside) cannot come out and is perfectly safe for the life of the tire. There is a chance of a slow puncture occurring, but it’s no more unsafe than picking up a nail in the first place.

A tire should only be plugged if the hole is at least 1 inch away from the tire side-wall and no more than 1/4-inch in diameter.

 

[abacall]

Mine had only a few 100Km's on it and it cost me over $350 installed so I'm not just going to throw it out and neither would you.

But with only a few hundred kms you only have to replace the one tire, not both. So it's almost 1/2 that.
Yeah, it's expensive, but so is riding gear. You still use that right? And if you dropped and cracked your helmet within a few weeks of getting it, you'd replace it right?

 

[Boneman]

But with only a few hundred kms you only have to replace the one tire, not both. So it's almost 1/2 that.
Yeah, it's expensive, but so is riding gear. You still use that right? And if you dropped and cracked your helmet within a few weeks of getting it, you'd replace it right?

Lol, no no, it was $350 installed just for the REAR tire!! Another $250 for the front with mounting and ballancing.

Hey I'm all for spending money on stuff for me and my bike, but lets not get stupid here and just throw money away needlessly.

I should have clarified that my plug was done from the inside of the tire, not an external plug. If a professional bike technician (that I also trust) tells me that the plug he installed makes no difference to the tire and it's good to go, then I can live with that. Besides, think about it, it's a 1-2mm nail hole, in the center of brand new tread at the thickest tread area. If you had to get a puncture in a tire, this is exactly the 'best place' to get one and have it plugged.

Yes if I dropped my helmet and it 'cracked' then that's my own dumb fault for dropping it and if it's cracked, then of course it needs to be replaced. A cracked helmet cannot be fixed (at least to my knowledge); a nail in a tire CAN be fixed. I see what your getting at but just beacuse something is new and expensive dosen't always make it anymore safer. So on your line of thinking if you get a rip in your riding jacket you'd go out and replace it with a new jacket rather than have someone fix the rip? Because after all, a new jacket is 'safer' than one with a patched rip.... C'mon. If it were a perfect world and I had tons of money, then yeah of course I'd replace it. Unfortunately it's not a perfect world and I'm not made of money and can't just replace things whenever I feel like it. So when faced with $90 to have it fixed to 'as good as new' condition or spend another $350 for a new tire, I'll take the $90 thank you very much.

I'm all for safety and ATGATT, but lets not forget some common and financial sense here. A lot of people out there riding just fine with plugged tires mate. I wouldn't ride a bike that I felt to be unsafe. I now have over 6,000Km's on this plugged tire without noticing any difference or having any problems.

 

[Tailgate]

Why you have to freaking jinks me!

I just noticed a picked up a nail on his rear tire. $$

Poor Vegasrider. Riding in, around or near the strip area in Vegas is concerning to me because there are so many massive active construction sites there. And, you can't guess how many nails it takes to build a new Vegas scale $1,000,000,000.00+ casino/hotel. I imagine a few of old or new nails/screws, etc., end up on the ground/street near the construction sites.

Also, Boneman possesses good sense to me.

 

[Kriswithak]

Depends all on the quality of the mechanic your using, but if they tell you they can fix it (and guarantee that) then you should be OK.
That being said they probably make alot more money plugging a tyre than putting on a new one, so you just have to hope you have an honest mechanic
I've managed to bang my helmet against things a few times (not badly ofc) and haven't replaced it yet because there definately wasn't enough damage (or any visible) to warrant doing so. If there was I'd have a new one. Cracking a helmet is more on par with having a tyre slashed than a simple nail put through it. But safety first is always the best first reaction! Money is always a concern you just don't want to start skimping on the important stuff (not saying you are with a tyre plug done properly either)

 

[Iethius]

Sounds a lot like personal preference to me, some people wash their hands before using the bathroom, some people share dirty heroin needles, safety is a matter of personal experience and wisdom. Anyone can tell you what they would do, but personal responsibility dictates you listen to that dry quiet voice in your head that says"no don't put your tongue on the frost, it's 4 degrees out here, you know it's gonna stick! You saw what happened to the other kid!
I personally will only use a plug for what I think it was made for, to get you home when you are 150 miles from home without a tow truck. I recently got a nail in a rear tire btx20 stock oem replacement tire with 3,500 miles on it, made me mad you bet, still won't plug it because I regularly go 100 plus on favorite corners and more on straights,I have not replaced the front to match even though some people tell me to since I replaced it with a BTX16, it's my comfort zone and my choice I guess My cost= 132.95, free shipping 2 days, 16.10 to balance at local shop, changed the tire myself, have not put a mic on the bolts to see if they are metric(yamaha)but 1-1/4 socket fits the left(chain side) and 1-7/16 fits the right, torque to 87 foot lbs (check your manual), yamaha has pics of exploded view if you forget how the spacers come out, hint- small spacer on left side with needle bearings.Instructions on alignment and chain slack in manual. Cost less than 150$ and 3 days, gotta be very patient or you will scratch you rim, using thick leather helps, pain in the ass though, probably have the shop swap and balance next time but will take off the wheels and take them to the tech.

 

[Iethius]

Lol, no no, it was $350 installed just for the REAR tire!! Another $250 for the front with mounting and ballancing.

Hey I'm all for spending money on stuff for me and my bike, but lets not get stupid here and just throw money away needlessly.

I should have clarified that my plug was done from the inside of the tire, not an external plug. If a professional bike technician (that I also trust) tells me that the plug he installed makes no difference to the tire and it's good to go, then I can live with that. Besides, think about it, it's a 1-2mm nail hole, in the center of brand new tread at the thickest tread area. If you had to get a puncture in a tire, this is exactly the 'best place' to get one and have it plugged.

Yes if I dropped my helmet and it 'cracked' then that's my own dumb fault for dropping it and if it's cracked, then of course it needs to be replaced. A cracked helmet cannot be fixed (at least to my knowledge); a nail in a tire CAN be fixed. I see what your getting at but just beacuse something is new and expensive dosen't always make it anymore safer. So on your line of thinking if you get a rip in your riding jacket you'd go out and replace it with a new jacket rather than have someone fix the rip? Because after all, a new jacket is 'safer' than one with a patched rip.... C'mon. If it were a perfect world and I had tons of money, then yeah of course I'd replace it. Unfortunately it's not a perfect world and I'm not made of money and can't just replace things whenever I feel like it. So when faced with $90 to have it fixed to 'as good as new' condition or spend another $350 for a new tire, I'll take the $90 thank you very much.

I'm all for safety and ATGATT, but lets not forget some common and financial sense here. A lot of people out there riding just fine with plugged tires mate. I wouldn't ride a bike that I felt to be unsafe. I now have over 6,000Km's on this plugged tire without noticing any difference or having any problems.

Hey Boneman, your tech probably plugs your tires and replaces his!

Does your jacket actually spend that much time on the road? I don't see the comparison in reality. I think if all you rocket scientist can afford a sportbike but won't shell out the $ for safe riding you should all be riding mopeds with plugged tires or better yet tubed tires! If I just rode around Mayberry at 35mph I would have 20 plugs.
My opinion, (-: