Look what I found!

[tcmalker]

As some of you all know, I made a vow to do all maintenance myself. So today, after riding in the rain (to buy Walmart brand oil filter & oil), I decided to lube my chain. And what did I discover instead? A screw in my back tire. Was it a sabotage? It looked like it was perfectly screwed in. :eyebrow: I carefully screw it out.

So how hard is it to replace the back tire? Do I have to break my vow already?

Please take a look at the pictures. Can I still ride safely on this motorcycle? This bike only has 1k miles on it, i definitely do not need to get new tires if I don't have to.

Let this be a lesson to everyone. Check your tires!

 

[lytehouse]

Can I still ride safely on this motorcycle?

NO! I would not trust a tire that had a screw in it

 

[oldfast007]

Yup, looks similar to one I've had in the past, I'd plug it and ride it,(got over 2000 miles on my plugged tire) others will tell you otherwise, good luck.

 

[ELIZABETH]

Yes, you should break your vow to do it yourself. Safety is more important. You should ask a bike shop about patching and plugging it, which I have heard has been successful for others. Good luck.

 

[tcmalker]

Considering how short the screw is, I am considering two options.

Option #1: Do nothing. The screw is not long enough to cause any damage to the tire.

Option #2: Plugs the tire myself, as this help me keep my vow. I saw some guy doing it on youtube using Walmart plug thingy. Seems easy.

Anybody know how thick the rubber is? Which option is safer?

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

The screws are short, is the tire leaking when you remove the screws? The tire is pretty thick in those spots being its still pretty new...

And yes, someone "screwed" you, no pun intended.

BTW, they do make a tire plug/patch for tires: http://www.steelmantools.com/JSG381.htm The tire needs to be removed from the rim, at least partially, the hole cleaned and the inside of the tire scruffed up. The patch/plug actually pulls thru (use glue) leaving a patch on the inside, with the plug attached to that sticking out (you trim off the excess). Its the best of both worlds, a patch that woun't come loose, a plug attached to the inside patch.

This is more of a permanent fix, short of a new tire.. A new tire would be best/safest. I myself would do the above method if it was my tire with 1,000 miles on it.

With that said, we used a sticky tire plug , no glue, about 2 years ago on an FJR rear tire. Its strictly a plug. It worked as it should and didn't leak. The bike was riden with that tire until my friend sold it. He was going to replace the tire anyways so I tried the plug just for practi\ce and to see how it worked. It went fine, he decided to put the plugged tire back on and didn't buy a new tire. Absolutly no problems with the plug..

For road trips I carry that kit and a portable compressor so your not stranded should you pick up a nail...

 

[tcmalker]

No air leaked when I unscrewed the screw. That's good I guess. I'll ride slowly to work tonight and check if any air leaked. Does anybody know exactly how thick that part of the tire is? (Bridgestone stock)

I don't like the fact of removing the tires to do the patch/plug thing. If I do decided to fix it myself, it would be the simple plugging.

So you think it was sabotage??? I did visit my dealer today (had to buy chain lube, no where else to buy). Went inside for about 10 minutes. Is this their payback for me keeping the insurance money?

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

No air leaked when I unscrewed the screw. That's good I guess. I'll ride slowly to work tonight and check if any air leaked. Does anybody know exactly how thick that part of the tire is? (Bridgestone stock)

I don't like the fact of removing the tires to do the patch/plug thing. If I do decided to fix it myself, it would be the simple plugging.

So you think it was sabotage??? I did visit my dealer today (had to buy chain lube, no where else to buy). Went inside for about 10 minutes. Is this their payback for me keeping the insurance money?

I would set the pressure to the highest (noted on the sidewall of the tire), then spray window cleaner/fantastik, etc on the holes. If the holes are leaking, it'll bubble, NO question... I would not ride it until I knew the tire held air. Re-set the air pressure to spec's (or what you like) if the holes don't bubble. If the tire was older, it'd be thinner and more likely to leak.. Your tire looks pretty new/thick.

And yes, someone screwed those in your tire. Their too far apart to be from being run over. Some was just being an a.... or trying to sell you a tire...

I've had one flat, rear tire on my old Kawasaki ZRX 1100. It was in a construction zone. The front tire usually kicks crap up and the back tire catches it..

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

BTW, The slime plug kit is said to work well although I've never used it before. I forgot what brand we used on my friends FJR but it was similar...

 

[tcmalker]

Maybe I'm paranoid, and you're not helping.... but what do you mean 'too far apart from being run over'? Just so you know, the second picture is how I found the screw. The third picture I've already unscrew it a little...

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

Maybe I'm paranoid, and you're not helping.... but what do you mean 'too far apart from being run over'? Just so you know, the second picture is how I found the screw. The third picture I've already unscrew it a little...

I was under the impression you had 3 screws, looking closer, I gather its just one screw. My fault.

Just spray some fantastik/soapy water/409 on the hole and look for bubbles. If its bubbling, I wouldn't ride it as you will get stranded... If its dry, your good to go...

 

[oldfast007]

Looking a your pictures, I presume you only have one screw not two, correct? If that's the case I say plug and ride it, just don't do a track day with it!

 

[tcmalker]

I got one screw. I've already made up my mind on what to do. I'll do the soapy water test. If no leak I'll ride it until they salt the streets. At which time I'll do my winterization to include plugging the tire.

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

I got one screw. I've already made up my mind on what to do. I'll do the soapy water test. If no leak I'll ride it until they salt the streets. At which time I'll do my winterization to include plugging the tire.

If it doesn't leak, I wouldn't puncture it, there's no reason to, but that's just me (37 years of riding/wrenching).

I've unscrewed screws out of tires with no leaks. My ZRX was a 4" friggin huge nail I picked up...

 

[RJ2112]

If it doesn't leak, I wouldn't puncture it, there's no reason to, but that's just me (37 years of riding/wrenching).

I've unscrewed screws out of tires with no leaks. My ZRX was a 4" friggin huge nail I picked up...

That screw looks like it's just barely longer than the tread blocks.... the tip of that screw probably didn't make it into the belts at all. I agree 100%; if it doesn't leak fugeddaboutit.

 

[wolfe1down]

Out of curiosity (TownsendsFJR1300), would something like this be claimable under insurance as an act of vandalism? Assuming that the tire was fully punctured and/or permanently damaged...

 

[Shinleung]

spray some soap water mixture on the hole, if there is bubble comin out its leaking.

its easy to repair it yourself.
if you hv to do it

1. get yourself a Tyre repair kit
2. go to a gas station with a pump.
3. put all air out
4. use the thing to stick the sticky thing in the tyre about half its length
5. leave 2cm out side and pull the applicator, it will cut it
6. double check with soap water and ride on.

I hope you can understand my english.
=)

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

Out of curiosity (TownsendsFJR1300), would something like this be claimable under insurance as an act of vandalism? Assuming that the tire was fully punctured and/or permanently damaged...

I doubt it.. Your deductable would buy most of a new tire

One screw, the insurance company is going to say flat tires/ crap in the road gets kicked up, especially to the rear tire.

With that said, IF 3 screws were screwed in ALL ABOUT THE TIRE, I'd consider it vandalism. (I say this as a retired Police Officer of 25 years.)

With my ZRX, the tire was 3/4 worn out so I just replaced it. I picked up the nail in a construction zone about 25 miles from home. I had to stop twice to air up and get home. The recessed (allen head type) axle nut was never removed before that and was torqued down to well over 100 ft lbs. That was a touch and go situation as the nut almost stripped out from the inside (recessed into the swingarm)...

As a side note, I make sure my bike is in the path of where the car tires run, NOT DOWN THE MIDDLE of the road as that's where nails/crap gather. This includes corners (lots of crap gathers there). I rather see a car pick up a nail than me...

 

[Kazza]

Don't be paranoid - probably ran over the screw.

As for fixing it yourself, I wouldn't trust a tyre that had a nail/screw in it. You need to take it to a tyre place just to check if there is a hole that has gone through.

 

[Mexi-can't]

I had something similar a couple years ago. It didn't leak or anything, just a small tear through the upper layers of the rubber. I kept an eye on it and this is what it went from/to in about two weeks time. The rubber had broken down around the nick I had a must have heated up somewhat more. This is NOT from a burnout or jamming the rear brake. This was about 2 weeks worth of wear.


Actually looking at the picture dates, that was only one week.