screw in my tire

[GeneM]

Just noticed a screw in my tire today and the tire is new as well. Decided it was to much $$ to just toss so I plugged it. I'll just watch the air pressure, if it does not hold then I guess I'll replace the tire "aaarrrrggggg"! That said I've run plugs before and never had a problem........

 

[chunkygoat]

2,000 miles on my plug and its almost time for a new tire actually. My plug seems to have lasted the full life of the tire.

 

[motojoe122]

The night before the last BIG NJ ride I got a large staple (or 2 small nails) just off center in my rear tire. After much debate Garrett(phranK2k11) and I chose to put some slime in. It sealed the leak and its been 1k miles since. Given, it was really small holes so Im not too worried about it.

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

If out on the road, I carry a plug kit under the seat to at least get going again/home.

IMHO, if fixing the tire, the plug/patch combo (short of a new tire) is a more permanent fix.. More of a PIA as you have to remove the tire, smooth the inside of the tire, etc. If the the tire has alot of tread on it, I'd fix it. If its borderline, replace it...

With that said, I have done several plug only repairs on my friends bike and one of mine and the tire held fine, even well into triple digits on the FJR.


Just out of curiosity, has anyone ever tried to pull a plug out intentionally, from the inside or outside, just to see how well its held?

 

[GeneM]

I would like to add that I've run plugs on tubliss dirtbike tires running only 7lbs of air and never had leak issues. In fact the last tire I had this happen on went many many more hard miles where it was flogged through rocks, gravel and all manner of wicked off road terrain.
I figure if a plug can hold in those conditions, it can hold riding up and down the road!

 

[UHcougarJohn]

I'm rolling a plug in my back tire.

 

[foxbass]

I picked up a screw too a few months back. Luckily the leak was slow enough to top up the air and ride it the 4 miles to my local bike shop. The guys I use are proper pros and told me they would plug the hole and patch from the inside in all cases bar a well worn tire. I told him I was about to go on tour for over 1000 miles and he said it would be perfectly safe, even ridden hard. I can tell you I was relieved as I was not willing to scrap a 2 month old Michelin.
My opinion would be to trust in what the tire bay tells you. Trustworthy ones don't drum up business on the sly, good places are always busy naturally. My guys gave the bike a once over, despite having passed its MOT only months earlier and told me straight - the chain has seen better days but not urgent, the front brakes have only about a 1000 miles left in them and the rears are half worn. Otherwise, go enjoy.
They were absolutely right. I toured, got back and changed the pads. Just a few hundred miles left on them but still pulling up safe and true.
The guy also showed me how to tell when a chain is knackered. You can learn a lot by keepin your ears on at these palces IMHO.

 

[cmantis]

That is how to do it, plug and patch from the inside. Had it done a few times myself.

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

I picked up a screw too a few months back. Luckily the leak was slow enough to top up the air and ride it the 4 miles to my local bike shop. The guys I use are proper pros and told me they would plug the hole and patch from the inside in all cases bar a well worn tire. I told him I was about to go on tour for over 1000 miles and he said it would be perfectly safe, even ridden hard. I can tell you I was relieved as I was not willing to scrap a 2 month old Michelin.
My opinion would be to trust in what the tire bay tells you. Trustworthy ones don't drum up business on the sly, good places are always busy naturally. My guys gave the bike a once over, despite having passed its MOT only months earlier and told me straight - the chain has seen better days but not urgent, the front brakes have only about a 1000 miles left in them and the rears are half worn. Otherwise, go enjoy.
They were absolutely right. I toured, got back and changed the pads. Just a few hundred miles left on them but still pulling up safe and true.
The guy also showed me how to tell when a chain is knackered. You can learn a lot by keepin your ears on at these palces IMHO.

I agree 100% and have installed the combo plug/patch myself in my bikes when possible. Never had an issue with the fix..

However, here in the states, its about impossible to get that procedure done at a shop due to liability. We're a "sue happy" nation (unfortunatly), but it is what it is...

 

[Nelly]

For what it's worth, I got a flat rear tire today on the way in to work, and I'm going to plug it. The nail is in the middle of the tire, and I have good tread left. You just have to keep it under 200mph for safety reasons, because the structure of the tire has been compromised.

I'm also of this view. If done correctly plugging is a safe and inexpensive fix.

Nelly:thumbup:

 

[dbldutch02]

I'm also of this view. If done correctly plugging is a safe and inexpensive fix.

Nelly:thumbup:

I'm with him ^^^, plugged (mushroom) my rear pr3 at 500 miles, coming up for 6000 hard miles without issue. The shop that did it only specified that none of the thresds in the carcass could be damaged