Plugging a tire

[L-]

Ultrashovel,

Right.  I don't know what it would cost to take a tire off, patch it and remount and then install on the bike.  New tire is the best way to go here.  I do believe the best way is for folks to just do it their selves. 

L-

[Ultrashovel]

Ultrashovel,

Right.  I don't know what it would cost to take a tire off, patch it and remount and then install on the bike.  New tire is the best way to go here.  I do believe the best way is for folks to just do it their selves. 

L-

If you bring the wheel in, they used to do it for $20. Unfortunately, the better of two tire shops in my area is out of business now. I'll have to see if I can find another to buy tires from. I won't run a plugged tire after I get home on it.

[L-]

I felt that way myself about plugged motorcycle tires.   I plugged a nearly new MU85 on my FLHR and it only has about 1000 miles left on it and it has done real well.  This kit, if used right, will only put the plug in where you have used an ice pick type probe and have cleared the nail, screw etc.  Not the round file and rough tool to enlarge the hole and ruin more threads in the tire.  I used to build tires many years ago and saw the testing of them and they can hold up to a lot.  Not encouraging you to change your idea but I have changed mine on the plugging issue.

L-

[ederdelyi]

FWIW, and IMO it is a personal decision and risk assessment. Asking someone else to make that assessment and take responsibility for it is unreasonable.

I look at plugs as a temporary and emergency fix. As soon as it is practical to do so I will take a hard look at the tire in question and make my decision as to whether the tire will be safe to use with an internal patch or if it should be replaced with a new one. It's my skin that's on the line, I would rather err to the side of over cautious than save a few bucks. YMMV

BTW, I don't run patched tubes in tube tires either ... new tubes are cheap.

Like Dirty Harry said: "Are you feeling lucky .... well, are ya?"

[98roadking]

I've had a couple of tires plugged. The first one the tread separated and blew out on the road. Another time I had one continue to slow leak until we replaced it.

[harleyjt]

I got some experience with pluggin both car tires and motorcycle tires. I recently plugged my rear tire and the plug didn't hold air for very long. So I replaced the plug with the same kind a standard rope type. It didn't hold for very long either. So I bought a kit from stop and go. Their plugs have a mushroom on the end. Well it held air till I wore the tread off the tire. I know the conventional wisdom is that this is unexceptable especially on a motorcycle tire. But I'm a cheap screw especially when 50 percent or more tread is left on the tire. At $160 + a tire  I'm willing to take a little risk. The tire manufactures and cycle shops are not and that I can understand with todays it's not my fault I'll sue society.

 

Stop N Go  
jt

[77S-Glide]

when i was born, the tires Gods looked down and said "we're gonna F**k with that boy", so i've had my share of tire problems over the years. having said that, i've lost two patch jobs over the years, one from the patch coming loose and start leaking, the other from a rock, or whatever, getting into the hole and wearing a hole in the patch. i've never had a problem with a properly plugged tire and will not hesitate to use the Stop n' Go plugs on my bike tires. the lawsuit issue is indeed a very big problem for buisinesses, and i totally understand what UltraS is saying, but i plug my own tires. lets face it, in today's society you can sue anyone for anything and probably find a bleeding heart jury to support your claim regardless what it may be.
Dick

[Ultrashovel]

I understand what the "tire pluggers" are saying. They really, really want to save money. There's nothing quite so nice as getting by without spending a lot of dough.

Unfortunately, the practice of plugging tires on a motorcycle that weighs in around 800 pounds and can go 100 mph or more with no protection for the rider is not wise.

You can say what you will. If you plug tires and run them, sooner or later your number is going to come up. I've seen it time and time again.

There are risks in motorcycling. Some of them are "calculated risks" and others are just....well....."risks". In order to call a risk "calculated" instead of just a plain old "risk", one needs to remove any known or obvious faults from the motorcycle. That would incluce but not be limited to: bent frames, leaky fuel tanks, torn drive belts, worn out shocks and, yes, I'll go ahead and say it, questionable tires.

Saying that you can plug a tire because "it only made a little hole in the tire" is like saying that "they only found a little bit of OJ's DNA at that murder scene".

Happy Trails!  Lets hope that all of those tire plugs hold in those holes and that the nail didn't hit anything vital! I'll be back later. I tore my seat yesterday putting my tire plug kit away in the Tour Pak and I have to go and fix it with some duct tape. LOL  

[hotroadking]

Thing is after you've ridden the tire a while that has been plugged you tend to forget about it and treat it as
a normal tire...   Higher speeds, harder riding,,, maybe forget to check the plug...

I've had the proverbial Tire gods toss down a single 3 inch roofing nail that got me on a brandy new installed Avon with less than 100 miles on the damn thing....

Lucky it was on a cast rim, just took it off, over to the dealer and had them patch and then toss in a tube...

Rather be safe side of the deal... Ran it till the rubber was gone....

[ederdelyi]

If ya ride on a "wing and a prayer" it's likely you'll get to use the wings (or a pitchfork) before the prayer gets answered ... your choice.

[76shuvlinoff]

The OP was asking about plugging a car tire. 

[ederdelyi]

No difference, IMO. I use the same rules for 2 wheel as 4+ wheel vehicles. I don't skimp on tires, brakes, suspension, etc. If I can't afford to do it right I'll park it until I can. There is always the bus, car pool, or walking.

It's a personal decision ... it's right if it works for you and wrong if it doesn't, but don't blame others if it doesn't turn out well. That's all most here are trying to say, myself included.

[Wingnut]

What would Al Gore say about throwing a tire with 250 miles on it into a land fill because of a little nail hole?  That's not vary GREEN.  Plug it.  That's what I do.  It makes me feel good.

[ederdelyi]

Does anyone really care what Al Gore has to say about anything?

Sorry, the Devil made me do it.

No one is telling you what to do, simply stating their preference(s). It's your hide, your money, your set of "warm and fuzzies". If you plug your own tires and don't ask others to do it or assume liability for it then there shouldn't be an issue.

[Ultrashovel]

Does anyone really care what Al Gore has to say about anything?

Sorry, the Devil made me do it.

No one is telling you what to do, simply stating their preference(s). It's your hide, your money, your set of "warm and fuzzies". If you plug your own tires and don't ask others to do it or assume liability for it then there shouldn't be an issue.

Quite right, and, by the way, Guck Al Fore!   

[Eleft36]

What would Al Gore say about throwing a tire with 250 miles on it into a land fill because of a little nail hole?  That's not vary GREEN.  Plug it.  That's what I do.  It makes me feel good.

This article shows the risks taken for being "green".

http://www.cdrb-law.com/legal-articles/Tire%20Tread%20Separation%20-%202%20Theories%20of%20Liability.pdf

[Wingnut]

The "Al Gore" thing.  It was a joke.  Get it.

[Beerad]

Have the tire store boot it. That repair will out last the tire itself. Cost $8 to $10.

[ederdelyi]

>>The "Al Gore" thing.  It was a joke.<<

Yes, he is.

As the big rooster (Foghorn Leghorn) always said to Henry (baby chicken hawk): "That's a joke, son, that's a joke".

EDIT: Had to brush up on my Looney Tunes Trivia ... CRS