New tire vs plug/patch

[two wheel tramp]

I have a nail in my rear tire, a Road Pilot 3 with about 3k on it. It's SMACK in the center of the tread. So far, pressure has been holding just fine. I've been riding on it for a few days without issues (just a few miles).

My question is, patch/plug or cough up the dough for a new tire? I'm primarily an urban rider, not very aggressive. The bike is an M900, so it is pretty torquey. I already asked Moto Tire guy for his advice but I thought I'd ask ya'll, too.

 

[Chet]

I rode a plug tire until it's bald. It got a nail in the middle at about 1500 miles, put another 8000 miles. It's sport touring tire mostly freeway miles.

 

[planegray]

I have a nail in my rear tire, a Road Pilot 3 with about 3k on it. It's SMACK in the center of the tread. So far, pressure has been holding just fine. I've been riding on it for a few days without issues (just a few miles).

My question is, patch/plug or cough up the dough for a new tire? I'm primarily an urban rider, not very aggressive. The bike is an M900, so it is pretty torquey. I already asked Moto Tire guy for his advice but I thought I'd ask ya'll, too.

If you can get one of those "inside - out" plugs installed (and it holds- see attached pic) I'd ride that tire until it's worn out.

If you have to plug it from the outside.... I'd have a hard time trusting it for an out of town trip.

either way... take it to MotoTireGuy, and do whatever he says

 

[injun]

Have Robbie plug it, I've never had a problem with good plugs, first started using them in the 70's.

 

[Hoho]

Had the same thing happen to me when I got my new moto, barely 100 miles on the new tires I got a screw in the center of the tread. I plugged it and ride on it for another few hundred miles before it stopped holding air. At that point I bought a new tire and replaced it.

 

[Tharkûn]

I've put more miles on these plugs than some people ride at all. I average about one a month

http://m.autozone.com/autozone-mobile/en/accessories/Slime-Tire-repair-plugs/_/N-25cn?id=542356

 

[two wheel tramp]

Per Robbie, he's no longer doing plugs.

He has been a fantastic source of advice, though.

I wanted to get some feedback from people who had ridden on plugs. Thank you for your feedback HoHo and Tharkun. I will try to find a place that will do the plugging for me.

 

[planegray]

I've put more miles on these plugs than some people ride at all. I average about one a month

http://m.autozone.com/autozone-mobile/en/accessories/Slime-Tire-repair-plugs/_/N-25cn?id=542356

do you install 'em yourself ?

I haz questions about technique;

1) how much of the rope do you stick in the hole ?
2) do you trim it flush, once installed ?

 

[mototireguy]

Tire damage (nails, screws, glass, etc) is like a box of chocolates. You never really know what you got until you start to remove the item.

Sometimes the nail goes straight in the fat part of the tread at the perfect angle making for an easy repair. Other times the nail goes in at a shallow/crooked angle or the puncture is more of a gash than a round hole making for a problematic repair.

When considering the decision to throw $$ at repairing a punctured tire weigh the pros/cons of putting that $$ towards a new tire that doesn't have a hole in it.

 

[stangmx13]

I have a nail in my rear tire, a Road Pilot 3 with about 3k on it. It's SMACK in the center of the tread. So far, pressure has been holding just fine. I've been riding on it for a few days without issues (just a few miles).

if its still holding air, r u sure it actually punctured the tire? soapy water making bubbles?

 

[GPzPop]

i have put many miles on Pilot Road ii tires pluged with rope plugs (most common type plug) they work fine, up until the point where they don't.

so short term, to get you home, they work OK.
longer term, to use up the life of a perfectly good tire, not as successful

they work better with round holes (nails, etc.) and not so good with more jagged holes (glass, etc,)

 

[TrplGrl]

If you can get one of those "inside - out" plugs installed (and it holds- see attached pic) I'd ride that tire until it's worn out.

I've had 'em plugged on the inside and never had a problem.

 

[Tharkûn]

do you install 'em yourself ?

I haz questions about technique;

1) how much of the rope do you stick in the hole ?
2) do you trim it flush, once installed ?

Yup right on the side of the road. Set the rope at the middle on the installing handle/rod. And then set that about halfway into the tire. It doubles over itself and the two ends are poking out. I used to trim but not anymore

 

[WWWobble]

Listen to what Mototireguy says

I had good luck with plugs too until I didn't. The plug failed in Death Valley. It was a long wait for help. Hot too. I don't do plugs long term anymore.

WWWobble

 

[planegray]

Yup right on the side of the road. Set the rope at the middle on the installing handle/rod. And then set that about halfway into the tire. It doubles over itself and the two ends are poking out. I used to trim but not anymore

Thanks !

I only used one once, and it flew out after about 100 miles. I suspect I didn't poke it in far enough, and I trimmed it too close

I've got a mushroom plug in my rear right now, and I'm staying local to see how it does.. so far ~ 500 miles, fwy speeds, and no problems ( although it DID still seep for a bit after install)

 

[stangmx13]

I've got a mushroom plug in my rear right now, and I'm staying local to see how it does.. so far ~ 500 miles, fwy speeds, and no problems ( although it DID still seep for a bit after install)

u mean like in the photo u posted above? if so, it was not installed properly if it leaked even a tiny bit after install.

 

[msethhunter]

Patch it if you can, plug it if you're on the road. replace it if it's to bad to do either.

 

[tuxumino]

I had this very dilemma just about 3weeks ago, I went with a new tire, just didn't want to have the plug fail at the worst possible time.

 

[russ69]

Patch it if you can, plug it if you're on the road. replace it if it's to bad to do either.

I'll agree with this but with two caveats, one that the tire is still fairly new and the other being that you ride lightly loaded and near the speed limit.

 

[planegray]

u mean like in the photo u posted above? if so, it was not installed properly if it leaked even a tiny bit after install.

No, I would expect zero leak from one of those plugs.

I'm currently using a mushroom plug from this kit;