M.Martin
Well-Known Member
Just got back from my ride to my parents place and back home. About 300 miles. The whole time I was thinking of that plug. I think I'll call my tire guy on Monday and see if he can patch it.
Would you plug a tire.
- Thread starter M.Martin
- Start date
DenArnold
Wizard
I experienced the same 'thinking" after I plugged my rear PR3 and rode another 500km yet with that buzzing thought in my head and went also for a replacement.
Afterwards discussed with some more people and once even rode his bike (Triump Tiger 1050) with a plugged tire on the track with no issues...so such plug works if you can switch off that buzz in your mind
Ruggybuggy
Well-Known Member
...so such plug works if you can switch off that buzz in your mind
The buzz in your head is going off for a reason.
ElTigre1
Well-Known Member
New tire. Every time. It's all about eliminating the variables. Think about a flat tire while passing a semi on a curvy freeway in he rain. Hold that thought. Buy a tire.
M.Martin
Well-Known Member
The plug is leaking air. Now I'll miss my Sunday ride. I'm either going to get it patched or get a new tire.
romr
Wizard
I really have wanted to justify plugs, especially when my new rear tire got a flat. But what really made my decision was thinking about me learning into a turn while doing 80 and the damn thing failing right then. I don't plug tires and unless it's an emergency situation I wouldn't just my opinion.
Brock Kickass
Wizard
In my shop we won't plug a car tire, never mind a bike. It's a half-assed way to repair a tire. An inside patch is the only proper way to repair a tire. If I had a dollar for every time a customer came in with a plugged tire leaking at the plug... oh wait, I have twenty dollars for every time. It pays for coffee for the guys and pizza once or twice a week.
Plugs are designed as a temporary solution to make a tire hold air until you can get it repaired properly. They are not a permanent solution to a leak. They are not designed to be. They just get you off the side of the road and to a shop where the tire can be patched or replaced as necessary. A plug in a motorcycle tire is the equivalent to a mini-spare on a car. It will get you home, but it doesn't fix the problem.
Plugs are designed as a temporary solution to make a tire hold air until you can get it repaired properly. They are not a permanent solution to a leak. They are not designed to be. They just get you off the side of the road and to a shop where the tire can be patched or replaced as necessary. A plug in a motorcycle tire is the equivalent to a mini-spare on a car. It will get you home, but it doesn't fix the problem.
M.Martin
Well-Known Member
In my shop we won't plug a car tire, never mind a bike. It's a half-assed way to repair a tire. An inside patch is the only proper way to repair a tire. If I had a dollar for every time a customer came in with a plugged tire leaking at the plug... oh wait, I have twenty dollars for every time. It pays for coffee for the guys and pizza once or twice a week.
Plugs are designed as a temporary solution to make a tire hold air until you can get it repaired properly. They are not a permanent solution to a leak. They are not designed to be. They just get you off the side of the road and to a shop where the tire can be patched or replaced as necessary. A plug in a motorcycle tire is the equivalent to a mini-spare on a car. It will get you home, but it doesn't fix the problem.
I like how you explained it. Sounds good to me.
M.Martin
Well-Known Member
The local Yamaha dealer patched it for 27 bucks.
Kpd1031
Well-Known Member
You trust a dealer? I would rather trust a plug.
Niskibum
New Member
I have a couple questions since some jerk left some wood with a nail in it on the road yesterday. My rear was flat this morning and I found a nail hole. The dealer doesn't repair tires so I'm stuck getting a new one. My first question is can I put a different brand on the rear if the front is good? My second is how do I make sure the front is really good. They have a Michelin pilot in stock, but I don't want to change the front if I don't have to, it's got less than 1500 miles on it. They want more for the OEM Dunlop and they have to order it.
firefly
Well-Known Member
It seams that happens too much, my new rear tire picked up a nail after ~200miles, I plugged it with the rope kind of plug & this time I applied the rubber cement on the rope before pushing it in, it is holding very well & not loosing any air, no where on tire repair kits it says to apply the rubber cement to the rope itself so one assumes that it is only applied to the patches provided with the kits WRONG apply it liberally to the rope before pushing it in, wait 10 mins then inflate to proper PSI, from now on I'll plug the tire until the last tread.
Evitzee
Wizard
Four pages of comments and you have come to the conclusion that a rope type plug is a good solution for a an almost brand new tire? Reread them, a vulcanized repair from the INSIDE can often be a good option depending on where the puncture is, but rope type plugs are temporary to get you to a safe place for a replacement or a PROPER repair. Putting extra rubber cement on the rope plug isn't buying you anything. Counting on a rope plug on a machine that can punch out 125 hp and 70 ft-lb of torque to the back wheel is foolish, imo. Your rear contact patch is about the size of your palm, your life depends on that contact patch being secure.....don't trust it to a rope plug.
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firefly
Well-Known Member
I use to believe replacing the tire is the only solution, the second best would be patching from the inside but after looking at my new Michelin 3 from the inside, the surface is not smooth like other tires, it has a raised honey comb pattern which will make it impossible to patch from the inside unless you grind it flat which will further weaken the tire, I used the rope this time hoping to get some life out of that tire, it has been two month now with no air leaks. yeah I know 125 hp and 70 ft-lb of torque & all that, its not going to cause the tire to explode, if it leaks I'll plug it again. I'll post again to let you guys know how long did the rope plugged tire lasted.
thepopularjock
Wizard
I agree that the string plug will hold air pretty well.
I have had to plug both my FZ1 and my R1 and before that a Harley. The only thing I do differently is use Super Glue instead of cement. However you have to consider that string plugs are advertised as a temporary fix.
A good number of mechanics/shops will NOT patch a motorcycle tire on a Liter Bike. We have so much power and these bikes are able to fly around corners so well that it is possible to put more stress on the string plug than it can hold. I will admit that if you ride in a straight line with limited acceleration (driving very tame) you will probably get some miles out of the plug/string but you have to determine what it's worth to you.
Ultimately it comes down to safety and what it's worth to you. As well as what you are willing to pay for it? I'm not in the habit of telling grown men what to do - that's your choice - just be careful. We have had enough wrecks around here to last us..........
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Brock Kickass
Wizard
Grinding the surface smooth to take a patch does not weaken the tire. It's a non-structural layer. If you grind through it you have a problem, but if it's done correctly it's fine. Scuff the surface lightly and apply the patch. Of course, I only do it for a living. Why would I know a thing about it? Everything I know about fixing a tire is backed up by mountains of research data provided by all of the major tire manufacturers. Of course, your Uncle Bubba fixed a lawnmower tire with shoe goo once, so go to him for advice before a pro. I mean, he fixes air conditioners, so he must know how to fix a tire, right?
Radial tires flex. Radial tire repair patches are designed to accommodate that flex. Plugs are not. Glue is not. Eventually the flex of the tire will cause the glue holding your plug to fail. Plugs are a temporary solution.
I see it all the time in my shop. People read an article on some auto blog and suddenly they're at my counter telling me everything at need to know about my job. When you're sick do you tell your Doctor what is wrong with you and how to treat it as well? Nobody is trying to fleece you by patching a tire. If you're too cheap or lazy to have it fixed right maybe you ought to consider another hobby.
I stand nothing to gain by you properly fixing a tire. Odds are pretty good you will never end up in my shop. If you want to take a chance, go for it. Just please stop misleading people. A plug isn't a proper way to fix a tire. Keep your bad advice to yourself before it gets someone hurt.
Ruggybuggy
Well-Known Member
That's absolute bull shit. Take the tire in to a professional and have it repaired. It's very obvious you don't have a clue.
terdog
Well-Known Member
Why does it seem that America has lost that "CAN DO" attitude? How is it we have gone from a nation of DIY, to a nation of "just take it to the guy"?
Why cant we grow a pair and fix things ourselves? Especially with YOUTUBE to show us the way. Is it really that foreign to us to do the simple task of mounting our own tires? Is it really that hard to get a inside plug/patch from the local tire shop, take your tire off and fix it yourself?
30 yrs and over a million miles on the street. Just about as much time on a dirt bike. Ive found out that this aint ROCKET SURGERY.
2 yrs ago I had a rope plug fail. It got to the point where it would leak. Took it off and put a inside plug/patch on and finished the tire.
1 yr ago I picked up a piece of steel on the job. The boss had a rope plug kit for the trucks. I put it in and it has been perfect for the last 7500 miles.
Why cant we grow a pair and fix things ourselves? Especially with YOUTUBE to show us the way. Is it really that foreign to us to do the simple task of mounting our own tires? Is it really that hard to get a inside plug/patch from the local tire shop, take your tire off and fix it yourself?
30 yrs and over a million miles on the street. Just about as much time on a dirt bike. Ive found out that this aint ROCKET SURGERY.
2 yrs ago I had a rope plug fail. It got to the point where it would leak. Took it off and put a inside plug/patch on and finished the tire.
1 yr ago I picked up a piece of steel on the job. The boss had a rope plug kit for the trucks. I put it in and it has been perfect for the last 7500 miles.
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Ruggybuggy
Well-Known Member
Why does it seem that America has lost that "CAN DO" attitude? How is it we have gone from a nation of DIY, to a nation of "just take it to the guy"?
Why cant we grow a pair and fix things ourselves? Especially with YOUTUBE to show us the way. Is it really that foreign to us to do the simple task of mounting our own tires? Is it really that hard to get a inside plug/patch from the local tire shop, take your tire off and fix it yourself?
30 yrs and over a million miles on the street. Just about as much time on a dirt bike. Ive found out that this aint ROCKET SURGERY.
2 yrs ago I had a rope plug fail. It got to the point where it would leak. Took it off and put a inside plug/patch on and finished the tire.
1 yr ago I picked up a piece of steel on the job. The boss had a rope plug kit for the trucks. I put it in and it has been perfect for the last 7500 miles.
When your gas furnace fails do you fix it yourself? Anyone can fix anything with the proper training and equipment. Go buy yourself a vulcanize, a buffer, vulcanizing glue, vulcanizing rubber and tire buffer and do the repair. Considering that a vulcanized repair is only $20 with the tire remove which do you think is the better option?
terdog
Well-Known Member
I dont know of any place in Northern Ca that will perform that repair. So, I have taught myself how to mount and balance and repair my own tires. I go down to the local tire shop, give the guy $5 and he gives me a handful of plug patches.