How many of you plug?

[craigatcsi]

I hit a nail with my rear tire this past weekend, and had to nurse the bike home, stopping for air every 30 miles or so.

 

I have new tires on order and won't be in for a couple of weeks.

 

I am thinking about plugging the tire so I can ride until the tires come in.

 

Do any of you plug?

 

I did it all the time on my cages when I was younger, but never on a bike.

 

craigr

[mkrieg]

I think you are going to hear it both ways. some plug while others say its a cardinal sin.

[StarQ]

I would consider plugging a back tire but not a front. 70% of your braking is in the front. A back tire going flat is usually easier to manage while driving than a front.

 

It comes down to what are you comfortable riding? How about your passenger?

 

 

 

[i think you are going to hear it both ways. some plug while others say its a cardinal sin. ]

 

 

I hit a nail with my rear tire this past weekend, and had to nurse the bike home, stopping for air every 30 miles or so.

 

I have new tires on order and won't be in for a couple of weeks.

 

I am thinking about plugging the tire so I can ride until the tires come in.

 

Do any of you plug?

 

I did it all the time on my cages when I was younger, but never on a bike.

 

craigr

[mkrieg]

I would consider plugging a back tire but not a front. 70% of your braking is in the front. A back tire going flat is usually easier to manage while driving than a front.

 

I would tend to agree with this.

[jbillerzippo]

I was on my way home from the Dr. Office this past march when my rear tire went flat only about 5 miles from home. I knew I had a slow leak. I put a plug in it an road it home. Been riding it sense. Plan on riding it till the tread's gone

[Venturous Randy]

It is not something I would prefer to do, but I have on several occasions, always the rear. If the tire had a lot of tread on it, I would plug it and when I had time I would take the tire off and put a good patch on the inside, leaving the plug in, just trimming it down flat. I feel this keeps trash out of the hole pushing on the patch. I have put many miles on this condition without any problems. I think it also has to do with the quality of the plug material.

If the tire was getting ready to be replaced, I would plug it and watch my load and speeds and routinely check pressure until I got it replaced.

RandyA

[texasrices]

You might want to try this stuff. Its called Ride-on. I just changed out my tires because they were bald. I took a look at the rear tire and there was a large nail in it. I never lost any air at all.

 

www.ride-on.com

 

It is worth it!!!

[Hummingbird]

There is a plug that is used on autos that is installed from the inside of the tire. There is a actual plug that fills the hole and also a patch that covers the hole. This is a one piece unit, I've used it several times on cars but not on a bike, haven't had to yet.

[Sheradan]

Having a ride/weekend ruined is not worth it to me. I have done it only in an emergency. Think about it, is it really worth it? Does it really save that much?

[GaryZ]

My ZX11D Ninja got a nail in the new rear tire last year at a rally in Eureka Springs, AR. I had it plugged and rode all weekend and all the way home to Oklahoma City. The tire is still on the bike and I just got back from Eureka Springs again.

 

The plugs that I trust are the "rope" type for radials. When properly installed with rubber cement they bond to the tire. The very worst that might happen is a slow leak (never happened to me . . . so far).

 

With all of this said I need to also mention that I would probably plug a front tire in an emergency and change it right away. Even a slow leak is scary on the front.

[BOO]

Like was said you are going to get all kinds of answers.

I plug and ride, I will add this depends on where it is in the tire and how big it is.

If you can ride with a plug in the tire and not worry yourself to death, then I would ride it and I do.

My son got a nail in a front tire on his Shadow that had about 2,000 miles on it .

Wouldn't ride it another mile, had it replaced.

I do agree with the rope type plugs but I have had the rubber ones with the mushroom head and they work great also

So there you have it, just like having an elbow.

BOO

[flb_78]

Plug and ride for me.

[Al Bates]

We were in Tennessee ran over a screw I plugged and finished out the 2 weeks and made it home. (back to Michigan) Take your time, do a good job.

[bikenut]

I would only plug to get to a shop and then replace the tire fast. Remember you only have two tires under you and the payment does not feel good when you hit it.

Bikenut:big-grin-emoticon:

[craigatcsi]

I guess if I HAD to get a nail, I'm glad it waited until I am just about done with the tire anyway.

Thanks for the replies

[Captainkirk]

Of course, I ride sport bikes, so you may take this with a grain of salt...

I would plug in a "limp-home" situation. Then I would change the tire.

Remember, we are comparing apples to oranges here. Plugs were developed for automotive radial tires....tires that don't have the types of side loads and "flexsion" that motorcycles are subject to. Typical automotive tire "contact patches" are about six inches square...all four of 'em...and while the fronts are subject to twisting forces on hard cornering, they share the load and don't come anywhere near the torsional loads put on a motocyle tire rolling into a tight corner, not to mention that the contact patch on such a tire is roughly the size of a postage stamp. (Now before you jump all over me, bear in mind I'm NOT referring to NASCAR-type situations, but rather, Grandma's Ford Windstar.) When you insert a plug in a multi steel-belted radial tire, the plug is subject to mainly compression and extension forces, and with the wires from the belts, the rubber cement and no rock n' roll going in, it's safe to assume that if a plug works, you're good to go. If not, well, there's always the spare.

The few times I've ridden on low motorcycle tires have been horrendous. The handling was attrocious and found me searching for the nearest air hose. Now it's a pre-ride must-do. With a passenger and luggage on a touring bike....no thanks! Remember, there's no spare. You don't have a bumper jack. A plug can work it's way out much easier on a motorcycle tire. Youe life can depend on a contact patch the size of a Rice Chex. A new tire, mounted and installed shouldn't cost more than a couple hundred bucks. That being said, if you still feel like plugging, knock yourself out!

 

 

[jburrell]

I have a plug in mine and have ridden with it like that for the past week. I was kinda bummed at the experience since I got a flat coming home and it happened on my street. ( lucky me). The reason I was bummed was because I had Ride-on in both tires and did no expect to be able to get a flat...but I did. Dead center in rear tire. I was able to limp home and put the bike up on my lift with the carbon one adapter and spun the tire around and around looking for issues and finally aired it up and heard the Hisssss. Found the hole (no nail etc) and pulled out my repair kit. I always carry a plug kit with air and emergency first aid kit. this kit had the soft gooey sticky long plugs. I cleaned the hole, inserted the plug, cut off all but 1/4 in on the outside and reaired up the tire. It has been good to go since then. I am changing tires in about a week thought since I have inspection coming up and the itires are borderline.

 

Just my 2 cents

[BOO]

I have a plug in mine and have ridden with it like that for the past week. I was kinda bummed at the experience since I got a flat coming home and it happened on my street. ( lucky me). The reason I was bummed was because I had Ride-on in both tires and did no expect to be able to get a flat...but I did. Dead center in rear tire. I was able to limp home and put the bike up on my lift with the carbon one adapter and spun the tire around and around looking for issues and finally aired it up and heard the Hisssss. Found the hole (no nail etc) and pulled out my repair kit. I always carry a plug kit with air and emergency first aid kit. this kit had the soft gooey sticky long plugs. I cleaned the hole, inserted the plug, cut off all but 1/4 in on the outside and reaired up the tire. It has been good to go since then. I am changing tires in about a week thought since I have inspection coming up and the itires are borderline.

 

Just my 2 cents

 

I don't use Ride On myself but I have wondered if a plug would hold in a tire that had that gunk in it. I guess there's my answer.

BOO

[craigatcsi]

I am replacing my stock tires with Avons this coming Monday - YEA!!

 

I read some of the MANY posts on tires on this board and took some of the advice to get the Avons. I am looking forward to the better handleing mentioned in those threads.

 

As far as flat tires, I remember seeing a video somewhere of some company that coats the inside of your new tires with some kind of goo that prevents flats. It shows a crotch rocket with the goo in the tires, running over a board full of nails - and doesn't get a flat!!

 

I wonder where one would get something like that.

 

What I will probably do is order one of those kits for bikes that come with plugs & little CO2 cartridges to carry in the bike on long trips - just to get me home or too a dealer.

 

craigr

[N3FOL]

I've never been on a long long trip yet on my Venture. when the time comes that I may use the bike more than 300 miles away from home, 'Ride On' products from what I heard is a great companion. CO2 cartridges or a small bike pump is a must.

 

A flat tire on the road is one of my greatest nightmare while riding.

[craigatcsi]

I pick up my new Bushteck trailer on Monday, so for this coming trip to the West Coast, I will have LOTS of room to carry tools, tire kit, etc...

 

I am soooo afraid of getting a flat out of town. Though the only flats I have gotten were all 3 relativeliy close to home.

 

craigr

[RossKean]

I just replaced both front and rear with New Dunlop Elite IIIs on Thursday. Rained Friday so Saturday was my first ride - 300 km. Went to a club breakfast meeting today and the bike was not handling right. Checked the tires and the rear had 9 psi in it!! Picked up a little piece of metal. Think I'll try a plug in it or maybe I'll patch from the inside (or both). 300 km (190 miles) just isn't enough for a tire!!!

 

Can anyone recommend a good type of patch kit one could use on the road in the event of an emergency? There are a number of different kits out there but I would be looking for something that can work without removing the wheel from the bike.

 

Ross

Edited June 14, 2009 by RossKean

[Dave77459]

It was timely that this came up today. Out for a breakfast ride and ran over a roofing nail. On a month-old Avon with 4500 miles on it. :-(

 

It is smack dab in the middle of the tire and isn't losing air. I think I'll check pressure tomorrow before I decide what to do.

 

Dave

[DragonRider]

While coming back from Freebirds MD, Ediddy picked up a 3 inch bolt in his tire, luckily it went between the tread almost in the middle of the tire, so we plugged it and put in some Ride On and it didnt leak at all all the way back. I would only do it on a rear tire and only under ideal conditions. As far as I know he is still riding on the tire. But NEVER, NEVER in the sidewall or close to it.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mike G in SC]

I plugged a rear with the rope then threw in a bottle of Green Slime for secondary insurance. (Was a roofing nail in the groove of the tread). Rode it till tread replacement time. Will probably look for the RIDE-ON mentioned above. It's also good for balancing and keeping the tires cooler (front & back).

 

Right now I'm fighting what seems to be a bead leak on the front. Will have it remounted this week.