Riding a Plugged Tire?

[Pilot]

I personally would not plug a tire and ride it like it was never plugged. I don’t think it’s a safe thing to do, I only have two tires under me and I don’t want either one of them to blow out on my butt doing 75 or 80 on the freeways. Also my brother lost a leg years back when his front tire blew out, the investigation showed that it blew at the plug, he had a flat and just had it plugged.

That being said what do you think, what are your experiences on this?

[GeorgeS]

I recently had a Very Slow leak in a Front Avon. Small Stone had punctured.

After realizing the leak was there, I put a plug in it.

 

About a week later I checked the pressure, it had gone down about 8 lb.

 

If on a trip, I would use a plug to get to then next avialable town to get a new

tire installed. However, I would drive slow.

 

I also noted that the tire had a Very Slight Buldge around the plug.

 

Its a good tool, to save Tow truck charges, but I agree, do not keep

rideing on a plugged tire.

In other words, use plugs with caution.

[Squeeze]

I have no Experience with a plugged Motorcycle Tire and never will.

 

I'm a cheap born and raised Swabian, but my Father didn't teach me any real dumb Things. Riding a plugged M/C Tire for more than i have to get home or to a Point where a new Tire is going to be mounted is just plain dumb.

 

I don't say that it doesn't work, several Guys have proven that, but by any means, i'm not Crash Test Dummy enough to test it on my own.

 

That all said, you know how much cost a Tire and how much would it cost to replace or repair my Bike ?

[Tom]

My life and especially Debbys isnt worth the risk,,I use Ride On but if I get a nail or whatever in it the tire is coming off ASAP and replaced.When my Metz 880s started coming apart at 1700 miles I took it back to dealer and they offered to put another set on..NO THANKS,I went back to Avons and threw the Metz in the junk pile..As I say my life and Debbys WAY more important!

[TEW47]

I've put thousands of miles on a pluged tire. But the best way is to put a boot on the inside, just like they do car tires. A motorcycle shop won't do it so you will have to find a car tire shop that will. The one I use charges $25 dollars to put a boot in. You have to bring them the tire, they do not take them of the bike for you. It's not a hard job to remove the tire. It's all about liability. Motorcycle shops used to fix flats years ago then someone sued when the tire went flat, now,Oh you have to put this $180 tire plus the price to change the tire. LIABILITY

 

tew47

[BuddyRich]

I have run a few tires with plugs till they had to be replaced. Never really comfortable with a tire after its plugged but that's all the money I had at the time. Today I would probably still run the tire till it needed replacing.

[dynodon]

I carry a plug kit and inflator, and will use it if necessary. Will probably not run a plugged tire longer than I have to, but I do have experience with plugged tires.

 

Many years ago, I was autocrossing and running sticky autoX tires on my rather heavy Taurus SHO. Got a slow leak on a rear tire, and someone at the event plugged it so I could complete the day.

 

After that, I forgot about it and ran those tires for FOUR more years at mostly road course track events where speeds got to 120 mph frequently as opposed to the 60 or so for autocross. I basically forgot about the plug till I bought new tires recently. I had been rotating that tire all along front/back and it never had a problem with pressure or anything else.

 

But that one experience doesn't mean YOU will have the same luck. My puncture was square on the tread with a small nail. A bigger, more damaging puncture may not have lasted.

 

So use a plug to get you to safety, but replace the tire when possible is my advice.

[eagleeye]

I agree,

I carry a plug kit and an inflator, but would only use it to get somewhere.

On a car I've plugged tires, but at least if one went flat, I still had three more.

 

On my bike, I've only got TWO tires, and I'm not willing to trust a plug.

Just my opinion, but I'm sticking to it.

Steve

[SilvrT]

I also carry a plug kit and use RideOn. I ran with a plug in the rear tire last summer for a while but before I did the trip to the prairies, I put a new tire on. At that time, the plug was leaking, even with the RideOn in the tire. That was the first time I ever plugged a tire on a M/C...my feeling is that it's a temporary fix and replacing the tire asap is the best thing to do.

[Yamaman]

Excuse my ignorance, but what exactly is RideOn. I googled it, but didn't get any hits that made sense in this context.

[SilvrT]

Excuse my ignorance, but what exactly is RideOn. I googled it, but didn't get any hits that made sense in this context.

it's a liquid product you put in the tires that helps balance and seal them.

 

http://www.ride-on.com/

[MasterGuns]

If on a long ride and to and through a desolate area, like the Big Bend are of SW Texas, I carry not only a boot plug kit but also carry along two different size inner tubes. Depending on the size of the hole and the location, I will determine, at least in my own mind, which is the best repair until I can purchase a new tire. I can fill the tire with air using the on-board air compressor on my 88.

[stardbog]

Have seccesfuly fix 3 rear tires with Mushroom type tyre plugger.

Our Member WTHO, Wayne From Missoury Have Nail in rear tyre last year @ Don's Maintanance Day, and I have plugged his tyre, He have some sirious miles behin him and plugger works all the way.

My Neighbor Harley Has 2 pluggers and 7500 mils without loosing air.

My Rear tyre has one and after 5K works.

 

This is what I Use for tyre Fix, as well Ride On sealant Just In Case

 

http://www.stopngo.com/motorcycle.asp

 

http://www.stopngo.com/motorcycle.asp

[BOO]

I like Dan have put several thousand miles on plugged tires. Depends on where the hole is and if you can get the plug in so it seals. The mushroom style work very well.

Bottom line is you have to be comfortable with what you ride or what you do to your ride.

Jerry

[SledgeHammer]

I have never plugged a front tire, but have plugged 2 rear tires without any problems. One was on a previous Harley, and one was on the RSV. I did not have any problems with either and both lasted until the tire was worn out. The plug on the RSV was done by a guy who races motorcycles and he guaranteed the plug would hold. He was right. He used a special plug and gave me the name of the place where I could order them. They were made for motorcycles in particular. I never ordered them and have since lost the name of the place. I also carry a compressor,plug kit, and Fix A Flat. I have the cheap plugs from Walmart and WOULD not leave a tire plugged with them on any longer than I had too. They are just for an emergency. The 2 tires that I had plugged were professionally done.

[Guest Popeye]

I carry a plug kit, like most, but only consider it a band-aid until I can get the tire replaced ASAP.

[trandeod]

A month ago I would have said yes to plugging a tire and not worrying about it BUT last week I pulled a small nail out of a Dunlop and plugged the small hole with a mushroom head plug, generously covered with patching cement. I rode down I-95 about 70 on my way home and that plug came out and I had a time holding the bike steady and getting to the shoulder. I replugged it and made it on home and immediately ordered a new tire. I'll never plug another tire and run 70!!! I'll go just fast enough to get home or to a shop.

[Steve S]

I am like most others on here, I want to get all I can out of my tires. That said, I tried having a patch "welded" in a tire with 4,000 miles on it. I got it home and just for kicks sprayed some windex on the area where the hole was. Sure enough, the sucker was leaking. That little experiment cost me 25 bucks so I will not try that again.

 

One of the comments made earlier reminded me of a statement that one of my industry's leaders made. He said: "You will never know the cost of an accident that you never have". I firmly believe this to be as true as the Gospel. I would slowly ride a plugged tire to a spot I could get another, but not one mile farther.

 

Whatever you ride on.....

RIDE SAFE

[TEW47]

A plug is only a quick fix, put a boot in it as soon as possible, will last till tire wears out.

 

tew47

[WIKD]

I've had a mushroom style patch/plug in my front tire for about 800 miles. Done by a shop I trust and I chek the pressure regularly, as always, and have not had a problem. I know the theory of only having two tires but have run the mushroom style patch/plug in car tires for years without a problem. Hopefully this will last past the summer and then I'll probably swap tires front and rear.

[Tartan Terror]

I carry a plug kit for emergencies. I would plan on changing the tire though as soon as possible. I prefer that to using the goop in the tire.

[timk]

The problem with most tire plugs is they require you to enlarge the hole to insert them. Thus, you disturb way too much of the tires cords. I use a plugger that doesn't require a reamer with excellent results.

[hig4s]

I have a plug kit I carry with me, and if necessary will use it. If it is a front tire I will probably buy a new one as soon as possible. If rear, depends on where I am. I the middle of a long trip I would be more likely to replace the tire than if I was around home. I have run plugs in rear tires for a couple thousand miles with not problem.