Screw in the tire, crappy way to end the 4th.

[MVent03]

Well I learned what it feels like to have a rear tire go completely flat on you while on the highway, fishtail city.

The crappy thing is that I just put on the Sport Demons maybe 1500mi ago. These things are still new. Can it be plugged, patched and ridden safely?

The hole is definitely a hole and not a typical slow leak. I'm thinking that I had it in there and threw it while on the highway which caused the quick air loss.



I'm mad. I love my bike, I ride it almost everyday but I can't afford to buy another rear tire so quickly. 

[Big Rich]

Some people will say a patch is an emergency repair to get you to a bike shop, others have put a thousand miles on a patch. Ultimately, it's if you feel comfortable riding on it..........

[gsJack]

I've plugged several rear motorcycle tires and used them until near bald.  They say not to plug if within an inch of the edge and I agree, the only one I plugged on a GS rear tire was a bit less than an inch and the plug pushed slowly back out as I rode, a second plug did the same.  The reamer went in behind the sealing skin inside the tire instead of clean thru.

The Nighthawk 650 I traded in on my 1st GS had a new Dunlop touring tire on the rear when I picked up a piece of scrap steel about 3/16" square and I rode it home slowly across town before pulling the steel out and it went instantly flat.  Plugged it with an external plug and put another 20k miles on it before I traded the bike.  Plugged a couple other rears before that but forget the details.

After that first GS flat I've never plugged another GS tire and wouldn't have during the years we were racing thru the mountain twisties and running 80 mph all day to get there.  I doubt I ever ran those old plugged Honda tires faster than maybe 75 mph.

Depends on your usage and it's your choice whether to plug or replace yours.  A proper plug installed from the inside would be the safest but I could never get anyone to plug a mc tire, had to plug them myself.

[MVent03]

I might see if I can get it plugged and keep it as a spare. I run my tires hard. I see 90-100mph pretty regular. Lots of good lean angle too.

[Zwerski]

It would probably be fine patched, but that stuff bothers me. Both times it has happened to me, I went new. No regrets. But that's just me.

[sledge]

DUNLOP MOTORCYCLE TUBELESS TYRE REPAIR INFORMATION
Dunlop recommends only permanent repairs performed from the inside of the tyre, using a combination patch/plug method. Never attempt a repair from the outside, or inject a sealant, or simply use an inner tube, patch or plug as a substitute for a proper repair.

Only a qualified tyre repair shop or motorcycle tyre dealer should perform repairs. Inspection of the tyre and adequacy of repair becomes the responsibility of the person actually performing the repair and Dunlop does not warrant the results of a repair in any way.

Before any repair is attempted, a tyre must be removed from the wheel and thoroughly inspected. The following are minimum guidelines for the repairer. Tyres should not be repaired if any of the following conditions exist:

•a tyre has been previously injected with a sealant/balancer
•the puncture is larger than 6mm (1/4-inch) in diameter
•the puncture is not perpendicular to the carcass
•the puncture is in the tyre sidewall
•separation of plies, tread separation, separation of any other components
•cut or broken ply cords
•broken or damaged bead wires
•cut or damaged chafers (bead area)
•deterioration of the carcass inside the tyre due to "run flat" or under-inflation
•cracks or other damage to the integrity of the inner liner
•excessive wear – tyre should have at least 1/32 of an inch of tread depth, excluding tread wear indicators
•cracks in sidewall or tread
•impact breaks, cuts, snags or gouges that penetrate the surface.

Please note:

•There should be no more than one repair per tyre
•The wheel itself must be in good condition. A cracked or bent wheel may lead to loss of air and cause subsequent deflation of the tyre
•Following repair, the valve assembly should be replaced and the tyre/wheel rebalanced
•Speed should not exceed 80kph (50mph) for the first 24 hours after tyre repair and the repaired tyre should never be used at speeds higher than 120kph (75mph)
•The repairer is solely responsible for instructing the motorcyclist as to the restrictions to be placed on tyre use following repair. In summary, no form of temporary repair should be attempted. Motorcycle tyre repairs leave no room for error and any doubt as to inspection or adequacy of repair should be resolved by discarding the tyre


........your call 

[MVent03]

Well I go above 75 everyday. New tire is on order. I might still get this one repaired so if I ever do get another flat, I can just get the old tire put on and drive it home instead of having to trailer it again.

That is if I didn't already destroy the tire by riding on it for the 300 yards or so I had to.

[Kijona]

I plugged a 6 year old tire (front) on my SV. Put almost 3k miles on it so far and no problem.

[twinrat]

kijona mate take that plugged front off before it kills you . a plugged rear tyre is dangerous if it lets go .but a front plugged tyre will kill you real fast.

[sledge]

I plugged a 6 year old tire (front) on my SV. Put almost 3k miles on it so far and no problem.

[Kijona]

Man you people are paranoid.

[twinrat]

kijona you are making a mistake , listen to some one whose had 50 years motercycle experience.

[Kijona]

kijona you are making a mistake , listen to some one whose had 50 years motercycle experience.

You? Okay...

Back in the day when tires weren't nearly as robust as they are now, you're right, riding on a plug would have been a bad idea. Nowadays tires are so well made that they'll easily withstand being punctured and plugged.

Just do some research. Even gsJack says he's plugged tires and ridden them till they're bald.

[codajastal]

kijona you are making a mistake , listen to some one whose had 50 years motercycle experience.

You? Okay...

Back in the day when tires weren't nearly as robust as they are now, you're right, riding on a plug would have been a bad idea. Nowadays tires are so well made that they'll easily withstand being punctured and plugged.

Just do some research. Even gsJack says he's plugged tires and ridden them till they're bald.

Totally agree ^^^
If the tyre is plugged properly I would have no problem riding it till bald?

[MVent03]

Pretty much everything I've read regarding plugs says don't go above 75mph. In my case, if I were to lose that plug, I'd experience the same dramatic deflation as before and it's totally not worth it. I've always agreed with the statement that your tires, especially on a MC, are the most important piece of equipment on your vehicle.

[codajastal]

I've always agreed with the statement that your tires, especially on a MC, are the most important piece of equipment on your vehicle.

The most important piece on my motorcycle is not my tyres, Its my p.e.n.i.s 

[mister]

Kijona,

A SIX year old tire? Fuk plugging that. Hey, your call.

Michael

[yamahonkawazuki]

Kijona,

A SIX year old tire? Fuk plugging that. Hey, your call.

Michael

hmm whats worse. kijona plugging a 6yo tyre or coda ,his pee pee> hmmm

[Kijona]

Kijona,

A SIX year old tire? Fuk plugging that. Hey, your call.

Michael

hmm whats worse. kijona plugging a 6yo tyre or coda ,his pee pee> hmmm

*head desk*

LOL

Seriously guys. I've had that tire above 120mph...and I'm not dead...yet. I'm probably about another 500-800 miles from replacing them. I've already got the new tires. Don't worry, I don't make a habit of triple digit speeds.

As I recall, the front tire on the 'Strom had a plug in it for over 15k miles. Granted it was a brand new tire but still.

Let's put it this way...the hole was SO small and the tire was still so hardy that I couldn't push the reamer through. And as some of you know, I'm a pretty robust young lad. So, I drilled the hole bigger and then plugged it. It's not like it had a nail in it...it had something about the size of a safety pin in it.