I know this rear bt-45 is shot, I've put almost 7,000 miles on it. I wonder how long you guys / gals have ridden with a plug in your tire ?
I'm not doing much more than puttering around the block on this one, its past the wear indicators, plugged, and waiting for it's smoky end as soon as the new rubber arrives next week. ;)
(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d93/ohgooditsme/flatfairies/DSC00315.jpg)
(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d93/ohgooditsme/flatfairies/DSC00316.jpg)
what appear to be stripes in the tire from sliding/spinning are only soap bubbles. :)
If you're not familiar with motorcycle tires, you should learn now that you never ride on a plug, ever. Punch a hole in your tire and that's it time for a new tire. You don't have the luxury of three other tires to prop you up if your patched tire blows out. And motorcycles demand more of their tires than cars do so it makes that weak point of that patch even more of a hazard. I also would not ride a tire bald or to the cords. I've seen tires at the motorcycle shop like that and those are just blowouts waiting to happen. Once you reach those treadwear marks that means new tire time.
Quote from: qwertydude on May 09, 2008, 09:19:50 PM
If you're not familiar with motorcycle tires, you should learn now that you never ride on a plug, ever. Punch a hole in your tire and that's it time for a new tire. You don't have the luxury of three other tires to prop you up if your patched tire blows out. And motorcycles demand more of their tires than cars do so it makes that weak point of that patch even more of a hazard. I also would not ride a tire bald or to the cords. I've seen tires at the motorcycle shop like that and those are just blowouts waiting to happen. Once you reach those treadwear marks that means new tire time.
Yes, agreed. I'm aware of the risks. That's why I mentioned puttering around the block, and the smokey end which is coming soon. I'm not expecting nor would I attempt any 2up 100MPH endurance rides with this ;) . My bike is 'parked' until the new rubber comes in. :)
I also know that some folks will plug/patch a tire, and continue to ride it right down to the wear indicators. Sooooo, have you, anyone ?
(I'm starting to feel a little safer since there are no replies that people really do replace them!)
I went over 20,000 miles on a plugged rear tire, it was on my 85 Nighthawk 650 that I traded in on my 1st GS.
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/BBS/viewtopic.php?t=27853
That was a Dunlop touring tire. Last tire I plugged was a Z2 radial on the 97 GS and I just rode it around locally a few days until the new tires arrived that were already on order.
Ever smoked a tire til it popped? Saw a friend who had a cruiser. Bought new wheels and not only popped the tire but kept going making tons of sparks with his steel wheels :laugh:
When I purchased my bike back in Feb. the tires were as slick as owl sheit and had a plug that was leaking the green slime that some people use to stop leaks. they were also full of cracks all around the bead. I didn't do any highway riding on them, but did run around on the backroads quite a bit until my wife "allowed" me to get some new tires. :icon_mrgreen: