ok, so i today i was riding home from work, abotu 20 minutes ago.  Rode past what looked like a box of nails.  Nothgin happened out of the ordinary.  Got home, decided to inspect the tires just in case.  WEll sure enough, a f%$king nail right dead center in my rear tire.  Looks to be about an eight penny nail.  What do you guys suggest?  Err towards the safe way and buy a brand new tire, or stick with the stock and just plug it.  What to do?

I got a tyre that had only seen 300ml once plugged. But that's pretty much up to your personal feeling for safety.
My riding style has changed since, i.e. I'm more demanding on my tyres and prob would opt for a new one now.

Tyres can be repaired and be just as good as any other so long as your not going on the track. Best to take it to a local tyre guy and he will say yay or ney. Ive plugged nails in tyres before and rode the rest of the life of the tyre out with no problems. Often when something is fixed it is stronger than the original and more often than not its something else that will give rather than the fix. Id go to the guy and see if he thinks it can be done. if so i would do it.

Obviously up to you

ok, ill take it out to the local shop to see what they can do.  If not, Ill just opt for a new one.  I really need my bike like now so i may patch to hold me over until i get a new one

I wouldn't rely on a patch for any length of time... In my car, who cares because one flat tire isn't a huge deal and I have a spare, so I'll drive with a patch with no problem. On my bike one flat tire is always a huge deal and there is no spare, so why risk a patch going bad when the cost of a flat is so potentially high?

Not sure if anything like a car tire, but when I was working as a mechanic we used patches religiously and had no problems as long as done right.  Of course it all depends on where the hole was, the size, angle, etc.  Just take it to a shop and they should be able to tell you what the best option is.

Yeah... same thing happend to me to my tire.

I just got a new one since the Nail a good size, and it was on the RIGHT side of the tread, not dead center.

I'd say depends on your driving, If its alot of low speed in town cruising, patch it, if its highway time, replace it, Id rather have it go flat and spin off the rim at 20 or 30 mph that 70 or 80... I like my skin where its at. just a personal preference though.

Here in the Uk tyre motorcycle tyre repairs are governed by BS159F and the following laws apply for bike tyres. Assuming conditions allow for a repair..........

Tyres up to J rating can be repaired if the area of damage does not exceed 6mm

Tyres between J and V rating can be repaired if the area of damge does not exceed 3mm

Tyres above V cannot be repaired.

It is generally accepted that ANY radial motorcycle tyre cannot be safely repaired regardless of its rating owing to the nature of its construction.

The dangers involved with plugging tyres are down to the possibilty of de-lamination of the carcass while at speed ie. the various layers peeling away from each other...... NOT the plug failing and the tyre losing pressure.

Quote from: sledge on August 20, 2008, 04:59:00 PM
The dangers involved with plugging tyres are down to the possibilty of de-lamination of the carcass while at speed ie. the various layers peeling away from each other...... NOT the plug failing and the tyre losing pressure.

That doesn't sound like any fun at all. Even more reason to just buy a new one...

if a new tire were several hundred dollars, i'd say plug it... tires are cheap though, and hospital visits are not. Buy a new tire

Quote from: arbakken on August 20, 2008, 06:26:08 PM
if a new tire were several hundred dollars, i'd say plug it... tires are cheap though, and hospital visits are not. Buy a new tire

+1 

yeah.  Im getting a new one.  Im gonna look around in the am and then take it to a place that can do it.  Im booked up as far as time goes over the next few days, and i need it done asap.  I do alot of freeway time at 75mph.  I think the majority of my 2300 miles is freeway.  Thanks guys.