Well, it happened. My new tires with less than 1000miles on it got raped by a screw this morning  . I had it plugged and i know its not recommended much, but what precautions should i take when riding? (besides slowing down)

What kind of plug did you use/ have put in?

Took it to a shop, was thinking itd be more safe having it done "professionally". uhmm, the normal kind? lol, He stuck a beef jerky looking thing in the tire then cut off the extra.

Quote from: redge on February 03, 2012, 12:54:16 PM
Took it to a shop, was thinking itd be more safe having it done "professionally". uhmm, the normal kind? lol, He stuck a beef jerky looking thing in the tire then cut off the extra.

Well, first of all, was it the front or rear tire? I wouldn't really worry about a plug in the rear tire - front I would. Simply safety-wise, that is.

I don't know if they can do the same thing for motorcycle tires but when I ran over a nail with my truck, I took it back to Kauffman where I got the tires. They took the tire off the rim, stretched it a little, heated it, and then applied a patch from the inside.

yeah, patch is better than a plug, in general. but what's done is done so just leave it

I've never used the "wick" or beef jerky plugs on a motorcycle -Many times on car and truck tires with no problems ( I keep a plug kit in my tool box on my truck.).

I had almost the exact same thing happen ( 350 miles on it maybe)  with a brand new rear tire on My ZX11. I took it to a local dealer I frequent and had them do an internal patch .  I think I only put a few hundred more miles on it then got a new tire .  It really sucks- but it's a lot cheaper than fixing your bike or your own body...

Front- Replace it as soon as you can . Rear.... ehhh -your call... if it holds pressure and doesn't feel like it's changed  the handling ( broken cords perhaps) -no squirming or anything... Your call- but I'd lean towards replacing it.

in the state of florida if you can prove it, IE: where you hit the nail and can find more near by. let say local construction crew is doing something on the side of the road. you can write it in to the florida DOT I think, and they in return will pay for a new tire, than turn around and sue the construction company for this money. but when doing this... Pictures, pictures, pictures, pictures. the DAY OF! not after!

I like this law, cause its kinda like [for you parents] when they say "CLEAN UP YOUR ROOM, AND ALL THESE LEGOS" and you don't and your mum walks in and is like "he didn't clean his room, i'll yell at him tomorrow" and than goes to walk out, and steps on a lego, and shes like FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU "yells for you" and than now your in big trouble...

Somewhat of the opposite here in GA. My uncle tried to sue the county because a county work truck was dropping gravel out of the back going down the highway and it cracked the windshield of his brand new truck. He even had a video of it happening (cracking of the windshield was captured) and they basically said screw you and refused to compensate for any of it.

Replacement is the recommended course of action but if you do repair it a patch plug is the best option.  A plug is done from the outside, a patch is done from the inside of the tire.  If you are having a shop do it you are paying the labor charge to dismount and mount a tire anyway, you might as well shell out the money for a new tire.

-Jessie

Man... sounds like i shoulda done a patch huh. its in the rear tire, on the edge of the center section of tire. I just hope it holds up, all i do is commute 20miles a day

That sucks, but I know how you feel. When i was younger I bought a brand new ninja 250, and had a nail in the rear tire the 1st or 2nd gear. Tried taking it to the shop but they had to order a tire and said it would be about a week. I was still on the break in and could only go like 25mph(ex250 break in is paaaainnnful) so I said screw it and just kept riding around. Once the tire showed up I took it in then. We asked about plugging/patching it but they said they didn't recommend it on motorcycle tires. a 600cc+ tire I'd definitely not chance it, but I think the ex250 would've been fine.

Either way, I hate people who get shaZam! all over the roads. As a cyclist/dog owner I get really offended by broken glass that's all over the roads and sidewalks. I know people prefer their beer in glass bottles, but until 'grown ups' learn to grow up, they should have to drink out of plastic bottles because getting someone drunk and handing them glass all in one swift move is just dumb. I don't even know how much money in bicycle tubes I've wasted because of glass flats, but at $4-6 a tube, it's well over $100-200. Luckily I've never had either of my dogs cut their feet, but most of my time walking is spent looking for glass so they don't step on it.

I just pulled 2 nails out of my rear tire last night. I took my bike out on a random warm day a week ago and brought home 2 nails. It's MUCH easier to get things wedged in your tire when the roads are wet, it's like nail/glass lubricant. I pulled off my tire and patched them from the inside. Luckily for me it was on the sumo and those wheels have tubes, so I just put a new $18 tube in and didn't have to replace a $160 tire.

If you're any good at doing things yourself. I'd recommend picking up a few tire levers and rim guards and trying a tire change yourself. You can either buy rim lubricant from NAPA or just use something like window cleaner/dish soap, but it's about $50 for those things, which is less than it'll cost you to have a shop change both of your tires anyway. You'll literally spend all weekend on the first one, but you get better each time and eventually you can do one in less than an hour or two.