Motorcycle.com

dmorga1 · 08-16-2006, 06:52 PM

First post!

I always thought it was okay according to my mechanic. I've had plugs that lasted the life of the tire with no apparent ill effects, but I wasn't riding at the limits of the tire, either. How safe do you want to be? Your life may count on the traction of that tire.

stlarson · 08-16-2006, 08:53 PM

On a car, I've had no problems with an occasional plug. Plus with four wheels I feel that if it does blow out, I've got a good chance of avoiding a catastrophe. On a motorcycle, losing 50% of your usable traction, possibly all of your steering, that seems like an unnecessary risk.

If it were me, I'd save the patching for an emergency situation to get me somewhere that could replace the tire. A $100 tire is a lot cheaper than a potential medical and insurance bill.

svtech · 08-16-2006, 11:07 PM

Dunlop's web site (and I'm sure there are others) states that you MAY attempt a patch from the inside in addition to a plug and then lists at least 13 conditions that MUST be met before any such attempt. Any warranty is void and rider assumes all responsibility. I would think that your insurance company would claim "operating with known defective equipment" and deny both liability and coll/comp claims if there were a subsequent accident.

I agree with the above poster. You've got to remove the wheel and dismount the bad tire. Half of the labor is already done.

Replace the tire. Ride safe and use those plugs for locust thorns and such on tractors, mowers, and ATV's.

Steve781 · 08-16-2006, 11:45 PM

There are plugs and then there are plugs. I've used these with some success.

http://www.whitehorsepress.com/produ...oducts_id=4693

They are mushroom type plugs which, with the special tooling, are installed from the outside of the tire. Best I've seen short of pulling the tire and using one of the special patch/plugs that the good shops will install.

YMMV

Whatmough · 08-17-2006, 02:20 AM

I had a flat from a roofing nail a while back. I luckily was right across from a service station (yes some of those still exsist), when I slowed to a stop. I pulled in asked the guy working there if he had ever put a plug in a MC tire. No he replied and so I said here is your chance. He plugged it and off I went. Now I may be cheap too; but I'm not stupid. I re-tired after a few days as soon as I made it to a MC shop. So it does work; but I wouldn't want to be riding around on it for long.

Rsduce · 08-17-2006, 03:17 AM

If your life is worth less than a new tire, go ahead and ride on the plugged tire.

mikenomad · 08-17-2006, 03:42 AM

As has been said already, it's just not worth the risk repairing a motorcycle tire.

If a tire deflates suddenly and you go down as a result, it's going to cost you WAY more than the cost of a new tire.

NLJ · 08-17-2006, 03:55 AM

I've heard this conversation before on a bulliten board i frequent. One guy who is in Korea pointed out that in Korea using plugs in bike tires is as normal there as using them in car tires here. Although they typically won't use more than one or two plugs. I have never had the need to plug a tire but i think i would probably give it a try. Plus when was the last time you heard of a motorcycle having an actual blowout, or shredding off the rim. I've never seen or talked to someone who had it happen, plugs or no plugs.

The_AirHawk · 08-17-2006, 04:28 AM

I've done it more times than I can count. Center of tread, edge of tread, sidewall - you name it.

Haven't crashed in flames yet (but I may this evening - who knows?). I daresay I worry far, far more about the b!tch yakkin' on the cell in her minivan that narrowly missed me when she ran a stopsign this morning on my way to work.

Or the guy last Friday that decided to push me into the raised concrete median, despite all the honking and yelling alongside him (window-down, and he even hesitated and started to go back into his own lane!). When I finally got next to him at the next light, he was profusely apologetic - but that wouldn't have helped if I were dead, would it now?

Things like that are far more likely to "get me" than any tire plug.

Casey_Daniel · 08-17-2006, 04:36 AM

You know what? I use to feel the same way as everyone else. I would never use a plug that would put my life in danger. I use to go through a set of tires every month and a half with all my spare time when I was single and started buying race take offs. Guess what? I recently got married and had a new to me set of race take offs. I didn't have those things more than 2 days before I got a hole in one. Not having the expendable income or rather being more responsible with my income I put a plug in the tire (center tread back tire). I ended up having to put another plug in the tire before I wore them out. Guess what else? I'm sitting here typing this response. I took the bike up to 120 with no vibration, they never leaked air and I didn't burst into flames. I hear everyone saying not to do it. I'd like to hear a response from someone to whom it actually cause a crash or scary moment. I think it's marketing hype. It depends on the rider. Personally I think my bike starts feeling weird after I lose about 5 lbs, psi and I check my tires. Worst it's going to do is cause a slow leak the you have to refill until you get a new tire or fix it again.

08-16-2006, 06:52 PM	#1
dmorga1 Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 33	Re: Plugs Repairs for Motorcycle Tires. First post! I always thought it was okay according to my mechanic. I've had plugs that lasted the life of the tire with no apparent ill effects, but I wasn't riding at the limits of the tire, either. How safe do you want to be? Your life may count on the traction of that tire.

08-16-2006, 08:53 PM	#2
stlarson Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 85	Re: Plugs Repairs for Motorcycle Tires. On a car, I've had no problems with an occasional plug. Plus with four wheels I feel that if it does blow out, I've got a good chance of avoiding a catastrophe. On a motorcycle, losing 50% of your usable traction, possibly all of your steering, that seems like an unnecessary risk. If it were me, I'd save the patching for an emergency situation to get me somewhere that could replace the tire. A $100 tire is a lot cheaper than a potential medical and insurance bill.

08-16-2006, 11:07 PM	#3
svtech Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 195	Re: Plugs Repairs for Motorcycle Tires. Dunlop's web site (and I'm sure there are others) states that you MAY attempt a patch from the inside in addition to a plug and then lists at least 13 conditions that MUST be met before any such attempt. Any warranty is void and rider assumes all responsibility. I would think that your insurance company would claim "operating with known defective equipment" and deny both liability and coll/comp claims if there were a subsequent accident. I agree with the above poster. You've got to remove the wheel and dismount the bad tire. Half of the labor is already done. Replace the tire. Ride safe and use those plugs for locust thorns and such on tractors, mowers, and ATV's.

08-16-2006, 11:45 PM	#4
Steve781 Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Houston Posts: 148	Re: Plugs Repairs for Motorcycle Tires. There are plugs and then there are plugs. I've used these with some success. http://www.whitehorsepress.com/produ...oducts_id=4693 They are mushroom type plugs which, with the special tooling, are installed from the outside of the tire. Best I've seen short of pulling the tire and using one of the special patch/plugs that the good shops will install. YMMV

08-17-2006, 02:20 AM	#5
Whatmough Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 104	Re: Plugs Repairs for Motorcycle Tires. I had a flat from a roofing nail a while back. I luckily was right across from a service station (yes some of those still exsist), when I slowed to a stop. I pulled in asked the guy working there if he had ever put a plug in a MC tire. No he replied and so I said here is your chance. He plugged it and off I went. Now I may be cheap too; but I'm not stupid. I re-tired after a few days as soon as I made it to a MC shop. So it does work; but I wouldn't want to be riding around on it for long.

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08-17-2006, 03:17 AM	#6
Rsduce Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 46	Re: Plugs Repairs for Motorcycle Tires. If your life is worth less than a new tire, go ahead and ride on the plugged tire.

08-17-2006, 03:42 AM	#7
mikenomad Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 361	Re: Plugs Repairs for Motorcycle Tires. As has been said already, it's just not worth the risk repairing a motorcycle tire. If a tire deflates suddenly and you go down as a result, it's going to cost you WAY more than the cost of a new tire.

08-17-2006, 03:55 AM	#8
NLJ Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 88	Re: Plugs Repairs for Motorcycle Tires. I've heard this conversation before on a bulliten board i frequent. One guy who is in Korea pointed out that in Korea using plugs in bike tires is as normal there as using them in car tires here. Although they typically won't use more than one or two plugs. I have never had the need to plug a tire but i think i would probably give it a try. Plus when was the last time you heard of a motorcycle having an actual blowout, or shredding off the rim. I've never seen or talked to someone who had it happen, plugs or no plugs.

08-17-2006, 04:28 AM	#9
The_AirHawk Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Livin' in a Van: down by the Mariana Trench Posts: 10,891	Re: Plugs Repairs for Motorcycle Tires. I've done it more times than I can count. Center of tread, edge of tread, sidewall - you name it. Haven't crashed in flames yet (but I may this evening - who knows?). I daresay I worry far, far more about the b!tch yakkin' on the cell in her minivan that narrowly missed me when she ran a stopsign this morning on my way to work. Or the guy last Friday that decided to push me into the raised concrete median, despite all the honking and yelling alongside him (window-down, and he even hesitated and started to go back into his own lane!). When I finally got next to him at the next light, he was profusely apologetic - but that wouldn't have helped if I were dead, would it now? Things like that are far more likely to "get me" than any tire plug. __________________ *Parfois, on fait pas semblant* Sometimes, it's not pretend Oderint Dum Metuant Let them hate so long as they fear политики предпочитают безоружных крестьян Politicians Prefer Unarmed Peasants Nothing to see here, Citizen. Move along now...

08-17-2006, 04:36 AM	#10
Casey_Daniel Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 96	Re: Plugs Repairs for Motorcycle Tires. You know what? I use to feel the same way as everyone else. I would never use a plug that would put my life in danger. I use to go through a set of tires every month and a half with all my spare time when I was single and started buying race take offs. Guess what? I recently got married and had a new to me set of race take offs. I didn't have those things more than 2 days before I got a hole in one. Not having the expendable income or rather being more responsible with my income I put a plug in the tire (center tread back tire). I ended up having to put another plug in the tire before I wore them out. Guess what else? I'm sitting here typing this response. I took the bike up to 120 with no vibration, they never leaked air and I didn't burst into flames. I hear everyone saying not to do it. I'd like to hear a response from someone to whom it actually cause a crash or scary moment. I think it's marketing hype. It depends on the rider. Personally I think my bike starts feeling weird after I lose about 5 lbs, psi and I check my tires. Worst it's going to do is cause a slow leak the you have to refill until you get a new tire or fix it again.