Plug, Patch, Or a New Tire?

So, I've had my tire's mounted for exactly 6 days....

and I walk out this morning to find my rear tire flat...

I leave for work, disgusted. Come home and fill er up. After a quick moment searching I find the leak. Small pinhole between the tread. No screw, no nail, no rock. just the hole. Must be a damn small leak too. If I give it pressure I can make it leak faster, but as it is, it's barely leaking if at all, though obviously it's leaking some as my tire was flat.....

So now I ask for the debate...

If it was a car tire, I'd have to problem throwing a plug, with a patch on top on the tire and seeing if that worked before I bought a new one...

Being that these tires are again, 6 days old, I'm really leaning that way again, but as I am new to the world of 2 wheels, I'm asking for opinions....

Should I just bite the bullet and buy another tire? Should I attempt the plug/patch? Or should I try the slime though I've never had that work on a bmx tire. Ride it til it gets worse?????

Thoughts?

 

I don't know but for me, it being a brand new tire, I'd call the place I bought it from and have a little chat. I know a lot of people aren't as direct as I tend to be but it's amazing what companies will do for you if you approach it with a good attitude and ask for help.

All those options gone, I'd probably replace the tire. The penalty on a bike is just too high. In a car, no real problem for a tubeless since they rarely blowout and usually lose air slowly. On a bike however, well, you know the deal....I'm not betting my life or that of a friend or loved one on a sub200 dollar tire.

I realize that when I was young and very, very broke, we used to race on other team's practice tires....we couldn't afford new slicks most of the time....we were lucky, really lucky but I'm sure others are in the same boat.

jeff

 

I would definitely be running all up the spine of the guy that sold me the tire; if there's no puncture then he's gotta make good, period.

You can run a thing called a "tech patch" which is a plug with a patch attached to it and probably be just fine. BUT

Tubeless tire...

Motorcycle... (fast, powerful motorcycle)

I'd replace it too.

 

I called the place I got the tire from, jakewilson dot com, got a serious amount of run around from the first lady I talked to.... road damage is not covered, as it was mounted for 6 days and was ridden for 4 of those days, the tire must be a puncture. If I'd like I can send them the tire to do a manufacturer inspection at my expense, of which if it's found to be a puncture and not a defect, I can pay to have it mailed back, blah blah fricken blah!

Not happy right now...
Both Santa's Leg's are broken.... Santa's Very Sad!!!!!!!!

 

I think it is time for you to get angry!

 

Defective tire? I'd take it back and see if the dealer will work with you on replacing it. A patch is a good temporary fix, for a short time. With the heat and flexing on a motorcycle tire A patch won't last long.

 

Angry?

If the tire has a puncture it's not the manufacturers or the retailers responsibility.

Chalk it up to bad luck and move on.

 

The chances of it begin defective are slim to none so there's not likely to be any comeback on the retailer

If it's in the tread area especially near the centre a repair is easy and if done properly should be a permanent fix

The repair needs to be done with something like a minicombi http://www.rematiptop.com/parts.php?sid=5

 

Plug it, patch it, and throw a tube in it for good measure if that makes you feel better. Keep riding - no reason to waste the rubber.

I did exactly that on my last 2 front tires -- never had an inkling of a problem right up till the tire tread was worn out.

 

I would only patch or plug IF I were to put a tube in it. I am a truck driver and will not drive a truck with a patched front tire I don't want to be a big greasey spot on the road. I think if you only patch or plug either tire you are increasing or chances of being one of those big greasey spots. Why chance it, a tube is a cheap ounce of prevention.

 

I had a nail last August in the FJR rear tire, within an inch of the centerline. The nail stayed in at 120 MPH ! I called around to get it patched (heat vulcanized) but no luck. So I plugged it with a Monkey-Grip black plug. It leaked a very little bit; I double checked the air every ride. Then I added 5 OZ of Green Slime, stopping any leak. It's been 3,000 miles and now I'm tire shopping before it gets hot here.

 

If you have someone else change it let them know the slime is in there.

 

Ya, your not supposed to use slime in motorcycle tires anymore. It is not safe apparently. I assume it throws the balance off.

I had to do it in an emergency situation. It is pretty awesome for bikes since you just throw it on the center stand, put it in first gear and let it spin. I had to pay extra through when I had new tires installed.

 

slime turns to water and makes shit all sticky. the person that invited that crap outta be shot. NEVER USE SLIME. it's a total waste of money. yoiu'll still have to fixe a flat in 2 days. but now you've got a mess.

me personally. like some of the others. HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH A PLUG. and i too have worn my tires down to nothing.

a plug kit costs $8 and gives you 5 flats. not once have i ever taken my tires to be fixed.

car OR bike.

but if it's a tube. then that defentily goes in to shop for a patch.

PLUGS WORK. more then people give them credit for. and i've yet to hear of any accidents related to plug or patch.

 

You must have total muppets doing your tyre repairs then, done properly in a tubeless tyre they are a permanent repair that will easily last the life of the tyre

In the case of a front tyre with a tube I would always replace it rather than repair

Some of those aerosol repairs are also corrosive

I have, in fact they were banned as a repair due to a fatality involving a repair done with one

Externally fitted plugs shouldn't be used as anything more than a bandaid get you home type of thing, with out removing and inspecting the tyre internally you have no idea if it has suffered any damage

 

I only use plugs as a way to make it home or to the shop. I don't think they are safe for speeds above 70 either.

 

in a previous life. i worked in repair shops. never seen a internally damaged tire from a puncture wound.

plugs are nothing but rubber that blend in with rubber. they actually work quite well. the glue acts as reinforcement for a more secure seal and sticky.

patches work basically the same way. they seal the hole just like a plug.
patches also use the EXACT same type of glue that plugs use.
a patch requires glue where as sometimes plugs don't.

if the glue doesn't hold. patches can and do fall off.
i've seen patches fall off. i've never seen a plug fall out.

if a tire cracks becuase of a plug or patch. the tire itself is old and shouldn't be used anymore.

rubber don't last forever. i'll replace a 10 year old tire. it's probably full of cracks anyways. but i'll be plugging a brand new tire.

there was a story on the local news channel a couple years back about used tires. and there point was any tire that is older then 5 years shouldn't be used. they even explained how to tell the date of when the tire was manufactured.

 

You left out tube in your survey

 

true, but I had never thought about tubing it as an option.....

 

Why not tubes have been around longer than tubeless tires

 

I never realized you could put a tube in a tubeless tire....

I had it figured that they were different constructions for some reason and that it wasn't built to work that way....

I think I'm going to buy a second rim and try plugging the hole, having a back-up/spare tire for the bike, if it works, great, if not, no time lost.

I wound up buying a new tire from the local cycle-gear. The guy felt my pain and hooked up a new tire at cost.

as the majority here voted for a new tire, as well as all other research out there I could find. There were the flukes, just as there are when it comes to car oil vs bike oil that swear by the plug, but then there's the majority. Being new to the world of bikes, and remembering my first set of tires for my camaro, that also picked up a nail in their first week, I chocked it up to murphy. Granted, this one gets a hole I'm doing two things, bitching to bridgestone themselves, and plugging one/both before buying a new tire and a different brand.

Thanks to all opinions/votes!!!!!

 

Murphy hes everywhere!! If I have a question like yours I call the manufacturer Personally to me it depends on where the hole is how big it is and so on. I have used the plugs on my bikes but after that I dont push them as hard its that little voice

 

I still do and I've seen plenty

I've also seen a lot of tyres with damage from being run underinflated which isn't picked up until the tyre is stripped off the rim and I've seen tyres explode from that damage while being inflated to check where the puncture is or while in service

The majority what i work with is car stuff but I have seen the same with bike tyres

edit: over the years I have also seen dozens of those plugs you insert from the outside continue to either leak slowly or fail altogether

 

Reat tire? Plug it and don't give it a second thought. Front tire? Maybe or maybe not. The front your on my lt is over $200. If the tire was new I would probably plug it and watch it very closely. I carry a plug kit and air compressor so I wouldn't be stranded if the plug worked loose.

 

ok, let's try this. tires crack from neglect. not from patch or plug.

old tire. weather cracked from age.
new tire. cracked from under inflation. (ABUSE)

it's neglect from the customer. not the repair.

tires also flex. causing the glue to dry and crack and lose the patch.
plugs don't flex. but the glue could still dry out and crack.

plugs don't fail unless the hole was too big for the plug in the first place.
or the person has an old tire that should have been discarded.
or the tire still has a leak and the person didn't keep the pressure up.

any failure rate that does exist isn't because of the patch or plug. it's becuase people ARE STUPID AND LAZY and don't take care of there crap.

i too carry plugs and a compressor on my bike. people don't like it then that's there opinion. it's still cheaper then a tow bill. then they can do whatever tickles there fancy.

me personally. i'll take plug over patch any day. been driving for 30 years.
have used nothing but plugs. AIN'T never had a problem.

tires fail becuase of old age. underinflation. and mileage wear.

 

The reason plugs and or patches are not recommended is because of the possibility that there is structural damage to the tire, not because they might leak. A tube doesn't change that. If the tire fails the tube will be nothing more than an additional piece of rubber flapping around the wheel.

If you're bound and determined to reuse the tire going with just a tube might be the smartest option. At least that way there is no chance of causing structural damage rasping out the hole.

I don't doubt that most of the time you could use a plug/patch/tube and not have a problem. If you're the exception you could be in for a world of hurt.

 

looks like the debate is no longer an option now.

out here. you get a flat tire. youi buy a new tire. AND tube if the case may be.

patches and plugs are no longer done by a shop.

wonder if they'll be outlawed and banned from sales.

 

I would recommend exactly what you did, i.e. go to a LOCAL shop and ask the guy who sees this happen 5 times a week or more, and knows all the rules and new technology and how it applies to your situation, can take off the tire to look at it, etc.

Some things you just don't get online. Running shoes, motorcycle tires, Russian brides...the slightly lower price just isn't worth the trouble and inability to see what you are purchasing.

I'd also send an email or letter to the customer service department at the online store you purchased from to let them know that you won't be buying anything else from them ever again...and neither will 1000 of your closest friends.

I'm a big fan of Cycle Gear too. It's great to be able to buy something online and still have a local shop to take it to. They also know that making $5 20 times is better than making $50 once.

 

This is what Dunlop has to say about tire repairs:
 TIRE REPAIR
Some punctures in motorcycle tires may be repaired.
Dunlop recommends only permanent plug-patch repairs of small (maximum 1/4-inch diameter) tread-area punctures from within the dismounted tire by a qualified tire repair shop or motorcycle dealer. Never perform
an exterior repair and never use an inner tube as a substitute for a proper repair. Speed should not exceed 50 mph for the first 24 hours after
repair, and the repaired tire should never be used over 75 mph. Advise
your customer to check inflation pressure after tire cools for at least three
(3) hours following run-in, or sooner if air loss is suspected. See the
Dunlop Service Advisory for additional motorcycle tubeless-tire repair
information. Follow the same repair procedures for tires on rims requiring
tube replacement. The repairer is solely responsible for the repair and any
instructions to the repaired-tire user.
Advise your customers that no form of temporary repair should be
attempted because secondary damage caused by a penetrating object
may not be detected and tire or tube deflation may occur at a later date.
Dunlop does not recommend the use of liquid sealants. These are a form
of temporary repair, and they may adversely affect ply material and mask
secondary damage caused by a penetrating object. Advise your customers that reliance upon sealants can result in sudden tire failure and
accident. If you want to read for yourself, http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/pdf/11D_FL_SAFETY.pdf
Searching the websites of AVON, Bridgestone and Metzler did not turn up any recommendations on tire repair

 

I've always had good results using the fiber type tire plugs in all the vehicles with just a hole in the tire. As long as the hole is small (1/8" or so) the tire plies shouldn't be damaged and a plug should do the trick. I would use one in my rear bike tire if the need arises, and not be too concerned. As far as a hole in a front tire, I'd use a tire plug to get where I'm going and address the problem when I get there.

 

Pretty short sighted attitude especially if it isn't a manufacturing fault which it is unlikely to be

 

Having now got the tire in hand and looking at it, it looks like I pissed off a bee and he put a hole in my tire, it's that small a hole. As much as I hate it, a can of fix a flat might have given me 5000 miles of life. I did get a new one installed however, and so ya'll know, cyclegear in my area had a 15 dollar road coverage plan, next hole is covered. ya live ya learn. buy local!

 

I think the short sighted attitude is the one of stingy customer service. That is something an online business cannot afford. They have too much competition.

It may not be a manufacturing fault, it could be that it got punctured in shipping and processing, or all sorts of things.

But road damage without evidence or recollection of an event? That seems even less likely.

 

fix a flat in no way would give you 5000 miles of life.

the stuff only lasts 2 days at most. in which case it's all goopy water after that.

like i said before. that crap shoulda never been invented. it's just a can of air to get you to a shop before it leaks again.

if youi want a can of fix a flat. it's your money to waste. you still gotta buy a new tire. or dismount it and clean it and fix it. if your state still allows such repairs.

as for discounted tires online. it's not all bad. i needed new tires and the going rate was $350 from the local shops. and the mileage claim was 7k miles.

my bike just hit the 10k mark after 17 years. the original tires just came off. and the exact replacement just went back on. ordered online for $215.

since the originals lasted 10k. the replacements are the same and should also last 10k. for $135 less then what i can buy locally to only get 7k miles.

 

Possible but also very unlikely as it wouldn't take 6 days to go flat and it is actually a lot harder to puncture a tyre than you might think

I work in car tyres and I see that every day, I see no reason motorcycles would be any different

 

tube it!! and get back to enjoying your life

do not fixaflat or Gooo

 

So a funny story, I had a scooter (ack?!) while in maui (it was too expensive to ship a bike). They're great, 30mph max, 80mpg. Taught me patience, as I longed for my bike.
Anyway, a few days after i got the scoot, it caught a nail in the tread, that went in at an angle and ripped up the sidewall from the inside. Plugging the tread hole was no big deal. But the sidewall? Then I read about this farmer who said he plugged sidewalls all the time, up to 5 of them in a row for a long tear. The tear in my sidewall was at least 3/4 inch.
Anyway, I figured, since I can't really go fast enough to actually injure myself if it blew out, and it was the back tire, and a new one was $90 plus mounting, screw it I'm going to plug it. I put 4 plugs in side by side. It was supposed to be 25 psi, but could only hold 15 without leaking.
Long story short, that sidewall plug lasted me a couple hundred miles and 6 more months before I left the island.
But, that was a scooter. Nuff said.