Plugged Tire

**Revised to replace any reference to patching with plugging**

Here's another data point for tire plugging. After finding a metal sliver in my rear Pirelli Angel last Sunday, I decided that rather than replace the tire, I'd plug it up. After all, my tire only had around 2k miles on it and is probably good for another 3-5k miles.

Anyway, I went to my local Napa and picked up a tire repair kit with the rubber "worms." Included in the kit are a file-like tool to clean up the hole, a large needle-like tool to insert the worm in the tire, and a tube of rubber cement.

[image: Attached Image: IMG_1302.jpg]


The repair was easy and fast. I inserted the file into the hole a few times to clean up the hole and make room for the worm. Next, I inserted the worm into the eye of the needle, approx. half the length of the worm. I applied a bit of cement on the worm to lubricate it for easier entry. Next, I jammed the needle/worm into the tire leaving approx. 1/3 of the worm out of the tire. I then cut off the section of the worm remaining outside of the tire, leaving the repair even with the rest of the tire. I applied a bit of cement on the outside of the repair to seal things up. Once done, I used my compressor to fill the tire to 42 psi. This is what the tire looks like approximately 230 miles post repair.

[image: Attached Image: IMG_1299.jpg]
[image: Attached Image: IMG_1301.jpg]

After 230 miles, I haven't lost any pressure. I'll continue monitoring the tire pressure and visually inspect the repair before every ride to make sure all is good, but I'm optomistic this repair will last.

Crap. The secret is out. I was just about to offer my tire disposal services to you :laughing6-hehe:

Dude, you are braver than me. I would have put on a new tire. But that's just me

[image: View Post]Rice, on 10 November 2010 - 10:23 PM, said:

Crap. The secret is out. I was just about to offer my tire disposal services to you :laughing6-hehe:


We can be partners! We'll pay the shipping for everyone's punctured tires.

I don't know if I'd repair a front, but a rear...no biggie.

Makes me pissed off about a Pilot Road rear I replaced a long time ago after it got a nail in it. I had the Cyclegear insurance, though, so my new tire was only $40 or so.

[image: View Post]DDave, on 10 November 2010 - 10:24 PM, said:

Dude, you are braver than me. I would have put on a new tire. But that's just me


I used to think the same thing, but after reading a few threads on this site, I decided to fix this one. Haven't heard of any catastrophic failures on moto tires due to tire plugs.

Nice write up with pic's...........
While we're on the subject of flat tyres. I've been riding since '65 4 bikes over a 100k miles each and a few other bikes, and I can count on one hand the flats I've had, one of which was in the last week or so.

I think we can call not getting flats part luck, and part strategy. Since it would be hard to tell which has the highest percentage, and we can't control luck, we can control where we place our bikes while riding(or parking).

We've all heard that we should try and ride in the left or right tyre path of where most cages travel so as not to ride across oil drippings/mufflers/etc..... That's where nails come in to play as well, as long as cages keep traveling they'll with time kick the nails out of that path, so it makes since to try and stay where the nails aren't.

There are other places nails end up, near curbs or the edge of roads, so when pulling off to rest, or what ever reason, We need to try and pick these places a little more carefully(or slowly, so as not to kick one up). Also riding off pavement. Last year I pulled into a friends yard(no drive way)and ended up sticking an over size type tooth-pick though my rear tyre. I know stuff will go though any tyre but it seems that these high tech road tyres are more susceptible than say, an off road tyre(maybe,maybe not). But we do have "some" choice in where we aim.

Any other idea's on beating the odds?

Yes, I'm running on a plug for the 1st time with no problems so far but am keeping an eye on it.

[image: View Post]Monk, on 10 November 2010 - 11:00 PM, said:

We've all heard that we should try and ride in the left or right tyre path of where most cages travel so as not to ride across oil drippings/mufflers/etc..... That's where nails come in to play as well, as long as cages keep traveling they'll with time kick the nails out of that path, so it makes since to try and stay where the nails aren't.

There are other places nails end up, near curbs or the edge of roads, so when pulling off to rest, or what ever reason, We need to try and pick these places a little more carefully(or slowly, so as not to kick one up). Also riding off pavement. Last year I pulled into a friends yard(no drive way)and ended up sticking an over size type tooth-pick though my rear tyre. I know stuff will go though any tyre but it seems that these high tech road tyres are more susceptible than say, an off road tyre(maybe,maybe not). But we do have "some" choice in where we aim.

Any other idea's on beating the odds?

Yes, I'm running on a plug for the 1st time with no problems so far but am keeping an eye on it.


Good tips, Monk. I also ride in the paths of the cage tires to avoid debris. Don't know exactly where I picked up my metal friend this time.

I just got back from my bike(in the garage)checking out my flat tyre stuff. I have a few variances in the electric pump(slime) plugs to the power. One is alligator clips directly to the battery; another is a power-lite plug that will go though my gps's hook up which is relay'd(but am not sure about the gauge of wire going that way).

Another is... I assume that I should be running the bikes motor while running the air-pump?

Anybody with info on all this would be nice to hear from as well?

[image: View Post]jaimev34, on 10 November 2010 - 08:49 PM, said:

Here's another data point for tire patching. After finding a metal sliver in my rear Pirelli Angel last Sunday, I decided that rather than replace the tire, I'd patch it up. After all, my tire only had around 2k miles on it and is probably good for another 3-5k miles.

Anyway, I went to my local Napa and picked up a tire repair kit with the rubber "worms." Included in the kit are a file-like tool to clean up the hole, a large needle-like tool to insert the worm in the tire, and a tube of rubber cement.

[image: Attachment] IMG_1302.jpg


The repair was easy and fast. I inserted the file into the hole a few times to clean up the hole and make room for the worm. Next, I inserted the worm into the eye of the needle, approx. half the length of the worm. I applied a bit of cement on the worm to lubricate it for easier entry. Next, I jammed the needle/worm into the tire leaving approx. 1/3 of the worm out of the tire. I then cut off the section of the worm remaining outside of the tire, leaving the repair even with the rest of the tire. I applied a bit of cement on the outside of the repair to seal things up. Once done, I used my compressor to fill the tire to 42 psi. This is what the tire looks like approximately 230 miles post repair.

[image: Attachment] IMG_1299.jpg
[image: Attachment] IMG_1301.jpg

After 230 miles, I haven't lost any pressure. I'll continue monitoring the tire pressure and visually inspect the repair before every ride to make sure all is good, but I'm optomistic this repair will last.




Sure it's safe to ride....to the nearest shop at medium speed and get a new one. What is your life worth if you cut a cord and de-rated the safe use of the tire? Lose the front, you go down; lose the rear, you go down. it is not as if there is a safe tire to lose to deflation or failure any more than that you get to choose when or where or under what circumstances it might fail. It is a bummer and crappo, but a damaged tire is still a damaged tire, and all the cosmetic inflation and holding of air is not much of a dynamic stress for a high performance tire. A good fast run, a high g turn, or hard braking sure are though. Plug out of desperation, replace it, and move on. :beatdeadhorse:

[image: View Post]jaimev34, on 10 November 2010 - 08:49 PM, said:

Here's another data point for tire patching.

You actually plugged the tire, not patched it. Patching is done from the inside and I have done a ton of car tires like that when I worked at Goodyear. I have even patched a few bike tires with no problems. The only way I would plug one is to get me home though. By inserting that tool and rope, you are actually spreading the belts of the tire apart and damaging them. A patch on the inside actually vulcanizes to the tire and become part of it. No damage to the belts.

[image: View Post]Monk, on 10 November 2010 - 11:52 PM, said:

I have a few variances in the electric pump(slime) plugs to the power. One is alligator clips directly to the battery; another is a power-lite plug that will go though my gps's hook up which is relay'd(but am not sure about the gauge of wire going that way).

I have a cheapo automotive air compressor with a cigarette-lighter plug. My intent has been to buy a cig-to-SAE adapter cable that will hook into the Battery Tender leads I already have hanging from the side of the bike.

[image: View Post]wera803, on 11 November 2010 - 07:51 AM, said:

No damage to the belts.


...No additional damage beyond what was already done in the initial puncture, you mean. :wink:

You can still patch it. Good save using a plug, it got you home safe. That is all that matters brother, getting home safe.

[image: View Post]carlitos92, on 11 November 2010 - 07:59 AM, said:

[image: View Post]wera803, on 11 November 2010 - 07:51 AM, said:

No damage to the belts.


...No additional damage beyond what was already done in the initial puncture, you mean. :wink:


Your right, no "additional damage." However, reaming out the hole and stuffing that rope plug in the hole does a lot more damage to the belts then a small nail will do.

carlitos92
"I have a cheapo automotive air compressor with a cigarette-lighter plug. My intent has been to buy a cig-to-SAE adapter cable that will hook into the Battery Tender leads I already have hanging from the side of the bike."

Good point I'm wired the same for my B.Tender.... The plug isn't standard and I have an adapter at home for the tender, I'll need to order another so it will stay with the bike.....THX

[image: View Post]wera803, on 11 November 2010 - 07:51 AM, said:

[image: View Post]jaimev34, on 10 November 2010 - 08:49 PM, said:

Here's another data point for tire patching.

You actually plugged the tire, not patched it. Patching is done from the inside and I have done a ton of car tires like that when I worked at Goodyear. I have even patched a few bike tires with no problems. The only way I would plug one is to get me home though. By inserting that tool and rope, you are actually spreading the belts of the tire apart and damaging them. A patch on the inside actually vulcanizes to the tire and become part of it. No damage to the belts.


Very true, I plugged, not patched the tire. I've edited the title and content of the first post to reflect this. Honestly, though, how much will spreading the belts a bit affect the tire's integrity? If the plug is holding and I'm not losing any pressure, I don't see how the tire will completely fail.

Update:

1k miles with the plug and no problems. Not even a drop in the PSI after lotsa riding and a week parked. No visible damage to the plug either. :fing02:

[image: View Post]jaimev34, on 24 November 2010 - 09:01 PM, said:

Update:

1k miles with the plug and no problems. Not even a drop in the PSI after lotsa riding and a week parked. No visible damage to the plug either. :fing02:



Keep checking cause one day you'll have lost 10 or 20 psi without notice.

Tires like the proad 2 are hard to tell when they are flat with those stiff sidwalls. I was entering a down hill corner about 90 mph and entering the corner the bike tracking like crap, like a cheap suit. I immediately took it home, and I had 10 psi of air on a hot tire. Meaning it really only had about 5 or so psi. I think that plug was about where your is, success varies. I done dosens of these plug repairs.

That was on a sunday, I just checked pressure before saturadays ride , so it just goes whenever it decides . but you entering the area where plugs tend to begin to fail in my use, I think 1200 mile was my record on a plug that had road contact

I plugged a newish rear before and ran it till it was worn down. I didnt even use a reinforced type worm like in the first post. I used two very very soft type little rectangular strips and I never had a problem.

I used to replace punctured tires right away, but no more--at least not punctured rears. In fact, one of my 5th gens currently has two worm plugs in the rear Pilot Road 2. The tire is relatively new, so I didn't want to toss it. However, this is the bike that I use as a commuter--it seldom goes more than 50 miles from home. If I were to take this bike on a very long ride, I would probably replace the tire first.

I have never had a worm plug fail (out of 5 or 6 kept in place for at least a few K miles each), but I still don't feel totally secure about them.

Jon

I've said it before & I'll say it again:
My skin, my bike, and my time wasted in the ER aren't worth the $150-$200 savings.

You have two patches of rubber that keep your bike upright - if either of them has a rapid deflation, chances are higher that you will go down rather than staying upright. Modern motorcycle tires are fairly high-tech, which is why they aren't as heavy as car tires. Plugging the tire on Grandpa's buick isn't the same as on your VFR.
Why do you think most reputable dealerships/service facilities won't plug motorcycle tires? It's not that we want to make a buck or two selling you a tire! We don't want to be sued by your insurance company or, God forbid, your survivors. Talk to a tire engineer - I'm sure Michelin has an 800 number for customer service on their website.
Motorcycling is dangerous enough, especially sharing the road with distracted &/or gnat-attention-span-having idiots in their 4,000 pound missles. Riding a plugged tire exponentially increases the chance of failure of some type. If you're lucky, it will leave you stranded on the side of the road. I have known others who weren't so lucky...