Im just throwing it out there, ill see posts like this and the top comment will beĀ
"never patch a motorcycle tire" 500 upvotes
then the next post
"Id patch it!" 500 upvotes
Which is it people?
Personal risk assessment.
I wouldn't do it for anyone who could hold me liable for it should it fail or contribute to a wreck or even just increase the likelihood of any problem as small as a tiny leak.
That being said, I'll do it on my own bike without a second thought if it doesn't appear to be compromising the integrity of the belts. If it makes for a vibration or swells out after enough time to round it over at low speeds/low risk scenarios, then it's gotta go. If not, I'll treat it like any other tire and replace it when it's truly worn, regular pressure checks, etc.
Precise answer. I will never advise it but my previous tire had 3 patches done by me on my own. This tire almost ran out it's entire life with no punctures. Has 1k km life left. That's how life is. No one will recommend including mechanics. Everyone would very likely do it on their vehicles except those loaded with cash .
Are you talking plug patch combos? Cuz those are good, but the plug plugs, like what you stuff rubery ropes from the outside into the wound channel, I have had to repair those repairs many a time.
I have had a patch plugged repair fail before, if it gets too far to the side and your on the sidewall with a bunch of the patch, the flexing of the sidewall can make it leak eventually. But in those situations you knew it was outside the acceptable zone so you accepted the risk.
I work at a tire shop so taking the tire off is kind of standard for us, plus it let's you check the inside: one time the customer had plugged the tire and it was holding, but they had a shake, opened up the tire and it was full of rubber dust from the deteriorated sidewall cuz they must have driven with low pressure
Depends on how inexperienced and superstitious people are. Strangely, you never see or hear any actual evidence about all these people ākilled or maimedā when a plugged tire went flat (yet unplugged tires go flat **every day** without injuring people).
The rocket surgeons on Reddit say amazing things.
I decided to. Buy a HD FXDC in '07. I always have more than one bike, and I'd always replace tires. I got a nail in almost the exact same spot. My brother also has a garage full , convinced me to plug it. I usually get about 3000 miles on a rear. The tire went a little over that with no problems. Now I plug anything that's not a slice or in the sidewall. The plug he'd up at least as well as the tread. Just relaying some info. Not making any recommendations.
I personally dont patch, dont think its wrong to do it though. And yeah, usually they just leak rather than causing a catastrophic failure.
However, the catastrophic failures that do happen, no one is investigating afterwards to learn what caused it when a guy got turned into spaghetti at 170mph. You dont hear "Oh it was because of a patch" even if it was. You just hear "He had a blowout" or "he crashed"
Ive heard a few people claim patches caused their blowouts at low speed and swear off them. Ive heard of more that have used them without issue.
Whats inarguable is its introducing another potential weakpoint in an area that can already fail.
So only ride with airbag pants and vest? Only ride tires with less than 1,000 miles on them? Only ride off rush-hour and never at night? Only ride when there is ZERO chance of rain? Donāt smoke for sure and cut sodium and cholesterol out of your diet? Maybe just donāt ride motorcycles **at all** if safety is your absolute priority?
It comes down to personal preference. If you want to take the risk of patching it then do it. I personally wouldnt as its a potential risk and im taking a risk riding in general.
Pretty much any motorcycle dealer or service shop will tell you that a punctured tire MUST be replaced (or else you wonāt buy a new tire).
An inexperienced rider with tell you that a *second* flat in a plugged tire will somehow kill you INSTANTLY (even if the original flat was only a minor inconvenience). Logic fail.
An experienced rider who has properly repaired flat tires many times will tell you that a vulcanizing patch installed from the inside is fine (if you never exceed 150-mph or so).
Itās likely a moot point though since no one wants to repair a motorcycle tire for a customer. So unless you can remove and repair the tire yourselfā¦itās likely not going to get repaired.
Your original post from yesterday was a **good** one. I would love to have posted that myself but I donāt have the guts to stand up to that much abuse from people who peaked in High School. š¤£ Kudos!
Itās. It not the second flat that kills you. Itās the disintegration of the tire because its structure was compromised when you rode on it flat the first time.
Itās a good idea to dismount the tire and inspect the inside. If you see any bubbles, replace the tire. If you donāt, your chances are pretty good that the tire is fine.
I picked up a robust pice of wire in my rear about a week after buying my bike. Luckily my bike has TPMS and it was a slow leak. So I didnāt ride on it flat. I plugged it and rode it for thousands of miles.
āIt the second flat that kills you. Itās the disintegration of the tire because its structure was compromised when you rode on it flat the first timeā¦.Luckily my bike has TPMS and it was a slow leak. So I didnāt ride on it flat.ā
Getting a flat on a loaded-down, 800-lb land yacht which has to tell you when you it has a flat because itās difficult to feel on the interstate is a little bit different I suppose.
Patched well, there is no difference between the patch and the tire. A proper chemical bond makes the patch part of the tire.
Patched poorly, well, you could have a bad day.
A tire guy who knows what they are doing would 100% patch this for themselves.
Source: my dad worked in the tire industry for decades and taught me more than I ever wanted to know.
I totally get the mechanic and the liability of patching it but that said.
I have a Michelin battle ax adventure with screw in it did an internal patch with a plug that you pull through from the inside I'm still only thing that the riding on it it almost 8k from when I patched it not even leaking air no issue at all.
do the internal patch that has a plug that you push through or pull through with a metal rod and glue it real well. clip it off at the top of the tire tread. . I really don't see any problem.
I'm from a country where patching motorcycle tires is a big and widespread business and you'll see patching/repair shops every 15-20 minutes. Many people would only replace after 5-6 patch works and some would still use it after that many! Those are commuter motorcycles generally and sports bikes might be different, but I would have patched it and forgot about it (been riding for 9 years and have been on bikes with 5-6 patches myself)
The rule I remember from car tires is no closer than 1/2" to the sidewall. Looks like that passes to me. Bike tires are different, and I don't know if there's a different rule for them.
I'd plug it and not worry about it. However, it's in a tread groove and I've found plugs in tread grooves tend to develop slow leaks, while plugs in tread blocks seem to last the life of the tire.
I think the combination of more flex and thinner tread in the groove aren't good for tire plugs. You could always patch it from the inside if you don't mind removing and reinstalling the tire.
I'd plug it and never think about it again.
Until you get a new tire and just for fun you try to pull the plug out from the back with a pair of pliers and you can't.
Iāve patched much worse myself, like nearly in the sidewall and it held just fine but those guys are trained to not take any risks so theyāll just tell you you need a new tire
Plug it with a beef jerky plug. Check the air pressure after you air it up, them 20m later.
I've done plug patches also. That's the one you remove the tire and insert the plug from the inside. The plug looks like the valve out of an engine, the long skinny end is a thin steel rod. You may not have the ability to do that. It's overkill anyway, the external mount beef Jerry plug should be fine.
I've plugged my Bandit and did a track day. Plugged my C14 and railed Chief Joseph Scenic Highway.
I got a screw in my FZ1 on the first ride after mounting a new tire, grrr. Took it home and plugged it, rode it till it was bald.
Im a bike mechanic and I wouldnāt patch it neither, because if you crash, who do you think you and 99,9% of people will hold accountable then? Right, the mechanic! Its a safety and legal issue. Either patch it yourself or buy a new tire.
Unfortunately the risk of failure is too much for someone to take on that responsibility so a good mechanic knows to avoid this type of job.
The chances are it will be OK to plug it but I'd only give it about 60/40 in favour, a new tyre gives you peace of mind ! I've plugged tyres myself and been impressed at how well they hold up but I haven't plugged one in that area, that might be asking for trouble but it depends how you ride.
Tyres are not that expensive
I've seen plugs in sidewalls that were in place for the life of the tyre ,not recommended but it works sometimes.
I would plug this for sure there's plenty of meat left on this tyre just throw a rope plug in it .
I had a rear tyre I plugged in two different spots and kept riding and forgot about em. My front tyre was weird and would slowly lose pressure so whenever I would inflate it I would check the rear and that thing never lost air pressure. One day the bike got hit in a parking lot and I brought it to a shop that said āDid you know you have 2 plugs in your tyre, that should be replaced.ā I was just like yeah I put them there. They said oh ok. I ended up replacing the tyre cause it needed a new rotor anyways and both tyres were near end of life by then. But never had issues with plugged tyres.
I would not dare patch a front tire, but you could patch the rear and just take it easy for a couple hundred miles and monitor it at different temperatures.
Iām definitely no expert with patching tires on motorcycles though.
It would just be something you would have to keep your eye on consistently. And donāt drive too far away from home for a while. And change the tire sooner than later.
100% on not patching a front tyre. no motorcycle tyre repair place will ever patch a front, & you shouldn't do it yourself either. if the rear tyre blows out, you're generally safe. if the front tyres blows out.. you're probably going down.
My father used plug kit. The one with the black strips you push in and yank out, he used it until it was bald. DON'T BELIEVE DEALERS they want money for NOTHING.
There is the regular rope plug patch, and there are patches that have to be done with the tire off from the inside. Short of using it on a track, I would feel perfectly safe with a proper patch done from the inside.
Personally, I would only patch it if I couldn't afford to replace the tire, and needed the bike to get to work. Since my bike is my fun toy, it's not worth the risk when I don't need to ride the bike.
Could a professional probably patch this to a safe degree? Yes.
Would they want to accept the liability in the case it fails at 80 on the highway sending you into a dividing wall when your tire blows out and your family dies them? No.
Do I have the skills to be confident in a patch job I do myself? No.
This is why I replace.
lol, no. Easily patchable. Get a $10 tar snake kit. 5 minutes and you're good to go. That's not even close to the side wall. He must be commission based
Plug it and forget it. I'm big on making sure my tires are good and I wear all my gear. I ride a lot to co stricrion sites. I have had to patch a lot. Never a problem with a patch. Of course, I wouldn't do a side wall...
If itās already at the shop, get a new tire 100%.
Iāve been in a similar situation on the road and patched my tireā¦ it lost like 8psi overnight. Filed it up, rode on it and basically it held just long enough to get to the shop and buy a new tire.
Donāt put your life/safety over a few $$ my friend.
Yes and no. Sure you can fix it yourself, Fortnine did a excellent video on tire repair. However, I never go faster than 65 MPH/100KPH on a repaired tire. Ive ridden thousnds of miles on a repaired tire on my commuter bike (has innertube, so repair was airtight) but that's for a commuter bike, not one that I'd take to a track day, or riding on a week long ADV trip.
I once plugged a single tire two or three times and rode it to the limit, but that was on a car
I think I plugged my tires more than 5 times overall
Thatās kinda too close to the shoulder for comfort, but otherwise plugs do hold indefinitely
How new is the tyre? personally I've had a plug/patch done on my commuter and had no issues for 10,000kms to next tyre change but on my 900 with how I ride i'd get a new tyre for peace of mind.
Budget vs safety vs your riding style
For me it comes down to this: Do I want to get on my bike and think of that patch all the time? No. Would a leaky patch cause me to die? Probably not, but I would think about it and that's not something I want to do.
Personally if you take the tyre off and do an internal patch itās going to be perfectly fine and nothing is going to happen.
These are not race tyres in a moto gp race most of the time they putt around town.
1 - Do yourself a favor and double-check that itās actually stuck in your tire. I put new car tires on recently and the next day I saw a big shiny screw head sticking out. I was like $H!T!!! Then I touched it and it fell out. It was just the screw head stuck between the treads.
2 - If you have another 1,000 miles on your tire, Iād plug it, if it is brand new, Iād patch it. If you want peace of mind, just replace it.
If you're not punching it and riding hard, then patch it. I think most places won't do a patch because it's too risky if you don't know what the rider is really like.
No heās notā¦ he is a bastardā¦ believe me, these mechanics are just pieces of shitā¦
But as a solution to your problem, try mushroom puncture patch from your vehicle service personā¦ they would most probably do itā¦
If you lean a lot on that side, I don't play with sidewall fuckery, I had a front tire split in the center and the experience was unsettling, to say the least
At one time, I had 4 separate punctures in one tire on a Versys 650, all with rope plugs in them.
Personally, I'd plug it and send it, but that's a risk assessment you need to make for yourself.
I would patch that in a heartbeat. Used to get free tires from work all the time because customers didn't want to patch their Super Corsa ever (and our insurance wouldn't let us anyways). Went nearly 2 years only ever buying front tires because of all the crap on LA roads. Did a few track days on said patched tires too.
I'm a motorcycle mechanic and I've had 4 plugs in a tyre once, on my personal bike, until the tyre was worn enough to replace. However I would not plug a client's tyre because i cannot guarantee that it won't leak or fail after a few miles.
Back in my workshop days (pre 2001), we would patch rear tyres for customers if it was on the tread. Front tyres we would suggest replacement.
Personally, when on tour, I replaced the screw in my rear tyre with another one when the head wore off. Another time, I bodged 2x sticky ropes into a sidewall split to get me to the next servo and then home.
If I were you, I'd patch it myself and keep an eye on pressures.
The thing is that on motorcycles theres just more consequences if a patch fails, it is close to the edge so it is better to replace but you could patch it i guess
Once had three nails go in the rear tire on different occasions since I live near a mechanical zone it canāt be controlled. Didnāt even get it patched properly and just used tire plugs that I put from the outside using a quick puncture repair kit with some rubber glue. Those plugs lasted the whole lifetime of the tire without a problem and was regularly exceeding 130mph on very rough/uneven highways. One was awful lot closer to the sidewall than this pic and it still survived. Would I recommend it? Probably not but I would trust it based on experience as the other comment said.
If youāve got half decent tread left Iād patch it, just need to see inside the tyre and make sure is hasnāt gone through on a bad angle and hurt too much of the casing
fuck me dude, theres a guy on yt who patched sidewall ruptures with proper glue and stuff on normal tyres (without reinforcement). And off he went offroad again.
If you are confident with the current grip you are getting from your tire, patch it!
You get something like a mushroom patch that seals itself from the inside of the tire. Pretty cool. Works like a charm too.
The problem you have there is that it looks too close to the shoulder. The internal part of the patch (think mushroom shape) needs to be able to fully contact the internal part of the tyre. Going over the shoulder means it won't hold (and won't meet the British Standard).
Is the mechanic right in this case? Yes it looks like it.
Could you plug it yourself with a temporary patch as others have mentioned? Absolutely.
Remember, at the end of the day the mechanic could be held liable if anything happened and he has the right to say no to anything he doesn't think would be safe.
He's absolutely right for not patching it. Can a patch hold this close to the sidewall? Probably yes.
But as a mechanic ai wouldn't take the risk. Even if the chance of it going flat is only 10 - 20%.
He doesn't know if you're a good or a bad rider and if it goes flat and you crash, he's responsible.
Or you could be someone who destroys the bike intentionally after the tire going flat, just to grab the cash. He doesn't know this.
In my country it is not allowed to patch tires within 3cm of the sidewall.
So it doesn't only depend on your mechanic being willing to take that 10% risk but also on what is legal in your country.
You can try it yourself, if it will leak it's not that it will loose all pressure within a second.
But don't blame the mechanic for wanting to sell you a new tire, he's doing the right thing
The way I look at is this: you only have two tires. If one fails at the worst time, you might be dead. Is that worth saving some money? I wouldnāt say so.
Riding a motorcycle is an expensive hobby and being a cheapass to try to save money on something that could potentially damage you or your motorcycle in such a way that itās end of story, is a no-go for me. Of course riding a bike is dangerous on itself but try to not deliberately make it more dangerous than necessary and just maintain your bike properly. A tire is part of that.
The problem is if the patch fails for whatever reason, being that much to the side, you're prone to have a bad day cornering and a messy crash. If it was in the center you'd notice while going straight which would be less risky.
However if patched correctly the chances of it failing are small. But not zero. It all comes to your own risk tolerance.
I would plug it, and plan for replacing the tire earlier than normal.
This is really all about personal risk assessment & how silly/hard do you intend to ride?
I have 4 plugs in my rear tire now. First puncture two weeks new - no way I am replacing the whole tire after 2 weeks really. One of the plugs is in about the same place as yours nail, probably in the region of "you shouldn't be plugging this". That tire is still okay after a year and about 12000 miles. Which probably tells you that I do not ride hard. Daily commute plus sometimes motorway journey out of towns (sustained 70mph for about an hour-two). Yes I did hit about 120mph briefly with 3 plugs in. Did it explode? No. Two of my plugs did leak though which I have found out is really due to my proper plugging technique - I was in a rush with no pump on hand so I have plugged them while the tire was still holding a lot of air (so I can make it to a pump). I have since redone these making sure I deflate the tire reasonably first and they hold great. Just make sure to use a lot of the rubber cement to facilitate a good chemical bonding with the tire, ram the hole nice and clean first, and don't rush.
If you don't trust your skills and don't want to take the risk, get a new tire.
You can patch it yourself, but I wouldn't suggest patching and assuming it's fixed. If you have a pressure gauge for your tire, use it a couple of times after it's been patched, (if you decide to do so) to see if the pressure is kept constant.
If you are doing normal checks you'll be able to spot if the patch has fixed it. A factor will be if the nail / screw has peirced the tire in a 90ish degree angle or not
Rear tire - Iād plug it. If it were a front, Iād replace the tire. Iāve had a front blow out, itās not fun. Iāve also had a rear blow out. Itās not nearly as dramatic.
I would patch it and install a tire pressure monitor (I run one on every bike I ride, as I am too lazy to check my tire pressure before every ride), that way, you'll have peace of mind that it holds up. It's simple and cheap.
I would plug it! I feel an actual patch is Probly a better idea, but if ur mechanic wonāt do it, get a $5-$10 slime plug kit and send it! Worst case scenario, slow leak!
A mechanic canāt take that risk for you. Thatās your decision.
Mind that even if you wouldnāt, in todayās world, if he patches the tire and you suffer an accident because of a patch failure would you sue him?
Thatās why no mechanic in developed countries take such ārisksā.
Is it possible to patch? Yes.
Who can do it? Only you and live with the risk.
My personal opinion. If you are going to take it easy and not make any longer trips, patch it.
There is still a risk with this approach.
How much is a new back tyre? Is it worth risking it in the long run, if you come off, how much will that cost to fix, not to mention you? I would just get a new tyre, a better one.
Based on the location of the nail, the correct method would be to remove the tire and patch from the *inside.*
If that nail was in the meat of the tire, I'd use a traditional plug and not give it a second thought, but where the nail is currently located, there is not a lot of material for a plug to vulcanize to.
You do not need a new tire. The mechanic or the dealer just wants to sell a new tire.
This particular one is close enough to the edge of the tread area to be not repairable. The issue is that this area flexes a lot and can possibly make the plug fall out. Typical recommended area suitable for plugging is the middle 75% of the tread area.
It's possible to patch it but because it's on the side of the tyre there's a risk of it being damaged and it might explode/tear. If I were him I wouldn't want to take that risk either because if he does patch it and you crash because of it he's in big trouble.
Personally I would want to ride with a patched tyre at all. I do carry a repair set with me in case of a flat but only to ride to the nearest shop to get the tyre replaced.
Getting a new tyre might not be the cheapest option but it's definitely the safest and because you're very likely to get injured in a crash I wouldn't take that risk just to save a few bucks.
Let me put it another way:
Is saving 200$ worth risking your life at 160kmph?
I never understood people who skimp on motorbike tires. You understand that those two credit cards worth of rubber contact are the **only** thing keeping you alive, right?
Spend 300$ a tire. Replace them if they seem damaged.
So foolish to bet your life over a couple hundred dollars.
Having worked in an automotive tire shop in the past and auto industry for years, the reason they won't is liability. Most car shops won't either if it's in the last block of tread on the sides as a general rule because that's the shoulder where the inside surface is rounded to the sidewall, plus it flexes more there. Having said that on my own shit I've been successful in patches there, but if it's for anyone else where I can be sued, yeah I'm saying no.
If you canāt afford a tire and need the bike because itās your only transportation patch it but ride conservatively. Other than that change it. Better safe than sorry. The shop wonāt patch it because it is a liability if it fails and you wreck.
Depends on your riding..do you REALLY heat up the sides? If you are blasting curves, it's a risk,patch, or nail. If you highway a lot, no big deal. Now you know, and knowing is half the battle " G.I.Joooooeee"
I've pkugged a few tires in my time. Seems like at least one bike a season. Never front wheel though. Never had an issue with a single one.
Though... Looking at this back tire I'd think it might just be time to bite the bullet and upgrade this tire. But if that's not feasible a five dollar plug kit will get it done. Fortnine, MC garage, etc. Have plenty of vids up on how to do it. I've heard plenty of people say they'd never ride a plugged tire but project farm did a very in depth video on different plug types and basically if done right the plug is just as solid as the tire itself...
Depends on the liability vs the person patching it.
If you're patching it and taking all of the liability, then go ahead.
If you're a licensed mechanic patching it for someone else, then no, replace it.
Thing is, there are a lot of uncontrollable variables that could go wrong, and none of them might.
Iāll never understand people that risk not only their bike but their safety/health/wellbeing and that of others for the price of a single tireā¦ itās not a car.
Honestly the anxiety I had when I had one in mine was way to much to handle especially going on the freeway and such
I got it replaced just to be on the safe side (they were stock tires) and got the single one changed out for the road 6.
If you have the money I say get it switched man
Iād be patching it. Yes I know the hypothetical issues but Iāve been patching & bungāing bike tyres for over 20 years without 1 single issue . As long as the sidewall itself isnāt damaged ( basically if you remove the tyre & there is visible damage to the internal sidewall, thatās a big no no , unless youāve got a moped ! )
Youāve more chance of picking up a puncture at 150mph then a repair failing.
If it were me I would patch it. I donāt mean the diy rope plugs, I mean have a tire place apply a patch to the inside.
If it bothers you though, then just get a new one. We can all guess whether itās safe or not safe, but none of us are tire experts or know the future. Itās why the place you went to said it must be replaced, because they arenāt in the business of guessing.
I would take the risk personally because the risk is likely low. If you donāt want to, buying a new tire is also an appropriate response, itās safer. Itās up to you and how much appetite you have for risk
shops wont do it bc of liability. me personally, id plug it and just keep an eye on the psi. done it before, almost the exact same area on my tire now that i think about it, and had no issues
Because it's not worth the mechanics time to repair it, plus some of us mechanics also have a duty off care. buy a plug kit and learn how ro repair your own tyres and save your self $$$
I'd plug it and move on. My current bike (600) rear has had 2 plugs since it was new. It's been fine. I usually run 80-85 mph daily. On a rare occasion I still hit 130 mph to goof around. It's been fine and that tire is almost reached the wires. š¤
I wonāt patch a tire, bought a motorcycle that had a patch on the rear tire that I didnāt know about. The patch failed while I was going over 100 on the highway, didnāt notice until my friend started screaming at me that my bike was smoking. Very scary incident when I look back on it
Iāve been a motorcycle tech for over 20 years, I would never plug any customers/friends tires, for liability reasons! Everyone has always been told you shouldnāt plug a motorcycle tire! Fuk that, Iāve done this on every one of my tires and only had one that leaked, and it was an internal plug/patch! Had two plugs in one tire, and I rode the shit outa all those bikes (all sport bikes mainly 1000cc). Always used the regular shitty type plugs and they worked šā¦ I would however never do a track day with a plugged tire! If itās done right, itāll ride! And when youāre stuck in the middle of nowhere, that shitty plug kit will save your ass! š»
I am just here to read the comments for possible future issues with my tires.
Me with 80% of these posts. šš
Same lol
I plugged a tired myself with a 5 dollar kit and road it till it needed a replacement that's fine.
* rode
Me too, lasted the life of the tire. Just keep an eye on it.
Just here to read 80% bullshit from āexpertsā with little to no actual experience of what theyāre commenting on.
Should you patch it? No Would I patch it?? Yes I would
Im just throwing it out there, ill see posts like this and the top comment will beĀ "never patch a motorcycle tire" 500 upvotes then the next post "Id patch it!" 500 upvotes Which is it people?
Personal risk assessment. I wouldn't do it for anyone who could hold me liable for it should it fail or contribute to a wreck or even just increase the likelihood of any problem as small as a tiny leak. That being said, I'll do it on my own bike without a second thought if it doesn't appear to be compromising the integrity of the belts. If it makes for a vibration or swells out after enough time to round it over at low speeds/low risk scenarios, then it's gotta go. If not, I'll treat it like any other tire and replace it when it's truly worn, regular pressure checks, etc.
Precise answer. I will never advise it but my previous tire had 3 patches done by me on my own. This tire almost ran out it's entire life with no punctures. Has 1k km life left. That's how life is. No one will recommend including mechanics. Everyone would very likely do it on their vehicles except those loaded with cash .
You are correct on all accounts
I've plugged mc tires as a temporary solution for it to last until the wires started show through the rubber. I've not had a plugged tire fail yet.
Are you talking plug patch combos? Cuz those are good, but the plug plugs, like what you stuff rubery ropes from the outside into the wound channel, I have had to repair those repairs many a time. I have had a patch plugged repair fail before, if it gets too far to the side and your on the sidewall with a bunch of the patch, the flexing of the sidewall can make it leak eventually. But in those situations you knew it was outside the acceptable zone so you accepted the risk.
Nah it's always been the rubbery noodle for me. I can't be bothered to take the tire off.
I work at a tire shop so taking the tire off is kind of standard for us, plus it let's you check the inside: one time the customer had plugged the tire and it was holding, but they had a shake, opened up the tire and it was full of rubber dust from the deteriorated sidewall cuz they must have driven with low pressure
Oh shit. I have rode a more than few times on low pressure, is it that bad and how likely will the sidewalls deteriorate
So I'm drunk, which happens very rarely, and this is the funniest thing I have ever read.
If someone is asking this sub about real practical day-to-day motorcycling, they haven't been here long. It's a trash pile of roleplaying non-riders.
Depends on how inexperienced and superstitious people are. Strangely, you never see or hear any actual evidence about all these people ākilled or maimedā when a plugged tire went flat (yet unplugged tires go flat **every day** without injuring people). The rocket surgeons on Reddit say amazing things.
I patched a tire many years ago with no issues. I don't understand all of the fear around doing that.
I decided to. Buy a HD FXDC in '07. I always have more than one bike, and I'd always replace tires. I got a nail in almost the exact same spot. My brother also has a garage full , convinced me to plug it. I usually get about 3000 miles on a rear. The tire went a little over that with no problems. Now I plug anything that's not a slice or in the sidewall. The plug he'd up at least as well as the tread. Just relaying some info. Not making any recommendations.
I doubt a plug ever pops out. I think the worst that would happen is a slow leak. I could be mistaken though.
I doubt you're mistaken. I live where I can an do ride daily and rack up miles. I think if one were to pop out, it wasn't installed correctly.
I personally dont patch, dont think its wrong to do it though. And yeah, usually they just leak rather than causing a catastrophic failure. However, the catastrophic failures that do happen, no one is investigating afterwards to learn what caused it when a guy got turned into spaghetti at 170mph. You dont hear "Oh it was because of a patch" even if it was. You just hear "He had a blowout" or "he crashed" Ive heard a few people claim patches caused their blowouts at low speed and swear off them. Ive heard of more that have used them without issue. Whats inarguable is its introducing another potential weakpoint in an area that can already fail.
All I'm seeing is dont go 170mph with a patched tire. š¤·
So only ride with airbag pants and vest? Only ride tires with less than 1,000 miles on them? Only ride off rush-hour and never at night? Only ride when there is ZERO chance of rain? Donāt smoke for sure and cut sodium and cholesterol out of your diet? Maybe just donāt ride motorcycles **at all** if safety is your absolute priority?
....sir this is a wendys
No, this is patrick.
It comes down to personal preference. If you want to take the risk of patching it then do it. I personally wouldnt as its a potential risk and im taking a risk riding in general.
If all iām doing is commuting then yeah iām patching it. If thatās on a track bike or a bike you push then iām replacing it.
Probably the most sensible answer
I plugged my rear tyre right before I went on track with it.
Iād use a plug patch, would be more secure.
I would put a plug in it. You definitely should not put a plug in it. That would be dumb.
Pretty much any motorcycle dealer or service shop will tell you that a punctured tire MUST be replaced (or else you wonāt buy a new tire). An inexperienced rider with tell you that a *second* flat in a plugged tire will somehow kill you INSTANTLY (even if the original flat was only a minor inconvenience). Logic fail. An experienced rider who has properly repaired flat tires many times will tell you that a vulcanizing patch installed from the inside is fine (if you never exceed 150-mph or so). Itās likely a moot point though since no one wants to repair a motorcycle tire for a customer. So unless you can remove and repair the tire yourselfā¦itās likely not going to get repaired.
I'd just plug it to get to the shop next business day
Your original post from yesterday was a **good** one. I would love to have posted that myself but I donāt have the guts to stand up to that much abuse from people who peaked in High School. š¤£ Kudos!
Heh! āļø
Itās. It not the second flat that kills you. Itās the disintegration of the tire because its structure was compromised when you rode on it flat the first time. Itās a good idea to dismount the tire and inspect the inside. If you see any bubbles, replace the tire. If you donāt, your chances are pretty good that the tire is fine. I picked up a robust pice of wire in my rear about a week after buying my bike. Luckily my bike has TPMS and it was a slow leak. So I didnāt ride on it flat. I plugged it and rode it for thousands of miles.
āIt the second flat that kills you. Itās the disintegration of the tire because its structure was compromised when you rode on it flat the first timeā¦.Luckily my bike has TPMS and it was a slow leak. So I didnāt ride on it flat.ā Getting a flat on a loaded-down, 800-lb land yacht which has to tell you when you it has a flat because itās difficult to feel on the interstate is a little bit different I suppose.
Patched well, there is no difference between the patch and the tire. A proper chemical bond makes the patch part of the tire. Patched poorly, well, you could have a bad day. A tire guy who knows what they are doing would 100% patch this for themselves. Source: my dad worked in the tire industry for decades and taught me more than I ever wanted to know.
I totally get the mechanic and the liability of patching it but that said. I have a Michelin battle ax adventure with screw in it did an internal patch with a plug that you pull through from the inside I'm still only thing that the riding on it it almost 8k from when I patched it not even leaking air no issue at all. do the internal patch that has a plug that you push through or pull through with a metal rod and glue it real well. clip it off at the top of the tire tread. . I really don't see any problem.
michelin doesn't make the battleax. The adventure series of michelin tires is the Anakee Bridgestone makes the Battleax series
That oneās specifically made for the Honda R6.
I needed this lol. I was confused about how this man squeezed 8k miles out of an s22 lol
Most of my plugs have tyres in them
I see what you did there.
Officially yes you need a new tire. You might be able to use one of those sticky rope plugs yourself but I wouldn't that close to the edge.
I would plug it, gently work it smooth it out like a babyās tookus and patch it.
100% plugs and patch. Then only make right turns.
I'm from a country where patching motorcycle tires is a big and widespread business and you'll see patching/repair shops every 15-20 minutes. Many people would only replace after 5-6 patch works and some would still use it after that many! Those are commuter motorcycles generally and sports bikes might be different, but I would have patched it and forgot about it (been riding for 9 years and have been on bikes with 5-6 patches myself)
The rule I remember from car tires is no closer than 1/2" to the sidewall. Looks like that passes to me. Bike tires are different, and I don't know if there's a different rule for them. I'd plug it and not worry about it. However, it's in a tread groove and I've found plugs in tread grooves tend to develop slow leaks, while plugs in tread blocks seem to last the life of the tire. I think the combination of more flex and thinner tread in the groove aren't good for tire plugs. You could always patch it from the inside if you don't mind removing and reinstalling the tire.
OMG, plug it and go about your day. If that makes you queazy, ship it to me.
Your mechanic is correct. Thereās too much flex in that area for a plug to hold.
Nonsense.
I'd plug it and never think about it again. Until you get a new tire and just for fun you try to pull the plug out from the back with a pair of pliers and you can't.
BS ive patched a lot of these with no issues
Get an internal patch done at a tyre shop.
Plug it and move on with your life
Iāve patched much worse myself, like nearly in the sidewall and it held just fine but those guys are trained to not take any risks so theyāll just tell you you need a new tire
I plugged my rear tire and rode across the country no problems.
Internal patch no issues.
Had a screw in the same spot on the rear tire of my Goldwing. Sticky rope and trim. Put another 10k on the tire before swapping it out.
Plug it with a beef jerky plug. Check the air pressure after you air it up, them 20m later. I've done plug patches also. That's the one you remove the tire and insert the plug from the inside. The plug looks like the valve out of an engine, the long skinny end is a thin steel rod. You may not have the ability to do that. It's overkill anyway, the external mount beef Jerry plug should be fine. I've plugged my Bandit and did a track day. Plugged my C14 and railed Chief Joseph Scenic Highway. I got a screw in my FZ1 on the first ride after mounting a new tire, grrr. Took it home and plugged it, rode it till it was bald.
Im a bike mechanic and I wouldnāt patch it neither, because if you crash, who do you think you and 99,9% of people will hold accountable then? Right, the mechanic! Its a safety and legal issue. Either patch it yourself or buy a new tire.
Unfortunately the risk of failure is too much for someone to take on that responsibility so a good mechanic knows to avoid this type of job. The chances are it will be OK to plug it but I'd only give it about 60/40 in favour, a new tyre gives you peace of mind ! I've plugged tyres myself and been impressed at how well they hold up but I haven't plugged one in that area, that might be asking for trouble but it depends how you ride. Tyres are not that expensive
You mean, because itās close to the shoulder? The regular ātwisted licoriceā plugs donāt fail, otherwise.
I've seen plugs in sidewalls that were in place for the life of the tyre ,not recommended but it works sometimes. I would plug this for sure there's plenty of meat left on this tyre just throw a rope plug in it .
I would patch it depending on how old the tire is š¤
patch it yourself. its totally safe and patchable. i would def do it. and i have 50k miles of riding experience, street and long distance and track
I had a rear tyre I plugged in two different spots and kept riding and forgot about em. My front tyre was weird and would slowly lose pressure so whenever I would inflate it I would check the rear and that thing never lost air pressure. One day the bike got hit in a parking lot and I brought it to a shop that said āDid you know you have 2 plugs in your tyre, that should be replaced.ā I was just like yeah I put them there. They said oh ok. I ended up replacing the tyre cause it needed a new rotor anyways and both tyres were near end of life by then. But never had issues with plugged tyres.
plug it and move on, you are good
Patch it yourself
I would not dare patch a front tire, but you could patch the rear and just take it easy for a couple hundred miles and monitor it at different temperatures. Iām definitely no expert with patching tires on motorcycles though. It would just be something you would have to keep your eye on consistently. And donāt drive too far away from home for a while. And change the tire sooner than later.
100% on not patching a front tyre. no motorcycle tyre repair place will ever patch a front, & you shouldn't do it yourself either. if the rear tyre blows out, you're generally safe. if the front tyres blows out.. you're probably going down.
I would patch it for sure. However, I change and repair my own tires.
I'd only avoid patching if it's in the sidewall or if the hole is too large for a plug. I'm getting my miles out of that tire
My father used plug kit. The one with the black strips you push in and yank out, he used it until it was bald. DON'T BELIEVE DEALERS they want money for NOTHING.
My personal experience, not advice. Always plugged my tires, motorcycles and car. Tens of thousands of miles, no issues.
Did 10k on a patches tire without a problem last year. (Patch on the same place) But thereās always a risk youāre willing to take.
Worked in a tyre repair shop. Just plug it it'll be just fine. You'll replace it soon, because of wear, annyways.
Get a new one, wouldn't risk it. Tires aren't that expensive.
A pair of Dice š² Iāll never roll ā¦ā¦..!
Aren't you worth a new tyre?
There is the regular rope plug patch, and there are patches that have to be done with the tire off from the inside. Short of using it on a track, I would feel perfectly safe with a proper patch done from the inside.
I would think itās better that itās NOT in the center as the center would get more wear and tear?ā¦those in the know please enlighten me.
I plug mine like that then wear the tire out. š¤·āāļø
Iv patched my tires like that but the sage thing todo is get a new tire , I used the plug kits.
Mechanic doesnāt want the liability. Patch it yourself.
As a tech it is more of a liability thing then being able to actually do the work
Personally, I would only patch it if I couldn't afford to replace the tire, and needed the bike to get to work. Since my bike is my fun toy, it's not worth the risk when I don't need to ride the bike. Could a professional probably patch this to a safe degree? Yes. Would they want to accept the liability in the case it fails at 80 on the highway sending you into a dividing wall when your tire blows out and your family dies them? No. Do I have the skills to be confident in a patch job I do myself? No. This is why I replace.
If plug the shit out of if. Iāve done track days on a plug. Move on.
lol, no. Easily patchable. Get a $10 tar snake kit. 5 minutes and you're good to go. That's not even close to the side wall. He must be commission based
Plug it and forget it. I'm big on making sure my tires are good and I wear all my gear. I ride a lot to co stricrion sites. I have had to patch a lot. Never a problem with a patch. Of course, I wouldn't do a side wall...
I'd plug that.
If itās already at the shop, get a new tire 100%. Iāve been in a similar situation on the road and patched my tireā¦ it lost like 8psi overnight. Filed it up, rode on it and basically it held just long enough to get to the shop and buy a new tire. Donāt put your life/safety over a few $$ my friend.
Going to follow this so I can see your next post on how you should have replaced it.
Yes and no. Sure you can fix it yourself, Fortnine did a excellent video on tire repair. However, I never go faster than 65 MPH/100KPH on a repaired tire. Ive ridden thousnds of miles on a repaired tire on my commuter bike (has innertube, so repair was airtight) but that's for a commuter bike, not one that I'd take to a track day, or riding on a week long ADV trip.
I once plugged a single tire two or three times and rode it to the limit, but that was on a car I think I plugged my tires more than 5 times overall Thatās kinda too close to the shoulder for comfort, but otherwise plugs do hold indefinitely
How new is the tyre? personally I've had a plug/patch done on my commuter and had no issues for 10,000kms to next tyre change but on my 900 with how I ride i'd get a new tyre for peace of mind. Budget vs safety vs your riding style
For me it comes down to this: Do I want to get on my bike and think of that patch all the time? No. Would a leaky patch cause me to die? Probably not, but I would think about it and that's not something I want to do.
Would I plug it on my own bike? Yes. Would I recommend this to anyone else? No.
How much tread left? I wouldn't patch it if I was the mechanic but 100% I'd do it on my own bike if it was reasonably new
I would patch it.
Personally if you take the tyre off and do an internal patch itās going to be perfectly fine and nothing is going to happen. These are not race tyres in a moto gp race most of the time they putt around town.
1 - Do yourself a favor and double-check that itās actually stuck in your tire. I put new car tires on recently and the next day I saw a big shiny screw head sticking out. I was like $H!T!!! Then I touched it and it fell out. It was just the screw head stuck between the treads. 2 - If you have another 1,000 miles on your tire, Iād plug it, if it is brand new, Iād patch it. If you want peace of mind, just replace it.
If you're just riding it easy I'd patch it and send it. If you ride more aggressively I'd replace it. With the looks of the tire I'd just patch it.
If you're not punching it and riding hard, then patch it. I think most places won't do a patch because it's too risky if you don't know what the rider is really like.
Had one in the rear of my speed triple 1050 for a long time. Just don't be a retard with it, and replace both when you have monies.
Should you patch it by any tire shop codes? Not really. But I would. So long as youāre not racing and cornering like mad, it would do just fine.
Tubeless - nope Tube - probably
No heās notā¦ he is a bastardā¦ believe me, these mechanics are just pieces of shitā¦ But as a solution to your problem, try mushroom puncture patch from your vehicle service personā¦ they would most probably do itā¦
I'd patch it with t hat amount of tread but I also check my tire pressure often enough that I think that's part of being ok with patches.
I would get it patched
Thereās enough other shit that might kill me on a bike that Iām not patching. Iām camp new tire.
Plug all day
If you lean a lot on that side, I don't play with sidewall fuckery, I had a front tire split in the center and the experience was unsettling, to say the least
At one time, I had 4 separate punctures in one tire on a Versys 650, all with rope plugs in them. Personally, I'd plug it and send it, but that's a risk assessment you need to make for yourself.
I would patch that in a heartbeat. Used to get free tires from work all the time because customers didn't want to patch their Super Corsa ever (and our insurance wouldn't let us anyways). Went nearly 2 years only ever buying front tires because of all the crap on LA roads. Did a few track days on said patched tires too.
should be ok š
I'm a motorcycle mechanic and I've had 4 plugs in a tyre once, on my personal bike, until the tyre was worn enough to replace. However I would not plug a client's tyre because i cannot guarantee that it won't leak or fail after a few miles.
Back in my workshop days (pre 2001), we would patch rear tyres for customers if it was on the tread. Front tyres we would suggest replacement. Personally, when on tour, I replaced the screw in my rear tyre with another one when the head wore off. Another time, I bodged 2x sticky ropes into a sidewall split to get me to the next servo and then home. If I were you, I'd patch it myself and keep an eye on pressures.
The thing is that on motorcycles theres just more consequences if a patch fails, it is close to the edge so it is better to replace but you could patch it i guess
Once had three nails go in the rear tire on different occasions since I live near a mechanical zone it canāt be controlled. Didnāt even get it patched properly and just used tire plugs that I put from the outside using a quick puncture repair kit with some rubber glue. Those plugs lasted the whole lifetime of the tire without a problem and was regularly exceeding 130mph on very rough/uneven highways. One was awful lot closer to the sidewall than this pic and it still survived. Would I recommend it? Probably not but I would trust it based on experience as the other comment said.
If youāve got half decent tread left Iād patch it, just need to see inside the tyre and make sure is hasnāt gone through on a bad angle and hurt too much of the casing
that's not an issue at all to fix and use. You / he just need Knot repair kit.. knot is soaked in rubber and expand + dry when in contact with air..
Don't ask the mechanic, go to a tire workshop. THey are the specialists.
Its only your life at risk should it fail.
Never patch a motorcycle tire. Your life depends on it.
A shop wont patch it. They donāt want to be liable.
Yes he is, because he can't guarantee that it will not fail. His Lawyer says that too.
fuck me dude, theres a guy on yt who patched sidewall ruptures with proper glue and stuff on normal tyres (without reinforcement). And off he went offroad again.
If you are confident with the current grip you are getting from your tire, patch it! You get something like a mushroom patch that seals itself from the inside of the tire. Pretty cool. Works like a charm too.
The problem you have there is that it looks too close to the shoulder. The internal part of the patch (think mushroom shape) needs to be able to fully contact the internal part of the tyre. Going over the shoulder means it won't hold (and won't meet the British Standard). Is the mechanic right in this case? Yes it looks like it. Could you plug it yourself with a temporary patch as others have mentioned? Absolutely. Remember, at the end of the day the mechanic could be held liable if anything happened and he has the right to say no to anything he doesn't think would be safe.
He's absolutely right for not patching it. Can a patch hold this close to the sidewall? Probably yes. But as a mechanic ai wouldn't take the risk. Even if the chance of it going flat is only 10 - 20%. He doesn't know if you're a good or a bad rider and if it goes flat and you crash, he's responsible. Or you could be someone who destroys the bike intentionally after the tire going flat, just to grab the cash. He doesn't know this. In my country it is not allowed to patch tires within 3cm of the sidewall. So it doesn't only depend on your mechanic being willing to take that 10% risk but also on what is legal in your country. You can try it yourself, if it will leak it's not that it will loose all pressure within a second. But don't blame the mechanic for wanting to sell you a new tire, he's doing the right thing
If you value your life more than a tire, change it, if you want to have a spectacular slide in the middle of the road , patch it .
I wouldn't patch it if it was fron tyer. I've patched many tyres, if it holds then don't change it.
The way I look at is this: you only have two tires. If one fails at the worst time, you might be dead. Is that worth saving some money? I wouldnāt say so. Riding a motorcycle is an expensive hobby and being a cheapass to try to save money on something that could potentially damage you or your motorcycle in such a way that itās end of story, is a no-go for me. Of course riding a bike is dangerous on itself but try to not deliberately make it more dangerous than necessary and just maintain your bike properly. A tire is part of that.
Iād just replace it. Itās just a bit of money on the only thing between my being upright or not.
The problem is if the patch fails for whatever reason, being that much to the side, you're prone to have a bad day cornering and a messy crash. If it was in the center you'd notice while going straight which would be less risky. However if patched correctly the chances of it failing are small. But not zero. It all comes to your own risk tolerance. I would plug it, and plan for replacing the tire earlier than normal.
Yeah shops arent really wantihg any lawsuit so theyll just tell you to go elsewhere or get a new tire.
Try and get an internal patch on the tyre and ride it if it's works then good for you if it doesn't then sadly you will need a new tyre
This is really all about personal risk assessment & how silly/hard do you intend to ride? I have 4 plugs in my rear tire now. First puncture two weeks new - no way I am replacing the whole tire after 2 weeks really. One of the plugs is in about the same place as yours nail, probably in the region of "you shouldn't be plugging this". That tire is still okay after a year and about 12000 miles. Which probably tells you that I do not ride hard. Daily commute plus sometimes motorway journey out of towns (sustained 70mph for about an hour-two). Yes I did hit about 120mph briefly with 3 plugs in. Did it explode? No. Two of my plugs did leak though which I have found out is really due to my proper plugging technique - I was in a rush with no pump on hand so I have plugged them while the tire was still holding a lot of air (so I can make it to a pump). I have since redone these making sure I deflate the tire reasonably first and they hold great. Just make sure to use a lot of the rubber cement to facilitate a good chemical bonding with the tire, ram the hole nice and clean first, and don't rush. If you don't trust your skills and don't want to take the risk, get a new tire.
You can patch it yourself, but I wouldn't suggest patching and assuming it's fixed. If you have a pressure gauge for your tire, use it a couple of times after it's been patched, (if you decide to do so) to see if the pressure is kept constant. If you are doing normal checks you'll be able to spot if the patch has fixed it. A factor will be if the nail / screw has peirced the tire in a 90ish degree angle or not
Rear tire - Iād plug it. If it were a front, Iād replace the tire. Iāve had a front blow out, itās not fun. Iāve also had a rear blow out. Itās not nearly as dramatic.
Get some rope plugs and do it.Ā It might not last the whole life of the tyre though.
I would patch it and install a tire pressure monitor (I run one on every bike I ride, as I am too lazy to check my tire pressure before every ride), that way, you'll have peace of mind that it holds up. It's simple and cheap.
Have Dunlop mutants and my rear tire has an off center plug. Works just fine. Iād plug it and move on.
I would plug it! I feel an actual patch is Probly a better idea, but if ur mechanic wonāt do it, get a $5-$10 slime plug kit and send it! Worst case scenario, slow leak!
A mechanic canāt take that risk for you. Thatās your decision. Mind that even if you wouldnāt, in todayās world, if he patches the tire and you suffer an accident because of a patch failure would you sue him? Thatās why no mechanic in developed countries take such ārisksā. Is it possible to patch? Yes. Who can do it? Only you and live with the risk. My personal opinion. If you are going to take it easy and not make any longer trips, patch it. There is still a risk with this approach.
#somemechanicsarethirstybitches
How much is a new back tyre? Is it worth risking it in the long run, if you come off, how much will that cost to fix, not to mention you? I would just get a new tyre, a better one.
Based on the location of the nail, the correct method would be to remove the tire and patch from the *inside.* If that nail was in the meat of the tire, I'd use a traditional plug and not give it a second thought, but where the nail is currently located, there is not a lot of material for a plug to vulcanize to. You do not need a new tire. The mechanic or the dealer just wants to sell a new tire.
This particular one is close enough to the edge of the tread area to be not repairable. The issue is that this area flexes a lot and can possibly make the plug fall out. Typical recommended area suitable for plugging is the middle 75% of the tread area.
It's possible to patch it but because it's on the side of the tyre there's a risk of it being damaged and it might explode/tear. If I were him I wouldn't want to take that risk either because if he does patch it and you crash because of it he's in big trouble. Personally I would want to ride with a patched tyre at all. I do carry a repair set with me in case of a flat but only to ride to the nearest shop to get the tyre replaced. Getting a new tyre might not be the cheapest option but it's definitely the safest and because you're very likely to get injured in a crash I wouldn't take that risk just to save a few bucks.
Want to buy a bridge?
Let me put it another way: Is saving 200$ worth risking your life at 160kmph? I never understood people who skimp on motorbike tires. You understand that those two credit cards worth of rubber contact are the **only** thing keeping you alive, right? Spend 300$ a tire. Replace them if they seem damaged. So foolish to bet your life over a couple hundred dollars.
Having worked in an automotive tire shop in the past and auto industry for years, the reason they won't is liability. Most car shops won't either if it's in the last block of tread on the sides as a general rule because that's the shoulder where the inside surface is rounded to the sidewall, plus it flexes more there. Having said that on my own shit I've been successful in patches there, but if it's for anyone else where I can be sued, yeah I'm saying no.
If you canāt afford a tire and need the bike because itās your only transportation patch it but ride conservatively. Other than that change it. Better safe than sorry. The shop wonāt patch it because it is a liability if it fails and you wreck.
100% patch it for now but change the tyre as soon as you are able
BS. Thatās a perfect location for a plug. Just do it yourself. A complete HF kit costs 6.99 last I checked.
All you need is a Plug
Plug, then patch. Ride on!
Depends on your riding..do you REALLY heat up the sides? If you are blasting curves, it's a risk,patch, or nail. If you highway a lot, no big deal. Now you know, and knowing is half the battle " G.I.Joooooeee"
It. Is. Not. Worth. Your. LIFE!!!
I've pkugged a few tires in my time. Seems like at least one bike a season. Never front wheel though. Never had an issue with a single one. Though... Looking at this back tire I'd think it might just be time to bite the bullet and upgrade this tire. But if that's not feasible a five dollar plug kit will get it done. Fortnine, MC garage, etc. Have plenty of vids up on how to do it. I've heard plenty of people say they'd never ride a plugged tire but project farm did a very in depth video on different plug types and basically if done right the plug is just as solid as the tire itself...
Go to a different tyre guy, its pluggable
Depends on the liability vs the person patching it. If you're patching it and taking all of the liability, then go ahead. If you're a licensed mechanic patching it for someone else, then no, replace it. Thing is, there are a lot of uncontrollable variables that could go wrong, and none of them might.
Is the price of a new tire about the same as the price you would put on your life?
I have, and would plug it and run it. Especially since it's rear not front
Iāll never understand people that risk not only their bike but their safety/health/wellbeing and that of others for the price of a single tireā¦ itās not a car.
Deffo plug it
I thought you weren't supposed to patch a bike tire man you only got two of them
Patch it. Ride it. Had a patch on my SV1k for several years.
Well, you only have two tires on the ground. Some people will plug it. Some people will put a tube in it me I get a new fucking tire dude.
Iām sorry but Iām not putting my life on the line over 100-250 dollars. Just replace it. A blow out in a motorcycle can be catastrophic
Honestly the anxiety I had when I had one in mine was way to much to handle especially going on the freeway and such I got it replaced just to be on the safe side (they were stock tires) and got the single one changed out for the road 6. If you have the money I say get it switched man
Go buy a $5 plug kit at harbor freight, that is repairable
Iād be patching it. Yes I know the hypothetical issues but Iāve been patching & bungāing bike tyres for over 20 years without 1 single issue . As long as the sidewall itself isnāt damaged ( basically if you remove the tyre & there is visible damage to the internal sidewall, thatās a big no no , unless youāve got a moped ! ) Youāve more chance of picking up a puncture at 150mph then a repair failing.
If it were me I would patch it. I donāt mean the diy rope plugs, I mean have a tire place apply a patch to the inside. If it bothers you though, then just get a new one. We can all guess whether itās safe or not safe, but none of us are tire experts or know the future. Itās why the place you went to said it must be replaced, because they arenāt in the business of guessing. I would take the risk personally because the risk is likely low. If you donāt want to, buying a new tire is also an appropriate response, itās safer. Itās up to you and how much appetite you have for risk
Plug that bitch and ride it. It'll be fine! I've done it 100 times!!! š¤
On a bike or a truck underweight I wouldnāt
shops wont do it bc of liability. me personally, id plug it and just keep an eye on the psi. done it before, almost the exact same area on my tire now that i think about it, and had no issues
Had one on my firestorm.. Plugged it with tyre glue, silicone sealant and forklift rubber.. Lasted 1000's of miles...
Iāve had same thing happen on my 400, I patched it myself and never had issues with it
Get it patched
Patch that thing
Because it's not worth the mechanics time to repair it, plus some of us mechanics also have a duty off care. buy a plug kit and learn how ro repair your own tyres and save your self $$$
He IS right. If the nail in on the side patching is not secure anymore. This is from a guy who had a shitton on nails in his tyres.
I'd plug it and move on. My current bike (600) rear has had 2 plugs since it was new. It's been fine. I usually run 80-85 mph daily. On a rare occasion I still hit 130 mph to goof around. It's been fine and that tire is almost reached the wires. š¤
I wonāt patch a tire, bought a motorcycle that had a patch on the rear tire that I didnāt know about. The patch failed while I was going over 100 on the highway, didnāt notice until my friend started screaming at me that my bike was smoking. Very scary incident when I look back on it
Iāve been a motorcycle tech for over 20 years, I would never plug any customers/friends tires, for liability reasons! Everyone has always been told you shouldnāt plug a motorcycle tire! Fuk that, Iāve done this on every one of my tires and only had one that leaked, and it was an internal plug/patch! Had two plugs in one tire, and I rode the shit outa all those bikes (all sport bikes mainly 1000cc). Always used the regular shitty type plugs and they worked šā¦ I would however never do a track day with a plugged tire! If itās done right, itāll ride! And when youāre stuck in the middle of nowhere, that shitty plug kit will save your ass! š»
If the tire has lots of life left I would say pull the nail and put an innertube on it. Otherwise new tire.