Flat tire, replace it?

[crumpadump]

Ok well I bought my 08 a couple months ago and have been loving it ever since. The first thing I did after I got it was put a new set of PR3's on it and what a difference they made. So last night I'm changing the oil and i go to top off the air pressure in the back tire and the gauge reads a big fat 0! The little nail I found in it let out all the air, go figure. I go to the Yamaha dealer this afternoon to see what tire repair products they recommend and they tell me I should replace the tire for safety and liability reasons. I think that's BS that they're just trying to make a buck.

My questions do you think its safe to to ride on a repaired tire and whats the best method to fix it, patch from the inside or plug from the out? Thanks for any advice.

 

[FJRay]

Repair it and ride the shit out of it. As long as the repair is in the tread area and done properly it will be fine.

 

[escapefjrtist]

A permanent repair from the inside would be the preferred method...but sticky strings have been known to last thousands of miles.

Look for something similar to these from Rema. Be advised, you probably won't find a tire shop that will repair a motorcycle tire.

--G

 

[Fontanaman]

I would replace it - a good tire is cheap insurance. Do you really trust a plug or an interior patch?

If you replace it I have heard plugs can get cut by the steel ply's and may not last very long. People using plugs on the Adventure Rider report varying degrees of longevity. I carry a plug kit with me with MANY plugs.

It is a bummer your tire is ruined. The shop will have to tear the tire off for an interior patch costing $$ so may as well spend a few bucks and have a brand new tire.

Be safe.

 

[dcarver]

Do you really trust a plug or an interior patch?

Over the life of tire that's only 10% worn?

Plug trust confidence factor - ~50%.

Interior patch = 99.99% (given it's a small hole in tread area, not sidewall)

Post up a pix of the tire and you might be able to sell it..

 

[FJRay]

A permanent repair from the inside would be the preferred method...but sticky strings have been known to last thousands of miles.

Look for something similar to these from Rema. Be advised, you probably won't find a tire shop that will repair a motorcycle tire.

--G

Good idea "master plugger" That's what I use for in shop repairs and never had a failure.

If you chose to replace it send it to me and I will fix it and wear it out. SPU is running the last one I did.

 

[Happy Rider]

I've been running a PR2 rear tire with an interior patch for the last 6500 miles with no issues. I got a small nail in the center of the tread while returning from Lake Tahoe when the tire had just ober 500 miles. I just used a good tire patch. I removed the tire and nail, used my dremel to ruff up the inside of the tire a bit and cleaned it with soap and water to remove the mold release on the inside. After allowing it to dry I applied contact cement and the patch using a small roller to ensure good contact between the patch and the tire. Spooned the tire back on and aired it up with no problems.

 

[SkooterG]

Repair it. I've got thousands of miles on simple sticky-string repaired tires. Have ridden them past the wear bars many a time.

 

[wheatonFJR]

A permanent repair from the inside would be the preferred method...but sticky strings have been known to last thousands of miles.

--G

Good answer...when I first got the FJR I would have been hesitant on a repaired tire as well. But after seeing tires repaired and ridden for hundreds of miles in the twistiest sections of SE Ohio and Missouri...I have no qualms at all.

Do you really trust a plug or an interior patch?

YES. I had a tire patched in northern California with a double set of strings after the first string spit out...

the double strings held up on Kali hwy 36

higher speeds on Nevada's hwy 50,

and got me home 2400 miles after that repair...then after that, I rode some twisty roads in southern Indiana. My plugs were Z-rated! :clapping:

 

[HYCLE]

I plugged a tire in Durango, Colorado. Rode it the rest of the way to SWFOG, and then rode it home, and then rode it to work, and then rode it more, and it is still on the bike. By the way,the ride to Taos was 2up and triple digits when we passed the Ducati boys.

 

[wfooshee]

Sticky string, and ride it till the cords show.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Patch it or plug it and ride the shit out if it. If for some reason, you decide to change it, feel free to send it to me...I'll rode it for you.

 

[Roy Epperson]

Repair or replace is your decision of course, but......

About 1,000 miles after putting on a new PR2, I got a nail, plugged it with one of these, and rode it for another 13,000 miles. I check tire pressures before each ride (anyway) but saw no difference in how often I needed to add air.

I found an independent motorcycle shop in San Francisco that fixed and mounted a rear on my wife's VStar 1300. They used a similar type plug. It had a stem that came through the hole in the tread and had a "pad" about 1-1/4" in diameter on the inside of the tire which was bounded to the tire. I had them repair and mount the tire because the leak was found a dealer who would not allow me to plug the tire on their property (and it was flat) and would only install a new tire.

I had a similar problem with another rear tire on her bike and now waiting for the "new tire" to wear out so I can plug this one and learn now to mount the tire myself. This was a different dealer. They will not install patched tires or ones which are not the size spec'd by the bike manufacturer..... :angry: :angry:

About a month ago I had $400+ tow (glad that Progressive covered it) for a rear flat on my FJR. The aforementioned plugs would not seal the hole. It was a 3/16" "spike" from a highway repaving project which penetrated the thread at angle instead of a straight puncher. This tire was toast.... I don't think the CT that I had had on would have survived this "spike" either.

Check around with your local independent motorcycle shops, you might find one willing to repair and mount the tire or repair and mount it yourself.

 

[FJR Flyer]

Patch it. Got a nail in a new Angel ST with about 300 miles on it. Patched it and rode it for 8K more miles down to the cord without any issues.

 

[lnewlf]

I have put thousands of miles on tires fixed with sticky string..the stuff mushrooms out on the inside of the tire if you push a loop through. Only problem I had once was that air leaked slowly [about 2 lbs a week] through the string itself and that probably was because the string was old.

 

[jmgrif]

If you do the repair yourself and use the mushroom style plug make sure to clean the inside area very well before applying adhesive as mentioned above. I didn't and had to take the tire off and re do! Not so much fun after the glue sets!

 

[wfooshee]

Sticky string works, and you don't have to dismount the tire to use it. Win-Win!

All of these should be prefaced with "round punctures only." If the tire has a linear cut, scrap it.

 

[majicmaker]

I have the Stop & Go Kit with the Mushroom Plugs, the Metal Gun and the CO2 Cartridges. We're back on the Road in Minutes. It works Great! :clapping:

Never had to use it on my tires yet. (Knock on wood) But, I've plugged many of my friends tires on the road and it always saves the day.

They last until the tire is down to the AIR! Having that Kit means my Beers are always paid for. Gotta Love it!

 

[SkooterG]

Mushroom plug kit sucks imho. After it let me down several times I switched to sticky strings and they work much better.