New Tire Or A Plug

[flyindebris]

IMO, these plug/patches are the best https://www.stopngo.com/Contents/1035.asp. They are a combination plug and patch and applied correctly will not fail. I don't know about the vendor, just the product.

 

[tontofjr]

When I had my last puncture the RAC escorted me to the main tyre depot as their repairs are only rated at 40mph and I got a chatty tyre fitter who gave me lots of extra info on tyres .

What he said is that the Bridgestones that are fitted to FJRs are considered special fitments and tyre dealers will not repair them at all no matter where the puncture is .

Avons are standard and its acceptable to have 2 punctures done on them as long as its not in sidewall

Pirellis are allowed 1-2 punctures in them according to where on tread

So after having both my last 2 Bridgestones punctured with only half the tread used I think I will go Avons next

 

[SkooterG]

IMO, these plug/patches are the best https://www.stopngo.com/Contents/1035.asp. They are a combination plug and patch and applied correctly will not fail.

Ack! I completely disagree.

Nobody is passing reading comprehension around here today. <_< While the Stop-n-go plug kit is a nifty little kit that will work SOME of the time. It will not work all the time. I have encountered this on several occasions as have many others.

Yet I have not heard even ONE report of the sticky string type repair failing.

 

[Dangerous Dave]

Yet I have not heard even ONE report of the sticky string type repair failing.

I'm with Scooter. I've been using the "sticky string-type" plugs for DECADES! Never had one fail, and no tire removal necesary. I've run plugged tires at the dragstrip, and at sustained speeds above 150 mph, until the tire is worn out. I use them in my car tires and bike tires. I use them on all my customers cars. I always carry a plugging kit with me on long trips. I've trusted my life with them for more than 20 years...you do what makes you comfortable.

 

[norcal]

Stocky string plugs are easy to carry and use, though they take some serious force to push them into place. I did a fairly new tire and it held air fine for about 1,000 miles then started leaking. A friend with a Valkyrie had a similiar experience. Keep a closer watch on tire pressure if you use one.

 

[leebunyard]

Have used the sticky worm type plugs--with the addition of rubber cement--for over 25 years on all my cars and trucks, at least 30-40 repairs, and have NEVER had one fail. I've used them several times on mc tires, and again, have NEVER had one fail. The Avons on my '04 FJR are approaching 13,000 miles and the rear tire has had a sticky worm plug for the past 4000 miles--no problem at all. In fact, I have trouble even finding where the plug is. I used a mushroom type Stop'nGo type plug one time--lasted 50 miles until I got home, was flat the next morning. Steel belted tires can cut the mushroom head off when tire flexes, depending on where the plug is in relation to the nearest steel belt. Doesn't seem to affect the sticky worms, which are made of much tougher material. I'll never use the mushroom plug again.

Lee in the Mountains of Northern California

 

[JimLor]

Damn, this makes me wanna go out and drive a nail into my tire so I can patch it!

 

[yamaholic]

Personally, I would patch it until the next convenient time to dismount and mushroom plug it or put a new tire on it.

If you are going to worry about it...get a new tire and be done with it.

 

[kyote]

Question. Have a nail in tire, about 2 ½ inches from center, rear tire. Any problems with plug this far from center of tire?

First flat in many many years. Running Michelin tires right now.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Ignacio]

I'm not aware of any issues with plugging different distances from centerline. As long as it's not on the sidewall I would think pluggin would be the same or very similar.

 

[kyote]

Thanks. After some trials with my “Stop and Go” plugger, it was not working right. Had to use a little soapy water to get it to set the plug. First time I had used this repair kit, so good practice. Think I will go ahead and order a new tire but this will do for a while now.

Pulled a 1/8 inch drill bit from the hole.

 

[Ignacio]

Weird coincidence, but I just noticed coming back from lunch a screw in my rear Avon. I see a plug in my near future. Only 1,500 on the tire too.

 

[SkooterG]

Weird coincidence, but I just noticed coming back from lunch a screw in my rear Avon. I see a plug in my near future. Only 1,500 on the tire too.

Bummer. I found a nail in my rear Avon last night too. But that is a long story for another post.

You *might* still be within the free replacement warranty. I would check it out.

And use the freaking *sticky string* plug or I am gonna come and kick your dog! :lol:

 

[Ignacio]

You *might* still be within the free replacement warranty. I would check it out.
And use the freaking *sticky string* plug or I am gonna come and kick your dog! :lol:

....with my success of the other plug I'm inclined to just plug it instead of the mount, dismount, loss of a morning with the dealer, etc.

I like the plug kit I got and going to try it again. The way the plugs are wrapped and sort of shed their wrapper when you push them in reminds me of when they put fillings in my teeth.

As for my dog....it's a cat. Don't make me bring her down with my trident and impart some knowledge on your desert-dried Pollywog belly

 

[twowheelnut]

As for my dog....it's a cat. Don't make me bring her down with my trident and impart some knowledge on your desert-dried Pollywog belly 

Awwwww, ain't that cute!? Iggy's got a nickname for Skooter's belly... Why am I not surprised?

 

[f1fan]

After you fixed the tire, with your preferred tire fixing kit, what's your method of getting air back into the tire when you're out stranded in the middle of nowhere?

 

[Dangerous Dave]

After you fixed the tire, with your preferred tire fixing kit, what's your method of getting air back into the tire when you're out stranded in the middle of nowhere?

There are multiple methods...the choice is yours. I carry CO2 cartridges plus the adapter to use them to inflate the tire. There are a number of these type kits out there. Aerostitch carries several of these, as well as several compact 12v powered compressors, and compact hand pumps. Which is best? I dunno. The 12v compressors are slick as long as you have ready access to a 12v source (not necesarily the easiest thing on the FJR unless you've made your own provisions for it). CO2 cartridges take up very little space, but how many is enough to inflate one tire? I dunno that either, since fortunately I've never had to find out on the road. A hand pump would do the trick, but how much pumping will it take, and how long will you want to do it if it's 95* outside? I reckon the 12v compressors would be the hot ticket as long as you've made a provision ahead of time for where to pick up the 12v.

Does that help?

 

[madmike2]

I've got a 12v compressor I bought on sale at the local BMW dealer. It fits in the tool tray, I just mooved the tools to the space over the fender. Of course, I have a powerlet plug mounted in my #4 dash panel.

 

[Ignacio]

After you fixed the tire, with your preferred tire fixing kit, what's your method of getting air back into the tire when you're out stranded in the middle of nowhere?

I have 2 different methods I can use while on the road.

#1 is a Campbell Hausfeld air compressor I picked up from Walmart for about $10. I took aprt the case and extracted the guts so it would pack more tightly in the tail section of my bike wrapped up in a small towel. Since I've added a cigarette lighter plug to my dashboard I plug it in there and fire it up. Takes a few minutes to pump up the rear.

#2 is a backup to that. Part of the tire kit came a CO2 inflator and I carry about 8 cartridges. Haven't had to use them yet.

I suppose I should get a small bicycle hand pump as another backup, but haven't found one I like enough yet.

 

[f1fan]

Thanks for all the good reply in regard to tire inflation. :clap:

As the first measure I think I'll go with the Ultraflate Tire Inflator from the Aerostich website, but will check out the cheap compressor at Wallyworld as a back-up. I can probably rig something up to plug it in. The good thing about the Ultraflate is that you can use threaded and unthreaded CO2 cartridges.