I was cleaning up my bike the other day when I noticed a small nail in the rear tire. It has caused a slow air leak. I was curious if I should patch/plug the tire or replace it? The tire is pretty new, I'd hate to shell out the money for a new tire if it can be fixed.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rei &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> The tire is pretty new, I'd hate to shell out the money for a new tire if it can be fixed.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i'd replace it. patch the old one, and sell it to a squid.


But honestly, what's the price on your safety?

 

Where's the hole? Down the middle? Plug with one of those kits you can buy at auto parts store that uses some kind of sealer, that comes out of tube. I've used those on cars with no problems, the really cheap ones that don't use any sealer give up the ghost pretty quick. On the sides, I'd get a new tire.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GraphiteAccord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

i'd replace it. patch the old one, and sell it to a squid.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've used those on cars with no problems, the really cheap ones that don't use any sealer give up the ghost pretty quick. On the sides, I'd get a new tire.</TD></TR></TABLE>


Bike is a little bit different than a car........ I wouldnt want to be the test pig thats for sure

I would rather spend the money and get a new tire. Rather than trust a plug that could give out, cause a blow up and you end up eating asphalt….

But hey that’s just me

 

Many of the high-mileage touring riders that I know carry patches, plugs, and pumps. I've seen some of them put distance with plugs in but I would only use one for temporary purposes.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BoostedEG6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I would rather spend the money and get a new tire. Rather than trust a plug that could give out, cause a blow up and you end up eating asphalt….

But hey that’s just me
</TD></TR></TABLE>

You seen it happen? The tire would start to go down slowly and I can tell when my tires are not up to pressure. I don't see a monster blowout happening like you describe unless he's got a hole the size of a golfball or a hole in the sidewall. For me I would have no problem with plugging a small hole down the middle. That's just me

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You seen it happen? The tire would start to go down slowly and I can tell when my tires are not up to pressure. I don't see a monster blowout happening like you describe unless he's got a hole the size of a golfball or a hole in the sidewall. For me I would have no problem with plugging a small hole down the middle. That's just me </TD></TR></TABLE>

I never said I have seen it happen

Better you than me, that’s all I will say about that.

I am not strapped for cash, so I would just get a new tire.... but again that’s just me I am not one to take the chance of something going wrong

 

if its down the center and is pretty much a new tire i would just patch it. if anything somewhat even close to the sides i'd get a new tire. if you buy a tire at cycle gear they carry warranty thats like $10 that'll cover your tires against this sort of thing.

 

id patch it if its a fairly new tire and ur commuting. if ur riding aggresive id get a new tire.

 

I'd plug it.

Just personal experience.

I've plugged in excess of 5 rear tires all 003 shinko u-soft drag tires...and raced with them...

So...eh, never had problems in 39k miles, but to some people they worry.

 

I have plugged a couple tires myself, if hole is in middle of tire i would plug it. Get all the use out of that tire and in the meantime have new one ready to go on.

 

Its a bike.. You've only got two tires. Lose one.. guess what?

Its not a car. No cage to save you, no extra tires to 'compensate.'

Nuff said.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BoostedEG6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


I am not strapped for cash, so I would just get a new tire.... but again that’s just me I am not one to take the chance of something going wrong
</TD></TR></TABLE>

that is the operative sentence. You and I...no problem buying a new tire...seems squids are so damn cheap, that they skimp out on safety to save a few bucks.

 

The nail is quite small and its in the center. I'm not even sure how long it was in there since I've only rode the bike a handful of times. I don't commute on the bike, its just for fun. However I def. don't ride hard. I am currently low on funds since I'm in the process of fixing my home, but if safety is a real issue I guess the bike will sit for a while. I just got it a couple weeks ago too, damn.

I called a local shop and they want $70 to patch it, that seems a little off the wall to me.

 

you can do it yourself, its not that hard. you can get the kit for like $7 at any auto part store and it even comes with instructions.

 

If you have to have it patched, I would take it to someone and get them to patch it. Most places now take the tire off and do the patch from the inside. Check to see how they do it.

But like I stated earlier, if I were you I would let the bike sit until I could get the funds for a new tire. But thats just me...... some people agree with me... some people dont

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BoostedEG6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you have to have it patched, I would take it to someone and get them to patch it. Most places now take the tire off and do the patch from the inside. Check to see how they do it.

But like I stated earlier, if I were you I would let the bike sit until I could get the funds for a new tire. But thats just me...... some people agree with me... some people dont</TD></TR></TABLE>

They said they would remove the tire and patch it from the inside.

 

well, removing the tire is the only way of getting it patched.

but you can also just plug it with a plug kit.

how much does the average shop charge to dismount and mount a tire?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Diego Dangers. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well, removing the tire is the only way of getting it patched.

but you can also just plug it with a plug kit.

how much does the average shop charge to dismount and mount a tire?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I think this shop charges $40.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rei &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

They said they would remove the tire and patch it from the inside.</TD></TR></TABLE>


what tires are they? I have a super corsa you can have..has maybe 200 miles left on it.

 

Michelin Pilot Power

 

If you are going to patch the tire, which I suggest you don't, it is absolutely imperative that you take the tire off and use a patch/plug combination from the inside. I used to work at a tire shop as a hs/college summer job for a bit and I've personally seen many of them fail. Especially on a motorcycle tire, where you are going to have a big temp change from cold to hot...these temp gradients make a failure more likely since the plug compound is different than the tread (different thermal expansion rates, etc).

 

shops around me would not patch a bike tire so i put a plug in it, held up fine.

 

You can do it yourself.

1) Remove tire from rim. (If you do not have a way to balance the tire, mark your rim and tire with a grease marker or something. This is so you will be able to put the tire back on with the exact same alignment on the rim. It should have the same "heavy" spots and the wheel weights will not need to be moved. It worked for me)

2) Apply patch inside tire. Make sure you use plenty of glue, and make sure you get a good seal. I put my tire back on, and filled it up, only to find out it still leaked.

3) Put tire back on.

4) Balance the tire. (Or line up marks on tire and rim)

Here are some youtube videos for tire removal :

RRemoval http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Pfp2Z9k0n0
Installation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...lated
Balancing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...lated

I did a patch on my old bike an road it for over 1000 miles. The only reason I replaced it was because my tire went bald. I never had another problem with leaking.

 

I vote the patch/Plug combo kit. That is the only way a tire can keep its Z rating. Putting the plug in does push the cords in the tire around a little bit. Obviously, it is always safer to have a brand new tire, but if you want to patch it, definitely use the patch/plug.