Tire removal and patching questions

[CMantis]

I was doing my pre ride inspection tonight when I noticed a small nail in my rear tire. It is about an inch off center in the outter tread area going straight in. I was hoping that I could get in plugged with a mushroom plug from the inside. I imagine that most shops are going to recommend replacing it. So I am wondering if I shouldn't just invest in the tools needed to do it myself. Is that advisable as I have never plugged/patched a tire before. I figured that I would have to be changing tires in the future though anyways. What tools would be needed to undertake such a task? Can it be done just using the center stand? Thanks in advance.

[vaanen]

never done one myself but i had a screw AND a nail in my rear tyre last week and took it to be plugged. Taking the loose wheel it cost me £10 ($20)

Most places will recommend a replacement just so you buy a new tyre off em, it's bullshit. If the plug is done correctly it'll be fine! Obviously there is a risk involved but if, like me, you aren't overflowing with cash a plug is the only option....

[newfdavidj]

Dude...same thing happened to me. Had 2k miles on my new 06 FZ6 and found a screw in the rear tire. Don't take any risks...not worth it. You got 2 tires to ride on...you can't afford if one of them blows out from a cheap patch!! You will kick yourself in the a$$ when you are sitting in the hospital bed.

[AutoXer]

I have a screw in a tire some years back, took it to a hole-in-the-wall bike shop where a serious redneck dude there said a patch from inside would be fine. He was right - I ran that tire to the end of the tread life just fine. It seems to be a case of someone who knows how to patch a tire inside properly, who takes their time doing it, and then being smart when you ride. I never ran flat-out top-speed runs on that tire and never would, and if you ride that way I'd replace the tire. But for a moderately ridden tire, my personal view is its gonna be fine.

jZ

[zenderfall]

Originally Posted by CMantis

I figured that I would have to be changing tires in the future though anyways. What tools would be needed to undertake such a task? Can it be done just using the center stand? Thanks in advance.

I'm riding into 7000 miles on my 2nd set of tires, which I got a nail on the second day after purchasing them. Since they were so new, I decided not to replace them and plug them instead. I've ridden a track day on these plugged tires. They have not given out yet.

Plugging is very easy. just head to the local auto parts store, and get a "tire repair kit" which should include sandpaper, a metal tool with a handle on it, and strips of black "goo"

The instructions are very detailed, and just remember to go deep with the tool to get a good plug on it.

[jim schmidt]

Originally Posted by zenderfall

Plugging is very easy. just head to the local auto parts store, and get a "tire repair kit" which should include sandpaper, a metal tool with a handle on it, and strips of black "goo"

Outside plugging is not particularly safe or reliable. I'd suspect the failure rate is about 1-2%. This is because you can't see if you've done it well or what damage might have occured and because air pressure works against the plug.

A proper inside patch is fix and forget. I've never seen one fail. With an inside patch, air pressure makes it more secure, not less.

[Troubl]

Had a nail in my back tire when the bike was two weeks old. Patched it. Since that first nail, got three others in the life of that tire...patched 'em all. I finally replaced the tire a couple weeks ago, but not after getting over 10,500 miles. on that factory-installed Dunlop tire with no problems.

[2000ktm]

buy a plug kit, and do it your self it's pretty simple. plug in reAR TIRE OK I PROBABLY WOULD NOT PLUG A FRONT TIRE