Tire help !?

[CaptNemo]

I picked up a small nail ( like a finishing nail ) in the rear Diablo Corsa III on the Buell. It's a $200 tire that I would really rather not replace at the moment. It has 1 track day at Barber and about 1k street miles on it, but still has a lot of tread ( about 90 % ) on it. It leaks about 1 psi a day, but I want to fix it correctly and safely.
Internal patch or a plug ?

I have a track day at the end of the month at Jennings and I want to take the Buell.





.

[kevinwilly]

a normal sticky strip plug is a BAD idea.


You can order a mushroom plug kit. Lauren used one of those on her 250 tire after picking up a nail, and she hasn't leaked any air after like 2500 miles. It's a really neat idea for a kit.


BUT- since you can take off tires and all... the BEST way to do it is to patch it on the inside. When you put in a plug, you actually have to enlarge the hole to fit the plug in there. With a patch, you don't.

And if you're going to be going THAT fast, you should re-balance after you patch it.

[RRRR6]

PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! don't ever ride that tire on the track with a hole in it!!!!!


very stupid for you and the rest of the riders out there.

maybe use it on the street (where a Diablo III belongs) at low speeds.....but the smartest things would be to donate it to a tire wall.

[kevinwilly]

Call the track and ask if a patched/plugged tire will pass tech inspection.

Some places will not let you run them.



If it starts leaking air, the tire will go soft. It won't explode. I doubt you'd injure anyone on it, especially during a trackday where you shouldn't be running in traffic. If you starting having trouble leaning it in or it feels sluggish, just pull over and deal with it.


I don't know what to tell you. I have no problems with running a patched tire on the street.


But if it fails at a trackday and there is no tire supplier there, you could forfeit your whole trackday fee. And also- it may not pass inspection.

[RRRR6]

Originally Posted by kevinwilly

Call the track and ask if a patched/plugged tire will pass tech inspection.

If it starts leaking air, the tire will go soft. It won't explode. I doubt you'd injure anyone on it, especially during a trackday where you shouldn't be running in traffic. If you starting having trouble leaning it in or it feels sluggish, just pull over and deal with it.

I hate to pick you apart....but I will.

First of all, there's a reason why it won't pass many places...SAFETY

Second, it won't just 'go soft' necessarily....don't hope that's the outcome.

AND....have you ever been to a track day??? The last 20 I've been I have consistently been within very close distances to other riders, wherein an equipment malfunction (ie. tire plug failure resulting in a crash) would easily gather up other riders.

AND...what's this pulling over and dealing with it stuff??? That's not how things work on a racetrack. It isn't your local cruising strip.

[kevinwilly]

Originally Posted by RRRR6

Second, it won't just 'go soft' necessarily....don't hope that's the outcome.

Have you ever had or seen a plugged/patched tire just up and totally SHRED? Or cause a massive blowout? These things are usually caused by other events.

Originally Posted by RRRR6

AND....have you ever been to a track day??? The last 20 I've been I have consistently been within very close distances to other riders, wherein an equipment malfunction (ie. tire plug failure resulting in a crash) would easily gather up other riders.

It must depend on the track and/or organization, then. Most the ones I have seen have enough spacing between the riders to allow someone to get around other riders if there is a problem.

Originally Posted by RRRR6

AND...what's this pulling over and dealing with it stuff??? That's not how things work on a racetrack. It isn't your local cruising strip.

I wasn't referring to just pulling over to the side of the track and getting off and fixing it.

I meant more along the lines of moving to the outside of the track, slowing down to let other riders pass, and making your way back to the pits.



I'm pretty sure I know how a racetrack works.

I'm not trying to start a huge arguement here. I personally would not run a plugged or patched tire on the track. Can it be done? I'm sure it can. I have 7 extra sets of tires sitting in my garage right now. I'm pretty sure i can deal with putting a new set on if i'm going to the track.

I know you're not trying to be a jerk or anything, and you're concerned about fellow rider's safety at the track.

But there's showing concern, and then there's being totally paranoid. Which is what most people are on this website when it comes to fixing a tire with a hole in it. Playing it safe is good. I'm an EXCESSIVELY safe rider. But misinformation does not help anyone. (i'm not saying you. but historically a lot of misinformation goes around on this particular subject. It annoys me)

[RRRR6]

ok...i stand by what i say

and you're right i'm not being a jerk

but if you're an 'excessively safe rider' who would 'personally not run a plugged or patched tire on the track' why would you tell this fella...Yeah! you're fine! go for it!

[OFFICER737]

I would say change the tire bro. The temps are going to be very high there that weekend and we are going to be throwing a lot of heat in them while we are running around the track. Even with an internal patch, the temps are going to be unreal and personally I wouldn't trust it. I can probably get you a discount on a tire and we can change it out that Friday before we hit the track Saturday or do it Saturday morning and balance it and everything at the track.

[CaptNemo]

I checked Cycle Gear and the 180 Corsa III is $ 169 plus tax and shipping. I guess I'll order one and have it here for the upcoming weekend and I'll change it here at the house. I have that capability !!






.

[RRRR6]

good decision

have fun out there!

[RRRR6]

good decision

have fun!

[whitman]

look at it this way...............
New tire...........$169.00
Time to install.......say $30.00
NOT paying your medical insurance deductible............... PRICELESS!!!!!!!

[OreoGaborio]

change the tire for a new one... keep the old one, have it patched & keep it stored properly as a spare. Keep it at room temp in a dry area & it'll last quite a long time... as in a few years.

I'll add that I know fellow racers who, although they won't RACE on a plugged tire, have no objections to doing some seriously intense street twisty rides (aka, a week at Deals Gap) and track days on a plugged tire. They've done it & will do it again and these are guys who's opinions I trust.

[Misfire]

I picked this one up at the track. It cost me a 200+ front tire. Tires are expensive at the trackside vendors...



.