Tire Plugs

[danl]

Here are a couple pics. I grabbed some needle nose pliers and pulled out the offending member, and it wasn't a nail- but it was a chunk of glass that was not big enough to go all the way thru the tread. Cool! It did leave a hole as you can see.

Here's the tire in general- it looks like it has a lot of life left to me.


Here's the glass still in the tire.


The hole it left.


the piece of glass

[Son of Pappy]

Location of damage and knowing we don't ride on debris free roads?  Wouldn't take much and you have a rapid loss of pressure.  I'd bite the bullet and buy a new tire, KIPASS is great, 'bout the only thing not covered by it's aura is tires

[Gumby]

Front tire damage      Get off your wallet before you get hurt.

[ljcorby]

Front tire damage      Get off your wallet before you get hurt.

+1, replace that thing!

[stevewfl]

I've ran plugs on the front and will again.  But yeah, there's a chance a plug will fail. Perhaps a greater chance that another part of the tire fails long before a plug, nevertheless replace it if you're worried

[Mister Tee]

The only time I've ever had a plug fail was when a large triangular object tore through my tire and put a 1/4 inch gash in it.  I knew the plug wouldn't hold long (I managed to make it to a gas station out in BFE and they happened to have a plug kit for sale) but the countless times I've plugged regular nail holes they have always lasted the life of the tire.

[danl]

My gut feeling is to replace it too. I already have a service scheduled for next Thursday to replace the front brake pads, they are "singing" to me, and while they have it in there I'll have them do the tire.

[booger]

I'd plug it long enough to drive it to the dealer and get a new tire.
I just don't understand.  Why take the chance?

[feelergaugephil]

Tire plugs are a life saver, and life taker, your choice, plug it to get home, then buy a new tire, I'll plug a car tire in a heartbeat and leave that sucker in there for life, bike tires totally different..... again, your choice.
I went to Ark last June, 1st day of the 4 day vacation got a nail in my rear tire, no one had a michelin in stock, so my ride for the next few days was slowed right down instead of being up with my friends........

[Scaffolder]

I'd keep running it if ir were a rear tire. I wouldn't even plug it until needed. The front tire I would replace the though. I have yet to have a front flat yet. (knocking on wood). Buy a set and keep them as spares.

[556ALPHA]

If you trust your TPMS then it will give you fair warning before pressures become dangerous.  I agree I would worry less about the rear but thats not your case.  With that mileage I would probably just replace it though.   I plugged my rear about 2K ago and have to add air occasionally.

[BeaverMatt]

Had my first flat on a bike about two weeks ago.  Ran over a roofing staple and got two small holes quite close to each other.  Reamed it into one larger hole and plugged it on the road with a rope style plug kit.  Worked fine for the first week, but the repair has developed a slow leak - about 8 lbs/day.  The tire is a Michelin Pilot Road 2 (rear).  It has about 2000 miles left on it.  What's the best way to fix the leak?  Should I re-do the plug (tear the original plug out and replace it with a new one), use some Slime (not preferred), just live with filling the tire each day?  I know plugs won't last forever - nor are they designed too, but I hear of plugs lasting thousands of miles.  I figure I have nothing to lose at this point just re-plugging, but thought I'd ask around in case someone has faced and solved the same problem.  What say you?

[SkyWalker]

Did you prep the hole with rubber cement using the reamer?

When using rubber cement the plug will generally vulcanize to the tire and provide permanent bonding and sealing.

[RubiconMike]

Since you said there is only about 2k miles left, I'd chalk it up to bad luck and buy a new tire.

If you must patch it, pull it off the rim and patch it from the inside with one of those flat patches. That should last the life of the tire without leaking.

Plugs usually leak (as you have found out), and if you coat the inside with slime, you tire man will hate you when you change to the next tire.

[stevewfl]

I rode a wal-mart plug from Denver out to Los Angeles then back to Tampa, FL. Plug was named "Jill".  She was a biatch though, I had to air up every morning

Got home to Tampa and changed the oil that night, had a tire put on the next morning, and went on down to Key West for a slice of Key Lime pie.

KiPass rules! 

[Conrad]

If you used rubber cement then you'll have a VERY hard time removing the leaking plug/rope. I'd leave the plug in place and check to see exactly where the air is leaking from and then put a new plug in place, even if it's right next to the old one.

[VirginiaJim]

Or replace the tire..

[tweeter55]

+1 on replacing the tire.

[jayke]

Replace the tire.

Don't feel too bad.  I ran over staples once and ended up with about 10 punctures in tire that only had 500 miles on it. No choice but to replace it.

[Rhino]

My experience with plugs is that on a new tire with plenty of rubber they work well. But on a worn tire or as the new tire with plug wears, it starts leaking. At 8lbs a day I would definitely replace it. The few bucks worth of tire you would be giving up by replacing is well worth it.