Plugging and Patching Tires...former Boy Scout redeems himself.

[lather]

 and then rub some road silt/sand on it to prevent from sticking to the road surface, until the heat of the tire vulcanizes it to the tire casing.

That's what coach always said when we we had a bleeding elbow or something-"just rub some dirt on it"

[alexx45]

What is this "glue" some people speak of when installing the sticky ropes. I've bought and used several plug kits in my life & none of them ever came with any kind of glue, therefore I never used any, & I've never had a sticky rope plug fail. Just wondering if I'm missing something.

[2001concours]

I have plugged several tires in my life. Always the rear tire. The only time the tire strings fail is if the hole in the tire is a cut or tear verse a puncture. Still works to get you home.

I have personally ridden plugged tires an additional 5000 miles without failure. Just check your tire pressure on a regular basis. I have SmarTire tire pressure sensors on both my bikes.

[CrashGordon]

Every rear tire I've ever had has had to be plugged (yep, the one I have now has a plug in it). And as someone said earlier, it is usually with more than half the tire life left. A few years ago, I had a tire with three plugs in it. Motorcycle rear tires are nail magnets.

[seanmcva]

You could have just posted to this thread from June 10 through today:  http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=1590.0   Plus your thread subject isn't very relevant to the thread.  In any case:

* You did the right thing not using "fix a flat"- that stuff might ruin the TPS and is generally a mess!
* I probably would never trust a plugged tire to remain plugged or to be safe.
* You don't have to buy a new tire, just get the one you have properly (internally) patched...
* Of course, replace the tire anyway if it is already old/worn, since patching will cost money too...

Thanks for the critical analysis and informed advice! 

[seanmcva]

i always end up replacing the plugged tire at first opportunity. 

 On my bike,I try but cant seem to forget im riding on that stupid plug. I'll plug a car and forget about it and they usually hold.

I need a clear head when i ride my motorcycle. The bike HAS to be 100%

That is my fear exactly - I can't ever forget the plug. But when I replace tires, I somehow feel safe

[seanmcva]

Personally, I'd have more faith in a rope plug than an internal patch.  With TPS and a re-balance, the tire should live a long and productive life.  If you want, pm me & I'll pay for shipping if you want to send it to me. 

WOW! what an offer! You make it difficult to believe in the conventional wisdom. Thanks

[maxtog]

Thanks for the critical analysis and informed advice!

Well, I am beginning to think my advice was not all that great, given how many postings seem to never have any problems at all riding for very long times with plugs.  I am kinda surprised!  But- that is how we learn, by sharing info.  Gotta love the forums.

[C1xRider]

What is this "glue" some people speak of when installing the sticky ropes. I've bought and used several plug kits in my life & none of them ever came with any kind of glue, therefore I never used any, & I've never had a sticky rope plug fail. Just wondering if I'm missing something.

The plug kits I have bought come with a small tube of "lubricant", that allows insertion of the plug without it sticking on the way in.  Once it evaporates / dries, then the glue on the plug can stick to the tire and seal.

I only use half a plug (cut them in half, then fold in half before insertion), since it doesn't need all that extra rope inside the tire or cutting off all the excess and throwing it away.  It does take a little practice and self control during insertion though, so you don't push it all the way through.

[manowarwi]

I've only had 1 flat tire in 10 years, but all of this talk has gotten me thinking - especially now that I have a bike with a little extra storage.  I just picked up a rope plug kit and mini-pump that I plan on bringing with on all of my trips for now on.  Hopefully this ounce of prevention will keep me flat free for the next 10 

[just gone]

I've only had 1 flat tire in 10 years....

I think you should play the Lotto.

I wish I had your luck! I had a bolt go through my rear tire on the initial ride home from the dealership, only 40 total miles on the tire  .
To add insult to injury, I was such a newb' that I insisted on getting the same exact tire (Bridgestone BT021) to replace it. (would have been a good time to upgrade)
When I saw the size of the bolt head, I was sure it must be a sharp pointed lag bolt. Nope, turns out I managed to force a 5/16 flat ended
machine bolt right through the tire. It made that hollow POP sound that you sometimes get when you shoot a rock out and I was hoping...but no, it
followed that with a metallic "tic tic tic" as the bolt head hit the pavement on subsequent rotations. The only good luck I had was that it happened only 1
and a half blocks from my house, and I was able to get it in the garage and up on the center stand before it went totally flat. I keep the bolt in my tool kit
in an illogical attempt to ward off future punctures. I also carry tire plugs and a Slime air compressor.

[AirplaneTim]

I trust the rope plugs all the time.  Have not yet had to plug my bike tires, but my car... the last set of tires I replaced had a plug in 3 of the 4 tires and the oldest of those plugs had about 35,000 miles on it.

[556ALPHA]

Just got a flat rear earlier this week.  I guess it all depends on circumstance but my 21's look good still.  The rear sensor was never activated during prodution so I never got any warning.  I am takiing the opportunity to purchase some better tires and get the numbers off the rear sensor so that it can be activated.  Otherwise based on what I have read here I may have just ridden it out with a proper working TPMS system. 

[Sea Level]

I have some kind of nail in the rear tire, but it's been there for about 1000 miles now and there's no loss of tire pressure, so I'm just leaving it alone.

Bad idea?

I have all the repair equipment ready in a side case, although I'm not sure I know how to use it.

[C1xRider]

I have some kind of nail in the rear tire, but it's been there for about 1000 miles now and there's no loss of tire pressure, so I'm just leaving it alone.

Bad idea?

I have all the repair equipment ready in a side case, although I'm not sure I know how to use it.

I say pull it.  If it hasn't made it all the way through yet, it will.  If it has, then it's so much easier to fix it in the comfort of your garage, or time and place of your choosing, where you can wash up after your done, instead of somewhere on the side of the road, with cars whizzing by, in a sudden cloud burst, that starts dropping hail on your head.

OK, maybe the last part was a little too dramatic, but there's this law by this guy named Murphy, and it's always true. 

[VirginiaJim]

OK, maybe the last part was a little too dramatic, but there's this law by this guy named Murphy, and it's always true. 

What's that law?  Buy from Murph all the time?

[ZG]

What's that law?  Buy from Murph all the time?

       

[CrashGordon]

I have some kind of nail in the rear tire, but it's been there for about 1000 miles now and there's no loss of tire pressure, so I'm just leaving it alone.

Bad idea?

I have all the repair equipment ready in a side case, although I'm not sure I know how to use it.

I would give one word of caution. If you're going to use a sticky snake plug, you really need to see the angle that nail comes out. It's not always straight in and I have seen a repair failure because the guy tried to rasp the hole straight in and it turned out the nail went in at an angle. It can also be harder to get that nail out after the head is worn off, but since you've already been 1000 miles, I'm guessing that ship has sailed.

I would repair it in the comfort of my garage instead of the side of the road.

[Sea Level]

I don't have a garage. Or a shed. Or even a level parking spot. My house is on the beach and built on stilts. On the property, at it's highest point, where it rarely floods, I have a platform upon which the bike sits.

But y'all point is taken, and maybe I'll bring it in to have done by a professional while it still is holding pressure.

[Mister Tee]

I would give one word of caution. If you're going to use a sticky snake plug, you really need to see the angle that nail comes out. It's not always straight in and I have seen a repair failure because the guy tried to rasp the hole straight in and it turned out the nail went in at an angle. It can also be harder to get that nail out after the head is worn off, but since you've already been 1000 miles, I'm guessing that ship has sailed.

I would repair it in the comfort of my garage instead of the side of the road.

That's true, but that falls in the category of "botched repairs."