Tire plug how to

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nobbie48

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Sticking this video in the tech as it seems more appropriate.

It's a get you home and argue about plugs later sort of thing.

Something to think about: If the guy had done a post ride check he would have found the problem and have had time to make the fix at his leisure.

Particularly if you keep your bike in a locked garage a post ride check avoids most last minute problems.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dSrHKXyHJ8
 
A cord is only a temp fix, if you are going to patch a motorcycle tire - use a mushroom plug.
 
While I wholeheartedly agree with you, I know of far too many people that put another 60-80K km on a vulcanized cord plugged tire without so much as a slow leak.

frekeyguy said:
A cord is only a temp fix, if you are going to patch a motorcycle tire - use a mushroom plug.
Click to expand...
 
Paulo M. said:
While I wholeheartedly agree with you, I know of far too many people that put another 60-80K km on a vulcanized cord plugged tire without so much as a slow leak.
Click to expand...

On a car you mean....?
 
Yup. And on bikes, similar observations, just a smaller sample size. Buddy got a nail in his motorbike tire, used the vulcanized rubber rope plug, run it for another 10,000+km until the tire was down passed the wear bars. Never had a problem.


frekeyguy said:
On a car you mean....?
Click to expand...
 
Paulo M. said:
Yup. And on bikes, similar observations, just a smaller sample size. Buddy got a nail in his motorbike tire, used the vulcanized rubber rope plug, run it for another 10,000+km until the tire was down passed the wear bars. Never had a problem.
Click to expand...

Yeah but there are (I think) more variations to motorcycle tires than on cars.

Was it a SuperSport tire? A touring tire? wider cruiser (car like) tire? Adventure/off road tire?
The contact patch and flexing would be the biggest differences.
 
Supersport, 180/55/17 almost new tire maybe 1000km on it at most when he got the puncture. Ran it for 2 more years and just over 10,000km when it was well passed the wear bars. And the guy could definitely ride.

nfq said:
Yeah but there are (I think) more variations to motorcycle tires than on cars.

Was it a SuperSport tire? A touring tire? wider cruiser (car like) tire? Adventure/off road tire?
The contact patch and flexing would be the biggest differences.
Click to expand...
 
Paulo M. said:
Supersport, 180/55/17 almost new tire maybe 1000km on it at most when he got the puncture. Ran it for 2 more years and just over 10,000km when it was well passed the wear bars. And the guy could definitely ride.
Click to expand...

The issue I am trying to highlight is not if a cord would hold up or not. It is that a cord is just a temporary fix. A cord would hold up - but its not the safest thing.


here is what

michelin canada has to say (major mfg)

Patch, Yes. Plug, No.

The proper way to have a tire repaired is to patch the tire from the inside and fill the puncture hole. Do not have your tire plugged. Ever. Plug repairs do not involve taking the tire off the wheel for a proper inspection. A plug is simply inserted into the punctured area, making it unreliable. Insist on a full inspection and have your dealer demount and internally as well as externally inspect the tire, patch and fill the repair on the inside of the tire.
Source: http://www.michelin.ca/tires-101/tire-care/tire-repair.page


DUNLOP Motorcycle:

: Some punctures in motorcycle tires may be repaired.
Dunlop recommends only permanent plug-patch repairs of small (maximum 1/4-inch diameter) tread-area punctures from within the dismounted tire by a qualified tire repair shop or motorcycle dealer.
Source: http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/info-center/care-and-maintenance/
 
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Just because a cord may hold up, doesn't mean it's the best option. It is meant to be temporary as Frekey says. Patch and plug combo (separate or attached) is the only way to go and the way professionals do it and manufacturers recommend.

You can use a sock or tinfoil instead of a condom too and it may work. ;)
 
DemonPig said:
Just because a cord may hold up, doesn't mean it's the best option. It is meant to be temporary as Frekey says. Patch and plug combo (separate or attached) is the only way to go and the way professionals do it and manufacturers recommend.

You can use a sock or tinfoil instead of a condom too and it may work. ;)
Click to expand...

One never plugs sidewall damage to a car tire. When a motorcycle is running at its ragged edge in a corner does not the sidewall become the running surface and the running surface become a sidewall?
 
If it's an emergency I would never use that. First I would use fix a flat in a can. Less work & less complicated. If I was about to go to work & encounter such a dilemma I would just take the car. I don't want to be thinking of that tire my whole commute to work
 
nobbie48 said:
One never plugs sidewall damage to a car tire. When a motorcycle is running at its ragged edge in a corner does not the sidewall become the running surface and the running surface become a sidewall?
Click to expand...

No. Motorcycle tires still have sidewalls, albeit they are very low profile. Tread area is curved much more than that of car tire's. Tires are not designed to be driven on their sidewalls but shoulder to shoulder. Shoulders are not equivalent to sidewalls. Contact patch shape and area may change while leaning but the sidewall will never touch the ground. ... Unless you lay the bike down.
 
RockerGuy said:
If it's an emergency I would never use that. First I would use fix a flat in a can. Less work & less complicated. If I was about to go to work & encounter such a dilemma I would just take the car. I don't want to be thinking of that tire my whole commute to work
Click to expand...

That junk in a can is like playing the wheel of fortune.
Nevertheless, if you actually do use it and then take your wheel to a shop, please tell the installer that you have used it so they don't get that crap in their eyes.
 
DemonPig said:
That junk in a can is like playing the wheel of fortune.
Nevertheless, if you actually do use it and then take your wheel to a shop, please tell the installer that you have used it so they don't get that crap in their eyes.
Click to expand...
I do my own tires

Using that plug like that is also Playing wheel of fortune
 
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