tires: plug or not to plug

jdog · May 20, 2011, 10:30:05 PM

With help from members of the forum, I was able to get my cold start problem rectified. Now I have an other problem, I pulled a big screw out of my back tire. Both front and rear tires are Dunlop Arrowmax GT501 and are in great shape (except a big hole in the rear). Is it safe to plug a bias ply motorcycle tire?

Pat Conlon · May 20, 2011, 11:49:35 PM

IMO On the road, plug the tire.
At home, take the wheel off and take it down to your local m/c shop and have it patched from the inside.
Recently I saw on this forum, a neat product that was a combination patch and plug. It looked to be the more effective than a patch.

Seems that everyone has a different opinion on this.....

HTH Pat

Marsh White · May 21, 2011, 12:54:31 AM

Quote from: Pat Conlon on May 20, 2011, 11:49:35 PM
IMO On the road, plug the tire.
At home, take the wheel off and take it down to your local m/c shop and have it patched from the inside.
Recently I saw on this forum, a neat product that was a combination patch and plug. It looked to be the more effective than a patch.

Seems that everyone has a different opinion on this.....

HTH Pat

Non motorcycle related - but the other day my wife picked up a screw in one of our car tires that was purchased at Costco. They have a 5 year road hazard warranty. I took it in and watched the guy both plug it and patch it - both from the inside. They had a special workstation for doing just this. He then put it in a caged off contraption (in case it blew up) that pressure tested it repeatedly for about 5 minutes before putting it on the car. I was impressed. Didn't cost me a cent.

My point being - apparently BOTH plugging and patching is considered safe for the life of the tire - as long as the screw/nail is is picked up in the tread and not the sidewall.

mikeholzer · May 21, 2011, 09:05:21 AM

I can't speak for bike tires, but I've been using Safety-Seal tire plugs for nearly 20 years. The only car tire I couldn't successfully repair with those is the one with the CO₂ pistol cartridge in it; that hole was way too big. I wish I had a photo of it, you guys wouyld have never believed it.

RichBaker · May 22, 2011, 01:55:36 PM

PatchPlugs.... They're the only method endorsed by MC tire manufacturers...... Only caveat is to reduce the speed rating one level.

andyb · May 22, 2011, 02:57:21 PM

Put a patch/plug thing in my last rear. Lasted 1500 miles and didn't leak at all. Would have lasted longer but the front tire was getting square and I wanted to try a different brand, so replaced both as a set.

Though, those were radials, ymmv, patching tires causes instant death and probably AIDS and makes your ears fall off, according to the manufacturers.

Harvy · May 22, 2011, 06:15:07 PM

Quote from: andyb on May 22, 2011, 02:57:21 PM

Though, those were radials, ymmv, patching tires causes instant death and probably AIDS and makes your ears fall off, according to the manufacturers.

Thanks Andy, I now have coffee in my nasal passages!

Harvy

jdog · May 28, 2011, 07:10:42 PM

Thanks guys for the help.
about 6 weeks ago when I pulled the screw out of the tire I put a gooey rope type plug in the tire (because that's what I had in my tool box and it's what I use on my jeep and work truck) I figured once I got the bike running I would get a new tire but the bike is running and I've done a few 120mph runs down the freeway and it's still holding 35psi. I think I'll just keep an eye on it and change out the tire when it wears out and maybe ride closer to the speed limit

no i won't.
Jason

RichBaker · May 29, 2011, 01:06:45 PM

35 psi is too low for an FJ...... 38F, 42R. Especially if you're going to be running those speeds regularly......

chapindad · May 29, 2011, 06:57:39 PM

Thanks for the psi. I never thought to ask. I will fix that tomorrow.

FJ Flyer · May 30, 2011, 02:53:06 PM

Hmmm...I always ran 36F 38R. Any case, I got a nail in my week old rear Angel ST on my FJR. Pulled the tire and patched it from the inside. Got a lot of miles on in, including the ride down and back to the Boone Rally. Not sure I would ride that much with a plug.

RichBaker · May 31, 2011, 07:24:01 PM

Owners manual says 38/42 for high temps or extended high speeds..... Living in Tucson, I went with it for both reasons.

FJ Flyer · June 03, 2011, 06:59:25 AM

Manual also says use bias ply tires. Are you running bias or radials?

RichBaker · June 03, 2011, 06:18:40 PM

I'm running radials, Pilot Road CT2. Michelin says to run the same pressures I quoted....... 38/42. I've already covered those bases.....

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tires: plug or not to plug

mikeholzer