Plugging/patching a tire on a motorcycle. What's your take on it?

[R8td-R]

So yesterday, I opened my garage door and got ready to hop on my bike and head to work. I started the bike and while i let her warm up, decided to do a quick visual inspection of my tires and this is what i found.



Since i work up the street, i put some air in and slowly rode it to work .Once i got there, I plugged it and although it seems to be holding air, I was personally uncomfortable riding around with a plugged tire so I ordered a new one, and took the cage out instead.

How do you guys feel about riding on a patched or plugged tire? How safe/unsafe is that?

[jasnmar]

Totally unsafe. You will crash and die.

What size tire? If it fits my bike I call dibs.

Seriously, I don't have any problems running a tire that's been patched. You'll want to keep an eye on it for the first few days and make sure the patch is holding.

I'd run it, but I'm not on your bike and I'm not you. Do whatever you are comfortable with. If you're going to be worrying about it, just replace it and be done.

[R8td-R]

Totally unsafe. You will crash and die.

What size tire? If it fits my bike I call dibs.

Seriously, I don't have any problems running a tire that's been patched. You'll want to keep an eye on it for the first few days and make sure the patch is holding.

I'd run it, but I'm not on your bike and I'm not you. Do whatever you are comfortable with. If you're going to be worrying about it, just replace it and be done.

it's a pirelli diablo supercorsa 180/55-17. I parked the bike and been using the car since yesterday. Waiting on the new tire to come in. It kinda sucks considering i only have 2500 miles on these tires.

[MHenry600]

I just put a patch plug in mine back in June. They plug from the inside of the tire though, which requires un-mounting it. For $20 I picked up a box of 20 patch-plugs and a can of patch rubber cement from Advance Auto Parts that will last me for ever. Been fine for 1000 miles since so far. I wont use it at the track, but I've got another set of rubber for that anyway.

[ZX-12R]

Plug it and run it. There is nothing unsafe about it.

[e30addict]

I wouldn't worry about it. Even if the plugs fails, it's not a catastrophic failure, it will let go and you'll just have a bigger leak. Think fusible plug on an airplane.

FWIW, I've run plugged tires on cars on the oval at NH with no issues until the tires wore out. Given the loads and temps the tires see there, I'm sure the stress of even spirited street riding doesn't compare. Consequences are pretty severe if you bin it in the oval too....

This was a relatively low speed hit after spinning on the exit off the oval.

[martia]

A plug is good for temp situations but if you don’t want to replace the tire a plug and patch is the best way of fixing a tire. As the patch won’t let the plug push out

[Sheppo]

I've run plugs as well and wouldn't hesitate again. Oh and BTW I run the cheap ass rope/goo plugs and have never had a failure.

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted

Cheap plug is fine. I have plugged over 50 tires and they were all fine. Seriously. Its fine.

[ZX-12R]

A plug is good for temp situations...

And by temporary situations, he means until the rest of the tire wears out.

[KB]

Run it.

Kb

[imstuner]

it's a pirelli diablo supercorsa 180/55-17. I parked the bike and been using the car since yesterday. Waiting on the new tire to come in. It kinda sucks considering i only have 2500 miles on these tires.

I feel you, I had a q2 with 500 miles and got a huge screw.

[RandyO]

A plug is good for temp situations but if you don’t want to replace the tire a plug and patch is the best way of fixing a tire. As the patch won’t let the plug push out

patches are NOT recommended for radial tires

[CBR929RE]

patches are NOT recommended for radial tires

and rope plugs arent recommended for motorcycle tires but obviously people still do it.


I ran on a plugged rear many years ago. it was a mushroom type but applied from the outside I think. worked for a few thousand miles till I destroyed the whole bike.