Is fixing a flat tire a risk?

I got a little metal shaving in my tire the other day, and took it down to the local shop to get a plug put in to fix it. They put a plug in, and I've been riding on it and it seems to have fixed my leak. I was relaying this story to a friend of mine, and he says that you should always replace your tire if you get something stuck in it, that it's too risky to ride on a plug. Is this true? I've heard you aren't supposed to fix a hole that is far off of center, but always replace it? That seems a bit extreme. Any thoughts out there?

Thanks,
Mel

 

I posted the same question about a month ago.i fixed it myself with one of those plug kits that was a big no no took it into a MC shop they installed a plug form the inside of tire.different than a regular automotive plug. i was told not to exceed 80miles per hr on that tire I'm sure they are covering their ass for liability issues, but still makes you wonder.so far every thing has been fine i figure the worst thing that could happen is might develop a slow leek. so i check before every ride if it starts to leek ill buy a new tire.

 

it is really hard to say... never in a sidewall. i would recommend using one of those plug - patches rather than just a patch or just a plug.

chomper, i agree with MC. tires should be plugged from the inside out where possible.

mello dude, did you notice the weight of the tire being off after using the Ride-On and a rebalance? used stuff like this in car tires and it tends to through the balance off some because the stuff never really turns in to a solid state?
of course i have not working in automotive in some 12 years so i could be wrong by now.

 

What is this Ride On sealant stuff? Is it for already repaired tires, or is it to seal up a leak when one occurs? If it is one that seals up after a puncture, I thought that the friction of the puncture itself was necessary for the sealing. No?

 

Your going to get about a 50/50 mix on this thread, most dealerships are getting reluctant about plug replacement these days. It was one of the most painful decisions I've ever made when I had to replace my rear tire with 700 miles on it after the tire got a screw, I'm one of those guys that say replace the tire, even though I have friends that run plugs & patches with no problems, I would hate to be that one in a hundred guy that had a tire issues because of a plug, especially at speeds I ask my tires to perform at...

 

Hmm... Not sure what to do now. I definitely hit triple digit speeds since the plug, I guess that was kinda dumb. They didn't say anything at the place where I got it fixed, but I always suspect they don't know what they are talking about. I might just ride cautiously for the next little bit and see what happens. Thanks for all the input.

Mel

 

once i had a brand new back tire maybe put 100 miles on it and a nail went through sidewall and out the lip of tire. i plugged it and it worked fine i did not have the money to get another at that time i did however check my pressure everytime and see if it was leaking if i were you run some slim or fixaflat in there also i KNOW that stuff works if it leaks get rid of it..you may want to do i highspeed test ride see what happens in my experience with things like that they end up leaking or going flat but never explode. once i was riding a whellie on my old gsr and when i put it back down it musta broke bead a bit and ended up going flat was older tire that sucked rose about 5 miles on front flat aired it back up got it changed also which tire was it??? front or back???? back plug see if it works front replace seems back bigger more rubber belts can handle more abuse but front get a new one.. good luck

 

I've ridden on plugged tires a few times and never had any trouble. That being said, I'm really not so sure it's worth the risk. Maybe I'm just older now, have a kid, etc. but I'm in the "replace the tire" camp nowadays. Just a risk management deal for me.

 

The problem is it is possible for the tire to shred if it is a radial tire. It acts like a nascar tire eating up the side of the bike and your passengers leg and maybe yours. This is not to mention crashing in the process. This is what I was told by a very knowledgeable friend so I bought a new tire. Now this may not happen, but I decided I was not going to take the chance. We spend tons of money on protective gear and things to make it fit us just right. So my advice is not to be cheap on what keeps you off the ground-tires. Do yourself and your love ones a favor and buy a new one and get road hazard insurance. Just my $130.

 

80 MAX!!! What about Sunday????

 

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