A flat?!

[kingbaby]

Pics pics.   

I went to the track this morning, rode (by myself) for over 30 min. On a plugged Pilot, then rode to Santa Fe, NM (about 110 round trip).
What a day...What a tire.

I have never had a problem with them, but it is just my experience.  I'm sure there are bad stories, I just don't have one.

Ride in peace and you'll ride safe.

See ya down the road 

[triangleforge]

Just another data point; I was debating exactly this question (though with a much newer Pirelli than the OP; dude, it's a ragged-out, squared off tire, just replace it!) and heard from another fellow on the ST owners list who had a catastrophic failure with a plugged tire. And posted pictures:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/st2_owners/photos/album/454631978/pic/1471956420/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc

I bit the bullet and replaced the tire. For me, riding the bike at anything approaching my (admittedly limited) capabilities simply wouldn't have been fun with nagging questions about the integrity of my tire in my head. For me, I ride because I enjoy it, so don't like things that get in the way of that. YMMV.

[somegirl]

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/st2_owners/photos/album/454631978/pic/1471956420/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc

Only members of that group can see your link.

[monster monkey]

I plugged my squared, balding tire and was fine. I did replace the tire relative soon though. I'm just saying, after riding awhile I had all confidence in the plug. YMMV, and don't blame me if you blow up

[Popeye the Sailor]

Alright, I guess I take the advice of mechanics too seriously.....

I *was* a mechanic.

[monster monkey]

I *am* a mechanic

[Case S2R]

Last year I had a flat, and plugged it to get home.  Then came the same dilemma you are in, new tire or ride a plugged tire?  Although every mechanic I know of suggest replacing the tire, not one person could ever tell me of an instance where a plug has failed.  I rode it and all was good. 

[triangleforge]

Only members of that group can see your link.

I was afraid that might be the case... I got the owner's permission to post, and did so below.

[Howie]

Though a tire with a proper mushroom plug is not likely to fail, if it does the failure may not be a slow leak like the initial puncture.  Keep in mind what you are dealing with. The original puncture was probably partially sealed with whatever punctured the tire.  Dry wall screws seal pretty damn good.  The puncture is also usually reamed out to accommodate the plug.  If the plug totally fails the leak will not be small, it will be more like a blowout.  Though this is unlikely (the idea behind a mushroom plug) it can happen.


Dunlop's tire repair advice:

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. Never perform an exterior repair and never use an inner tube as a substitute for a proper repair. Speed should not exceed 50 mph for the first 24 hours after repair and the repaired tire should never be used over 75 mph. Check inflation pressure after tire cools for at least three (3) hours following run-in, or sooner if air loss is suspected.

No form of temporary repair should be attempted because secondary damage caused by a penetrating object may not be detected and tire or tube deflation may occur at a later date.

Dunlop does not recommend the use of liquid sealants. These are a form of temporary repair, and they may adversely affect ply material and mask secondary damage caused by a penetrating object. Reliance upon sealants can result in sudden tire failure and accident.


The red was done by me.  If you are paying someone to repair your partially worn out squared off tire you may be better off investing in a new tire.

[MendoDave]

I would be more worried about the squared off evil handling tire than a plug. Didn't he say the front was dodgy too?

[triangleforge]

Again -- this is just one person's experience (I'm glad it wasn't mine). I asked a similar question on the ST owners list, and got permission to post these photos that went with this description:

The pictures are of Gary's rear tire on his old ST4 that he used in
endurance rallies in 2001.

Gary wrote, "I got a nail puncture, very clean in the meat of the
tread dead center in the tire, a Bridgestone 020, Plugged it with the
gummy wormy thing and took off. Checked the tire for leaks twice over
about 200 miles, and it was holding perfectly. About 100 miles later,
at 4 a.m. on I 94 west of Fargo, North Dakota, I was whipping along
toward the checkpoint when all hell broke loose. I still can't believe
I held the bike up. When I brought it to a stop I just stepped off and
the bike stayed up. There was no warning, only a very brief wabble,
then assholes slamming shut. Losing a plug is an very serious matter.
Tire looks like someone sliced it up with a band saw. Anyone riding on
a plugged tire should examine these pics at length."





I know that the mushroom plugs are preferable to the "gummy worm" type, but still. For me, it just wasn't as much fun riding with a plugged tire, because it was there in my head, usually at the moments when the tires were working hardest. I probably wouldn't have a problem riding a professionally-repaired back tire with a patch on the inside. You should do whatever you're comfortable doing.

[MendoDave]

Wow, never had that happen. But that begs the question how does a small puncture that you fill with a plug cause a catastrophic blowout like that? Seems Odd.

[BastrdHK]

^^^ Agreed....from the damage to the side wall I would say it was being ridden deflated and it failed where the most flex/heat occurred.  Likely, since the guy was doing long distance runs on Interstates at relatively high speed.  He never would've noticed the tire was deflated until he tried to change lanes/turn or it went POP.

[Desmo Demon]

I dislike plugging tires, but will do it on occasion to limp the bike back home, but prefer to limp a slow leaker home without a plug. Once home, I pull the tire off and patch it from the inside. I never have any issues with a patched tire. I once bought a tire with less than 200 miles for $5. The tire was plugged, but the previous owner decided against running it. I trimmed the plug portion that was sticking inside the tire, put a patch over the area, and ran it until it was bald (and the plug never came out).

I had a buddy of mine plug his tire last year, the first one didn't hold, but the second one did. He rode it about 15 miles and the plug blew out of the tire and he wound up stranded on the side of the road. In all honesty, though, I don't think he knew what he was doing when he was installing the plug. The largest reason I dislike plugs is that I don't like the idea of using the rasp to make a small hole a lot larger, and I'm quite sure that the rasp doesn't do anything positive to the cords.

BTW, I once patched a tire twice, only to throw it away when I caught the third nail in it, but the tire was almost slick by then, anyway.

[Shifty]

Man lots of varying opinions in here...

I'm not sure where my tire is leaking from but I have a suspicion it's the valve core. The reason I suspect the core is the tire had no problems until one night I checked pressures/added air. Rode it that night, parked it, and the next morning it was DEAD FLAT. Filled it up to 40 lbs and sprayed the entire wheel and tire down with soapy water - no bubbles anywhere and I was looking HARD. After that it held air fine. Now, after checking pressures a few more times since, it's losing about 3 lbs. per day.

I don't know what the heck is going on but I'm just going to order some new tires and hold off on my 12k service I guess. Can't afford both right now.