New tire vs plug/patch

[ALANRIDER7]

Care to elaborate?

It wouldn't do any good. People who don't know jack shit about tires are pretending they do.

 

[JPK]

It wouldn't do any good. People who don't know jack shit about tires are pretending they do.

Clearly you know more about tires that most. I'm guessing you've installed hundreds or thousands or millions of these things. You can probably get it right 999 out of 1,000 times. What do you think the success rate is for someone doing it for the first time? You think it's valid to approach this discussion solely from your perspective, when the vast majority of people here have far less knowledge and experience than you? You think a tire plugged by me has the same chance at success as a tire plugged by you?

 

[planegray]

It wouldn't do any good. People who don't know jack shit about tires are pretending they do.

From what I've seen, people are posting their personal experiences, and been clear about that.


I would appreciate hearing your personal experiences, with tires and plugging, repairing of nail/screw/?? damage.

 

[VicTim]

I've had a plug on the front tire on my Harley for almost 8,000 miles. The tire is worn and can be changed at any time now.

 

[ALANRIDER7]

Per Robbie, he's no longer doing plugs.

Ask him why.

 

[Tharkûn]

Is there a difference between throwing a nail and throwing a plug?

 

[storm]

Ask him why.

Have you asked him?

I think [though I could be incorrect] that the reason he doesn't plug tires does not necessarily mean that plugs or patching is bad, or wrong.

fwiw, I fall into the ok-to-ride-on-a-plug camp. I think the people in the "you're-risking-your-life-plugs-are-a-dangerous-crap-shoot" camp are being slightly melodramatic......

 

[mototireguy]

Ask him why.

I've had a high success rate plugging tires but not a 100% success rate.

From a personal point of view, depending on the nature of the tire damage and remaining tire life, a plug/patch is worth a try.

From a business point of view the reward/risk ratio isn't worth it for me because I don't want to be ThatTireGuy with a disappointed or injured customer if/when the repair fails.

 

[ALANRIDER7]

I've had a high success rate plugging tires but not a 100% success rate.

From a personal point of view, depending on the nature of the tire damage and remaining tire life, a plug/patch is worth a try.

From a business point of view the reward/risk ratio isn't worth it for me because I don't want to be ThatTireGuy with a disappointed or injured customer if/when the repair fails.

It's funny (not) that people never consider the liability involved for the tire guy. Heaven forbid they buy a new tire in order to remain safe.

They spread the word to the uninformed by using their flawed logic: "I plugged a tire once, therefore, it is completely safe and there is no possibility for any problems."

Whatever.... if you want to roll the dice, be my guest. Good luck.

 

[Tharkûn]

Is there a difference between throwing a nail and throwing a plug?

.

 

[louemc]

For both AlanRider7 and Mototireguy...

 

[two wheel tramp]

You know, this is a simple discussion about peoples personal experiences with plugs/patches, etc. There's no need to be condescending. I spoke with Robbie at length about this in person and he was very informative. I completely understand his reasons for choosing not to plug tires anymore.

Thanks.

 

[Yo!Joe!!!]

It's funny (not) that people never consider the liability involved for the tire guy. Heaven forbid they buy a new tire in order to remain safe.

They spread the word to the uninformed by using their flawed logic: "I plugged a tire once, therefore, it is completely safe and there is no possibility for any problems."

Whatever.... if you want to roll the dice, be my guest. Good luck.

I agree. Some people must think their lives are cheap. :|

 

[ALANRIDER7]

Have you asked him?

I think [though I could be incorrect] that the reason he doesn't plug tires does not necessarily mean that plugs or patching is bad, or wrong.

fwiw, I fall into the ok-to-ride-on-a-plug camp. I think the people in the "you're-risking-your-life-plugs-are-a-dangerous-crap-shoot" camp are being slightly melodramatic......

I don't need to ask him. I already know where he's coming from, and he's right. I've changed out several hundred tires in my time. I've seen a lot of damage.

Unlike what the 'experts' here say, only some tires are repairable. Even if they are, there are strict recommendations by the manufacturer as to what is proper and prudent and what type of repair is acceptable. The decision can't even be made properly until it gets dismounted and inspected. If you're incurring that expense, why not just replace the tire and accept that flats happen? Safety is not a ripoff. The potential for hidden damage is a big problem.

That being said, there is no guarantee that a repair will stay intact even if it's done correctly. Not too many people consider that as the tire wears, there is less and less tread rubber to hold a patch in place. Is it possible to ride over something sharp and pointy that affects and weakens a plug? You bet. New tires are already really thin to begin with. I didn't plug tires at my shop because it wasn't worth the risk and the liability exposure involved. You being a cheapskate doesn't mean I should hang my cheese out in the wind and risk everything I have..... because you would certainly sue me if you crashed because of a repair that went sideways. A patched tire can fail and cause a crash. The bike injuring or killing a rider, passenger, pedestrian or other driver is a distinct possibility.

If that happens, you can bet that the finger of blame will point directly at the tire guy. Fuck that.

 

[EastBayDave]

It's funny (not) that people never consider the liability involved for the tire guy. Heaven forbid they buy a new tire in order to remain safe. They spread the word to the uninformed by using their flawed logic: "I plugged a tire once, therefore, it is completely safe and there is no possibility for any problems." Whatever.... if you want to roll the dice, be my guest. Good luck.

Exactly. I carry a emergency plug kit to get me home from wherever I might be (middle of Mines Rd. or someplace similar =out in the boonies!) But I never would trust them w/my life. No way Jose'.

Example: if you got a big/powerful bike like a Busa/ZX14/GSXR1K, etc., I would never do high speed w/one. During my decade stint on the ZX12R, & doing some rather scary (foolish?) high-speed testing, I got flats on that big 200/50 several times. I changed the tire rather than risk a plug coming out at high speed (would you trust a plug @ 175+?) No way man...

Run a plug if you have to, to get home. Then change it out if you got a big/powerful bike...

 

[JPK]

There's a lot of ignorance going around. :|

It wouldn't do any good. People who don't know jack shit about tires are pretending they do.

I don't need to ask him. I already know where he's coming from, and he's right. I've changed out several hundred tires in my time. I've seen a lot of damage.

Unlike what the 'experts' here say, only some tires are repairable. Even if they are, there are strict recommendations by the manufacturer as to what is proper and prudent and what type of repair is acceptable. The decision can't even be made properly until it gets dismounted and inspected. If you're incurring that expense, why not just replace the tire and accept that flats happen? Safety is not a ripoff. The potential for hidden damage is a big problem.

That being said, there is no guarantee that a repair will stay intact even if it's done correctly. Not too many people consider that as the tire wears, there is less and less tread rubber to hold a patch in place. Is it possible to ride over something sharp and pointy that affects and weakens a plug? You bet. New tires are already really thin to begin with. I didn't plug tires at my shop because it wasn't worth the risk and the liability exposure involved. You being a cheapskate doesn't mean I should hang my cheese out in the wind and risk everything I have..... because you would certainly sue me if you crashed because of a repair that went sideways. A patched tire can fail and cause a crash. The bike injuring or killing a rider, passenger, pedestrian or other driver is a distinct possibility.

If that happens, you can bet that the finger of blame will point directly at the tire guy. Fuck that.

I did NOT see that coming!

Based on your initial curmudgeony responses I thought you were on the 'plug it' side of the fence.

 

[angelsndevils]

I don't need to ask him. I already know where he's coming from, and he's right. I've changed out several hundred tires in my time. I've seen a lot of damage.

Unlike what the 'experts' here say, only some tires are repairable. Even if they are, there are strict recommendations by the manufacturer as to what is proper and prudent and what type of repair is acceptable. The decision can't even be made properly until it gets dismounted and inspected. If you're incurring that expense, why not just replace the tire and accept that flats happen? Safety is not a ripoff. The potential for hidden damage is a big problem.

That being said, there is no guarantee that a repair will stay intact even if it's done correctly. Not too many people consider that as the tire wears, there is less and less tread rubber to hold a patch in place. Is it possible to ride over something sharp and pointy that affects and weakens a plug? You bet. New tires are already really thin to begin with. I didn't plug tires at my shop because it wasn't worth the risk and the liability exposure involved. You being a cheapskate doesn't mean I should hang my cheese out in the wind and risk everything I have..... because you would certainly sue me if you crashed because of a repair that went sideways. A patched tire can fail and cause a crash. The bike injuring or killing a rider, passenger, pedestrian or other driver is a distinct possibility.

If that happens, you can bet that the finger of blame will point directly at the tire guy. Fuck that.

I agree with what you are saying here even though you are obviously basing your attack at what I've already posted. I will plug my tires, I will plug a friends tire, I might even pull over and help some stranded rider and plug their tire. Would I advertise and charge for a plug at my shop??? HELL NO!!! I'm old school, I would never sue somebody for something that happened while riding my bike. Unfourtunatly most people in this world are sue happy dicks and would jump at the oppourtunity to make some free cash. I dont have thousands of dollars laying around to fix every little flaw on my bike. I'm very good at weighing the pros and cons of a less than "brand new" repair. As far as I can tell this thread is about "what you would do to ride your bike" not "what would I do to a customers bike and charge them for" We obviously have a different risk level in our lives, I can live with that without attacking someone elses opinion.



And NO, Tharkun, I would say throwing a nail is about the same as throwing a plug.

 

[Tharkûn]

I would say the same also. I've thrown nails at ~100 front and rear, ride it out not a big deal. Never thrown a plug, I don't see why it would be any different

 

[angelsndevils]

No difference. Its like when you go to the hospital and they tell you the sliver in your hand could be "life threatening if it gets infected". It is technically true but in the real world everything is not always a worst case scenerio. Some people on here would of made great doctors with their Super high tech/worst case scenerio advise and reasoning.

 

[ST Guy]

It still amazes me that there's so much ignorance on tire plugging/patching. Here are the botttom lines:

1. Not all tire damage can be repaired, even if it looks simple and straight forward. Period.

2. Even if a repair seems to have been successful and was done correctly, there are no guarantees that it will not fail sometime down the road. If the repair was done correctly from the inside with a patch, the chances are usually excellent that it will last the life of the tire. If the repair was done from the outside with a plug, it's a gamble. And not one that I would recommend anyone take beyond getting you home at lower than normal speeds.

3. At the very, very least, a repaired tire loses on level of speed rating. Usually two. Sometimes more.

4. Plugs are installed only from the outside of the tire. Therefore, regardless of the type of plug (AND REGARDLESS OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE), they are to be considered only temporary repairs to get you out of a bind. Period. If you choose to keep riding like the tire was never damaged, that's your choice. However, don't be making recommendations to people that it's OK as a permanent repair. It's not. And you don't want someone's pain and misery (or death) on your head.

5. Patches are installed on the inside of the tire and require that the tire be removed. There are two types, just a flat patch and a patch with a nipple or plug attached to it to fill the hole. Keep in mind that this last type is not a plug, it's a patch first and foremost. Don't refer to it as a plug as doing so only confuses the issue.