Tire patching

[The emperor has no clothes]

I attempted to fix my punctured tire today. I have used the combination plug/patch before with good effect. The hole on this was so small I couldn't push the plug part thru. I didn't really want to ream out the hole bigger. So I just used a regular patch, but I didn't really trust that though. I had another tire in the wings, so I just ended up using it. My question is 3 fold. Would I be best off with another new tire, using a regular patch, or reaming it out and using a plug/patch ?

[da prez]

  M H , the combi patches I use have a pointed metal needle on each patch. I would run a (small) reamer  or probe thru the hole and take notice of the angle. Then when you are ready to set the patch , lube the needle with the cement (glue) and push it thru. You may need pliers to pull it in place.
  I have done   m a n y  of these. I trust them when properly installed.

                                  da prez

[The emperor has no clothes]

  M H , the combi patches I use have a pointed metal needle on each patch. I would run a (small) reamer  or probe thru the hole and take notice of the angle. Then when you are ready to set the patch , lube the needle with the cement (glue) and push it thru. You may need pliers to pull it in place.
  I have done   m a n y  of these. I trust them when properly installed.

                                  da prez

Thanks, I didn't think about lubing up the metal part. The hole was made by a small drill bit, maybe 1/32 . Do you think I should ream out the hole with one of those tire reamers ?

[Misfit]

  M H , the combi patches I use have a pointed metal needle on each patch. I would run a (small) reamer  or probe thru the hole and take notice of the angle. Then when you are ready to set the patch , lube the needle with the cement (glue) and push it thru. You may need pliers to pull it in place.
  I have done   m a n y  of these. I trust them when properly installed.

                                  da prez

Thanks, I didn't think about lubing up the metal part. The hole was made by a small drill bit, maybe 1/32 . Do you think I should ream out the hole with one of those tire reamers ?

Yes. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Thanks 

[sandy]

Mr. Head: Get a "stop n go" tire plugger kit. I had one in the rear of my wing for 2500 miles before I wore the tire out. No leaks.

[RDKLL]

I had a very small diameter puncture and I found some plugs at Oreillys that were about half the diameter of regular plugs. I didnt want to ream it out either

[Danny McMillin]

Sounds like this won't win me a popularity contest, but I wouldn't ride 25 miles on a plugged tire if I didn't have to. Plugs make me nervous on 4 wheel cages, but when playing with two wheels, a plugged tire ain't in my vocabulary!! I have replaced rear tires, with finish nails in them, at 200 miles!! My way of thinking, it just ain't worth the risk!! My body worth more than that! Go ahead....I'm ready!

[Oss]

I had the opposite experience

The last morning of IZ in Ashville my rear was flat  BigBF had mounted that tire for me in Phoenix in March on my way back to GOTF.  He was nice enough to put a mushroom plug in it and air it up for me as he was getting ready to leave himself.  I  checked it at each gas stop and it needed air once on the way back to NY and I ended up replacing it with a nice gooey string plug a few months later.  That plug held for the abbreviated life of the tire. Yep that was the rear tire that got killed on the way to Spearfish. I dont usually exceed 85 (well short amounts at time at 100 but thats it) and felt really comfortable with the string plug and also had ride on in the tire.

That 2nd hole was 180 degrees from the 1st one.

The tire was the Bridgestone 200 series motorcycle tire  This is the giant plug (really a regular plug and a jumbo) that blew out riding on the side of the road as I tried to make it to the bike shop Saturday afternoon in DesMoines.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I had a very small diameter puncture and I found some plugs at Oreillys that were about half the diameter of regular plugs. I didnt want to ream it out either

Hey Tony, are they a combo patch/plug or just plug ?

Mr. Head: Get a "stop n go" tire plugger kit. I had one in the rear of my wing for 2500 miles before I wore the tire out. No leaks.

Sandy, I've thought about carrying those instead of the regular rope plugs.   But with having Brenda ride with me I'd feel a lot better with a more permanent patch or a new tire. I know if the day ever comes that something bad ever happens she will quit riding. I'm sure they are good, I just wouldn't be able to relax and enjoy the ride.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Sounds like this won't win me a popularity contest, but I wouldn't ride 25 miles on a plugged tire if I didn't have to. Plugs make me nervous on 4 wheel cages, but when playing with two wheels, a plugged tire ain't in my vocabulary!! I have replaced rear tires, with finish nails in them, at 200 miles!! My way of thinking, it just ain't worth the risk!! My body worth more than that! Go ahead....I'm ready!

No problem  I am close to just getting another tire. I'm going to ream it out and put in the patch/plug. If it doesn't appear 100% I'll just toss it.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I had the opposite experience

The last morning of IZ in Ashville my rear was flat  BigBF had mounted that tire for me in Phoenix in March on my way back to GOTF.  He was nice enough to put a mushroom plug in it and air it up for me as he was getting ready to leave himself.  I  checked it at each gas stop and it needed air once on the way back to NY and I ended up replacing it with a nice gooey string plug a few months later.  That plug held for the abbreviated life of the tire. Yep that was the rear tire that got killed on the way to Spearfish. I dont usually exceed 85 (well short amounts at time at 100 but thats it) and felt really comfortable with the string plug and also had ride on in the tire.

That 2nd hole was 180 degrees from the 1st one.

The tire was the Bridgestone 200 series motorcycle tire  This is the giant plug (really a regular plug and a jumbo) that blew out riding on the side of the road as I tried to make it to the bike shop Saturday afternoon in DesMoines.

Evan, you are braver than me. That is one big plug !

[3fan4life]

I managed to put a nail through a tire that had less than 500mi on it once.

My tire guy wouldn't plug or patch it (the combination of which seems perfectly safe to me).

He did put an inner tube inside the tire though which let me get the rest of the life out of the tire.

This was on a smaller bike but if they make an inner tube that fits our Valk tires that's an option.

I know that it's one that I wouldn't have thought of on my own.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I managed to put a nail through a tire that had less than 500mi on it once.

My tire guy wouldn't plug or patch it (the combination of which seems perfectly safe to me).

He did put an inner tube inside the tire though which let me get the rest of the life out of the tire.

This was on a smaller bike but if they make an inner tube that fits our Valk tires that's an option.

I know that it's one that I wouldn't have thought of on my own.

This is a 195/60 car tire. I don't think a tube would be safe on these heavy bikes at speed.

[3fan4life]

I managed to put a nail through a tire that had less than 500mi on it once.

My tire guy wouldn't plug or patch it (the combination of which seems perfectly safe to me).

He did put an inner tube inside the tire though which let me get the rest of the life out of the tire.

This was on a smaller bike but if they make an inner tube that fits our Valk tires that's an option.

I know that it's one that I wouldn't have thought of on my own.

This is a 195/60 car tire. I don't think a tube would be safe on these heavy bikes at speed.

On a car I wouldn't hesitate to plug and patch.

If it's anywhere near the edge of the tread I don't think that I would trust it though.

The car tire flexes a lot more on a bike than it does on a car.

[cookiedough]

Speaking of plugs/holes,  past 2 seasons on a new rear tire,  it has gone flat after sitting 3 months over winter.  This 2nd spring I finally sprayed soapy water and in 2 spots on right side the bead has a tiny bubble in 2 spots NOT sealing tire to rim, plus am sure from sitting flat (or dealer pinholed/pinched tire during install) just about 1/16" of an inch OFF the bead seal, there is a pinhole in the rubber just off the inner seal.  

is this repairable after dealer takes off that rear tire that has for sure 2 more riding seasons on it (1/2 shot if that)  to re-seal it?  All it would take is a rubber patch, if can get that close to the edge of the tire, on the inside or just a tiny bit of glue/goop rubber cement, etc. on that close edge to seal that pinhole is all.  Would that work?  It is VERY tiny hole not noticeable to the eye unless spray with soapy water and I was hoping it was on the bead, but is NOT about 1/16th of an inch in from bead.

Or, just keep on putting 2-3 psi in rear tire every 2 weeks and keep riding for 2 more seasons?  A rear tire will not blow will it from a very slow rim bead seal leak will it in 2 tiny spots?

I know 99% sure the tire was not sealed properly at dealer 2 years ago spring of 2015 since ever since install,  have had to put in 2-3 psi every 2-3 weeks for sure.  

I just thought the flat tires after 2 winters from sitting in cold for 3+ months was due to cold and not improper tire install.  dealer should have checked for bubbles on the seal in spring of 2015, plus last spring when I saw tire flat April 1st or so, I should have taken the 10-15 minutes to spray soapy water on rim bead at that time, not just now.

[art]

I had a plug blow out on I-17 in Az. one year after buying my new 02 Valk. My wife was on the back and we were doing 70 and the rear tire blew. I just coasted to a stop and called a tow truck and got home then replaced the tire. Two up and blowing a rear tire. We did good and never felt like we were going down.

[Willow]

If the hole is as small as you describe, assuming it is in the tread and not on the side, an inner patch should be adequate without a plug or reaming.  Even if the patch were to fail it would be a very slow leak.

If the hole is outside of the tread any hole is reason to replace.

[The emperor has no clothes]

If the hole is as small as you describe, assuming it is in the tread and not on the side, an inner patch should be adequate without a plug or reaming.  Even if the patch were to fail it would be a very slow leak.

If the hole is outside of the tread any hole is reason to replace.

Thanks, you are probably right. I just worry about little pebbles working into the hole. If it doesn't seem good I'll just get another tire. I think I paid less than $100 for it.

[old2soon]

Couple of observations here from a former employee of a Good Year tire store and that unforgiving bitch-experience. Some may/Will not agree. AND this stuff may have changed. At that time radials were recommended to Not be plugged but be dismounted from the rim cleaned completely around the hole area and patched from the inside. Plugs at that time were Only recommended for bias ply tires not steel belted. I believe if a hole was near-approx. 1 inch-the bead no repair was recommended. I am happy those of you choosing  plugs are having good results. As an emergency fix to git to a repair facility I'd be good with that. On just two tires and my azz in the saddle? Not so much. And If the front tire was needing PATCHED and I was on the road away from my shop-NO Ifs ands or buts I would HAVE too Observe the tech doing the repair. A that time had a customer that raced I believe formula V and out of the tire techs in that shop I was the Only one he trusted to mount dismount repair and balance his race tires and wheels. Far as a tube goes you HAVE to match the tube to the tire-radial tube to radial tire and bias tube to bias tire. Radials do flex more so tube matching is important as is the smoothness of the inside of the wheel. Sidewall repairs are NOT recommended. RIDE SAFE.

[vanagon40]

I'm with Willow--I would patch it and not make the hole larger. Never had a problem with my last tire that was patched on the inside (also a car tire).

[Mr Whiskey]

Ream it, glue it, plug it. I've put rope plugs in jus' about everything that'll hold air, car tires, motorcycle tires, lawnmower tires, go-cart tires, I even managed to get one to stay in a bicycle tire once (mag rim on a Mongoose). Never thrown out a tire jus' cause I put a plug in it. 4377 some of 'em saw triple digits on a regular basis!
My 2¢ worth

[da prez]

  I was  certified in tire repair when I worked for Ryder Truck rental. Yes , it was a big deal. School and tests and tire rep from many different companies. How and where to patch, and why. Radial and biasis ply are worlds apart.
 Tubeless tires have the inner tube built into the tire. When patched , the hole should be plugged to keep moisture from getting between the layers (plies) of tires and causing separation. The inner patch keeps the inner tube (liner) from leaking between the layers (plies).  The invention of the combi-plug patch. The inside is prepped and the hole is cleaned or reamed if necessary , glued and the needle on the combi is lubed with glue and pushed thru the hole and  pulled in place from the outside (pliers) and the patch stitched (rolled) on the inside. Then the proper way is to use liner sealer over the patch.
  When inflated and checked , then the plug sticking out is trimmed  about a 1/16 to 1/8 above the tire surface.
                                                      da prez

[The emperor has no clothes]

I ended up just using a regular patch. Seems to be ok. Just didn't seem right to make a small hole into a big hole.