Flat Tire

[DIGGER]

Took a ride this morning out in the countryside and about 2 miles out of East Bernard Texas I went into a curve and the Valkyrie got kinda squirrely .   Pulled over and checked tire pressure andvit had 5 lbs in it.  Rode it slowly on into East Bernard and stopped at a tire shop and aired it up to 36 lbs.  drove about 70 miles to the house and it now had 17 lbs.  i bought the tire a while back and now only has about 3,000 miles on it.  Got out my string plug kit and found a sheetrock screw in the tire and it went straight in so got it out and ran the rasp through the hole couple of times and then the string patch.  All went easily.  Aired it up to 36 lbs and drove around the block and it is now mashed flat.

Now, would you guys keep the tire with a string patch?   Or replace the tire.

[DIGGER]

By the way....1st flat in 131,000 miles

[Valker]

I've run string plugged tires until the tread was gone many times.

[f6john]

I know this is blasphemy and could get me disowned in certain circles, but I have a plug in the rear tire on my Corvette. Been in there for years.

[Chrisj CMA]

I'd run a patched or plugged tire on the rear but not on the front.

[Oss]

I have never had a front tire issue save for the original valve stem (yes I have a metal one now)

Many plugs in rear tires over the years. Only one failed and that was because it was a huge hole that took two plugs and never held at all.  O2S it was NOT a squirrel really

And that tire had a plug on the opposite side as well ,   running bridgestore exedra200 for a long while

Do what you are comfortable with not what we say as it is your life

[vanagon40]

. . . .
Now, would you guys keep the tire with a string patch?   Or replace the tire.

There is another option. You (or a shop) could take the tire off the rim and patch it from the inside. A better patch than a string or plug.

[Jess from VA]

Done properly and tested, a string patched tire will last (if the tire has decent tread).

But I would not trust a string patch (esp on the front), and would dismount the tire and put an inside-outside patch on it (if worth saving, like having only 3K miles on it).  You know, the kind that has a glued patch on the inside and a plug stuck out the front of it, cut off flush).  This is not the same as a "mushroom plug" stuffed through from the outside.

I got an inside-outside patch on one of my Ram Promaster tires last year, and no trouble holding air since.  How it got a tiny finish nail through a ten ply, I have no idea.  It was only losing a couple pounds a day, and took a while to discover.  

Edit:

Vanagon beat me to it, except an inside-outside patch is better than just an inside patch.

[F6Dave]

I've used over a dozen of the string plugs over the years. One developed a slow leak, but every other one held just fine, even on a car. When changing a plugged tire I look inside, and it creates a pretty solid patch around the puncture. I'll continue to use them.

[Jersey mike]

If you can get the plug out I'd try it again, not sure you'd want to try and push it in.

I've seen plugs needing to be doubled up (and holding air and lasting a long long time) on some of our work trucks...10 ply XL rated tires but not sure about that for a bike.

Could it just be your plug kit was aged and not "fresh" and pliable? A Sheetrock screw is very thin and a plug should have handled it.

[Hook#3287]

I'd run a patched or plugged tire on the rear but not on the front.

This is the rule I follow.

  I've strip and mushroom plugged many high PSI tires (50-60+) on my trucks and equipment and have only experienced issues when I didn't take my time and do it correctly.

Once re- done, I've run the tires out the same as the un-plugged siblings.

[Jess Tolbirt]

I have run new tires with a string plug and rubber plugs down to the cords...

[Jess from VA]

Well, I pulled out for a ride today and the front end was heavy and the tire gauge said 17lbs, and I had a sheet metal screw right in my nealy new Metzler Cruztek.

My bike shop is an hour plus south, so I aired it up (and no water bubbles), and rode to the best local auto/truck tire shop around and tried to get them to plug it on the bike, and as expected they absolutely refused to do anything on a motorcycle at all.  But he referred me to another shop up the street (big industrial park) and that guy stuck a gluey string plug in with a power drill, and aired it up with no bubbles, so I went on my ride anyway.  I checked it several times and when I got home and no air lost at all.

I recommended against them above (esp in front), but I'm relying on one now.  I'd like to get it dismounted and properly patched inside-outside, but that will take awhile.    

In my "got out for a glorious ride" thread on here, I wrote that sh!t at my house is self destructing all over the place.... and it continues.     Please make it stop!!!!

[DIGGER]

Well, I pulled out for a ride today and the front end was heavy and the tire gauge said 17lbs, and I had a sheet metal screw right in my nealy new Metzler Cruztek.

My bike shop is an hour plus south, so I aired it up (and no water bubbles), and rode to the best local auto/truck tire shop around and tried to get them to plug it on the bike, and as expected they absolutely refused to do anything on a motorcycle at all.  But he referred me to another shop up the street (big industrial park) and that guy stuck a gluey string plug in with a power drill, and aired it up with no bubbles, so I went on my ride anyway.  I checked it several times and when I got home and no air lost at all.

I recommended against them above (esp in front), but I'm relying on one now.  I'd like to get it dismounted and properly patched inside-outside, but that will take awhile.    

In some other thread on here, I wrote that sh!t at my house is self destructing all over the place.... and it continues.     Please make it stop!!!!

When it rains it pours...

[Nightflight99]

Never once had an issue with a plugged tire. Used one as far away as Central Mexico once, and it held up like all of the others.

Picked up a screw in my rear tire just last weekend (only about 1.5 hrs from home). Plugged it and ten minutes later I was back in business. I wish tubed tires were that simple!

[Hook#3287]

I recommended against them above (esp in front), but I'm relying on one now.  I'd like to get it dismounted and properly patched inside-outside, but that will take awhile.    Undecided

That's tough Jess, losing a new tire like that.

The safe thing is to replace, but I get the heart break of throwing out a expensive tire.

I'd consider a interior patch, in concert with the plug, and maybe a TPMS.

There are several systems available for low $$.

I would imagine most will have a emergency notification when the PSI goes below what you set it.

Then you can monitor it for slow leaks, but not much help for a rapid loss of pressure.

[Jess from VA]

I'm not replacing the tire Bill (I mean, unless it was to give me continuing problems with pressure).  I've run car tires with patches (mostly) and plugs (few) and never had a problem with any of them.

It's worrisome for sure.  I will try to get an inside-outside patch when I can get it done (while I wait).  

[DIGGER]

I recommended against them above (esp in front), but I'm relying on one now.  I'd like to get it dismounted and properly patched inside-outside, but that will take awhile.    Undecided

That's tough Jess, losing a new tire like that.

The safe thing is to replace, but I get the heart break of throwing out a expensive tire.

I'd consider a interior patch, in concert with the plug, and maybe a TPMS.

There are several systems available for low $$.

I would imagine most will have a emergency notification when the PSI goes below what you set it.

Then you can monitor it for slow leaks, but not much help for a rapid loss of pressure.

Gonna keep the tire.  If I have pressure issues i will replace. Screw went straight in. Was a small black sheetrock screw. Patched easily.  I will keep a close eye on pressure