Nail in tire, buy new or repair?

[voodoo151]

Hello all,

So I bought my first bike and put new tires on it. Just got a small nail in my rear tire. Call a shop and ask if they can patch it. The guy says "hey man, you really shouldn't patch a motorcycle tire. You should buy a new one."

What is your opinion guys. This dude trying to get one over on me or is this a common way of thinking.

Thanks guys

[Dirty Duc]

It depends on what "patch" means in this context. It tends to be nearly as contentious as choice of oil.

I've attempted "rope" patch repairs that didn't last more than 3 miles.

Pulling the tire off and patching the inside properly is said to be relatively reliable.

I now own a kit that is supposed to be the best of both worlds (but haven't tried it yet).

[kopfjäger]

Paging IZ to the white courtesy phone.

[voodoo151]

The tire holds air now with the nail inside. I want to put an internal patch like I do my jeep, but my novice mind says I better ask you guys for your opinion. Just dont want to get ripped off when an internal patch will suffice.

[Dirty Duc]

I wouldn't consider it being ripped off for the shop to recommend a new tire. That shop has a liability insurance policy... if they patch it for you they are on the hook if it fails at speed. Then your family can sue them for wrongful death, etc.

I forget the incident kopfjager is referencing... but this is the kind of thing that nobody else can decide for you.

I'm saying that the motorcycling community at large is split over this issue. For every story of a patch that let go at 160mph and nearly killed somebody's sister-in-law's cousin, there is somebody else bragging about having fifteen patches and getting 30k miles on a tire.

[stopintime]

http://www.stopngo.com/

[Dirty Duc]

Yep, that's the one I have now... came with a little battery operated pump, too.

http://www.stopngo.com/tubeless-puncture-pilot-for-motorcycles-scooters-atvs/

[DarkMonster620]

due to financials,, I had to patch once a tire . . . did not loose balance and lasted until the accident put a cut on sidewall

[voodoo151]

Thanks so much Dirty Duc. You help put it into perspective. M

[Howie]

Not only is the motorcycle community split on this issue, so are the motorcycle tire manufacturers.  At that, the only acceptable repair is this type of patch  http://nswbandits.forumotion.net/t2913p30-i-hate-screws  ( the picture with the three plugs)  if the puncture is in that area of the tire.  Usually I replace, but last time, like you, clean screw puncture. I needed to use the bike and my local shop did not have one in stock.  The decision has to be yours.  Oh, the manufacturers who do approve tire repair do say the tire is no longer speed rated.

[NAKID]

I've been in a similar situation. New tire (less than 450 miles on it) and got a nail. Like you, it held air with the nail. I chose to pull the tire and patch it. I used the old vulcanized rubber rope plug and it held until the tire was worn out. The nail was also very close to the midline, not a sidewall.

[IZ]

Paging IZ to the white courtesy phone.

Plug it!!  IIRC..I was living up in Seattle with a tire on my 620 that had 3. 

[TwoWheelDuke]

Not saying it's right, but I've got alot of miles on plugged tires in my younger and dumber days. A proper patch should work fine, but replacing it is safest.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[SpikeC]

I have plunged quite a few tires in my 50 years oh riding, and have never had a problem. I've used the BMW plug kits and the stop-n-go plugs with equal success. One time was in the Nevada desert on a BMW K1200RS that I then rode at over 100 mph through the desert at night. I used that one until it was used up.

[lawbreaker]

+1 on plugging a tire. I've done several and never had an issue. Nothing makes a rider more angry than, getting a BRAND NEW (S20 EVO) rear tire and picking up a nail in the first 100 miles..... plugged her and ride her till the tire wore out