Boy am I going to give the dealership an earful after this weekend. I was going over the bike after installing my new seat and come to see s'thing that looked like a tar ball in between the treads of my rear tire. Tried to pick at it so that it can come off, thankfully I didn't persist beacause it was a tire plug.

Mind you I bought a used bike from them, but I insisted in asking if they went over the bike completely and it was my 1st HD etc etc. They swore up and down that they checked everything includimg tires (I tried to hassle them to change them to new because I claimed the tread was too low). Funny thing was when I was there last i checked tire pressure and saw that it was down to 10psi (no wonder it was a wobbly ride to the dealer) and they just said "oh must be change in temp blah blah" I filled the tire to 38psi and now just took a reading its 28psi!

2 Questions:
-How dangerous is it riding with a 38psi rear tire and a plug?
-I want to switch to Metzler tires rather than the HD tires, how do you guys like them and wher is the best price to buy them?

Thanks for listening to me rant and rave

 

Yeah... that sucks. However a "good" plug should do you fine. What you have there is f*cked up attempt at a plug.

Nothing wrong with the HD branded Dunlops...

 

I have seen failure from plugs. Most are not installed correctly. Also if a string plug is put in a tire, bike or car, it should be replaced with an inside patch. I think its funny that we have no problem patching a tube and putting the same tire with the same hole back on. Yet when we have to patch a tire we get all funky. The plugs are temp fixes. A proper patch is the way to go. YES plugs will leak and do come out. I don't think failure of the tire is the issue as much as the plug failure and the tire going flat again. Rule of thumb if you can put a pencil in the hole get a new tire.
Repairs are good temporary solutions and in a car with four wheels, I would say some of these repairs will last a long time. But on motorcycles, why chance it?

 

One, I don't think a dealer is going to inspect every square inch of the tires. Two, you can't be too pissed because you failed to get the new tires in the deal.

At any rate, a plugged tire is fine if it's a good plug. Plugged a near new tire because of a screw in it about a month old. Dealer wouldn't plug it, so had to do it myself. Just keep an eye on it and check your pressure at least weekly, if not daily to begin with.

 

Because motorcycle tires are stupid expensive and plugs are plenty safe enough.I've had plugs that lasted the full lifespan of the tire and plugs that wouldn't hold air overnight.The thing is when the plugs fail the tire just goes flat they don't explode and chuck you down the road at speed.

 

On a motorcycle, I consider a plug a get-home quick-fix. Don't screw around. Replace the tire.

My rear was replaced 1,000 miles ago w/ a Metzler ME880; have already bought a new 880 for the front. You'll like it.

 

Thealaskan-I never saw the plug originally at the dealer,if that would of been the case I would of def. gotten them to change the tires.

Lo-Rider- How much did your metzlers cost you and did you take it to a dealership or have a bike shop do the install?

 

plugs have been used for years, if they dont leak there fine. beats buying a new tire if you dont need one. i run dunlops

 

Indy replaced the rear. Front was ~$100 from Rocky Mountain ATV.

 

I had to plug my metzler me880 after only about a thousand miles. The whole was a small nain in the center of the tread. The plug lasted another 4500 miles until I got a new rear tire. I loved the metzler for the ride and grip but I was kind of disappointed to only get about 5500 miles out of it. I commute to work over 200 miles a week so that means they don't last too long.