The recurring tire plug question.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 2
From: Central Coast of Cali
+1 on that...I do the exact same thing...
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
I worked in a filling station when in high school,and was amazed how many tires were changed out,and completely bald with tire plugs still in.Must have been a tire store that started the rumor about unsafe plugged tires.Too bad for those that fall that lie!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
I don't know what the big deal is. I've had all kinds of tires on cars and trucks plugged and put 50,000 + miles on them without any issues at all. So what's all the hubbub about plugging a motorcycle tire?
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 545
Likes: 4
From: Kansas City, MO via Millington, MI
I have people telling me I'm crazy for riding around on a plugged tire. There's still a lot of mileage left on the rear tire of my Road King, so after I plugged it last summer, I couldn't bring myself to replace it quite yet. I ended up getting a great deal on another tire, but since this one still looks good, I never changed it out. So while I'm riding around on a plugged tire, I hit a nail last Friday night and end up having to plug it again. So now I have people telling me that I should have replaced it the first time, and I try to explain, that I would then have TWO tires with a plug in each of them, instead of one plugged tire, and a good backup for when I finally wear this one bald.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 697
Likes: 1
From: Just west of Tahoe
This is my first HD with tubeless tires. Sure was nice to be able to limp it to a gas station, remove the wood screw and plug it. I put 46 psi in yesterday morning and had 46 at 1700 yesterday, Gonna check it this afternoon and if it's holding the air this Metzlers gonna run a little longer!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,128
Likes: 27
From: florida swamp
I really doubt a plugged tire is gonna blow up and cause an accident. More like a slow leak if anything. I have plugged tires and have had 0 problems with them. As long as the tire can be reasonably repaired with a plug (small puncture)they work great.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,206
Likes: 0
From:
I've plugged my own car tires without a leak. You just have to make sure you clean the hole and roughen it up properly for the glue to bond.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,900
Likes: 4
From: way down upon the Suwannee River
Having worked in the tire industry I have seen more plugged tires then most people. The biggest problem is plugging tires where the hole is too big to be repaired. Also steel belted tires will not do well plugged. Radial tires should not be plugged according to the manufactures, But I've never seen a radial tire mess up because of a plug. If it's just a nail hole a plug should be good. That said I will use them on a cage, But not on my bike except just long enough to get a new tire.
