Question about plugging a tire ?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,863
Likes: 55
From: Sedalia,Missouri
Question about plugging a tire ?
I have my bike up on a lift waiting for my Progressive shocks to arrive from being repaired. I noticed I had to small nails in my rear tire. I pulled the first one and it was very short and did not puncture the tire. Second nail was longer and did puncture, when I heard and felt the air escaping I pushed the nail back in to stop the leak. I have a plug kit I have never used so I'm thinking I will try and plug the tire for the time being. It's my rear tire and I was wondering if I should wait until the bike is on the ground before I attempt to plug it. Wasn't sure how much force would be required pushing the plug in, didn't want to rock the bike while on the lift. Also wondering if it makes a difference weather the tire is still inflated or deflated. The plug kit I have reminds me of the pipe cleaners my dad use to use when I was a boy. It's the long wire type that goes in and then pull out and cut off excess. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 836
From: KMHT KFMY
it takes a good amount of oooomph to get the plug in, the tire should be inflated, the hole reamed in the same direction/orientation as the object that got into the tire.
If the bike is not solid on the lift, do it on the floor, have someone fit on it and hold the brake if you are worried
make sure your glue is still good.
put the plug in, twist it a couple of times and pull the insertion tool out.
re-inflate to 42 psi or your recommended pressure
If the bike is not solid on the lift, do it on the floor, have someone fit on it and hold the brake if you are worried
make sure your glue is still good.
put the plug in, twist it a couple of times and pull the insertion tool out.
re-inflate to 42 psi or your recommended pressure
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 95
Likes: 31
From: Rural East Texas area...Elkhart, Texas
Ive used plugs before with no problems. Depends on your faith I guess....last one I plugged was center of tread. Drove it till I replaced the tire several months later. Last trip was to Dallas to get new tire at 70+ mph. When they took the tire off, I took it outside and tried to pull the plug loose from inside with my hands and couldn't pull it loose, so it apparently glued itself to the tire pretty good due to the glue, heat, and what the plug is made of. Some people swear by them, some people swear at them. Like I said its a matter of faith....if you can afford a new tire, maybe that's what you need to do. If you can't, try the plug and see what happens. I would make sure it was on the ground or secure on the jack when putting the plug in.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,110
Likes: 51,396
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
I prefer the tire no air doing the rope plugs so it doesn't blow the glue or plug back out, glue up the reamer tool and run it in the hole a few times to get the glue in good & deep and smear the rope with glue, it makes pushing it in a bit easier. Let sit a few minutes before you air it back up. Cut the rope off flush with the tire before you ride it
Last edited by TwiZted Biker; Feb 2, 2019 at 10:49 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 307
From: Houston, Texas
if you are not in a hurry and don't want to replace the tire for a while, I'd go get some Tire Slime. I have used it successfully and ran the tire for another 10,000 miles. Plug kits are good for side of the road emergencies to get you to a tire shop to replace the tire. I wouldn't continue to ride on one. Just remember if you use the slime, you have to ride the bike to get it to seal. It wont work on a lift. As a man I hate to say this but read and follow the directions on the bottle.
I wish you could get someone to put a patch inside the tire like they do for a car. They work great if done right but everyone is scared of the liability.
I wish you could get someone to put a patch inside the tire like they do for a car. They work great if done right but everyone is scared of the liability.
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Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,110
Likes: 51,396
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
With all due respect, and certainly not to start a debate, but to go this route, my choice (over Slime) would be RideOn. There are a lot of great reviews on these forums.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDIyZeZ4PY8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDIyZeZ4PY8
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 307
From: Houston, Texas
I just used slime as a reference to a sealant as opposed to a plug to get more life out of the tire, Brand of your choice as always.
Since he's not in a hurry and not on the side of the road, I was hoping to steer him a way from the plug. There are better, longer lasting options such as ride on or slime.
Since he's not in a hurry and not on the side of the road, I was hoping to steer him a way from the plug. There are better, longer lasting options such as ride on or slime.