Plugged Rear Tire
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 228
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From:
Plugged Rear Tire
OK, bottom line is I have a rear tire with only 3K on it and, you guessed it, a small nail. I plugged it and it's not leaking any air at all. I've ridden it a short distance, say 20 miles, and everything seems cool. I bought an extended warranty to include tires and rims and if I get it back to the dealer I'll get a new tire for 0$. Only trouble is the dealer is 200 miles from me. Should I try riding it to the dealer or not? I don't have a trailer. Any danger of the plug coming out at highway speeds? Anybody got any advice. No, I don't like riding on a plugged tire either but I don't want to buy another one locally when I can get one for free at my dealer. Thoughts??
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, UT. Dushore, Pa.
What type of plug did you use? I had two plugged but they have to take the tire off and do it fr the inside because it has a flange lip that keeps the plug fr coming out.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 5
When did you plug it? If its been several hours or a day and still no sign of a leak go ahead and ride it, but take it a little easy (don't go cruising 85 on the interstate). Many here will say you can safely ride it and not replace it, myself, I would do the same as you and have it replaced as soon as possible.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,726
Likes: 12
This may be extreme but Ive ran a tire temporarily on a plug repair (week or so) until I could break the tire down and install a patch/plug after which, I ran the tire the rest of its life. Just be mindful of your tire pressure, and head toward the dealer.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 228
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From:
I used an automotive type plug, the kind that loops through the handle and you shove it into the tire. Pull the handle out and the plug stays in it. It is not plugged from the inside as GMC is talking about. I plugged it on the 24th and it doesn't show any signs of leaking. Thanks for the replies.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,282
Likes: 2
From: Yukon, OK
I just had to do the same thing a week or so ago(well 3 weeks now) and it is doing fine. I Have bought a tire and will be doing it this weekend. But i did not feel scared about riding it, i just did not go crazy. I rode it normal speeds and it worked fine....but be aware of it so you don't get crazy. JMO
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 584
Likes: 2
From: Woodstock, GA
You simply have to decide what your piece of mind and your time are worth. New tire installed is around $125 or so. Riding 200 miles on a plugged tire at low speed and worrying/stopping every 30 minutes or so to check it, waiting at the dealer (yeah, they'll be in a BIG hurry to get your free tire installed for you), then riding 200 miles home - how long will all that take? This is a factor you need to consider when buying this kind of tire warranty.
I'd buy a new tire and get back to enjoying your bike. Nobody said owning a Harley was cheap!
I'd buy a new tire and get back to enjoying your bike. Nobody said owning a Harley was cheap!
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,761
Likes: 953
From: Out West
I had a flat (rear tire) plugged on a BMW K1200RS down at Alice's Restaurant, rode it back to Laguna Seca (nice curvy rode) and then rode it on the track before the race back in '05, even did a couple of small wheelies on it and drug the pegs through the curves.
Yep, I thought those plugs were great. Left Monterey Sunday of that race weekend, had my bags loaded and 200lbs of me with leathers on, heading on down the road and whamo-blamo, thought I was gonna grease my drawers before I got the old girl off safely to the side of the road. It was a little tense I'm not afraid to admit. It was in heavy traffic, 65mph on a slight curve. Did I mention that was a hairy one! I felt safer being shot at in Baghdad then bringing that thing under control!
The weight on the tire makes an enormous difference, especially when you lose the air out of the tire.
But a new tire mounted is hard to resist.
I would do it, but I would ride slower than normal. Too bad you just can't take the wheel off and drive it up there in something else.
Good Luck and write back if you have a harrowing tale to tell
Yep, I thought those plugs were great. Left Monterey Sunday of that race weekend, had my bags loaded and 200lbs of me with leathers on, heading on down the road and whamo-blamo, thought I was gonna grease my drawers before I got the old girl off safely to the side of the road. It was a little tense I'm not afraid to admit. It was in heavy traffic, 65mph on a slight curve. Did I mention that was a hairy one! I felt safer being shot at in Baghdad then bringing that thing under control!
The weight on the tire makes an enormous difference, especially when you lose the air out of the tire.
But a new tire mounted is hard to resist.
I would do it, but I would ride slower than normal. Too bad you just can't take the wheel off and drive it up there in something else.
Good Luck and write back if you have a harrowing tale to tell
