To Plug or Not...

Z00KA

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:'( - I was out "piddling" on my new to me 2013 ST and discovered I have an embedded nail in my rear tire...ughhhhh!

So, what's the consensus...should I take it to a shop to see if they'll do it (some shops throw out the liability issue in case is fails) or should I save time an money and attempt to plug it myself?

As you can see by the pic, it not very big, but it's worn pretty well and that can be deceiving.
 

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Brick

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It's going to go flat sooner or later. If you don't get it out and it goes flat it can do harm to the rim.
I carry a kit to plug tires and a portable 12V compressor. I've used it more on friends tires but at least 3 times on my tires.
I also suggest replacing the tire.
YMMV but that is all that's between you and sliding down the asphalt. Think about it.
 

echo_four_romeo

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I've plugged many tires on friend's bikes...but that was just to get them to the next shop to replace the tire or to finish the return trip home. I've plugged my own rear tire a few times but swapped it out for a new one as soon as possible.
 

Z00KA

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Brick said:
It's going to go flat sooner or later. If you don't get it out and it goes flat it can do harm to the rim.
I carry a kit to plug tires and a portable 12V compressor. I've used it more on friends tires but at least 3 times on my tires.
I also suggest replacing the tire.
YMMV but that is all that's between you and sliding down the asphalt. Think about it.
Thanks for the suggestion...any particular kit you recommend or can I use any "off the shelf" kit?
 

Brick

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Stop-n-Go makes some good ones. I don't like the ones that use the CO-2 cartridges. There are others too. Google is your friend.
 

itlives

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Color me weird but I'd plug it and ride until you need another tire or, are going to take a big trip.
I'm riding on two plugs right now and my tire is new. I will ride on it until I go out west in Sept.
If it were farther up on the side, that would be a different story
 

Z00KA

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Just "pulled the pin" and ordered a set of Continental Trail Attack 2's (Had them on my VStrom and really liked them).

Now to find a shop that will shod them without the ..."since you didn't buy the tires here, we won't mount them" song and dance. ::010::
 

dietDrThunder

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itlives said:
Color me weird but I'd plug it and ride until you need another tire or, are going to take a big trip.
I'm riding on two plugs right now and my tire is new. I will ride on it until I go out west in Sept.
If it were farther up on the side, that would be a different story
You're not weird, you're practical. That nail in the OP's tire is in the best possible plug spot as far as reliability of the repair. No reason at all to replace that tire. Well, apart from peace of mind, which is definitely also important. What I mean is that a proper plug job on that hole will be reliable and safe. But, if the rider is going to worry anyway, then it's worth it to replace it...no fun to worry all the time.
 

tomatocity

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I rode a plugged Anakee for more than 5,000 miles. We plugged it on the Carrizo Plain and did not take it off until I changed tires. I normally carry tire repair tools, plugs, and a air compressor. Have only needed the plug kit twice. Both going on camping trips.
 

Kevhunts

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Z00KA said:
:'( - I was out "piddling" on my new to me 2013 ST and discovered I have an embedded nail in my rear tire...ughhhhh!

So, what's the consensus...should I take it to a shop to see if they'll do it (some shops throw out the liability issue in case is fails) or should I save time an money and attempt to plug it myself?

As you can see by the pic, it not very big, but it's worn pretty well and that can be deceiving.
I would follow the recommendations in the video as a minimum with a tire replacment as the ultimate solution.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdTAalpkSLM#t=245
 

EricV

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Do what makes you happy.

I've plugged many, many moto tires with sticky strings and ridden them to the tire's end of life. The only one's I had any issues with were large holes that required multiple plugs, (which I replaced the sticky string with a professional large mushroom plug from the inside), and one that had the puncture far over on the side of the tread, (not sidewall), where it wasn't being run over and I was on the road. I didn't give it enough time to properly vulcanize before riding off and had to re-do it. No problem after that.

I've put over 10k miles on a plugged tire, (Heidenau K60), and when I removed the worn out tire, you could clearly see how well vulcanized the plug was to the tire. It was part of it and never coming out. That's what vulcanizing means, to become bonded and part of the original material.

As others have said, it's just about a perfect spot if you have to plug a tire. That tire has a ton of life left too. Learn to plug tires now, in the comfort of your own garage, so when you need to do it on the road, you already know how and it's only a ten minute delay.

I am not a fan of the Stop and Go kits. The sticky string plugs vulcanize to the tire and last the life of the tire. IMHO, the Stop and Go plugs do not and are only good to get you to a shop that can do a better job or replace the tire. I'm sure someone has ridden a Stop and Go plugged tire to end of life, but I've personally seen too many of them come out, resulting in rapid deflation.

If you decide to buy a repair kit, get a sticky string kit with T handles, you can use the extra leverage. Make sure it has a reamer and insertion tool. Reaming the hole is necessary to both clean and size the hole in preparation for installing the sticky string plug. You will want to use the glue as well. It's rubber cement, so buy a second tube once you open the first one, they dry out quickly sitting under the seat or in a pannier.

Get a small compressor. I like the inexpensive Slime brand pumps you can find at many auto parts stores. They do the job, last a long time even with repeated use and don't take up a lot of space. You can spend $100 on a nice pump... but you don't need to. The Slime pumps are often on sale for $10-20 depending on versions and stores. Auto Zone seems to have them on sale more often. Either trim the cord, removing the cigarette plug connector, or make sure you have the right combo of adapters to get power to the pump. The OEM cigarette plug on the Super Tenere is only 3 amps and won't support the pump. Although it has been done, it is not recommended to swap the fuse to a 10 amp, as the wiring is rather small for that circuit and it was not intended for continuous use of something like a air pump. Many people install a pigtail to the battery for a battery tender and use the SAE plug to power their pumps when needed too. That works well and SAE plug ends can be found at nearly any NAPA store as well as other auto parts stores.

Hope that helps.
 

Juan

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If you're lucky enough, the nail might not be long enough to have penetrated fully. Did you literally "pull out the pin"?
 

TheHelios

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This looks like a best case scenario of a plug working for the life of the tire. If the nail went through the tread channel area, then I'd probably err on the side of caution but on the tread block? Plug it and ride it till it's dead.
 

Zuan

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I had almost the identical situation late last August. I pulled the nail and plugged with a sticky string. I am still using the tire, 5000 kms later. Will replace later this spring when the tire reaches its wear bars. Do what makes you comfortable. Like others have said, the nail is in a good spot for a plug.
 

racer1735

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I had a similar situation with my rear tire within the past few weeks. Nail went in to the center portion of the tread, tire had fewer than 250 miles on it (virtually brand new) and I hated to simply replace it. So I plugged it, and put an internal patch on, as well. Trimmed the plug even with the tread and went for a few rides to check it out. It held air fine but the plug seemed to 'stretch' and pull slightly out of the hole. The plug continued to hold, as did the patch and it didn't lose air, but for whatever reason, I just never felt confident that the plug would hold. So, I bought a new tire and spooned it on. Kept the plugged for 'just in case', but I don't worry about the plug or patch letting loose now.
 

yz454

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Plug it ,If I replaced a tire every time I got a hole , I would have one hell of a stack of tires . I ride off road a lot .
 

silvergoose

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Alma,Ar
I have used the stop-n-go type of tire plugs in the past, no longer in my toolbox. I now use Dynaplug. The stop-n-go units use tools to open and clean the puncture, making the hole much larger than it needs to be. The Dynaplug uses a small brass pointed worm, insert the brass point into the hole, push in and pull back,done.

My wife's CanAm Spyder picked up a nail with less than 100 miles on the tire, Dynaplug sealed the hole and she ran for 12,000 miles before changing the tire.

Also just a note since a puncture can and will happen, in the thread repair most of the time are repairable sidewall most of the time the tire is scraped. I bought tire and rim insurance when I bought my Tenere, at least it will not cost to replace a tire which would have had life left in it.


Good Luck
 

Z00KA

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Port Isabel, TX, USA
Guys...thanks for all the help and suggestions...LOVE THIS GROUP! ::015:: ::008::

Even though I've ordered new front and back...I'll go ahead and do the plug thing (sticky with T-Handle) while I wait for the new "meats". I also get me a SLIME inflator (plenty of room under the seat).

Good practice for when I need this skill.

Thanks again!
 
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