To plug or not to plug

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VA Panigale

VA Panigale

Joined
Dec 11, 2012
Messages
146
Location
Woodbridge, VA
I was walking around my bike a week ago and saw this in the tire. I had it taken to the dealer and the tire replaced. My question for the future, is something like this fixable or should you always replace your tire on a Sport Bike? Thank you for your help. Sorry for being such a noob!
 

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Replace - always replace.

- In a pinch, a plug is fine for getting you to a place that can replace the tire for you.
 
^ this unfortunately. Friend got 3 flats in one week! We used those tires only for burn outs and slow speed stunting.
 
I rode on a plug for a couple thousand miles, but that's just me. Obviously it's smarter to replace the tire, but I commute daily on my bikes and didn't have time to run out to the dealer for a replacement for a while.
 
Thank you all for the replies. I thought it was better to be safe than sorry but it ended up costing me about $370 for the new tire to include having it mounted. That was one expensive nail!:eek:
 
Personally I would never take the chance. These days plugs are as good as whole tire but to me the mental anguish of even knowing it's there would make me buy a new one. Also, I'm totally sold on Pirelli so wouldn't think of putting a different tire on my bike despite all the rave reviews on others. Just my 3 cents.
 
For street riding I wouldn't have a problem with a plug. If you want extra security you can pull the tire and patch from the inside.

WOuldn't use a plugged tire for track but I had a friend that did! Worried about him until he finally wore the tire out and I mounted a new one for him.
 
It really depends on what gives you peace of mind, and your budget.

I would hate to see a perfecly new tire go in the trash if it could be saved given how much they cost. But I would have to agree with the poster above " I wouldnt put in on the track."
 
I read your last message and was scratching my head and then I noticed that most of us in this thread are from VA/DC. :)

Sorry, back on topic. Agree with the above - the plugged tire I rode on until the tire wore out was never tracked.
 
I put a plug on my 848 last year and rode on the street and drag strip just fine. After the excess wore off it blended right in with the tire and no air leaks.

It was the type of plug bought in a gas station and you bore the hole out and put a piece of tar strip with rubber cement in. I didn't trust plugs before that, but it was a new tire and I didn't want to fork over the cash to buy another new one. After that I trust in those type of plugs completely and it did its job. I wanted to experiment to see how well it could be trusted. If you have the money I would say buy a new one. But the plug lasted the entire life of the tire and I trust in them now.
 
Purely for track use I'd replace it. For the road I've had to resort to plugs a few times and never had a problem.

In fact I've never heard of anyone having a problem with a plug. A friend who commutes a lot uses sticky string, just leaves it in until the tyre is knackered and has tested it to 150mph+... wouldn't recommend it but probably demonstrates that the carcasses are pretty resilient now.
 
zvez said:
For street riding I wouldn't have a problem with a plug. If you want extra security you can pull the tire and patch from the inside.

WOuldn't use a plugged tire for track but I had a friend that did! Worried about him until he finally wore the tire out and I mounted a new one for him.
Click to expand...

+1 for patch. Its the way to go specially for a motorcycle. Plugs will hold the air but you have to cut through more of the Layers And chords and compromise the tires integrity to plug it. Motorcycle tires bend and contorques at different angles at high speeds I wouldn't want to be on a bike when the tire starts to come apart.
 
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plug / patch from inside

I have plugged tyres myself and they have been fine until finally needed replacing. I had a nail in my new panigale tyre so took to dealer who took it off and fixed from inside. Mind you I have had nails / screws in tyres in past and just made sure they they were below surface and monitored and stayed until tyre needed replacing, but just me. If worried always replace. Ac
 
SPJ said:
Purely for track use I'd replace it. For the road I've had to resort to plugs a few times and never had a problem.

In fact I've never heard of anyone having a problem with a plug. A friend who commutes a lot uses sticky string, just leaves it in until the tyre is knackered and has tested it to 150mph+... wouldn't recommend it but probably demonstrates that the carcasses are pretty resilient now.
Click to expand...

Same here....yet to see a bad plug! Caught a nail in mine after 250km, plugged it and rode it on street and track, no problem.
 
Capt CF said:
I rode on a plug for a couple thousand miles, but that's just me. Obviously it's smarter to replace the tire, but I commute daily on my bikes and didn't have time to run out to the dealer for a replacement for a while.
Click to expand...

Had a nail on my tire when my 1199 "S" had 2,800kms on it...removed my rear wheel, had them remove the rear tire from the rim...pulled out the nail, had tire dealer install a cold patch in the inner portion of the tire where nail was.

I've done 2 trackdays and have put on many kilometers on it with no issues. My bike now had 5,400kms and my rear tire will need replacing soon...not due to the repair, but due to it being worn out...

I've done it in the past even with 2 patches on the rear tire on my previous bike...not a problem. Depends on the puncture though...mine were small diameter nails. I just usually check the tire pressures from time to time. Now having more than 2 patches on it...I may think of replacing my tire...

Tire will never blow...its tubeless...worse can happen is, the patch will not seal the hole well and you will get air leaking out from the repair...Most experienced riders can feel and will know when the bike handles differently, squirmming, wallowing or feels a bit sluggish, then they know its a soft rear tire.

Had no issues at all with repaired rear tires in the past.
 
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well what is the final verdict? does it depend on the person, becuse i found small nail in my tire yesterday while on a full day ride. and i didn't have second thought about plugging. I dont want to spend the $400 for 1 new tire now, i'll finish out the season i have left first. I just started to notice that my tires are looking a little worn down? AT 4300 miles? am i nuts? how did everyone else do on there tires?
 
To patch or not to patch ...

Zaid1199 said:
well what is the final verdict? does it depend on the person, becuse i found small nail in my tire yesterday while on a full day ride. and i didn't have second thought about plugging. I dont want to spend the $400 for 1 new tire now, i'll finish out the season i have left first. I just started to notice that my tires are looking a little worn down? AT 4300 miles? am i nuts? how did everyone else do on there tires?
Click to expand...

No final verdict, really - it all depends on your comfort level. I've plugged/patched a street-only tire and the repair lasted for the life of the tire. Others advocate for street only and never on a tracked tire. Some say never, ever. Your call.
 

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