nail in rear tire

[orly]

As I was pulling out the BD I noticed a nail in the rear tire. It's not even that old.

Crap, crap, CRAP!!!

I called a couple of shops and they won't 'patch' the tire (because of liability issues). So they want me to buy a new one...a very expensive new one.

I guess I could look at the bright-side, since I found it before I left I didn't get stranded. And, yes they do have a replacement in stock.

Anyways, my question is: Can I get it pached or is that not a good idea? (well actually, I know I CAN get it patched but SHOULD I get it patched?)

[Bobby Schulz]

Get a tire...not worth your life.

[TVDR]

I had a nail in my tire also last year and the tire is so soft that it actually covered the nail up.... But I rode for about a week or two like this with out any problems I finally ordered a new tire from the Motorcycle super store it came in a couple days....

[2010 bulldog]

plug the tire. Go and do a burnout then buy a new tire.

[Splitlog]

I rode with a plug in my tire for 3000 miles with NO problem.....if it was a FRONT tire I would replace it....

[PurpleDog]

Only you can decide if you'd like to gamble having the rear tire go out on ya at 'X' speed; I'm sure you'll consider your skill level and ability to keep the bike up or in the right lane when making your decision. Have you ever tried to control a bike at speed with no air in the rear tire? No one really knows the odds of that actually happening are I'd bet.

I'd go with replacing it; maybe you are luckier and/or more skilled a rider than me though.

[08mastiff]

Orly just my .02 but I must say I agree with everyone. I personally had a coarse drywall screw in my rear tire and I elected to just stick a plug in it from a $10 kit I bought at Auto Zone. I know most would frown upon this but it has been about 1,000 miles since and it's holding air just fine. I advise that everyone check the air pressure in the tires weekly, regardless. Good luck.

[GDOG_PITBULL]

Are you guys kidding me....plug the fucking thing and ride it!!!! I have personally done it several times and on sport bikes and done over 130 mph on the tire. Anybody that thinks a nail hole is going to compromise the strength or integrity of the tire (at what...70..maybe 80 mph...tops) must be a tire salesman!!!
Don't mean this to be a rant but Jesus Christ, keep some frickin common sense in the equation. This is just my opinion after being a car and bike guy for 40 years or so now!
G

[GDOG_PITBULL]

Originally Posted by PurpleDog

Only you can decide if you'd like to gamble having the rear tire go out on ya at 'X' speed; I'm sure you'll consider your skill level and ability to keep the bike up or in the right lane when making your decision. Have you ever tried to control a bike at speed with no air in the rear tire? No one really knows the odds of that actually happening are I'd bet.

I'd go with replacing it; maybe you are luckier and/or more skilled a rider than me though.

Purple Dog you are dead on about the air pressure!!! That is the only caveat to my earlier post is that you must maintain the proper pressure and be aware of it. I really do not see a mass deflation risk from a nail....unless the use it on rail road tracks...lol
G

[Splitlog]

YEP PLUG IT !
My plug was dead center and I ran it bald with no problems...just checked pressures as you should anyway.....save your money

[Willy Hank]

Plug It. it's not side wll damage or a bubble that formed. If it is a straight classic puncture plug it. I've plug'd tires and drove 100+ mph on the tire.

[PurpleDog]

lol, I always plug car/truck tire. But I'll never forget that one time the wife called to advise that she had a 'blow out' in her Grand Cherokee. When I arrived on the scene, my stomach kinda twisted up when I discovered a plug that I had just put in was the source of her tire splitting open catastrophically. Why that one out of the many I've done over the years, I dunno.

GDog, i hear ya and would normally agree with ya; but I'd bet you'd feel like shit if you later learned of something similar happening to a guy on 2 wheels.

His decision though right.

[Dogbone]

As a buyer of a new tire recently cause my other one had a nial in it but the damn thing didnt go all the way through....POS.....i thought about trying what i call a quill patch....what do you guys think about them.....
Patch Rubber Co. - Puncture Repair - Pilot Wire Patch Plugs

[BWG56]

If you use a mushroom headed plug, not a little piece of folded rubber you stick thru a tire, you would have to hit speeds that you can't achieve and the tire will fly apart before the mushroom plug flies out, unless the hole was that big you could stick a pencil thru. I 've been plugging tires for years properly with mushroom plugs which require a gun to install.
I would agree to replace if the plug was stuffed thru the tire and not done properly.

[1BADK9]

PLUG AND CHUG! I had a slow leak in my tire for the first 18 months I had the bike, I just regularly checked the pressure and added air, then when the tire was wore out I replaced it.......I had three small finishing nails in my tire that I couldn't see from the outside.