nail in rear tire

i have a nail in my rear tire is it ok to plug?

 

Personally, I won't repair a motorcycle tire. I only have two of them under me and don't consider the dollar savings worth road rash or worse. But, that said, I guess it is technically possible, as long as the puncture is nowhere near the sidewall.

 

Manufacturers and shops will tell you NO with very good reason. The dynamics of a motorcycle tire are far more active than those of a car tire and do not lend themselves to repair.
Best be safe and don't do it.
That said, I have patched my rear tire but I also keep in mind that I do straight line riding and don't hang corners, thus avoiding stressing the patch. I will not do this for anyone else because of liability issues. You can make a determination for yourself based upon your riding style/behavior, the age of the tire, the size and location of the hole, and what type of patch you are planning on using (anything other than a "mushroom" type patch is a bad choice. You MUST remove the tire to affect a good patch with this type). ANYTHING approaching the side is an immediate no-go. If it (the hole) ain't dead in the middle contact patch of the tire, don't bother thinking about it. I will reiterate that I do NOT recommend tire patching.

 

I also agree, use a patch or plug only to get yourself home. Then go get a new tire.

 

JUST SAY NO!

Or as a last resort, install a properly sized tube within the tire.........

 

And don't try the slime or the other quick fix unless you want to look like someone shot you in the back with a lime green paint ball
They don't work the tire flexes too much beleive me I know..

 

Len, I have the tiniest little nail hole in the middle of a Dunlop tire with 650 miles on it. What a b*tch! The hole was caused by a wire brad which is much smaller than a finish nail. It is the rear tire on my SilverWing. I just can't throw away a nearly new rear tire. If I dismount the tire, verify there is nothing pokey pushing through the inside of the tire then it should be reasonable to tube it?

The puncture occurred within 3/4 inch of the center of the tire. Dang!

Loren

 

I'm not an expert on this, but............if the intrusion does not extend thru the tire, then it's possibly-perhaps-MAYBE safe to use a tire as Wamaxim describes. But what I think he is describing is a piece of metal that has penetrated into a rubber TREAD BLOCK ONLY, and has NOT made it into the belting or through the inner surface of the tire.

If that is true, then it's probably safe to remove it, test it, and continue on.

But if the intrusion is into the belt(s) or past them, then the only safe plays are to replace the tire or add a inner tube (if possible).

Vertebrae, leg bones, coffins, etc. are much more expensive than tires........

 

I've had rear tyres plugged before by specialist motorcycle tyre shops - they will only do one plug in the rear tyres, none in the front.

I've never had them leak / deflate.

Run a tube for peace of mind if you wish.

 

Done properly it is quite safe to do, but a repair unit like a tip top mini combi needs to be used regardless of whether it is a tubed or tubeless tyre and the guidelines need to be followed as only a certain area either side of the centreline can be repaired, any specialist motorcycle tyre shop should be able to do

Installing a tube in a tubeless tyre doesn't necessarily make it safe as it can lead to problems later in the tyres life if the puncture damage to the tyre isn't repaired as well

 

+1. If the repair is within the contact patch, is a small, straight through hole and you use a "mushroom" patch AKA "tech patch" it can be safely done.

The mushroom or tech patch I'm referring to is the type that has a plug "growing" out of a patch, it both patches and plugs at the same time. I JUST had to have one done on my cage, got a screw in a brand new Conti (exactly one week old, what a pisser.)

 

I had a nail in the rear tire of my Silver Wing. Lots of tread left. The bike shop tubed it. It went the distance.

A nail can cut a cord or 2, and the plug rasp tool can cut a cord.
From then on every revolution causes internal friction against the slack cord. The plug sits in a hole that is being distorted. Not good.

(BTW I had a lawnmower tire with 17 plugs and 27 more pinhole leaks !)