Screw in my Bridgestone!

[brantvol16]

Need some confirmation here. Got back from the M2 exit course in Ontario (another victory in the parking lot wars!) yesterday just in front of a thunderstorm. In the garage, heard a funny noise, thought is was water dripping on the exhaust but NO - air leak in the rear tire! ARGHH! Did the inspection and found a screw imbedded in the meaty part of the tread.

Went to Autozone today and got a repair kit - awl, threader and sticky stuff. pulled the screw adn inserted the sticky stuff per the instructions.

So, big question - am I good to go or do I need to do something else? Tire is holding pressure fine, has 10K miles on it and lots of life left so I really do not want to change it if I can avoid it.

Comments?

Geoff

[cfell]

Geoff...
Lots of posts regarding this....

My tires still lose air and there are no patches on them... so that's not so much a problem.... I just keep adding when I lose air.

The problem really is that the tire might have a "significant" occurance and blow up on you (shred/delaminate,etc) ... even tho you would have your medical bills covered, the experience is not going to rank at the top of your "good days".

Even new tires have "problems"... but a damaged one will increase the likelihood of serious failure.

I have personally run the "mushroom" plug patches... not just the "plug" with a perfect success score.

As I see it, I will personally "patch" the tire "off the rim" with the "vulcanizing" style mushroom plug patch. Reinstall and monitor air pressure more intensely... such as checking between gas stops if we stop for a break. If you have a "monitoring" system onboard, the makes the chore nearly effortless.

If the tire hasn't been rolled too much on low air pressure, there MAY be no "internal" damage to the tire. If you rode it a while with low pressure you may have weakened the sidewalls of the tire carcass and that's when you need to "replace" the tire as soon as you can.. (That means, patch, monitor, go home or to Tire Dealer....NO NO NO...no, not at the end of the riding season.. or when you get extra beer money).

Of course, when you are miles from help, the Stop-N-Go may pay for itself...then you can decide after CAREFULLY riding home.

Remember, you MUST pay attention to how the bike is acting... if you get the slightest "what was that???" feeling, carefully slow and stop IMMEDIATELY when safe... at least slow down... until you can get to safe stopping area... then check the tires...

All of this is your choice... NO MC manufacturer recommends "patching" that I know of... so, any failures are on you.

PS>.. There is a new "external" tire pressure monitoring system advertised in this month's BMWON... check it out.

[brantvol16]

Deacon, do I read this to understand that a BAU patch for car tires may not "seal' the deal for MC Bridgestones?

The stuff I used is the same as the repair my mech has used for the car and truck. Can't imagine that the repair is good enuf for a 5000 lb truck is not workable for an admitably obese, but in this context, svelt MC.

Thanks for your help! I do have a back-up tire already mounted on a rim from a trike conversion but am somewhat reluctant to use it since the tire in question looks good for miles and miles and miles ...

g

[tvguy]

If you have 10,000 miles on the tire, it should be time for a new one...
Why risk issues from a worn tire. Just got back from the MOA rally and all the new and improved tire plug products were on display... all of them are very good BUT a temporary fix... get a new tire.

[rab1967]

There have been some good comments on the Ride On Tire Sealant on the forums. I don't use it because I have the Dyna Beads in my tires.

http://www.ride-on.com/

[brantvol16]

I do have a replacement - on a rim - in the garage but the rear tire on the bike looks almost as good. I seldom ride 2 up and keep it around 45 lbs so it is not showing any signs of giving up any time soon.

I am just concerned about the idea of having this style of repair on a MC tire. Never had a problem with it on my cars but ...

G

[tvguy]

I use Ride-On. It is nice stuff. But you still need to get the tire replaces or repaired.

[NRuest]

I know it is not recommended at all to continue riding on a plugged tire. Yes, you use them on your 4 wheel vehicle but there you have more stability if the tire fails. You may never have a problem but the chances that you may, as cfell said "will increase the likelihood of serious failure".

When I replaced my rear tire, I spent the $30 for the replacement insurance in the event this happens.

[Big_E]

I would run it but,that's me. I have run plugged tires before till they are used up & never had a problem.

[brantvol16]

thanks fior the feedback, guys.

Now, just need to figure out how to get the new tire and rim mounted on the rear without a m/c jack!

Must be a trick or 2 to getting the rear end high enough to slide the old off and the new one on.

Geoff

[Wolfgang]

Its a simple trick: Remove the license plate panel. Two screws...

[dfinazzo]

Now, just need to figure out how to get the new tire and rim mounted on the rear without a m/c jack!

Must be a trick or 2 to getting the rear end high enough to slide the old off and the new one on."

Well you do need to put the bike up on the center stand!! :D

Weight of the bike will be on the front tire

As Wolfgang says - time to take off the license plate holder (2 torx screws) and undo the wheel lug nuts

If you are nervous about the bike tipping back just place a few boards or blocks under the frame members ahead of the rear tire . . .