Are Tire Repairs Safe?

I once had to replace a new rear tire that was just a week old due to a nail. But first, I scoured the web trying to find the answer I was hoping for, that a plug was OK, and found it - that, AND convincing arguments from others that a replacement is the cheapest life insurance you can buy.

What finally convinced me was reading a thread like this, somewhere else, where one of the strong proponents of plugging, "yeah, been doing it for years" wrote a post the very next day (I am not making this up) saying his tire failed on the interstate at the point of the previous puncture. Needless to say, he joined the other side and with it took my hopes of saving $200.

You can do a lot of things over and over that are ill advised and get away with it, but it's that one time when the universe aligns against you that matters. While moving, you and your 800 lb bike are barely in touch with the earth, given the size of those two very small contact patches of rubber. It's often a shame when you lose just one of them.


When the motorcycle is upright, the contact patch is oval-shaped and can be represented by an easily identifiable point. Things get tricky at lean and when weight and cornering/acceleration/braking forces are added, all of which distort the contact patch. Photo courtesy of Dunlop

I have plugged several tires front or rear with success every time. As long as the nail is in the tread space and not the sidewall I would do it with confidence.

Depends on how big the hole is. A good tire person can put a patch on the inside, and then run a tube. I have a fairly new Avon now, that has a hole so small, Ride-on won't even seal it. Ride-on says sometimes it's necessary to make the hole larger. I'm just going to tube it, as is, and go on from there.

Lets think about this. Odds are it will work. Brand new tire for $200.00 hundred removes keyword here (ODDS)

the rubber mushroom plugs work great.
the cord type has a habit of leaking after a couple of years and then u might run it low and have a problem

sonny said:

Lets think about this. Odds are it will work. Brand new tire for $200.00 hundred removes keyword here (ODDS)

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I disagree. New doesn't equal failure proof. However, I respect your thought process.

sonny said:

Lets think about this. Odds are it will work. Brand new tire for $200.00 hundred removes keyword here (ODDS)

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just saying
for me i figure the odds of getting a tire that will do a tank slapper also?
a little story front tire lots of tread left put a plug in it and by the time i got home it blew it out
put another plug with black silicone and it worked great but was going on an 800 mile ride so i threw that tire away.
i suppose i would be leery of putting a plug in the front

I have used radial plug patches exclusively for many decades. Never a failure in motorcycle tires, car tires and 18 wheeler tires. Actually first used them back in the 80's in my 18 wheeler tires. That being said, I have had dealer install a radial plug patch in a front Avon Cobra with 3,000 miles on it that ran to 14,000 and had a track day. I currently have a radial plug patch in my rear Avon Cobra. I am confident in the repair and don't worry about it.

Idaho Red Rocket 3 said:

I have used radial plug patches exclusively for many decades. Never a failure in motorcycle tires, car tires and 18 wheeler tires. Actually first used them back in the 80's in my 18 wheeler tires. That being said, I have had dealer install a radial plug patch in a front Avon Cobra with 3,000 miles on it that ran to 14,000 and had a track day. I currently have a radial plug patch in my rear Avon Cobra. I am confident in the repair and don't worry about it.

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14,000? Holy smoke. I only get about 5 on the back and maybe 6 out of the front- proper pressure, etc.

I've seen a thread on the wide differences we get in tire mileage here before. Here we go.....

Idaho Red Rocket 3 said:

I have used radial plug patches exclusively for many decades. Never a failure in motorcycle tires, car tires and 18 wheeler tires. Actually first used them back in the 80's in my 18 wheeler tires. That being said, I have had dealer install a radial plug patch in a front Avon Cobra with 3,000 miles on it that ran to 14,000 and had a track day. I currently have a radial plug patch in my rear Avon Cobra. I am confident in the repair and don't worry about it.

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How do you insert this in the tire? Inside out or outside inwards like the strip kind? Do you carry a tire repair kit?