I have a slow leak in my rear tire from a screw. How do I repair it myself or is there a better way?

Question

I was thinking about plugging it like i normal would do a car tire but curious if i can since i was told they are different type of tires. My local motorcycle shop said they didnt repair tires causing me to think that theres something behind it and I dont want to buy another tire since its already new. If i cant plug it then what else are my options besides buying a new tire. Any helpful advice will be truly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Not every place that has tires fixes them. There are places that will fix them though. Where exactly is your screw? Is it on the treads or is it on the wall of the tire. If it is ont he wall it is not fixable, if it is on the treads it can be pluged. Also you might want to look at something like a fix-a-flat. which is a spray you can fill the hole and inflate the tire. I don't know how reliable this would be on a motorcycle though. On a car you have 4 tires so if one goes it isn't too bad, but if youa re ona bike and it goes ... ouch ... check around for other tire places and see if there are ones around that will plug for you.

Answer 2

There are three primary considerations when repairing a punctured tire. You need to evaluate the damage the object caused as it punctured the tire, reestablish an airtight seal of the tire's innerliner, and fill the path the object took through the tire. Often a "mushroom" shaped patch and plug combination repair is is used when repairing a punctured steel belted radial.

Any repair done without removing the tire from the wheel is improper. Without inspecting the inside of the tire for hidden damage comes the risk of returning a weakened tire to service. Punctures in the tread area that looked repairable have revealed upon further investigation that the object that punctured the tire had been long enough to cut the tire's sidewall from the inside. Without dismounting the tire, the hidden damage would have been missed. Simply "plugging" a tire from the outside without removing the tire from the wheel is improper. (If a tire is punctured while off-roading far away from civilization and a spare tire isn't available, a plug may serve as a temporary low speed solution which must be replaced with a proper repair as soon as possible upon returning to the road.)

There are many different rubber compounds used in a tire. The tire's innerliner uses a special rubber compound that has the ability to better retain air. Once punctured, the innerliner must be cleaned, buffed, cemented, patched and coated to assure its ability to retain air has been restored. Since this can only be done from inside the tire, it's another reason that a "plug" only repair is improper.

Continuing to drive on a tire with a "slow" leak may allow moisture to seep around the object and into the tire. This will reduce the probability that the tire can be repaired properly because the moisture will ultimately reach the internal steel and fabric cords used to reinforce the tire and possibly cause rust and loss of strength.

As with most tire dealers, Hogan Tire uses the inside patch or inside plug method exclusively. Be aware that if a dealer or garage says that they can repair a tire in 10 minutes for under $10 dollars without removing it from the wheel, they aren't following the Rubber Manufacturer's Association procedures. A correctly done flat repair that follows the multi-step repair procedures will take approximately 30 minutes and cost around $20 depending on size. Driving on an improperly repaired tire is dangerous because it can further damage the tire and/or allow its strength to deteriorate over time. An improperly repaired tire driven at high speeds may suddenly fail, causing loss of vehicle control. Additionally, the use of an innertube as a substitute for a proper repair generates additional heat and should not be considered.

Answer 3

The best way is to replace the tire.

I know it sucks but this is not a car. A car is easy, get a flat and coast to the side of the road. Get a flat on a bike and it can kill you.

Whenever I have had a crash it was usually related to the tires. I learned long ago not to be cheap with tires. i myself would never ride my bike with a plug in the tire. just knowing it was there would ruin the riding experience because I would be thinking about it.

I can get you a tire very cheap. E-mail me and I will get you a price.

[e-mail]

Answer 4

Listen to the shop people, they won't repair it because when it suddenly goes flat when you're flat out going round a left-hander (right-hander if you're a Yank) and you slide into oncoming traffic and the first car runs over your legs so you can't move, then the next car runs over your arm so you can't wave and the truck runs over your guts which are now all over the road and you look down for the last time and say - "Glad I saved $200 on that tyre" your folks won't be able to sue them for millions!

Ask them about an inner tube or cop it on the chin, get a new tyre and be pleased with yourself you did the right thing

Answer 5

Take it off, have a patch put on from the inside, and put in a tube. It'll give you time to wear out the tire and still be safe.
You can't just put a plug in it, it isn't a car tire.

Answer 6

I would not ride a repaired tire on a motorcycle unless I had get home, or to a shop to replace it.

Answer 7

I've used the "rubber worm" kit you can buy at automotive stores -- rub glop over a rubber worm, push the folded rubber worm into the tire using a specialized fork tool, clip the excess off.

Just 'cause I've done it doesn't mean it's a good idea. Buy a new tire. Sorry.

Answer 8

sadly you might want to replace it if it was a sport bike you should probably replace it because they work harder than cruisers. but if its a cruiser you could take to the dealer and they could fix it for a good price

Answer 9

http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/infocenter_tiretips.asp?id=13#tip

Answer 10

REPLACE IT!!