I've never plugged a tyre but if needed I,d have probably been happy too! My brother had his tyre plugged a few months ago with no problems since, however he went out for a spin yesterday and went past a car and has he pulled back in he clipped a cat eye in the centre. Almost straight away the back went all uncontrollable and when he stopped the bike (luckily for him)the plug has come out. Frightened the life out of him. Don't think I,d risk it after that.
Thats weird as the pressure helps keep the patch in place, along with the glue and the plug part itself. Could it have been a shit job i.e. not rubbed down before fitting the plug?
if it's done proper the plug is put in from the inside on a taper,so cant come out,sound like it's either been done badly,or it's dropped back into the tyre somehow,but again,put in badly
As above it should not come out if done right. Many I know have said they would never have a tyre plugged but I've never had a issue when I had it done But understandably I would be worried if a plug came out and take it back to where it was put in to ask why this happened
I've had multiple tyres plugged without problem on road and track but it has always been done professionally with the tyre coming right off. Looking at the fix when the tyre is off there is almost no way for it to come out, also it is a backed by a 2 inch patch on the inside. My tyre guy will not do it under certain circumstances ie the position of the puncture, angle and proximity to other fixes. Maybe they were naughty and used one of those 'get you home' kits?? Anyway worth going back and having a word
Couple of things come to mind here......who or where was the plug fitted? Tyre fitters? Not all plugs are the same, tyre shops will use tyre patches with a long stem plug that goes through the tyre and seals the hole. The tyre patch plugs look like this. Other home fit plugs look similar in that they have a little bullet type shape that is fitted from the outside of the tyre ie tyre still fitted to rim, a fitting gun is used to push the plug through the tyre and the mushroom bullet shape springs out and is meant to seal the hole but I have heard of this type falling out before! Bullet mushroom type looks like this. The other common style is the string style plugs that are often slabbered in glue and pushed into the hole and and excess is cut off level with the tyre surface. I have personally used this type with out issues in the past but should be seen as a temporary measure. String type looks like this.
i,ll check with him what type it was but it seems as if its gone back inside the tyre. i,m just glad he got the bike to a safe stop!
I agree with Mike on this one. I wouldn't ride with a plugged tyre. If you want to risk it, its your call.
Ran my rear tyre since july plugged.I had 2 VOSA pull-ins and both looked at the plug and asked what it was.I shrugged my shoulders so they left it alone without digging anymore.MOT time coming up so new tyre is going on.Like others said its the bike owners choice.If you're confident with it plugged then use it.
Never had an issue, last PR3 rear was plugged 4 times. Every rear tyre I run is plugged at least once before it wears out. As above all down the rider, but at my mileage I cannot afford to be dumping nearly new tyres if the get a puncture.
I plug mine, I do my own, I use an approved system that's ok on 90% of tyres! it's the same as the mushroom shown! there is no way they can come out but I choose to fit a second patch over the plug, the glue is a vulcanising glue so it melts the two rubbers together, I struggle to understand how it could come out unless not fitted correctly, I do however explain all the risks that may be associated with such a repair, not that I have any doubt in them. At the end of the day I HAVE to fix my tyres, both car and bike as where I live punctures are part of motoring, I've had two on the car this year, even picked up a bloody screwdriver head last week! Good job I have the tyre machine to hand. If your not doing your own I can totally understand your concerns, however the fitter should show you clearly how the repair is done, it's not a job to rush and surface prep is a must but if done right the risk of failure is no more than the risk of a second blowout on a new tyre.
I am torn on this matter, I would happily plug the tyre on my old BM, it never gets over 80 and its got about 50Hp. As far as the blade is concerned it's another matter tremendous rotational and tearing forces are applied, it's easy to be lulled into thinking 'well its only 160bhp many bikes have 200 now... The bloody thing is a missile, it'll kill you before you can say 'knife', if it goes wrong at pace. For me plug's are just another chink in the armour. As far as tyre fitters are concerned, we are in agreement that the plug needs professional fitting and a diligent faultless installation. For us this plug we're having fitted is a rare and very important matter that we are taking very seriously, and I'm sure every tyre fitter is scrupulous in deed and action. (except my mate who is a tyre fitter, I wouldn't let him near my push bike tyre) but we all have off day's, I make mistakes at work. I only use the bike for fun so don't have the commuter pressures of cost, I do understand peoples difficulties so I'm not judging, I have done many things in the past in the hope of saving money. Mike. PS. If I was doing it I'd do it myself.
Like so many things in life we all have choices. I have been plugging my own tyres for as long as I can remember. I have even used a plugged tyre when I was doing endurance racing. If you don't have confidence in a plugged tyre then get it replaced but like so many have said if it's done properly there will be no problem.
I asked this question once about run flats on my car the also shouldn't be pluged, sports tyres have the steel bands closer together and it's impossible to drill a hole for the plug without catching a steel band and thereby compromising the tyres integrity, the plug can also let moister in around the steel bands you have caught with the drill which could corrode in time? Now I don't know if this is right or wrong but for the sake of piece of mind I will always replace the tyre?
A self tapping screw or the hard woodscrews that are used today could easily damage a steel band. I do realize its a small risk, and if the plug is done properly (not by my mate who often turns in still Pi$$ed from the night before. 'Sorry Paul') that lowers the risk again. But I change the tyre.
