When i rode sportbikes I got a hole in one of mine. I had it pulled off the rim, plugged, then ground the plug on the inside, put a patch over it. I rode it another 3-5k miles before it was due to be changed. Believe me, I put more stress on that tire than ANYONE will on a harley tire. The liability is a way to make money. It can be done safely, they choose not to. Even with tubeless tires, they prefer to sell you a new tire.

 

There is no need in the world to replace a tire with a nail in it if it still has sufficient tread. Both HD and Dunlop have a proceedure for making such a repair, so for a dealer to tell you it's not done because of liability is just their way of selling you a new tire.

Bill

 

WOW! $300 for tire, tube, labor, glad I don't live where you do.

 

My last rear tire (Dunlap), tube, and labor was $148.00

bob

 

In my opinion, if there's plenty of tread left, I'd patch the tire and run a new tube,
as long as it wasn't a sidewall hole.
But at 12,000 miles, I'd be getting anew one.
Should be able to save some coin by at least
taking the tire/wheel off the bike yourself.

 

Thanx for the opinions. I ride the 91 fwy in 90 miles r/t daily in Los Angeles/Orange Counties and nails are the least of your worries. I read on the Dunlop site that you shouldn't exceed 75 mph with a repaired tire and I ride much faster than that so I'm getting a new one. I will ask for the punctured tire back this time as it has only 3K miles on it and see about having it repaired or giving it to someone less fortunate.

 

The dealer is looking at liability issues.

They plug or patch a tire for some fool, and he goes out and wraps the bike around a tree from his own stupudity. His family hires an ambulance chaser and sues the dealer, the manufacturer, the guy that sold him gas, the guy that planted the tree, the guys that paved the road, and anybody else they can think of. The ambulance chaser looks and says "hey this tire was plugged." Whether or not that caused the accident, the dealer will likely be held liable.

Better to cover their a$$.

Also, a new tire makes em more money than plugging or patching a holed one.

I've run on lots of plugged or patched tires. If the hole is a small one, and is not up on the sidewall, it can be repaired safely and reliably. I prefer to plug it AND patch it on the inside. If its done right it will never give any problem.

 

Prevention is better (cheaper) than cure.Try this: http://www.ultrasealshop.com/