While cleaning my RK, I noticed that I have a nail sitting perfectly in my rear tire. Getting to the dealer right now is not an option.

No air loss so far.

Here are my questions:

Does having a nail in the tire mean that I have to buy a new tire?
(I was told that fixing flats on motorcycles is not a good idea)

Can I ride the bike into the local tire shop, and have them plug the tire while it's still on the bike?

 

Anthony...

Hopefully others will jump in on this but I would think, as long as it's not a huge spike sticking in the tire, having the tire plugged should be ok. I can't answer in regards to fixing it this way and leaving it. I would also like to know the answer to that. But plugging it should buy you some time.

Just my .02


Brian

 

Me personally for peace of mind I would change the tire. You only have 2 tires to depend on, don't need 1 of them going out in a turn or something. Just my opinion.

 

my dad has a softtail with spokes and it had a tube in it so when he picked up a nail they just replaced the tube and put a patch on the actual tire

 

I agree with CHEYENNE on the safty thing. Why chance it

 

The RKC wheels have tubes, so, you can't just plug the tire. For what the tire, tube & rim strip cost vs. peace of mind, I'd replace the tire.

Chris

 

If it is not losing air, the nail probably did not puncture completely through the tire. If it is a tubless tire, just patch it from the inside and put a tube in it. I would not depend on just a plug.

If the tire has around 8,000 miles on it, just change it. You are only going to get about 10,000 anyway. If it is brand new, under 5,000 miles I would patch it from the inside and tube it.

This is not necessarily the right solution, it's just what I would do.

Regards,

Bill

 

Here is what the Harley Dealer said about the nail in my friends tire. We do not patch or plug motorcycle tires. You have only two tires to ride on with no spare to rely on. Take the advice of many and change the tire and start with new tread. The 20K you spent on the bike is not worth the 150 bucks for a new tire or a 2 dollar patch. Good luck and ride safe.



[IMG]local://upfiles/494/D22E7E34BDA146BA8ACDBD63113E98FA.jpg[/IMG]

 

I agree - - throw the safety towel in - -you'll have peace of mind if you spend the 200+ for the new tire...sorry to hear about the tire - -but it's the rider that counts- - glad to hear you found it while parked in the garage-- not at 75 MPH!!!!- - take care of number one so you can ride safely another day!

 

Had new front and rear tires put on my "go fast" bike last Saturday and there was a nail right in the middle of the tread of the front tire. I had just gotten through running this tire 110 and 120mph the day before (obviously, not a Harley). I may have been lucky but it didn't seem to make much difference.

I wouldn't hesitate to patch or plug a motorcycle tire. Mine had been plugged with a nail for a long time.