Tyre plug advise

[tjmouse]

This has probably been asked many times before but it’s the first time I’ve plugged a tyre so I’d appreciate your sage opinions.

Discovered a nail in my tyre tonight when I was pre-checking the bike before I do a weekend in north wales leaving tomorrow night. Plugged and re-inflated the first test will be if it hold pressure, if not then it’s off to the tyre shop. If it does are the wormy plugs good to leave in and ride on or should I be getting a shop plug out in?

The hole is in the grove which isn’t ideal but I’ve managed to cut it pretty close.

What say thee wise tossers?

 

[Bem]

Down there it has less chance of working loose.
Back in the last century I picked up a nail as I rolled off the boat in St Malo, plugged and checked all the way to St Moritz and back, plus another thousand miles here before replacement.
If it holds, it holds.
Tire plugger mushrooms are my preferred poison now, again used many on the bike and van with great success.

 

[seahorse]

When I commuted in and out of central London, punctures were a fact of life. Have replaced rear tyres which have had 2, 3 or even 4 plugs in. So for me they are essentially permanent repairs. Official line from suppliers is always gonna be that they should be considered as an emergency repair only. It depends on your own confidence in them really. I have used the sticky strings in this way countless times over the years on bikes and cars with no issues. But that's my decision at the end of the day.

 

[richardbd]

I too have ridden many, many miles on sticky string repairs. Wouldn’t do it through choice on a “progressive” road tour though. I’d always prefer to get a proper plug (tyre off) wherever practical.

After all, what’s £25 compared to a failed self-repair?

 

[TLSgazza]

I have used stop and go mushroom plugs until the tyre is worn out. Not too sure about a bit if the stringy stuff doing the same job, but others appear to be ok with them. At least with the mushroom type the air pressure inside pushes the plug against the tyre to aid the seal. They do work best with a straightish hole though. A nail going in at a steep angle is harder to seal so your stringy stuff might be better.

 

[stever1]

I had a stop n go plug in a car tyre for over 20000 miles. If it’s not leaking,leave it alone.

 

[adm1]

I have used Stop n Go mushroom plugs for thousands of miles with no issue at all.

But my preference is to have a proper tyre shop replace them with their much bigger, permanent mushroom plugs and glue.

I personally consider sticky string to be a temporary only repair (get you to a tyre shop), Stop n Go plugs to be mid term (i.e. finish your trip) and tyre shop plugs as permanent.

 

[Ian J Hartley]

It’s your tyre,
It’s your bike,
It’s your life.
You decide.

Me, like I always do post puncture repair, I’d monitor it for the first half dozen rides and if it holds forget about until the tyre is life ex.

 

[botus]

Tire plugger mushrooms are my preferred poison now, again used many on the bike and van with great success.

the temp plug is exactly that a temporary solution to keep the air in "and get you home" - then as soon as practicable - you swap to a mushroom bonded in place fitted from the inside and get the wheel balanced - a lot of good reasons why - like seeing how trashed the tyre is with it off the rim, before doing a long term repair - the likelihood of it being safe, air tight and long lasting etc. - the fact the temp bung will with our nasty roads wobble about and leak air and might leave you stranded, might allow the tyres to do stuff it shouldn't from unseen damage inside

there are a number of contrary issues here

in the old days a tyre did 1000 miles and so was bald before it matters - you are a biker - therefore by default you already decided to take MUCH higher risks than a "normal" human and frankly the temp bodge will likely last so who cares
but radials can now do 8k miles so a proper repair is desirable - and that tyre has 5 k left in it

 

[Steptoe]

I currently have two Stop and Go plugs in the rear tyre of my 1150RT, both been in place for 4000 miles.. I originally had a nail cause a puncture, and after removing the nail i plunged the reamer into what a thought was the hole, but it wasn't, causing another hole in my tyre .. plugged both holes, no air loss since plugging them 4k miles ago, so they'll stay in place until the tyre has worn out.

 

[cookie]

I'd do it myself with a mushroom plug.

I don't think a pro tyre place will plug that as it's between the treads. Not allowed anymore.

 

[tjmouse]

Thanks all for the helpful replies.

Ran some errands this morning and so stopped by the local bike shop. Tyre hadn’t dropped any pressure overnight and they were reluctant to plug it as it’s a slightly angled hole. Still he was impressed with the quality of the seal so I’ve left it plugged with string and we’ll see how it goes.

Might look up those Stop and Go plugs lots of you are talking about though.

 

[tjmouse]

Smooth running all the way. Shame the sites so busy…

 

[Wapping]

I currently have two Stop and Go plugs in the rear tyre of my 1150RT, both been in place for 4000 miles.. I originally had a nail cause a puncture, and after removing the nail i plunged the reamer into what a thought was the hole, but it wasn't, causing another hole in my tyre…..

 

[ninjarich1971]

Stop and go plugs all the way, never bothered changing tyre after puncture until it’s proper knackered. As said all over this, check pressures regularly until happy it’s perfect seal and then crack on.

 

[tjmouse]

Well the string failed overnight!

New string in this morning and found a bike shop that was open to put a permanent patch in.

Will invest in a stop and go kit now!

 

[Mr Bean]

Well the string failed overnight!

New string in this morning and found a bike shop that was open to put a permanent patch in.

Will invest in a stop and go kit now!

Good idea - both types have their strengths. Strings for (pretty much) anything that doesn't puncture at around 90 degrees. Only had one fail but that was my error.

 

[dmilne]

Stop and go

I have used on in the past and it worked fine - for a long time!. So much so that I keep one in the car now.

But the other day I had to use it on the bike. Used 4 plugs and eventually got one to work by slopping rubber solution on it.
Got me the 3 miles to the garage before it went down again from 4 bar to 1.2.

I think the plugs have dried out despite keeping them in a sealed plastic bag.

So what's the shelf life of the plugs?

or do I change to sticky string??

My original BMW ones ( the 8 shaped things) eventually perished and came apart when I tried to pull them back out of the tyre so I went over to Stop and Go....

 

[Anthony Byrne]

Worth a watch, strings for me

https://youtu.be/Qm6fTWaj3QE

 

[MotoRevive]

Worth a watch, strings for me

https://youtu.be/Qm6fTWaj3QE

That's a great video. Informative. And I agree. Rope plugs are by far the best "External repair". But I wouldn't trust one permanently. It's only glue and friction holding it in. It can be dislodged if you're riding unpaved roads or ride over something hard near the plug. But many get away with it for the life of the tyre. Mushrooms fitted internally are a permanent repair but demounting and fitting a GS typre DIY is no easy task.

Why not get a new tyre and repair the punctured tyre for when you're ready for new rubber. I'm a workshop tech. And I won't repair tyres for people. Not worth the liabilty. Because some people can be dicks. But I will fit a tyre they've repaired themselves (with a disclaimer on the invoice)