Which tyre plug?

[Fordward]

Had to plug a 1 day old Michelin Pilot Road 4 on Saturday.... bugger!


Still, I'm glad I was carrying the plugging kit.


What in your opinion and experience is the best plug type, and do you consider them to be a permanent repair?


Super sealastic (BMW toolkit, AA & RAC)


http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTE0MFgxNjAw/z/7iYAAOxyOlhS-g4P/$_35.JPG


Stop n Go


http://stopngoblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/mushroom_plug.gif


Sticky strip


http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v1/627618720/Safety-Car-Bike-Auto-Tubeless-Tire-Tyre-Puncture-Plug-Repair-Cement-Tool-Kit.jpg


???

[lumpo]

I've used the long sticky worm type plugs before. they work well but I consider them a 'get you home' repair.

I always get punctures professionally repaired as by taking the tyre off they can see if any damage to the inside tyre wall that could weaken the tyre.

[Alexander94]

I've got a repair with the mushroom looking one, it was easy to do and after about 500 miles seems to be holding up very well

[NTECUK]

I did a sticky string fix .
I took it off and did a proper repair.
I was surprised by how well it actually does its job.

[Bibio]

proper mushroom type. its like a patch with a string of rubber in the middle, only problem is getting someone to do it :-(

[Alexander94]

A friend of mine keeps a kit with the mushroom type in his top box and I got a puncture at the beginning of a 100 mile ride, we did the repair in about half an hour (we needed to work out how to actually use the kit as the instructions weren't very clear) and it's been fine ever since. I think the kit costs about £25

[NTECUK]

proper mushroom type. its like a patch with a string of rubber in the middle, only problem is getting someone to do it :-(

Yes its a proper patch and plug combo.
http://m.tyrebaydirect.com/shopimages/products/thumbnails/plug4.jpg

And just like the OP. Its allways a hoop thats less than 1,000 miles in that manages to get a nail..

Just like my PR4 80 miles !!!
I think that the builder's are responsible.

[aoleks]

just for the record, how exactly do you fit a mushroom type plug (or any other type) from the inside of the tyre if you're somewhere far away? how do you take the tyre off and put it back once it's fixed?

[Fordward]

just for the record, how exactly do you fit a mushroom type plug (or any other type) from the inside of the tyre if you're somewhere far away? how do you take the tyre off and put it back once it's fixed?



You'd need to carry the correct tools. A breaker bar and the right size sockets to get the wheel off, a G-Clamp to break the bead and get the tyre into the centre of the rim, a pair of tyre levers, and a bit of WD40 helps to slip the tyre over the rim.


I've only carried all the tools twice, both on trips to Portugal where I was going off road and up mountains and I was on a bike with inner tubes so plugs from the outside aren't possible. Where I was going there's no way your going to get help from a breakdown truck, so you have to be self sufficient and able to fix almost anything.


If you look carefully you'll see there are two tail packs on my bike, one on top of the other. The bottom one contains nothing except tools and spares.


http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/Portugal%202011/P1070456_zps3b9001ed.jpg

[Alexander94]

I did it on the bike. You use a punch type thing to push the larger part through the tyre then you pull on the tab that sticks out to secure it
EBay item number: 301662879242

[Fordward]

Breakdown recovery trucks don't go up here....


http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/Portugal%202011/P1070583_zps1b13fed7.jpg


Or up here


http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/Mexico%20Biking%20Photos/7396834272a8222625532o.jpg


http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/Mexico%20Biking%20Photos/7396834272a8222625351o.jpg

[Fordward]

I did it on the bike. You use a punch type thing to push the larger part through the tyre then you pull on the tab that sticks out to secure it
EBay item number: 301662879242



Think he means the big patch type ones NTEC posted above, they can only be done from inside, but they are intended as a completely permanent repair.

[Alexander94]

Ah right, my mistake.

[Bibio]

puncture slime. yes tyre fitters dont like it one little bit but the stuff works. also be careful when letting air out of your tyre as it sometimes blocks the valve.

you dont need to take the wheel off to fit a proper mushroom patch you just need to break the bead and pull the bead off to get inside. the mushroom type also need special glue to work right.

[andrewsmith]

My tyre fitter hates slime so much he's doubled his prices for tyres with it

Sent from my D2303 using Tapatalk

[NTECUK]

just for the record, how exactly do you fit a mushroom type plug (or any other type) from the inside of the tyre if you're somewhere far away? how do you take the tyre off and put it back once it's fixed?
If you have a tubeless type you use the temporary type(sticky string in my case).
Then when its convenient you fix it.
Remove the tyre .ream the hole.buff the area flat .apply glue.then when its tacky apply the patch.
Its obviously more involved ,but permanent.
It was Bilbo who I think wanted more detail on the permanent repair.
Tube tires are easier to break the bead on so you can break the bead with a lot less force as the rim is a different profile.

[Bibio]

nope not me. i know exactly how they work. i said finding someone who is willing to do it is the problem especially when the word motorbike is concerned and the usual bull is the tyre is curved.

[NTECUK]

It's not a biggy on the curve profile.
Trick is removing the silcone release agent.
A knife and solvent scraped over the area beforehand. Then you prep the area with a rasp(looks like a golfball lol).
You don't actually need glue on the area.
If you heat the patch (its like a heated pad on a clamp) it
self vulcanises.

[L3nny]

Used the worm ones twice, one on each of my Fireblades, both have remained in for the life of the tyre and I did Fireblade type speeds with them in.

Fireblade tyres don't last long anyway so they were only in for a couple of months.

Edit, actually 3 times, used one in my VFR as well.

[NTECUK]

Like I said .When I looked how well it actually twits and bungs the hole it been fine on my tiger.
But as I have the kit to do it properly.
Best use it.(Though its a bit smelly if you heat it :???:

[K5Rider]

I've used the sticky strips for a few years now on car tyres.


You basically use a tool a bit like the eye of a needle and push the strip into the hole, but leaving the ends hanging out side, so pressure makes the strip mushroom inside. Then cut off the excess on the outside. Repaired about 15 punctures with these and they survived doing 140mph+ in Germany.

[Viney]

13Amp

[Toooldtodie]

13Amp

Four candles? You betray your age sir!

[embee]

From all the comments I've found, most folk reckon the wiggly worm/gorilla snot strips are the easiest most reliable type for use at the side of the road, usually when it's dark and raining.


One tip which is often missed on youtube "how to" vids is to fit the wiggly worm into the threading needle, so it's ready to use, before you start reaming the hole and applying glue etc, otherwise you just lose all the air that might still be in the tyre. It's easiest to ream the hole and push the plug in while there is still some air pressure in it, if at all possible.


Often as not you've spotted the screw/nail before the tyre is completely flat. If the pressure is still OK I'd always leave it alone until you've got somewhere in civilisation, so if the fix does go pear shaped you are still OK.


Also opinions seem to vary a bit on how much to twist it when in, before pulling out again (matron). I think one full turn is about right. Done properly they are fine, not a permanent fix but safe enough.

[shiftin_gear98]

Two cents worth, I used a BMW donut, on a near new tyre. It lasted at least 4000 miles. Can't remember exactly. And I didn't stick to the 40 mile per hour limit.


Just remember to get the hole well lubed or it's a real PITA to ram in.

[Fordward]

Just remember to get the hole well lubed or it's a real PITA to ram in.

How long was it before your victim would speak to you afterwards? ;-)



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[Blapper]

I did it on the bike. You use a punch type thing to push the larger part through the tyre then you pull on the tab that sticks out to secure it
EBay item number: 301662879242

I like the look of that.