Plug your own leaky tires

[Tom Dunlap]

I’ve always taken leaky tires into a shop for plugging. It doesn’t look difficult. But either does cutting down a tree

The parts store has the plugging kits so it must be legit

What experiencesave you had asa a DIY

 

[southsoundtree]

I've done it once. My neighbor has a bunch.

Idk if that amount is rubber could offset the balance in any appreciable way.

 

[Boomslang]

Used them extensively when doing line work. Quick, easy, and efficient. They say they're only meant to be temporary, until you can get the tire professional patched or replaced, but myself and coworkers would leave them in for months to over a year in some cases with no issues.

I keep a pack in my emergency kit in the truck.

 

[Matias]

I have also had them in for years without issue. Ran tgem until the tires got replaced

 

[ATH]

I've also used them...and left them in place for longterm. I used the ones with the string thing. Thought about getting a more professional-like patch kit, but haven't had any failures.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

I use them all the time. Tires are too expensive to get rid of prematurely

 

[Mike H]

I recently replaced a worn chipper tire after a few years with a plug. The tire shop wouldn't repair a puncture through the sidewall. It held air without issue

 

[Matias]

I recently replaced a worn chipper tire after a few years with a plug. The tire shop wouldn't repair a puncture through the sidewall. It held air without issue

THAT'S good to know. I had never tried the sidewalls out of fear of the unknown.

 

[XTREEC]

Sidewalls are a bad idea other than emergency. I’ve used plugs in treads for years without a failure. The mechanic where I previously worked used them on municipal vehicles all the time.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I recently replaced a worn chipper tire after a few years with a plug. The tire shop wouldn't repair a puncture through the sidewall. It held air without issue

I’ve read enough to not plug a sidewall except to get from the side of the road to tire shop.

Think of sidewall plugging in the same way we view topping trees and cloning dinosaurs

 

[Boomslang]

Think of sidewall plugging in the same way we view topping trees and cloning dinosaurs

So it's all good? Because I'm having a hard time thinking cloning dinosaurs is a bad idea.

 

[Mike H]

The puncture went through the edge of the tread and sidewall

 

[Matias]

The puncture went through the edge of the tread and sidewall View attachment 97353

those tires have. gone. all. the. waaaay!

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I had two tire shops that kept me rolling. After asking both about a permanent sidewall plug they went deep about why it’s not a good permanent solution.

They trusted me w their trees

 

[Bart_]

Concur on the sidewall vs tread plug application. Can't recall if there's any betterness internal patch vs plug. Definitely there's a big durability difference between bicycle glue/materials and automotive. Way back I picked up a nail east of Whistler right at a scenic lake turnout. There was a European guy camping/touring out of his car who informed me a group of bicyclists were passing by. They gave me a patch and some glue. Young and ill prepared I thought canned fix flat would work. nope. So I hoisted the bike over a log, pulled the rear wheel, pulled the tube, patch it, reassemble, Bob's yer uncle. About 2 or 300 km down the highway patch blew off same day. Local automotive shop stayed open late and put an automotive patch on. Over a log in highway quickie mart parking lot for #2, luggage in back room ! Hitched rides to nearby town/shop I think with the whole back wheel IIRC. Got me back to Toronto plus more service beyond. That might have been the same day I got caught out riding mountain twisties in the dark by headlight in a rain storm trying to make Calgary.

Ahh the distraction from the current news cycle

 

[Matias]

Concur on the sidewall vs tread plug application. Can't recall if there's any betterness internal patch vs plug. Definitely there's a big durability difference between bicycle glue/materials and automotive. Way back I picked up a nail east of Whistler right at a scenic lake turnout. There was a European guy camping/touring out of his car who informed me a group of bicyclists were passing by. They gave me a patch and some glue. Young and ill prepared I thought canned fix flat would work. nope. So I hoisted the bike over a log, pulled the rear wheel, pulled the tube, patch it, reassemble, Bob's yer uncle. About 2 or 300 km down the highway patch blew off same day. Local automotive shop stayed open late and put an automotive patch on. Over a log in highway quickie mart parking lot for #2, luggage in back room ! Hitched rides to nearby town/shop I think with the whole back wheel IIRC. Got me back to Toronto plus more service beyond. That might have been the same day I got caught out riding mountain twisties in the dark by headlight in a rain storm trying to make Calgary.

Ahh the distraction from the current news cycle

I may be mistaken, but key to the endeavour is to patch inside the tire. This way, air pressure serves to assist the adhesive in its function.

 

[TreeCo]

I get tires plugged at a local tire business. They use a rubber plug that mushrooms out once inside the tire. guaranteed not to leak. Take if off the vehicle and put it back on. Total $12.

I've used the strings before and they seem to work OK but the glue in the tube is always shot when I go to use it. Hence the local tire company.

 

[Bart_]

Matias it was a klr650 dirt bike with spokes and tube. After my learning experience I bought a big can of automotive cement and automotive patch(es), filled about 3 tiny glass jars with good cement and made my own kit (with scraper) that resided in a small metal losenge tin. Still have it in my offroad backpack toolkit!

The tubeless plugging I've seen at my friend's motorcycle shop was rubber strips lubricated with glue, hole reamed mercilessly after nail removed, pushed through with a needle T handle, pulled back through partway then snipped off flush.

 

[Matias]

Matias it was a klr650 dirt bike with spokes and tube. After my learning experience I bought a big can of automotive cement and automotive patch(es), filled about 3 tiny glass jars with good cement and made my own kit (with scraper) that resided in a small metal losenge tin. Still have it in my offroad backpack toolkit!

The tubeless plugging I've seen at my friend's motorcycle shop was rubber strips lubricated with glue, hole reamed mercilessly after nail removed, pushed through with a needle T handle, pulled back through partway then snipped off flush.

Oh that's definitely how the plugs work. I misunderstood, and thought you were talking about the bandaid type patches that you glue inside the tube.

That's a sick bike too

 

[Bart_]

Had it for going on 37 years now. You could say it's looking a little tired (pun!) but it still gets up and goes. Same power to weight/zip as a 125 mxer but can highway cruise all day and tops out at 160 kph. can handle moderate single track and airtime is like riding a walrus

derail!