On the Road Flat Tire Repair Kits.

[boburns]

I've always kept a Stop 'n Go mushroom plug kit on board my moto. I've used it only once on the road and it saved my bacon, as I was 2500 miles from home and 50 miles from a stealer to replace the tire. Yup, I did replace the tire, 'cause that what everyone said I should do. In other words, repaired tires are dangerous tires. But are they? My truck just picked up a good size wood screw in its casing, just under the cap of the tire. I grabbed the old Stop "n Go and plugged it with a mushroom plug. One knowledgeable "wrench" said I'm good to go for ever and ever, and another said, the steel mesh in the tire will eventually cut the plug in two, causing the tire to spit the plug out and go flat again. So, which is it. Door No.1 or Door No.2? We shall see because I'm not buying a new tire for my truck until I have to. Bob "Flylooper" Burns COG #5887 E Clampus Vitus, YB#1 '04 FJR 1300

 

[sean]

Bob, I agree - let 'em ride. I keep a plug kit and compresssor on my bike and in each of the family trucks and car. I've plugged 2 of the trucks tires and left them in without problem until it was time for new ones. Thousands of miles. On the bike I've plugged a couple of rear tires and left them in with the same good results. When the front tire picked up a nail though I swapped it out - I found it while at home and as I keep a spare set of skins around it only delayed the ride by a half hour or so.

 

[btdelp]

I also have Stop-N-Go plug kit and have used it twice. Although I do not "feel" comfortable riding with the tire repaired like that, I have ridden a few hundred, or even a few thousand miles that way before deciding to either: A) Repair it with a Plug-Patch B) Replace the tire You're probably going to be alright with the Stop-N-Go repair, but I just do not trust riding at high speeds with that type of repair. YMMV Brock T. Delp http://www.delp.net/Concours '99 Concours "Gypsy" COG #3903/A : IBA #15224

 

[smithr]

I think both are true. If you do not ream the hole enough then a steel belted bike tire can cut through a plug. I am not sure reaming is all that is needed to keep it from happening though. It does tell you to be sure it is reamed enough in the instructions I think. On a cage there is less flexing and maybe more meat for it to grab so less chance of it just splitting out. Between that and the three other tires you got I would tend to ride a cage longer then a bike on a plug. If a plug goes in the front tire of a bike I will think real hard about replacing it quick. Ever seen how thin a bike tire is or gets as it wares? Not much there for anything to grab onto. ---------------------------------- South Central Area Director Email scad@cog-online.org

<p align="left"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20211686@N05/">My Photos<br

 

[btdelp]

However, if you are too rambunctious and ream too big of a hole, then it might spit out and you're screwed. Been there - Done that. Ugh! YMMV Brock T. Delp http://www.delp.net/Concours '99 Concours "Gypsy" COG #3903/A : IBA #15224

 

[Ranger Jim]

I carry the Stop n Go kit and compressor on my bikes. I had picked up a nail in an almost new rear tire a while back. Installed the mushroom plug and ran that tire for over 8K miles. I really don't recommend that one do that but ... . I also plugged (with the mushroom plug) a nail hole in one of my truck's tires and ran it for over 40K miles. JMO. YMMV.

 

[S Smith]

Riding on a plugged motorcycle tire come down to asking yourself "how much risk am I willing to take." I see using a repaired tire as less of a risk on a 4-wheeler since the vehicle has the stability of 4 wheels. Stability is an issue with motorcycles and may warrant replacing a repaired tire as soon as feasibly possible. -- Steve Smith, COG #3184 (somewhere in south central CT)

If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space.

 

[Brett0769]

I've ridden thousands of miles on various car and truck tires with plugs in them and none have ever failed. (knocking furiously on wood) On my bike though, I've ridden a couple of thousand miles on a plugged rear tire but the tire was worn when I put the plug in so I didn't replace it because of the plug. Still, I had no issues with it while I was riding on it. I don't think I'd trust a plug in a front tire on my bike. It's really not that expensive to replace a front tire and the consequences of it failing can be dire.

 

[Raycad]

A few years ago, I plugged one of my car tires and not long after it deflated suddently on a gravel road. Seems that a stone pushed the plug inside. And the tire wasn't steel belted; the plug wasn't chewed, just pushed inside. Yes, I carry a Stop-n-Go plug kit and a compressor at all times on my bike. But the tires aren't steel belted and if I eventually plug a tire, it'll be to get home or to the nearest dealer. An inside patch, I can live with that and I did it in the past on bike tires.

 

[boburns]

A few years ago, I plugged one of my car tires and not long after it deflated suddently on a gravel road. Seems that a stone pushed the plug inside. And the tire wasn't steel belted; the plug wasn't chewed, just pushed inside. Yes, I carry a Stop-n-Go plug kit and a compressor at all times on my bike. But the tires aren't steel belted and if I eventually plug a tire, it'll be to get home or to the nearest dealer. An inside patch, I can live with that and I did it in the past on bike tires. Raymond Cadieux, Qu

 

[JohnC]

Well, I don't worry about flats any more. http://www.cog-online.org/clubportal/mboards/viewmessages.cfm?clubID=1328&forum=1124&Topic=18566 The stuff works quite well. tcars John tcars, John <a href="http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2570022160053698080RiCtLX"><img src="http://inlinethumb15.webshots.com/44174/2570022160053698080S425x425Q85.jpg" alt="Sadie"></a>

 

[COG-528]

Well, I don't worry about flats any more. http://www.cog-online.org/clubportal/mboards/viewmessages.cfm?clubID=1328&forum=1124&Topic=18566 The stuff works quite well. tcars John

John, A lot of these tire sealers are known for making a mess inside the wheel & tire that becomes a problem when changing the tire. Since I am not set up to do my own tires I don't want to create any extra problems I will have to pay for. What has been your experience when it comes to changing the tire after you have used the Ultra Seal? Also will Ultra Seal clog the tire valve if you have to let out some air due to over inflation? Also, The container of X-Heavy Duty Grade Ultra Seal you have pictured doesn't look like a 5 gal pail. Considering what Ultra Seal says about Consumer Sales, how were you able to get a smaller container and how do you handle installing it in your tires? Mike Aldea, COG-528 Hawthorne, NJ

 

[ibdave]

I cary a sticky strings kit with an inserter, a reamer and glue and a small air compressor which plugs into auxillary I have wired direct to my battery. I have never had to use it on the road. My thinking is it will get me home or to a dealer etc and so not leave me by the roadside. I have tried it out on a tire before I changed it (ready to be changed anyway) to make sure I could do it. It held air fine for 24 hrs then I changed it.

 

[JohnC]

Mike: As for the size of the container, the dealer I have nearby sells it in 32 oz bottles. As for the mess, almost none, especially when compared to "Ride-On". That Webshots pic of a tire, I took that off not too long ago and did good to get a little of it on the tire tools. As for a surprise need for a dealer for tire work, non-existent in 10 years. I had a surprise blow-out on the rear many years ago. I vowed then, never again, and that has held true for quite a long time. I won't ride on a plugged tire. I will ride on either of the two products I've listed, but only long enough to get a replacement tire. When my life depends on two tires, I do my best to make sure they can do the job expected. No surprises! But I will ride on one until the threads are showing. tcars John

 

[grizzly ashton]

Will a regular tire plug not work? Where can you buy that tire sealent or those mushroom plugs? Grizzly