Is this safe? (nail damage in tire)

Sicafied · August 27th, 2011, 07:09 PM

Hey guys, new rider here. Had my 250r for a few months now and I noticed a huge nail in my rear tire. After riding for a few days, I noticed that the nail was gone, and the hole is filled up with something. Is it possible to fix the tire or should I replace it? Also, is it safe to keep riding with the tire in this condition? Thanks.

TheMojoRider · August 27th, 2011, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sicafied

Also, is it safe to keep riding with the tire in this condition? Thanks.

I wouldn't recommend riding it as is since you don't know what this is and when it will let go. My general rule is I will plug and ride with a tire if the hole is towards the middle and replace the tire if the hole is on the sides.

Sicafied · August 27th, 2011, 07:28 PM

Thanks for the response, where can I get these plugs?

gfloyd2002 · August 27th, 2011, 07:32 PM

Not safe. You can ride with a plug if it is in the right place towards the center, but even that creates some debate. People don't like to mess around with repaired tires on motorcycles when the stakes are so high. Magical self-healing nail hole isn't a close call at all though - change the tire right away. You are asking for a very fast loss of air pressure at speed. I've had a blowout on a motorcycle, and let me tell you that it is NOT fun. Not something you want to mess around with when your life is at stake.

TheMojoRider · August 27th, 2011, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sicafied

Thanks for the response, where can I get these plugs?

Kragen, Pep Boys, etc. Any car store and even some hardware stores. Hard to tell how big it is but would recommend replacing the tire if the hole is very big. I only plug small holes. If you decide to put a plug in it, keep an eye on your pressure for a few days and see if it is still consistent. I also check a plugged tire more regularly, though tire pressures are set nearly before every ride. Yes, tires are THAT important.

TXJ · August 27th, 2011, 07:44 PM

I'd replace it. Consider the cost of a new tire vs the road grime in it now (probably w/ the nail still in there) popping out and creating a dangerous situation, and the peace of mind knowing your tire is safe.

It's probably losing pressure, have you been monitoring it daily?

You can get tire plug kits pretty much anywhere. Amazon has them for $8 or so. Any auto parts store, walmart etc would stock slime plug kits as well. But my vote is still to just replace the tire.

I have plugged tires before, it's a safe repair. But it makes me extremely paranoid. I only ride on a plugged tire if I don't have a extra one while waiting until a new one arrives.

HKr1 · August 27th, 2011, 07:49 PM

Nail's gone and something is in the hole...... Whats in the hole??

Sicafied · August 27th, 2011, 07:50 PM

I'm thinking of playing it safe and just replacing the tires. I don't know how the nail came out though, it was nailed in there pretty hard lol. How much would a new set of tires cost? And how much would it cost to have a mechanic put them on? Thanks again everyone

Sicafied · August 27th, 2011, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HKr1

Nail's gone and something is in the hole...... Whats in the hole??

I'm not sure, i tried prying it out but its pretty sticky.

TheMojoRider · August 27th, 2011, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HKr1

Whats in the hole??

The fourth dimension

AeroXtasy · August 27th, 2011, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sicafied

I'm thinking of playing it safe and just replacing the tires. I don't know how the nail came out though, it was nailed in there pretty hard lol. How much would a new set of tires cost? And how much would it cost to have a mechanic put them on? Thanks again everyone

I believe that's your best bet! I'm not sure about either of your other questions for sure, so I'll leave that to be answered by others that are more knowledgeable.

Sicafied · August 28th, 2011, 06:39 PM

Hey guys, after taking a closer inspection i've realized that the hole is actually filled in with a plug. I'm not sure how that happened though, must've been one of the guys at my university o:

August 27th, 2011, 07:32 PM	#4
gfloyd2002 User Title Free Since '12 Name: Floyd Location: Barbados Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): '10 Ninja 250R Special Edition Green Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 13 MOTM - Feb '12	Not safe. You can ride with a plug if it is in the right place towards the center, but even that creates some debate. People don't like to mess around with repaired tires on motorcycles when the stakes are so high. Magical self-healing nail hole isn't a close call at all though - change the tire right away. You are asking for a very fast loss of air pressure at speed. I've had a blowout on a motorcycle, and let me tell you that it is NOT fun. Not something you want to mess around with when your life is at stake. __________________________________________________ "Improvement makes straight roads, but the crooked roads without improvement, are roads of genius." — William Blake

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Nail Polish on rear tire -- damaging?	corksil	General Motorcycling Discussion	51	April 28th, 2015 04:20 AM
I'm on the road and I got a nail in my tire	SSG54	General Motorcycling Discussion	5	July 18th, 2013 07:07 AM
Nail In My Tire!	gilmorec61	2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	18	February 9th, 2012 06:03 PM
Will changing a tire damage wheel stripes?	headshrink	2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	4	November 27th, 2009 07:21 AM
Nail Question	BlueTyke	General Motorcycling Discussion	9	March 8th, 2009 02:47 PM

August 27th, 2011, 07:28 PM	#3
Sicafied ninjette.org member Name: Sica Location: Los Angeles, CA Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250r Posts: 24	Thanks for the response, where can I get these plugs?

August 27th, 2011, 07:44 PM	#6
TXJ Cranky Old Fart Name: TXJ Location: TX Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 08 DRZ400SM Posts: 189	I'd replace it. Consider the cost of a new tire vs the road grime in it now (probably w/ the nail still in there) popping out and creating a dangerous situation, and the peace of mind knowing your tire is safe. It's probably losing pressure, have you been monitoring it daily? You can get tire plug kits pretty much anywhere. Amazon has them for $8 or so. Any auto parts store, walmart etc would stock slime plug kits as well. But my vote is still to just replace the tire. I have plugged tires before, it's a safe repair. But it makes me extremely paranoid. I only ride on a plugged tire if I don't have a extra one while waiting until a new one arrives.

August 27th, 2011, 07:49 PM	#7
HKr1 IC2(SW) Name: Kerry Location: Pensacola Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: A lot.	Nail's gone and something is in the hole...... Whats in the hole??

August 27th, 2011, 07:50 PM	#8
Sicafied ninjette.org member Name: Sica Location: Los Angeles, CA Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250r Posts: 24	I'm thinking of playing it safe and just replacing the tires. I don't know how the nail came out though, it was nailed in there pretty hard lol. How much would a new set of tires cost? And how much would it cost to have a mechanic put them on? Thanks again everyone

August 28th, 2011, 06:39 PM	#12
Sicafied ninjette.org member Name: Sica Location: Los Angeles, CA Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250r Posts: 24	Hey guys, after taking a closer inspection i've realized that the hole is actually filled in with a plug. I'm not sure how that happened though, must've been one of the guys at my university o: