Well, finally got my nice new exhaust and pcv installed! Had one good ride and noticed the next morning that I have a nail in the rear tire!!! Just my luck eh? My bike only has about 1200 miles on it and is just 2 months old *ARG*! So I called my local Kawasaki dealer and they said that they will fix it for $90. I called another dealer and they didnt think it was a good idea to plug / patch the tire. So what do you guys think? Should I get the tire plugged? Or do I need to go ahead and plop down the bucks on a new tire? As far as new tires, from what I see on here its going to be either the BT 016 or Michelin Pilot Road 2. I had one Kawai guy tell me something about putting the Pilot 2 in the rear and the 1 on front ? Anyway, what do you guys think? Fix or New?

Thanks in advance,

-- Rets

I am shocked a Kawi dealer will patch a rear tire, I wonder if once you have the bike there they will tell you that you need a new tire. But if they really will fix it, I think I would go for it. But then I would limit top speed on a plugged tire. You won't have long to go before these tires are worn out anyway, spend the $90 and get another 1000 miles out of them.

New tire, 100%. Those OEM BT-14 are not very good tires anyway. Do not even think about it.

I have asked the question myself and the answer was overwhelmingly, "replace, don't plug."

You only have one rear tire and if it fails you could be in trouble.

That being said, have you ever heard of a plug failing? I have not and have never heard a story of any such thing, either.

I would not do high speed on a plugged tire. I would feel comfortable touring a/o commuting with a plug.

$90 is TOO MUCH $$ to throw away on a tire you can't go fast on. Just spend another $30 and get a nice new BTO-16 in the 190/55 height. That will be worth your doe and you can go as fast as you want.

TIRE THREAD!!!!!!!!!!!

* Last updated by: Rook on 5/17/2011 @ 6:02 PM *

$90????? WTF that is WAY too much!!!!! It cost them $3-4 in supplies and about 20 min(if competent).

lol this is too funny, i was just telling someone yesterday that i was gonna get 2 seasons out of my rear Avon Storm and wouldnt you know that at bike nite tonight someone pointed out a screw in my tire. Oh well new Avon on its way hope it gets here by friday lol and fyi the thought of pluggin it never crossed my mind those tires are the only thing between you and the asphalt. BUY NEW TIRE!!!

jeff that estimate is right they charge 1 hr for tire removal and install + $30 for taking tire off the rim

retsam that nail is a blessing in disguise. them stocker tires suck damn good reason to get them off of there your problem is now you need to put matching front on also imo

For what it's worth, I would NEVER, ever, ever, ever! plug a bike tire. No way.

I would plug a tire, Edge. I keep a Plug-n-Go kit on the bike all the time. Out on a 1,000 mile trip, in the middle of nowhere, pick up a nail or something.

Fight the bike to a stop and feel great because you saved it.

Then your emotions crash. Even calling ROK or State Farm Recovery, you are 2 hours sitting waiting, at least.

Out comes the Plug-n-Go, pop, sssshhhhhssssssssssss, tire is back to 40psi, and good enough to get to a bike shop anywhere that can put a good tire on.

I wouldn't run a season on a good plug, but I'd run a week if thats what it takes to get a new tire on.

We were not speaking about emergency repair, otherwise my response would be the same as yours', Privster.

I got a nail once in the same place (inside the groove) with same mileage. I had it plugged and rode several hundred miles before replacing but never trusted tire for high speeds. If it was end of the riding season maybe I would just kill the tire but you're in Texas, always good weather. IMO wouldn't change both tires yet, front is still good. While the OEM BT-14's sucked, I bought another for the rear to keep tires matched. If you're going to change tires, check out the Pirelli Angels too.

retsam heres where i found the best deal on my tire and its free 1-3 day shipping

http://www.motorcyclemaniacstore.com/

Lovin the Pirelli Diablo Corsa so far. Great off-road grip, and wet grip. I might have done 100mph in the rain on the way in to work today. Very predictable feel.

Funny you ask that because I was in the same situation a year and a half ago. I ran over a screw also and was debating on getting a new tire. I asked around just like you did retsam and got a lot of advice. I was told to get a new tire from the dealerships other people was telling me to get it patched or plug. I ended up getting it plugged. It was a rear shinko advanced tire. I will tell you I rode that tire till it was bald. I had no tread hardly on it before I sold that particular bike. I rode fast on it and thank God it never failed on me, but I would probably get it plugged depending on your money situation. Its really personal preference.

Thanks guys for all of the advice yet again! These forums have helped me more than I could have imagined in the short two months of ZX-14 ownership. My intuition told me to replace the tire but my pocket told me to plug. But, being the primary bread winner, insurance guarantor, mortgage holder, dad and speed freak, I decided I'd better go ahead and spend the cash and get it over with. I have a real twitchy wrist and I didnt trust myself to not ride hard on that tire. The thought of failure at high speed stuck with me. Went to my local Cycle Gear and picked up a BT 016 for $172 and had the dealer install it. I also got road hazard for another $20. I usually look at the road hazard deal as a sucker bet but not in this case. Another nail would make me park the bike for the season.

Anyway, Im back in the saddle and riding again. Hopefully until the snow falls and avoiding all nails, screws and tire gremlins!

-- Rets

But, being the primary bread winner, insurance guarantor, mortgage holder, dad and speed freak, I decided I'd better go ahead and spend the cash and get it over with. I have a real twitchy wrist and I didnt trust myself to not ride hard on that tire.

I ended up getting it plugged. It was a rear shinko advanced tire

now thats funny shit there plugging a $114 tire lol

Have never heard of a plug failing, but I would not ride at sped with one. If you are just going to plug, just do it on the bike. Keep things mellow if you HAVE too. I myself would park it until I could afford a new one since it was already home. Just not worth the risk.

Had 2000 miles on my road pilot 2 and got a nail in the rear plugged it and got another 6000 + on the plug up to 160mph no problems just changed the tires yesterday to road pilot 3 will let you know what I think of them on the tire forum so far AMAZING!!!!!!

i have been 5500 miles on a plugged pilot road. also been 3000 miles on a plugged pilot power. i have plugged more then 10 tires and not one of them has blown apart. one actually lost the plug (mushroom type) and the air. i recognized this immediately and rode it home (carefully, and less then 10 miles or i would have had AAA pick me up). the technology in tires these days has far surpassed the ridiculous theories that i have heard from so many people about how tires used to blow in the 70's and 80's. todays sport tires are just built differently.

i should also say that tires i will repair have the punctures in the middle of the tread. (usually in the hardest compound when that is visible) IMO only about 30 percent of the tire is repairable. i also caution you to have a very good idea of how to make a proper repair. the reason they charge that much to repair a tire is because, more then any thing else, they don't want to take the liability. if they repair your tire, and you crash, some sue happy lawyer will figure out a way to sue them. believable story, right? with three years tire experience and 17 years riding experience, im not exactly going out on a limb.

do not repair a tire if you plan on competing, or running the tire hot. you would clearly know better then that. but as a commuter or even a tourer, i have no issue with it.

all that said, your tire needs replaced anyway. just change it out.

I've been riding since 1965, in those days I ran tube that looked like patch work quilts, since tubeless tyre came in I've plug and patched and never had an issue, all the hype about it is a load of B S as far as I'm concerned, any thing to sell more tyre and get your cash.
B-A

I did a couple of thousand miles in searing heat on a near brand new, but plugged, PR2 without any drama. But you know it was always in the back of my mind that it was gonna fail and I hated it!

For how cheap your tires are in the US I definitely buy a new tire for peace of mind if nothing else.

Before you go crazy figure out if the tire is holding air and if it is just pull it out. Hell it might be very short.

LOL he already replaced it guys.