Bad start to the day

6

68lupe_imp

First service completed
Thread starter
The weather has been so nice here the last few days so I got ready to take a 100 mile ride. As I was rolling it out of garage my bike seemed a bit heavier than normal but thought surely I don't have a rear flat. Took a look & sure enuf there was a wood screw in the tire. Pulled it out - plugged it - no leak. But here's my dilemma - I have 5000 miles on the bike. I could go cheap & replace the back Dunlop tire(although it's proving hard to find that on internet) or just go ahead & replace them both now with the Michelin's PR3's.
Looking for input. Anything will be helpful.

By the way are the PR3's for our bikes this size - Front 110/80-18; Rear 160/60ZR18
 
If it were my bike, I'd continue to ride on the plugged tire until it was ready to be replaced. The OE Dunlops and Bridgestones are available online but lots of folks here love the Michelins.
 
Honest answer some people will ride on a plugged tire and some won't. You have to decide if you are willing to do that yourself. With 5000 miles on it it's got to be getting down in tread depth or squared off, so to me it would be a crap shoot whether to replace it or not. If I were just riding locally I might go ahead and ride it out. iF I were going a distance from home I think I would be inclined to just replace it.
 
I went with the PR3's well before my OE tires were down to the wear bars. IMO, the PR3's are far better than OE and if I were buying a new CB would have the PR3's installed before delivery.

BTW, I went with a 120/70 front and glad I did.
 
I ran several thousand on a plugged rear tire on the Griso. Tire was practically new when holed. Very annoyed. At the price of new tires I was not going to throw out a good tire so soon. So, depends on thread depth and tire shape and the hole.

Plugs are pretty good today so I'd ride until the tire wore out or the plug started to fail.
 
Thread starter
Read all I could here on the forum & chose to visit my local Honda shop. Went ahead & ordered the PR3's - they should be in by Thurs -hope to get em on by Fri. Y'all got me all gung ho about them & even though I didn't want to spend the money, but heck, ya can't take it with you. I'll keep y'all posted.
 
They're great tyres.
 
So what size do you get? I know. I've read all the threads and I'm still confused.
 
I've repaired over 5000 tires, 95% with plugs. Every type of injury from typical nail punctures to ice pick and bullet holes. Also corrected many failed repairs from other shops. All failures are caused by incorrect technique and or low quality plugs, patches and adhesives. As far as I know Tech International plugs are the only ones designed to vulcanize to the tire like most patches when used with the correct vulcanizing cement. I used Tech only and experienced virtually no failures. Correctly done the plug repair is permanent, lasting the life of the tire. Tech does not retail to the public but I have found some of their products on Ebay.
 
I've got the 110/80 on the front and the 160/60 on the rear. redbirds has put a 120 on the front and says it's great.
 
160/60 rear - 110/80 front Just put mine on Thursday,rode 100 miles on Saturday ,took it easy to scrub them in. Could not tell any difference from the Bridgestone 54s had 5600 miles on them. Next time out I should be able to tell how much better they are. I hope .
 
Alright, thanks guys. I'm going to make a note of that for future reference!
 
Tony.. Curious....what would put you in a position to repair that many tires? That's a lot of tires.

Bullet holes?
 
Tony obviously works in a tyre business.
 
I have plugged many tires, mostly on Semi trucks, only once on a motorcycle. Personally I usually go with a plug and patch combo. Have never had a problem
 
Thread starter
After seeing those 2 threads about plugging tires I know I did the right thing by ordering new ones. Personally I've only plugged one myself over the years(that one being on the bike this week) & it was only a repair kit I ordered from JP Cycle. There's a lot of great info here on the forum.
 
Motorcyclist magazine came today and has a article on this very subject.

Called "To Plug or Not To Plug"
 
DON'T trust a plug! I plugged the rear tire on my ST1300, twice, recently.
First plug held... second plug failed within days forcing me to ride her off the freeway for 10 miles on the flat... not fun.

Tires are critical! Don't be a cheapskate. Go for a set of new PR3's.
I buy all my tires here > MOTORCYCLE TIRE SIZES
I have my own mounting and balancing machine at home, a must have with 4 bikes to maintain.
 
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