BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Today, I found a nail in the center of my rear tire. I only have 2800 miles on it so I was wondering if it is okay to just plug it. If I have to get a new tire is it okay to mix brands? The front tire is a Dunlop and I want to replace the rear with a Metzeler Z6.

in my opinion, no i would not ride with a plug. Getting to a tire shop is one thing. Also, I would keep matching tread on front and rear if at all possible. The single most important thing on a bike is the rubber. NO plugs

I would plug the tire for the purpose of getting somewhere to replace the tire. One of the reasons I got tire/rim coverage when I bought my Rockster... a friend has already replaced a tire under the coverage.

With only two wheels, having the plug fail could kill you.

P

I'd plug it if I was on a ride and I needed to get home. I guess we all believe that a tyre could be plugged and ridden for its whole life without a problem. On the other hand, we're all too aware of the potential consequences of a failure.
Play safe and replace the tyre so you can ride with confidence.

The safest thing to do is obvious: Have a qualified motorcycle mechanic replace both tires with two brand new Z6's of the correct size and be done with it. Anything else will require a certain level (and it could be a very high level) of risk and/or danger. If you plug a tire, the plug could come out and you could lose air without noticing it until its too late to avoid losing control. It is a risk. You could get hurt or worse.
Here lies my problem with your question. What would Ido? Well I would look at the tire damage and based on my experience with plugging my tires (bike and car) and my success with that process I would or wouldn't give it a go. I have had bike tires patch plugged (from the inside)for me with success. I have plugged tires (string type) and used them hard with no problems. I have done things and seen thing done with plugged tires I wont even repeat here. I have had them with slowwww leaks. I even had an emergency repair(5 plugs in one hole!) come out while I was trying to crawl back to civilization. Luckily I felt it going flat fast and was able to pull over. But I always know I am taking a chance. I can't take this chance for you, so I can't tell you to go ahead and try plugging it.
I have had success and failure 'mixing' tires as well. I have no experience with the combo you mention (I assume a120/70 D208 front) on an 1150R so I can comment. I am sure someone else on this site must have tried it!

I would plug it, and I have successfully mixed tires on every bike I have owned.

You bring up another question regarding plugging a tire--
What type of plug is the best?
String type
Mushroom type
Inside glue type?

Inquiring minds want to know?

no plug is a good plug guys,,this is a motorcycle we are talking about with tires that can go flat in a matter of seconds..plug it and ride very slowly to the nearest time shop, get matching tread patterns .....sure some plugs can last and some mismatch tires will work but come on! lets not be silly

Recognize!

Against the advise of those who have gone before me, I have plugged many a motorcycle tire..... and have even continued to log on the miles on a couple of 'em.

The fact that you have to ask is reason enough to take the SAFE route. Need I say what that route would be?

Never a more frugal bunch have I dealt with than those who seem both to frequent this site AND will have chosen the R1150R over other BMW motorcycles (often-time trying to make of their Roadster, an RT....).
AND VIRTUALLY EVERYBODY HERE ADVISES SPENDING THE BUCKS AND REPLACING THE TIRE. (Does THAT tell you anything?)

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Go ahead and ride on a plugged tire:

If it's relatively new with very little wear,

and the plugged hole is in the meat of the tire
(as opposed to the thin area of the tread),

and you stay off the freeway,

and you drive very Very sanely,

and the tire does not have steel belts
(to slice at the plug),

and you're feeling lucky,

well......

are you Buckie?

There are instances where/when I did, and I put the miles on, with nary a second thought. EXCEPT where virtually all of the instances listed above were applicable...... but I was regularly taking the bike up to over 140 mph. I ended up buying a new tire to replace the brand new plugged tire......

So, you feeling lucky?

No - would not do it. Never have, never will.

Call me a silly billy but I would not hesitate in plugging a tire..but only if plugged at a shop with a big glue in mushroom type..no probs...

Those roadside quick-fix plugs are another kettle of fish..I'd be givin' them a miss..I'd pull the nail and screw a screw in to get me to a shop.

DJ

I've plugged a tire on the R1150 R. Had two weddings this summer and picked up a nail at the end of the summer. Figured I'd put off spending the money till next spring. About 8 days later I started dropping tire pressure for no other apparent reason than the plug failing. Took the bike in, put on a new tire, and picked up a gel battery and tender. Hey, well I'm there I might as well enjoy shopping!! Bottom line - it was likely dangerous and not worth the effort.

I carry a plugger when I tour and have used it to great advantage. It saved tours and expenses by allowing me to get my bike to a dealer and replace the tire. That is the underlying question isn’t?

No I would not plug a tire and expect to get “full life” from the tire. They are emergency repairs and you need to replace the tire.

In the US I think you would be hard pressed to find a dealer that will mount a plugged tire on a bike because of liability issues. Cars are a different issue. The advantage if a dealer were to plug a tire is that they could take the tire off and inspect the cords for damage etc. to determine if it could be safely plugged.

To put it another way: what does a tire cost v. what is the deductible on you medical plus the cost of repairing the bike if the thing fails at speed?

Replace the tire !

I carry a Tire Plugger and a pump, and woulld use it to get home or to a tire dealer, living in the middle of nowhere makes that necessary.

Mixing tires is no problem at all.

IMHO, I prefer Pilot Roads to the MEZ6, at least as good a grip when playing go-fast, better in the rain and better milage.

I am with those who will patch in an emergency only.

A rubber 'donut', or whatever, and tube of adhesive on the road side, in no ways could be an adequate substitute for the tires normal construction and compoud, in my mind.

A mushroom patch from the inside? Who is going to grind the scaly, rippled texture on the inside of the tire to get a smooth even surface adequate for that patch to adhere properly to? At a minimum wage tire jocky's level of skill? I guess if all I rode was to the corner store to get milk, that might do.

I'd do anything to avoid having to buy new tires every 3 months.

BTW: I'd like to second Dean's opinion about the Pilot Roads being better than the Metzeler Z6's.

I've actually put two plugs into the same tire, one of which was in the sidewall! I got home with no problems.
I also put a plug in the thin area of the tread of a tire with little thread left, and I had no problem losing ANY air. I haven't had a plug fail me. I was once unable to plug a Metzler Z4 though, as the hole passed through the area of it's cable "cord."

You can in fact consider plugging your tire with no worries, and put the miles on it IF you don't attempt to fix it on the road (reaming the hole out). There are some damn good giant mushroom combination plug/patches that use an adhesive that will make the patch one in the same as your tire's rubber. Pretty advanced good stuff!

Bottom line, I have been able to get home without having to phone for a tow simply because I carried the following items. Don't leave home without 'em!

Sure, I'd plug it. Done it before and will do it again. Now how long I leave that plugged tire on depends on a bunch of variables: how many miles left on the tire, season, bank account. Honestly, my life is worth almost $150 so I would eventually replace it but if the plug is holding and I wasn't going on some long trip in the near future then I may not be in a big hurry.

Haven't you heard that nails are attracted to new tires?

I have plugged tires for years. Never had one come out.

My Jeep has two plugged tires that have been that way for about two years with many long distance trips and our Saturn Vue as one plugged tire.

My Vmax has a plugged tire right now. I check on it often but no problem.

I use the wick type plugs and have never had a problem.
I am careful that I get a good amount of the wick into the tire with glue.

Pressurize it and test ride it and check it again for leaks.
I have never had one even develop a slow leak.