with

Update...rear tire held up nicely. 500 miles of freeway and twisties. Still hasn't dropped not 1 psi. Thanks for all the inputs, you guys are great.

Good luck. I think you should change before you hit tread's bottom, even without a plug.

I'm done with the rear. Just trying decide what tire to buy. The front still has plenty of life. Was thinking buying another stock tire to match with the front. Really want to throw on some pilot power 3.

The big reason why the rope plugs are not a good idea is because EVERY puncture should have the tire REMOVED from the rim to inspect the INSIDE. OR at least have the bead broken and a look see inside. You NEED to get an inside view of the punctured area. a plug inserted form the outside wont do this.

WHY? do you ask. I worked 18 years in a automotive shop/tire store. Mostly part time, but the experience is the same. two BIG reasons. If you don't look inside and make sure that the sidewall hasn't degraded - IE little rubber pills all inside your tire, and its weakened the sidewall and you wont know that its toast.

AND a much bigger object MAY have passed through the hole. You wouldn't have believed it by looking at the outside, but Ive seen a tire with a normal <1/8" diameter puncture that normally would be fixed that had a FULL size craftsman screwdriver inside the tire/wheel. The rubber stretched out enough for it to pass and then closed up. BUT you can be SURE the belts and a very large area of the tire/tread was compromised.

ALWAYS dismount a tire to be repaired, if you aren't going to be stranded and can do so. On the side of the road, and limping it home is one thing.

The front still has plenty of life.

rod, I hear what you are saying. Wad I'm saying is the tool I have with the rope repair is for outside, no need to remove wheel, tire, etc. So nothing personal, I'm just thinking out loud... Here is a company that has all the prep tools to send the ropeedope from peeing air out; you are free to leave the side of the road. And if you can't hear Sears making a house call thru the pilots; who's error is that? Besides, centrifugal force is going to keep it in one place. I'm just saying, let the balls roll up or whatever debris came thru. It's either quiet and rolls with the punches, is going to make noise, or shows a vibration it's that heavy. But the bottom line is... If it DOES NOT Leak after a rope suppository, I wouldn't be so anal I have to remove something to see how well it sealed. See wad I'm saying?

I just wiped some soapy water on the sidewall where the rope is. I'm looking for that bubble to expand. Stay here and watch it for me. Call me if something happens.

I always carry a plug kit and mini compressor with me.
Used it several times riding with buddies.

mrwoo:I'm done with the rear. Just trying decide what tire to buy. The front still has plenty of life. Was thinking buying another stock tire to match with the front. Really want to throw on some pilot power 3

why not I've been reading pilot power 3 are good and stock tires are not that great

why not I've been reading pilot power 3 are good and stock tires are not that great

An old front tire that is less grippy than a new, higher performing rear tire is a front end washout hazard. If you don't corner hard, I'm sure it's fine--unless you find yourself in a situation where you have to corner hard. If it was cold weather and I was done cornering hard for the season, i'd probably just replace the rear. You would be safer going with another stocker if the PP3 is a stickier tire than OEM tires.

Rook just what I was thinking. PP3 are supposed to be stickier over stock Bridgestone. I like to keep my tires the same. Stockers were good, pushed them hard and very little slippage. Just wore out real fast. Figured burn thru another stock rear, by then front stocker should be toast. Then get a set of PP3.

"An old front tire that is less grippy than a new, higher performing rear tire is a front end washout hazard"

OK, I just though he was talking about replacing front and rear

I also got a rear flat this week. I was worried because I had noticed a little rip along the middle of the tread that showed a tiny bit of cord. I figured I could make it to work and back once more . Wrong. When I came out after work I had about 10 psi in it. I wobbled along in the slow lane to a gas station, put 40 psi in and made it across the bridge and home. Since right now I'm so poor I can't even pay attention, I bought a used rear from a friend. Gonna put it on Sunday.

Mad

http://rotopax.com/Tire-Repair-Kit.html

The spiral driver is to size up the rope once the nail won't be that big of a tear so, oh look, tear more tire open.

The hoop sends the rope in once you pass the rope thru the hoop and now send it home.

I carry a bike tire pump under the seat so all I need are those two tools and a push bar. I have the rope from the car kit.

Add the gas can(s) and it's a tour package.

This is what I carry now.

you mean those three bottle will fill up that tire and where your water

Hopefully fill it enough to get me to a air station.

that's a good idea, I need to get that also...you never know

Man you need a new tire... I change car tires for a living..Motocycle tire specs aren't really any diffrent. You could probally push it for a few more miles.. But you see that little flat rubber mark in the tread groves. thats the minium tire wear indicater from the manufacturer. techinically on any part of the tread/tire groves reach that point tire is technically bald and no good as stated by the manufacturer. Your center tread is gone. you still have a little life in the side.

I changed the old tire. Put on a new s20 in a 55. Lovin it. Turns in alot better.

I got a flat in my rear tire last spring while on the interstate going about 75-80 mph. The bike started to feel weird, like the front was unhinged from the back of the bike. I rode to the next exit (about 12-15 miles) and found a large hole in the tire. Whatever punctured it was gone, but it must have been big, because it took two ropes to seal it. I had the tire replaced before I rode her again, and the mechanic showed me a large soft spot on the carcass-seen from the inside of the tire after it was off the wheel. He said that soft spot was probably caused by the extra heat of riding basically on a flat, even though the bead never broke or anything. I don't think I would ever trust a plug, just to get me home, and that at the speed limit. My wild & crazy soon took his CBR1000RR up to 140mph with the front tire plugged, and lived to tell me about it.