Motorcycle Tire Repair Guidelines

[Shazaam]

This topic comes up often with the obligatory dire warnings. So ask yourself ...

How is the safety risk of a leak from a repaired tire any different than the risk of a puncture in the first place? The consequences are the same. The overall risk of injury is also the same. The failure probability of a properly repaired tire from all accounts is no greater than the chance of running over a nail in the first place.

So, if you're going to get squeamish, you should probably do so BEFORE you get on a motorcycle.

We live in an age where everyone sues anyone for anything ... so no wonder it’s hard to get a tire manufacturer or a repair shop to get past the liability issue to agree to patch a freakin’ tire. Our grandfathers would be amused (and also a bit ashamed) at us throwing away a perfectly good tire because it got a puncture. So, if you can’t get a dealer or tire shop to dismount the tire and properly patch it from the inside, then buy a kit and do it yourself.

Keep in mind that a tire manufacturer is in the business to sell tires so there's really no reason for them to suggest patching a puncture. However, Dunlop (to their credit) offers this advice:

"Dunlop recommends only permanent repairs performed from the inside of the tire, using a combination patch/plug method. Never attempt a repair from the outside, or inject a sealant, or simply use an inner tube, a patch or a plug as a substitute for a proper repair. Only a qualified tire repair shop or motorcycle tire dealer should perform repairs. Inspection of the tire and adequacy of repair becomes the responsibility of the person actually performing the repair and Dunlop does not warrant the results of a repair in any way."

That just about covers their butt, but there IS a point to be made here ...

You need to use a proper repair kit and materials, and only on tires suitable for repair. If you're going to do the repair, then YOU have to remove the tire from the wheel and do the inspection yourself. Here's some guidelines for either you or the tire repair shop:

The tire should NOT be repaired if:

• The puncture is larger than 1/4-inch in diameter
• The puncture is not perpendicular to the carcass
• The puncture is in the tire sidewall.
• There are any cut or separated plies
• There is any bead or carcass damage from running the tire flat
• The tire has been previously injected with a sealant/balancer
• There is more than one repair in any quadrant of the tire or there were two prior repairs to the tire.

[sfyamr1]

Motorcycle tires cannot be truly repaired. The deformation of the tire is at rolls from side-side produces forces, and lack thereof, they make it virtually impossible to repair them with any degree of reliability.

Repair kits should only be used to get you to a replacement tire.

[bbenn75820]

I wear safety and I buy safety, as much is possible considering what I do. I have repaired two rear tires in the last 3 years and continued to ride them to the wear bars. Usually I would replace them. The two repairs made no discernable handling or mileage changes. I know others who have done the same, as a matter record I know of know one who has had a problem with a repair. I do have a small circle of friends so that may not mean much and the cost of a new tire is " cheap" insurance. So I am on the fence on what to do next time I have a flat. repair/replace?

[jcarruth]

I repair rear tires if they meet all of the criteria listed above. The repair is done with an internal plug/patch, so the tire has to be removed to fix it. I have never had a problem with this type of repair. To get home when I have a flat on the road, I use gummy worms, then fix the tire correctly once home. I don't fix front tires they are replaced. I have had about 10 flat rear tires to one front anyway.

[Gearbox]

Originally Posted by sfyamr1

Motorcycle tires cannot be truly repaired. The deformation of the tire is at rolls from side-side produces forces, and lack thereof, they make it virtually impossible to repair them with any degree of reliability.

Repair kits should only be used to get you to a replacement tire.

On what is this statement based ?

The tyre companies certainly dont agree with this statement provided the guidelines are adhered with (example: those as already given)

[Kylipso]

Its a very touchy subject, while working at shops we would never repair a tire due to liability issues. Those people who did opt to do it themselves usually came back in a few days for the peace of mind. My guess is that it would hold up just fine on the street but in track conditions I wouldent trust any tire repair.

[jschmidt]

Originally Posted by Shazaam

This topic comes up often with the obligatory dire warnings. So ask yourself ...

How is the safety risk of a leak from a repaired tire any different than the risk of a puncture in the first place? The consequences are the same. The overall risk of injury is also the same. The failure probability of a properly repaired tire from all accounts is no greater than the chance of running over a nail in the first place.

So, if you're going to get squeamish, you should probably do so BEFORE you get on a motorcycle.

We live in an age where everyone sues anyone for anything ... so no wonder it’s hard to get a tire manufacturer or a repair shop to get past the liability issue to agree to patch a freakin’ tire. Our grandfathers would be amused (and also a bit ashamed) at us throwing away a perfectly good tire because it got a puncture. So, if you can’t get a dealer or tire shop to dismount the tire and properly patch it from the inside, then buy a kit and do it yourself.

Keep in mind that a tire manufacturer is in the business to sell tires so there's really no reason for them to suggest patching a puncture. However, Dunlop (to their credit) offers this advice:

"Dunlop recommends only permanent repairs performed from the inside of the tire, using a combination patch/plug method. Never attempt a repair from the outside, or inject a sealant, or simply use an inner tube, a patch or a plug as a substitute for a proper repair. Only a qualified tire repair shop or motorcycle tire dealer should perform repairs. Inspection of the tire and adequacy of repair becomes the responsibility of the person actually performing the repair and Dunlop does not warrant the results of a repair in any way."

That just about covers their butt, but there IS a point to be made here ...

You need to use a proper repair kit and materials, and only on tires suitable for repair. If you're going to do the repair, then YOU have to remove the tire from the wheel and do the inspection yourself. Here's some guidelines for either you or the tire repair shop:

The tire should NOT be repaired if:

• The puncture is larger than 1/4-inch in diameter
• The puncture is not perpendicular to the carcass
• The puncture is in the tire sidewall.
• There are any cut or separated plies
• There is any bead or carcass damage from running the tire flat
• The tire has been previously injected with a sealant/balancer
• There is more than one repair in any quadrant of the tire or there were two prior repairs to the tire.

+1, confirmed by years of shop experience and hundreds of proper repairs, FWTW.

[beekeeper]

The obvious solution to this discussion is for those who decide not to ride on repaired tires, sell them at a much discounted price to those who will ride on them. Everybody wins.

[JLGT1K]

I have had more flats than I care to remember. Usually its a new tire. I never get flats on old, blad tires.....WTF. I got a slow leaker on my 1098 rear and I am going to try like hell to get it repaired and balanced. I repaired a front tire on an old EX500 (brand new tire I might add), and drove it for 6 years or so. No problems.

[sirplamif]

Life is too short to be serious, laugh it up.