When you’re riding on a motorcycle, you almost always have to worry about a flat tire.
Despite being a necessary part of your bike and being incredibly durable, you can still get a flat tire if you’re not careful.
But even if you do happen to get a flat tire, you don’t necessarily have to worry since there is a way that you can fix up a motorcycle tire, and it is a lot easier than you might think.
In this guide, you will learn how to fix up a motorcycle tire and how to use tire plugs to make your tire run again.
Fixing motorcycle tires: what is a tire plug?
Tire repair can feel very intimidating, especially when you don’t necessarily understand its procedure. Motorcycle tire repair, especially fixing up a flat tire, is an essential skill to learn. And all you really need to keep your tire in good shape is to use a tire plug.
A plug is a staple in any motorcycle tire repair kit, since it is a product that can help repair all sorts of punctures and leaks in a motorcycle tire.
Applying a patch to the tire
Applying the patch is a very simple process, as you simply have to place the patch plug on your tire and then make sure it sticks with the help of an adhesive.
When you can get the adhesive in place, you can now use the patch to your advantage. The patch will now stick, so now you don’t have to worry about any air leaking from your tire.
Is it a permanent solution
It is worth mentioning that this is a temporary fix for a damaged tire. Regardless of how strong the adhesive might stick, there is always a chance that it might wear off, which means that the leak could happen again.
Therefore, you need to change the tube inside your tire as soon as possible since that is the only permanent solution.
Fixing a flat tire for a tubeless tire
While you can use a patch to fix a flat tubed tire, it is not very effective when used for tubeless tires. A flat tubeless motorcycle tire will require a different type of repair kit since you instead need a tire plug to keep tired from leaking air.
A much easier repair
Flat tires can be a real hassle to deal with, but luckily that isn’t the case with most tubeless tires, since all you need to do to stop it from leaking air is to plug the hole.
And of the different repair kits that you get for a tubeless tire, you will get an insertion tool that you will stick into the tire tread.
More portable insertion tools
Along with the insertion tool, you will also be putting in mushroom-shaped plugs that keep the air from leaking out of the tire. If you want something more portable, you can even get a pocket tire plugger, which can make easier to carry.
What you need to consider before you can patch a motorcycle tire
Patching or plugging a motorcycle tire is no easy job. It requires time and patience since one small slip-up can lead to you being stuck in the middle of the road with another flat tire.
But before you can even get around to fixing your tire, there are a few things that you should consider first. Factors like the speed rating and if there is a gas station nearby are all things to consider before you start fixing up your tire.
Here are a handful of things that you should consider before you start patching up your tire.
What type of tire do you have?
The first thing that you want to consider is the type of tire that you have available. More specifically, you want to check if you have a tubed or a tubeless front or rear tire. Since you would obviously prefer to fix your tire instead of getting a new tire, you should check since both of them will require a different type of repair kit.
For a tubed tire, you want to fix the tube inside of the tire, which you can do with a dedicated motorcycle tire repair kit. On the other hand, a tubeless tire doesn’t need a tube to be patched; it instead needs you to plug a hole in the tire properly.
What is the size of the puncture?
The next thing that you want to look into is the actual size of the puncture itself. A tire can deflate for a multitude of reasons, one of the most common ones being a puncture from a pin or screw. Essentially, anything the size of 1/4 inch is a small puncture.
However, it is also possible that the puncture is the result of a cut or scratch, which in case you need a lot more than just a plug flush to keep the tire intact. Depending on the type of puncture, you will need to be using different techniques to bring the tire in a workable shape again. just letting the air out. But if you have a tubed tire, you want first to break the tire’s bead away.
How to patch a tire
First, you need to start by removing the wheel from your bike and then removing the altogether. You want to make sure that you have your tire repair kit ready. If you have a tubeless tire, you can remove the breaking-off tire bead from the valve stem.
After removing the tire, start locating the puncture. When you find it, mark it with chalk and bring out the patch and the rubber cement. Next, you want to take out your patch and apply it on the puncture to seal off the leak, and then use some rubber cement.
Finally, you want to reinstall the tire on the rim and then reinstall your wheel.