Ok, I know this is a contentious issue and great debate and opinion have led to many a passionate lengthy discussion based on varying parties predisposition however, may I offer a personal view of this matter. I stipulate that this is just a “PERSONAL OPINION” and not to be relied on from any technical representation ground …………. Ah ****, stuff the disclaimer crap, you do it, you were it, nuf said.
Now, as far as to plug or not to plug, that is the question? Patch and Plug or mushroom is your only real option. Pluggin a punctured tyre does have its merits however for those that elect this form of repair you should understand a few points.
A DO-IT-YOURSELF, tyre on repair is considered by many to be a high risk repair. If you consider a repaired tyre to be suitable for you, GET IT DONE PROPERLY!!!!!!
There are various points that should be inspected to make an informed decision on repair or replace. Stripping the tyre from the rim for an internal inspection is a must.
Ok, I’ll keep this a brief as I can but……..
1. Depending on where you have picked up your puncture will be the first point of consideration. A medial, proximal location is a lot more repairable than a distal, lateral one. Basically this means the closer to the centerline of the tyre the more repairable it is. Anything over on the high lean shoulder (Darksiders – This is a different language as car tyres don’t have lean angle shoulders, you have contact surface and sidewalls but same principal) should only be repaired and bike should only be ridden at limp mode speeds running tyre pressures as high as possible within specification prom manufacturer (or slightly higher) until you can get the tyre replaced. Although rubber compound and structural reinforcement is in these areas of the tyre, the lateral forces considering weight, centrifugal force, rubber stability, torque load and speed load, all contribute to massive forces and could cause instability in structural integrity of the tyre more than the possibility of plug expulsion. So if it is in the middle of tyre, ok otherwise risk is higher.
2. Depending on the size of the hole will also influence the size of the plug. A large hole will be difficult to repair. Also a large hole will likely have damaged more belt area and replacement should be considered.
3. If it is a stab in the tyre by a clean nail say, it is a better sign of decent repair as piercing the belt instead of a screw that will rip at the belt.
4. Speed rating is relevant as many people run tyres that are not rated as high as the speeds they run. This is a very relevant point. The ballooning effect of the tyre when spun at higher than rated is truly mind-boggling. If you watch the slow motion recordings of manufacturers spinning their tyres you would understand that our tyre stretches and expands so much it is ridiculous.
In summary I would say, that short of writing a multipage report of molecular matrix of the rubber compound through to heating, molding and however technical you get, the answer to the question will come back to a personal stance.
Personally, I believe that no tyre can ever be as safe or reliable as a brand new tyre freshly scrubbed in and optimally heated. That said a repaired tyre, as long as it is INSPECTED by a PROFESSIONAL and REPAIRED by a professional, utilizing the best quality materials and practices, a repaired tyre should serve you well. Clearly I think that the likelihood of this causing an issue is so minimal that I have nothing against other people doing this.
Then you think of it like this, $200 is much cheaper than a hospital stay. It’s crap that you throw out a new tyre but perhaps you can offer it to somebody who has no concern with repairing it. I got $160 for Pirelli Corso and the guy that bought it was going to plug it himself. Only cost me $110 extra for a brand new tyre. We were both thrilled.
If you are interested take a look at this web page.. I think it is very informative and accurate but remember I think it is written for car tyres.
Tire Tech Information - Flat Tire Repairs
