My rear tire on my Harley has a roofing nail in it. I want to repair it.
If the tire has a tube in it, then all you need to do is replace the tube. If the tire is tubeless, then you will need to patch and/or plug it. If the nail is straight in the tire (that means not entering on an angle or from the sidewall), then you can use a plug/patch combo. This is simply a patch with a plug in the center, which you repair from the inside of the tire. If the nail in angled, then you can only use a patch. Plugs don't work very well when the hole is on the sidewall, but you may still use a separate plug and separate patch on the inside. Purchase a good patch repair kit from you local dealer or auto store and follow the instructions to a tee. Then it'll most likely hold up for the rest of the life of the tire.
Dunlop (OEM tires) recommends only the plug/patch combo. On both tube type and tubeless tires. Keep speed below 50 mph for first 24 hrs. Never exceed 75 mph with a repaired tire. Only plug holes that are perpendicular to the surface. (nail straight in). Never repair a side wall. That's what the mfg. and mechs want done. I used to just pull the tube, patch it, put it back, pump it up and ride. I never bothered with repairing the tire itself. It did get a full interior inspection, though. Big holes, tears, cuts get replaced. Of course, those bikes only weighed 1/2 what an HD does.
use a plug kit like you get form the local auto parts store. HOWEVER? I would only ride a repaired tire in emergency situation, till I could get to a shop and buy a new tire. If you blow the plug? while riding? you will either have an interesting story to tell later, (assuming it is not fatal) Or best case, you have to push, a long way. If you can afford a bike, you should be able to afford a tire.
Dunlop (OEM tires) recommends only the plug/patch combo. On both tube type and tubeless tires. Keep speed below 50 mph for first 24 hrs. Never exceed 75 mph with a repaired tire. Only plug holes that are perpendicular to the surface. (nail straight in). Never repair a side wall. That's what the mfg. and mechs want done. I used to just pull the tube, patch it, put it back, pump it up and ride. I never bothered with repairing the tire itself. It did get a full interior inspection, though. Big holes, tears, cuts get replaced. Of course, those bikes only weighed 1/2 what an HD does.
If the tire has a tube in it, then all you need to do is replace the tube. If the tire is tubeless, then you will need to patch and/or plug it. If the nail is straight in the tire (that means not entering on an angle or from the sidewall), then you can use a plug/patch combo. This is simply a patch with a plug in the center, which you repair from the inside of the tire. If the nail in angled, then you can only use a patch. Plugs don't work very well when the hole is on the sidewall, but you may still use a separate plug and separate patch on the inside. Purchase a good patch repair kit from you local dealer or auto store and follow the instructions to a tee. Then it'll most likely hold up for the rest of the life of the tire.
use a plug kit like you get form the local auto parts store. HOWEVER? I would only ride a repaired tire in emergency situation, till I could get to a shop and buy a new tire. If you blow the plug? while riding? you will either have an interesting story to tell later, (assuming it is not fatal) Or best case, you have to push, a long way. If you can afford a bike, you should be able to afford a tire.
