Hi All

Well, I thought this afternoon I would get on the bike and go for a blast (as it doesn't matter so much if I get rained on on the bike rather than the Luego).

Got all kitted up and went to wheel the bike out and it wouldn't roll. On closer inspection no air in rear tyre and there is a bloody wood screw in the tread.... These tyres are only 120miles old

I am a bit of newbie to bikes so a bit stuck... Does anyone know if you can repair bike tyres? Is tyre "slime" any good? or do I just have to say bye bye and fork out for a new £120 tyre?

Mark

ideally you want to get a new tyre, as repairs are apparently not that safe. I got a nail in mine after 100 miles but got it exchanged for free through the tyre supplier, its something Avon do.

I have in the past repaired them with no problems but the tyre retailers are usually very reluctant to repair bike tyres, they would rather you bought another.

You can buy kits to repair bike tyres now, even come with a little soda syphon gas bottle to fill it up.

You drag out the nail, rough the hole up and shove in a length of rubbery sticky stuff then pump it back up again.

link thing

It says emergency use only so how fast or long you leave is up to you. They use this stuff for car tyres all the time, I managed around 40,000 miles on my range rovers front tyre with this stuff before discarded because it was worn out.

Regards Mark

[Edited on 6/7/08 by mark chandler]

quote:

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Originally posted by mark chandler
You can buy kits to repair bike tyres now, even come with a little soda syphon gas bottle to fill it up.

You drag out the nail, rough the hole up and shove in a length of rubbery sticky stuff then pump it back up again.

link thing

It says emergency use only so how fast or long you leave is up to you. They use this stuff for car tyres all the time, I managed around 40,000 miles on my range rovers front tyre with this stuff before discarded because it was worn out.

Regards Mark

[Edited on 6/7/08 by mark chandler]

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as far as i'm aware there is no reason at all not to fix a bike tire punture, especially on mine as it has tubes

Bike tyres can usually be "plugged" if the screw has gone in reasonably straight and through the tread (not the wall).

Only way to tell if it's repairable is to take it to a reputable local bike shop and get them to look at it.

I went through a phase where my tyres were "magnetic" - less than 100 miles and they would pick up all sorts of sharp metal. sometimes they can be replaced and sometimes not

On a 30mph scooter ok, but IMO, at £120 you're riding a hi po sports or sports tourer, don't repair it sling it and fit new, 120 sovs is hard to swallow but your safety is at risk.

You'll find the national suppliers won't repair them, they are limitting their liability. If you had an accident that could be attribbuted to the tyre your insurance company would walk away.

if its on a motorbike then dont risk it
plugs can go and when they do all the air comes out at once - instant death..........

think about it in terms of how much you value your life.................

i went through 3 (current then 2 replacements) in 5 weeks

good points, I'll most likely get a replacement then for my new bike though I'll not bother with the 125.

Cheers for the responses!

The general concensus (and that of the tyre company and bike shop) is to just replace it... It can be repaired but they wouldn't trust it if it was their bike!

r1_pete - the bike is a CBR600F - not a balls to the wall bike (and probably doesn't need as good-a tyre as I have had put on but you are right, plenty powerful enough to not be worth risking!

Mark

Can I have your old tyre? I'll pay the postage!!!
I've repaired race bike and road bike tyres and as long as you use the correct "mushroom" and make sure it's properly vulcanised on to the inside of the tyre, there is absolutely no problem with a repair. If the tyre has been ripped or has a cut then that would be a different matter, or if the hole was very close to the tyre wall.