Why don’t we plug tyres?
It partly a choice that we make based on our collective opinion, and partly a decision taken based on our liability should a plugged tyre develop a problem. In a show of hands around the dealership, half of the team would consider riding a plugged tyre, and half of the team wouldn’t. It obviously depends a lot on the tyre, where the hole is, how big the hole is and how we feel about the quality of any repair. We’d likely all consider riding on a well plugged tyre on a 125cc or scooter but the replacement cost is so close to the cost of a repair, it seems a false economy.
What about a repair if you’ve just bought and fitted the tyre? We know from experience how much it hurts to write off a nearly new tyre, but we still won’t plug it for you.
However, if you get a nail or screw within 1,000 miles or six months of us fitting a new tyre then we’ll fit you a new one for the cost of the replacement tyre only, with no labour charge.
Still going to get it plugged?
If you are thinking about getting a tyre plugged somewhere else, then the rules around the plugging tyres are different depending on their speed rating.
All plugs must be fitted only within the treaded area of the tyre, and only within 25% of the centre line. They should also be perpendicular to the rim.
Any tyre rated greater than J, all the way up to a V-rated tyre which is capable of speeds up to 149mph, can have one single repair with a plug of 3mm or less.
If you’ve got a Z-rated tyre, capable of speeds of 150mph or more, it can only be plugged if sanctioned by the manufacturer. That means checking with the tyre maker.