RE: Radial tyre repair ?

["Minor, Bob" <Bminor@xxxxxxxx>]

The same situation pretty much exists in the US, motorcycle shops won't
touch them.  However you can buy a plugging kit and fix it yourself, but
if it was my bike I don't think I'd feel comfortable at high speed with
a tire plugged from the outside.  It is possible however, to have a tire
repaired from the inside and most auto tire shops do this routinely.  I
would think it would be possible to find a shop that would do this type
of repair, just not a motorcycle shop.  But you'd probably have to bring
them the tire off of the rim.

According to Dunlop's website, inside the tire repairs are OK when
properly done.  Here's an excerpt from their website:

Dunlop recommends only permanent repairs performed from the inside of
the tire, using a combination patch/plug method. Never attempt a repair
from the outside, or inject a sealant, or simply use an innertube, a
patch or a plug as a substitute for a proper repair.

Only a qualified tire repair shop or motorcycle tire dealer should
perform repairs. Inspection of the tire and adequacy of repair becomes
the responsibility of the person actually performing the repair and
Dunlop does not warrant the results of a repair in any way. Combination
patch/plug repair kits for use by the repair shop or dealer are
available with accompanying instructions from companies such as:

Remarco Inc.
200 Paris Ave.
Northvale, NJ 07647
(201) 768-8100

Technical Rubber Co.
P.O. Box 486
Johnstown, OH 43031
(740) 967-9015

Tip-Top/Moto Combi Kit

Tech Uni-Seal(r) Repair Kit (Also has been marketed by Honda, Kawasaki,
and Yamaha with their own part numbers.)
NOTE: There may be suitable repair kits and materials provided by
manufacturers other than those listed above.




- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-oilheads@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-oilheads@xxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Kit Scally
Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2006 1:35 PM
To: oilheads@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: Radial tyre repair ?

Recently installed a pair of (new) Avon Viper radials. Less than
2,000kms
wear to date.  Gutter-crawled at a set of lights the other day and
picked up
a nail in the rear resulting in slow deflation. Due to fear of
litigation,
most repair shops will now not plug/repair radials, so a new tyre was
required - at A$290 (U$145) !

Is there a "safe way" to repair radials for anything other than
track-days ?

What's the current trend in the good old US of A ?
Has anyone successfully sued their local council for the (here at least)
terrible state of garbage in the gutters on most suburban roads ?
Should you just lie back and think of it as "doing your bit" for the
world
tyre economy ?

Kit Scally
R1100s Mandarin, 110,000kms
Sydney

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