Track day with plugged tyre?

[BadDog]

My mate's at Rockingham on a track day on his R1 today. As he arrived at the circuit he notice he had something sticking out of his rear tyre so he's had the RAC out to plug it. The track day organisers were saying that when he starts going for it and gets some heat into the tyres, the fibres inside the tyre could fail and the tyre could disintegrate.

I've just called a couple of bike shops near Rockingham to see if they can fit a tyre for him, but they're all about to close or have a mechanic on holiday etc... One guy sounded surprised when I said that he couldn't go out on a plugged tyre and that as long as it wasn't on the tyre wall it should be ok.

Would you accept that the day's a write-off or would you chance it and go out?
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[Ariel Badger]

Go for it. I am suprised the RAC even touched a tyre though ( they normaly trailer you with a puncture as they do not want responsibility if the repair fails) but if they say it is safe it is safe.
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[CaNsA]

did your mate sign a disclaimer?
When motorcycle sos turned up when i had a puncture the bloke was all like "Ill plug it for you, will be ok for a while, but i wouldnt go on the motorway or the twisties with it."

He showed me a disclaimer form that i would have had to sign saying they accept no responsibility if they plug and it fails.

IMO i wouldnt go out on a track with a plugged tyre.


hth

CaNsA

[garth]

I'd go out on it.
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[CaNsA]

Yeah but, i heard your fukin nails mate lol

[Kickstart]

Hi

Personally I would use it as well if it is a proper plug done from the inside.

However I am surprised the RAC plugged it. Z rated tyres are not meant to be repaired under the relevant British standard, which some read as meaning that it is illegal to repair Z rated tyres.

All the best

Keith
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[garth]

[Mac_Black]

I had a brand new set of 016's about 2 weeks before my first track day at Anglesey earlier this month, literally the day after I'd scrubbed them in I had an inch long nail looking thing in there...
Was at college so took it out and it deflated, was not happy and usually I'd replace the tyre for peace of mind but due to budget it wasn't an option.
Had loads of work to catch up on so Ironhead_Tom and BeatNck2 very kindly removed the rear wheel and tyre and took it to be plugged for me.

Only took another 20 odd miles before I was confident to start thrashing it again and it survived the track day and ever since.
I'd say go for it.
I think the whole think with plugged tyres is more a theoretical problem than something that would be detrimental in practice because it forces the plies in the carcass apart and can snap them, obviously weakening the structure but unless this is on the wall then in most cases it shouldn't be a problem.

[bEN_]

Had my supercorsa rear plugged a few weeks ago, been hammering round as usual and it's been fine.

Also doing cadwell later this month with it.
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[MattEMulsion]

The plugs that the RAC and the other breakdown firms fit are the basic get you home type that are inserted from the outside without removing the tyre. A very basic plug and repair method. I would not go hooning round a track with a tyre repaired with one of those.

On the other hand a proper plugged repair where the tyre is removed, vulcanized and done from the inside out I would be much more inclined to take round a track without a problem.
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[Barry_M2]

Personally, on the road I would, but I'd never use a plugged tyre on a track day.
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[bEN_]

Just to add, mine was done properly, tyre removed etc.

there's no way i'd carry on riding it if it was done by the side of the road.
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[BadDog]

Thanks everyone for your replies. As an update, he didn't go out on the R1 again. The day was red flagged because it started raining heavily. He did manage to get a few laps on his mate's 749 though so all was not lost.

The AA always plug my tyre at the roadside, but as has been pointed out, they're not the permanent plugs used in tyre shops. I have been told more than once by AA men that when the temporary plugs were first developed, some guy had his tyres plugged 10 times and went round a circuit for an hour. It sounds like an urban myth to me.

I have done over a ton on plugged tyres before and not had any problems but I'm not sure I would have gone out on track myself.
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VFR400 NC30 > Kawasaki ZX6R > YAMAHA YZF-R1 > Moto Morini Corsaro Veloce

[neatbik]

As already said, the 'proper' plugs that go in from the inside of the tyre are fine.
I have a rear Dunlop tyre sat in my shed that needs plugging, then i will use it and not worry about it.
On the other hand, the temporary plugs are just that - just a way to get you home