got a flat on my stock rear raptor tire. what is the best method for repair? should i put a plug in it? put an inside patch in it? or have it revulcanized for $20? any insight would be appreciated!

 

otterbob,

If a plug or two will fix it then I would go that route. Is the hole in the tread area or the sidewall? How big is the hole?

I had 8 plugs in a hole on the sidewall of my front tire that held pretty well for months. You have to glue it and let it sit overnight before adding air. Then, you have to cut off the excess plug material or it will catch on a rock or whatever and pull the plugs out. A razor works okay but a Dremel works even better.

 

Tire slime is the only way to go. had it in three out of four tires on my first four wheeler and never had a flat on it again. I have heard of people puting it in new tires to prevent leeks.

 

my tires are slimed but it didnt help. the hole is at the top of the sidewall alomst into the tread. the hole is about the size of a dime. guess i will try to plug it. does the glue come with the plug kit? about how much is a kit?

 

Plug kits are under $10 including the tools. Once you own the tools then you just buy the plugs and glue. Shove as many as you can in the hole (probably about 5-6). The tighter you can squeeze them in there without pushing them all the way through the better.

When you get the plug tool, make sure it is one that has a notch up on the side of the shaft. The one that has a slit at the very tip us way more difficult to use (It is hard to release the plug once it is in the hole).

Hope you can get it fixed without having to take the tire off the rim.

 

I put a huge gash on the inside side wall on one of my rear stockers. I put a tube in it and patched the gash. It hasn't been a problem yet.

 

chasman,

Did you patch it and tube it yourself or have it done. Just wondering how hard it is to change a rear tire. Do the bead breakers really work and then how hard is it to get the tire off the rim once the bead is broken?

Thanks.

 

Speaking of tires. Chasman? when am i gonna see my front holeshots again? and i don't mean on your quad.

 

NotuRaptor, I tried many methods of breaking the bead and the best way is to buy a bead breaker made for atvs such as the one Nacs Racing has. It is very easy to do with someone standing on the tire and you pulling on it to break it, its also adjustable for many sizes of diff. rims. Works wonders! Also my friend has a tire machine that breaks from the top so maybe also go to a shop that has one of the newer machines and see if they could do it for ya.

 

With a hole about the size of dime a plug (or 2) should work well. If it doesn't you could try a patch on the inside, don't use a little thin patch use a big thick patch some places call them boots. If you use the thin patch gravel and mud will get in the puncture and push the patch off. If you ride where there are many thorn bushes or thorn trees don't even consider a tube because you don't have the option of fixing it without dismounting the tire and patching the tube (becomes a real headache). I haven't had much luck with the slime type sealer, but some people swear by it. If you have a truck to haul your bike you already have a bead breaker. Take the air valve out, put the tire on something hard ( scrap of plywood?) and drive the truck over the tire (not the wheel), you have to be right up against the wheel and kind of steer around it. You may have to turn the wheel and try it a few times, but it has always worked for me.