Got a hole in the sidewall of my rear tire. Sucks, because it's only got a couple hundred miles on it. I used to work at a tire store years ago, and due to liability issues (I believe), we could not repair any sidewall holes.

I have read on other atv forums that people have successfully patched or plugged their tires and have had them hold for many years, but when I think about the abuse I put to the rear tires, I just can't imagine a sidewall repair holding up.

Anybody with a DS650 that rides trails really hard used plugs or patches in a sidewall, and how long did it last?

Thanks.

 

Had 489s on my tank-weight Sportsman X2. They were 3 ply rated. I got a good gash in the sidewall that was big enough to take 3 plugs. That patch held up to about 1000 miles of rocks, mud, snow, ice, rocks, hard pack, and more rocks.

 

I've plugged a handful of Holeshot and Razr sidewalls from punctures from desert terrain, rocks, shards, etc. They've all held up to the same abuse that caused the puncture to begin with. I've had a couple that took three or four plugs to stop the flow and they worked out. Definitely alot cheaper than a new tire.

 

First day I had my atv I took it up the alley. Came back with a nice gash in the tire.

Three plugs and it held up to anything else it was put through.

 

If you cam take the tire off the rim and patch from the inside it should work just fine. I did it a few times with good luck

 

Thanks for the feedback. I'd rather not demount the tire to use a patch. The potential is there to tear up the bead. I'll throw a plug in there.