I have vampires on my atv. I now have a flat vampire on the back. It has about a 2/5ths of an inch slit in the center of the tire. Tire shops are saying they cannot patch or plug and want me to buy a tube. Anyone have advice? Are the tire shops lying?

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Matt Sibley

1999 Honda 300 4x4 Vampires and 2500 lb. winch

 

you could probabley put a patch on it and then put the slime in the tire to seal the hole a little better just a try

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99 500 scrambler with hotseat pipe and clutch dg bumper soon to have pistons and air box mod 93 yamaha t-wolve with a broken taillight soon to be fixed tailight is now fixed now need to fix headlight

 

Flat? On a Vampire?

Matt, didn't I tell you not to ride on the razor blade factory scrap pile?

Just kiddin'. Sorry about the split. A tube may be the best way to go. From my own experience, low-pressure ATV tires and tubes don't get along too terribly well--there's so much flexing of the casing carcass that the tube's inclined to shift around, get pinched, pull out at the valve stem, etc. On the other hand, a new Vamp must cost a lot of dough!

That being said, in your place: I'd give the tube a try--tubes don't cost much, and what if it fails--you're no worse off than where you are now! (I believe the boys at the tire shop are giving you their best advice; I don't think they're trying to trick you.) Good luck!

Tree Farmer

 

I'm with Tree Farmer, the tube is probably your best bet in this situation, but I would also put a patch over the hole to keep the edges from wearing a hole in the tube or water and gravel from getting between the tube and the tire.

 

You guys don't think simply patching it would help? My dad is going to look at it this weekend. He said one way or another (tube or patch) we will get it fixed. And Tree Farmer I know you were just joking but I didn't ride over the razor blade scrap pile. I was riding down a canal and got stuck and a freaking snake crawled up under my atv. I hate snakes. After I got it out on the way out it went flat. I didn't notice untill I was washing it. Leave it to me. Those tires are supposed to be the toughest and good ole me got a flat even w/ VAMPIRES! I suck! not really! =)

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Matt Sibley

1999 Honda 300 4x4 Vampires and 2500 lb. winch

 

Matt, before you buy a tube you might want to check around in your area for a tire re-capping company & see if they have the capability to Vulcanize your expensive tire. If you can have that done your tire will be good as new. Well, almost

Cal, the Az hardpacker


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I've patched many splits with the string type patches sold by auto parts stores (Pep Boys) for radial tire repairs. sounds like about three or four should do it. Slime helps to seal up any gaps between the stringers, but usually isn't necessary.

I'm riding a S500 3500 miles a year and have at least 5 such repairs in the rear tires without a failure.

Good luck, but the WILL work.

 

I would put a tube in your tire i think they work great. The tire shop is telling the truth if you have a slit like that a patch can be put on but when you air up your tire the rubber will stretch and the patch will leak. I put a tube in one of my tires and it works good.

 

I fixed the flat. We bought the string plug thing kit. It is like a kit with 4 strings that are really sticky and self vulcanize in the hole. It is working fine. The only prob we had was that the tire would not seat on the rim straight and the patch would blow out at 30 psi. We finally got that to work right so thankls to everyone for their opinions!

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Matt Sibley

1999 Honda 300 4x4 Vampires and 2500 lb. winch

 

If that plug doesn't hold.Try a patch from a trackter trailer tire shop, They are alot larger and cover bigger holes better.