Nailed it! Time to re-tire?

[daveslash5]

Coming home from the Rally, I noticed that my front tire, a Dunlop Trailmax Mission, was losing about 1 psi a day. On arrival in SC I went over it and finally spotted a nail going in at an angle at the base of a tread block and pushed in nearly flush with the base. The tire now has 7k miles on it and at it's current rate of wear it looks like I could get twice that. These tires wear and preform well!
My first thought is to pull the nail, patch it and keep riding. I then thought about riding on a patched front tire and that worries me a bit, so I may be replacing it now. I will be riding on everything from interstates to fire roads and wonder how well a patch will hold. I am basically cheap but I like to be safe.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Thanks for the input.

Dave

 

[lee]

When you say patch, do you mean to remove the tire and patch it from the inside?

 

[Omega Man]

I don’t have a problem with a plugged tire. Whatever makes you comfortable.
OM

 

[mikegalbicka]

I would replace it, especially since I have the Platinum coverage with tire replacement. Without that coverage I would still replace a front tire but might ride a plugged rear with lots of miles left on it.

 

[akbeemer]

I have found that a rider who asks for opinions about riding on a repaired tire is very unlikely to ever feel at ease riding on the tire. It matters not what I would do. Do what OM suggests and do whatever puts you at ease.

 

[daveslash5]

Lee: Yes, a proper patch on the inside is what I was thinking.


Thanks everyone for the input. I have ridden with patched rear tire many years ago and it did OK, but that was in the 1980's with a 400cc Yamaha road bike. I would wonder about a patched front tire especially bouncing over washboarded forest service roads on a 1200GS. I think the "peace of mind" factor will overcome the "cheap, misery, penny pinching BMW rider" factor; I will see my dealer tomorrow and order a new tire since the bike has an appointment for it's 24K service anyway.

 

[pglaves]

For long term use - not to just get home - I prefer a combination plug patch.

See: https://www.amazon.com/Steelman-JSG381-8-Inch-Repair-Patch/dp/B00LB7GULO

These seal from the inside, but the plug portion also seals the plys from the intrusion of crud and moisture between the plys. For a simple hole, unless the damage is severe, this is a good for-the-life of the tire repair.