Lions and Tigers and Flat Tires, Oh My!

[kam582]

Ok, this is new territory for me as I haven't had the trike for that long, so please humor me. Was out and about yesterday on about a 150 mile ride. About 5 miles from home I began to notice the trike handling differently. Sure enough, after I got home I saw that the front tire was very low, almost flat. Pumped it up and it has a slow leak in it, at least while it is setting still. At first I thought, "no big deal, I'll take it to a dealer and they can patch it for me, I really don't even need to plug it to get it there". Then I thought, wait, it's a trike, only three tires, will a dealer even patch a tire, or am I going to have to buy a new tire. It's a Michelin Pilot rear tire mounted backwards and it only has about 2,000 miles on it. I'm not really hot on buying a new tire, or should I to be safe? Do you guys ride on patched tires, or do you buy new? The back tires I would patch and ride in a heartbeat, but I'm not sure about the front.
Thanks,

[keepinon]

I know I'll get disagreed with (it's your life on those tires) but since 1967, I've ridden on many a patched tire. And like you, I only tend to get flats on new tires.

JMO, your's may vary.....

[MDGeorge]

Did some one say "butt pucker"
I would think it is ok, but I know I would be worried about it the entire time I was on the trike.
Of course, it depends on where the leak is... Sidewall is not fixable.

[JaysGone]

Ive ridden on many a patched tire.
It all depends on where its punctured.
Sidewall or even close to it.
Replace.
If in the middleish. Id patch and ride it in a heart beat.
That said.
No shop down here will patch a motorcycle tire.
Front or rear.
Some wont even patch car tires anymore.
Me I use a mushroom patch and then hot seal a square patch over the mushroom patch.

Some things it pays to do yourself.

[FRR]

When I rode 2 wheels there is no way I would ever ride on a patched motorcycle tire. With 3, I might consider it, especially if it were a rear tire. I doubt I'd take a chance on a front. Not worth the worry.

[Gold Rush]

I have ridden on tires with a plug long enough to get home. A newer tire with a "T" patch might be OK. Again just depends on where the damage is. I had a rear tire go down once when I was still on two wheels. NOT FUN!!

In the end it's your life and your pocketbook. Peace of mind is worth a lot to me......

[msocko3]

The discussion of patched or not is almost like an oil thread, both camps have good arguments. IMO tires are cheap when it compares to you and your passengers well being.