[JRRKAR]

This morning I suited up to head to work. Got on the bike, lifted it up and something didn't feel right. Look down to see the rear tire was flat. So had to take the truck. I tried to put air inthe tire but it was coming out around a nail just as fast.

Then to find out the shops won't repair a street tire due to the liability issue ( I called two different shops). My shop said they had a good tire patch kit but they couldn't install it. So a few questions for the forum:

1. Do you think if I patch the tire for short term it would be OK..until I order a new tire and get ti delivered?

2. Where's the cheapest place to get an Avon 240 tire from? I saw a post for Chaparral Motorsports for $216 delivered.

3. What would be the exact tire code for the Avon 240?

Thanks!

 

[Skwerlee]

It's been my experience that some mom and pop shops won't repair tires due to liability issues but legitimate OE dealerships absolutely will. I just had a patch/plug installed in my Avon 240 a little over a month ago. The tire code is Avon AV72 Cobra 240/40R-18

 

[dreadly]

I'm personally not very comfortable with the patch kit. I would use them to get me home or somewhere I could let my bike sit till I could replace it. Others I know would patch it and ride with it till they could replace it.

Personal preference.

 

[chris]

A couple of years ago I ran for about 1500 miles on my gsxr-1000 with a plug in the back tire not because I trusted it I just forgot about it ;D. And I didn't take it easy on it. Last year my stock rear tire for my stryker I had to plug it and ran it for 400 miles with no problems. I really need to go around my neighborhood with a magnet and pick up all the metal on the streets lol. Yeah you should play it safe but it will hold up if done properly. I always carry a plug kit with me and my small electric air pump on longer trips

 

[JRRKAR]

Skwerlee - I called two certified Yamaha dealers in our area (the only two) and they both said the same thing. The second shop (my preferred shop), said they used this plug on their own stuff, they just won't do others.

With the long weekend I was hoping to get at least one day of riding in. I would rather be cautious though and order the tire right away. If I can plug it, ride a little and then take it in next week once I get the new tire, that's all I'm looking for. I was really ticked at 6am this morning though!

Last week on our way home I was about 2 miles from the house in a little curvy section of road and something just didn't feel right. I'm guessing that's when I picked up the nail. I wanted to check the tires when I got home but I forgot. With the low profile tire I didn't notice that it was flat.

 

[Guest]

It's been my experience that some mom and pop shops won't repair tires due to liability issues but legitimate OE dealerships absolutely will. I just had a patch/plug installed in my Avon 240 a little over a month ago. The tire code is Avon AV72 Cobra 240/40R-18

You said (or more accurately, the shop told you), in this thread: http://www.yamahastarstryker.com/index.php/topic,3843.msg64326.html#msg64326 that your Avon was a bias ply. Which I thought was strange....if it's the one listed above, it's a radial, not bias.

More reading: https://www.rsracing.com/tech-tire.htm

 

[Darque_Bike636]

I wouldn't plug a motorcycle tire, but I've run over 1000 miles on a patch on my sportbike. I did the work myself though. You can buy patch kits from any automotive store. Doing the install isn't hard, but you need some good tire levers to get the tire off/on. The hardest part, in my opinion, is breaking the bead. I've accomplished this by using a long 2X4, hinged under the hitch of my pickup, to press down on a short 2X4 to drive the tire off the bead.

The next challenge is to balance the tire once it's mounted again. I've don this by placing the tire on the axle and setting it on a bearing assembly I made. Then spin the tire - where is stops is the heavy spot. Put a weight 180 deg from that spot, then spit it again. Do this until it spins and stops at random points. It is very time intensive, but this is how professional racers balance tires as it is very precise. There are a number of YouTube clips to guide you on this.

You mention the long weekend - well, you could do this tonight and with any luck be on the road Sat, Sun, and Mon.

 

[Skwerlee]

It's been my experience that some mom and pop shops won't repair tires due to liability issues but legitimate OE dealerships absolutely will. I just had a patch/plug installed in my Avon 240 a little over a month ago. The tire code is Avon AV72 Cobra 240/40R-18

You said (or more accurately, the shop told you), in this thread: http://www.yamahastarstryker.com/index.php/topic,3843.msg64326.html#msg64326 that your Avon was a bias ply. Which I thought was strange....if it's the one listed above, it's a radial, not bias.

More reading: https://www.rsracing.com/tech-tire.htm

I just spoke with Avon North American and they assured me that the Avon AV72 Cobra 240/40R-18 is in fact a radial tire. Some of the other sizes are Bias Ply and I think the shop was just confused on the details.

 

[Guest]

The R in the model # signifies it's a radial. It seems that the majority of rear tires are radial on bikes while a lot of the front are bias ply.

 

[JRRKAR]

Well the tire is ordered. Chaparral Motorsports for $216.88 including shipping. The only thing I noticed was in the number. It was Avon AV72 Cobra 240/40VR-18. I'm hoping that doesn't really matter since that was the only similar size listed.

I picked up a heavy duty plug kit and just tried it out. But unfortunately it was a 3" wood screw that went in on an angle, so the plug isn't sealing totally. So I guess I just have to wait for the tire to come in. A terrible start to a holiday weekend! I gues I could take the wife's bike and leave her at home.....did I say that out loud?

Thanks for the help!

 

[toby]

A couple of years ago I ran for about 1500 miles on my gsxr-1000 with a plug in the back tire not because I trusted it I just forgot about it ;D. And I didn't take it easy on it. Last year my stock rear tire for my stryker I had to plug it and ran it for 400 miles with no problems. I really need to go around my neighborhood with a magnet and pick up all the metal on the streets lol. Yeah you should play it safe but it will hold up if done properly. I always carry a plug kit with me and my small electric air pump on longer trips

Yep just use the sticky string type plug and some slime and and keep a small pump with you and it should last the life of the tire. But if you are still running on the stock Bridgestone don't waist money to have a shop patch it just **** can it. Or just plug it your self and get rid of it ASAP.

 

[JRRKAR]

Yes this was still the stock tire. Only had about 3800 miles on it. Oh well, that's life. But my wife is really ticked now because she REALLY wanted the wider tire. It will be real suspicious if she ends up with a nail in her tire next week...while still in the garage.... lol

 

[toby]

Yes this was still the stock tire. Only had about 3800 miles on it. Oh well, that's life. But my wife is really ticked now because she REALLY wanted the wider tire. It will be real suspicious if she ends up with a nail in her tire next week...while still in the garage.... lol

lol.

 

[JRRKAR]

Well it looks like the tire will be delivered Friday. Not being able to ride this weekend and next week really sucks! I didn't have a bike for 45 years, and after only more than a year of riding it really gets into your blood.

 

[strykenshane]

I feel ya brother, took a trip with the misses this past week to Vegas, got home late Thursday nite, couldn't help myself, went for a ride at 1:00 am, I'm sure my neighbors were pissed

 

[JRRKAR]

Well the tire was delivered yesterday. I didn't even turn off the truck....just went to the porch, grabbed the tire and headed a few miles down the road to my local chopper builder. Then went home and grabbed the bike. So by this afternoon I should be back in business. It's been a long week!

On a different note, the shop asked me what I paid for the tire. He looked it up for his cost, and his cost was $214, so only $2 cheaper than I got it for. He was a little ticked (not at me) that a shop couldn't get a better deal than anyone on the internet with five minutes to look around. He said it is hard to run a small business and pay for the building, employees, taxes, etc. and yet compete with the internet. So I guess the bottom line is $216 is a really good price for a $350 listed tire.

 

[Skwerlee]

Well the tire was delivered yesterday. I didn't even turn off the truck....just went to the porch, grabbed the tire and headed a few miles down the road to my local chopper builder. Then went home and grabbed the bike. So by this afternoon I should be back in business. It's been a long week!

On a different note, the shop asked me what I paid for the tire. He looked it up for his cost, and his cost was $214, so only $2 cheaper than I got it for. He was a little ticked (not at me) that a shop couldn't get a better deal than anyone on the internet with five minutes to look around. He said it is hard to run a small business and pay for the building, employees, taxes, etc. and yet compete with the internet. So I guess the bottom line is $216 is a really good price for a $350 listed tire.

yep the internet is killing small local businesses for sure. If money was no object I'd gladly order everything through my local guy so he could make some money too. I just can't afford to pay way higher prices that what i can get the same stuff for online.

 

[JRRKAR]

The guy told me that he was fine with me bringing him the tire. I said I really didn't even think about it before I ordered it. I found out last Friday and my first instinct was to try and get something ordered before the holiday. Besides the tire I'm also having him do our PA inspection for the year on my bike and my wifes. So there is a quick $40 for him. I like to support the local guy's as well, but also have to watch the budget. I don't mind paying an extra $20 to him, but some places try to charge you retail, which in this case is a huge difference. This guy just does this part time for now, so he just has a seperate two car garage as his shop. But it's still the idea of how do you compeat.

 

[JRRKAR]

Well the world is good again. I got the tire installed yesterday and went for a ride last night and this morning. We had to do some serious highway speeds today to outrun a huge storm but we got home with only a few drops of rain.

In comparing the stock tire and the 240 side by side, there isn't a huge noticable difference, but it does lift the bike up a good bit. So I went and ordered the PCS link right away. From one mod to another!

 

[elle]

Well the world is good again. I got the tire installed yesterday and went for a ride last night and this morning. We had to do some serious highway speeds today to outrun a huge storm but we got home with only a few drops of rain.

In comparing the stock tire and the 240 side by side, there isn't a huge noticable difference, but it does lift the bike up a good bit. So I went and ordered the PCS link right away. From one mod to another!

And the mods never end, do they? I didn't really notice a difference with the 240 tire and the bike lowered 2 in, except I could stretch my legs out more when I stopped