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Why does my rear tire always get a nail?

15K views 30 replies 18 participants last post by  Retired Guy 
#1 ·
This is the third time I've picked up a nail in the back tire on a motorcycle... this tire happened to be a relatively new, somewhat expensive Pilot GT on my Concours. I ended up replacing it with a $60 Cheng Shin because I'm tired of throwing away money, and I heard good things about this particular tire on my bike so I'm giving it a try.

But I don't get it, I never pick up nails in my car. It has four big, fat tires, and I'm generally a quite reckless as to where I drive it. I don't see how I'm so good at picking up nails with the little sliver of rubber on my MC which only touches nice clean pavement.
 
G
#3 ·
Well, here's an Old School trick that I swear works (at least seems to) for cutting this down: Add a Front Mud Flap - just long enough that it don't touch the ground. Looks lame? Feels 'uncool'? You betcha', but since I've been doing this (yes, Harleys too!) I swear I haven't had a flat since (knock on wood!). Something to the effect that the Front Tire will kick up a nail in the road just enough for it to puncture the back tire. With a flap of sufficient length however the flap will hit the nail knocking it back flat against the road - allowing you to safely ride over it (with the back). For the first 15 years I was averaging at least one flat a year on bikes - for the past 20-25 years not one on bikes (cars however are another matter). JCW has as great set for about $4 - combine the two for an extra long Flap (on these lousy abbreviated Front Fenders these days). Nuff' said.

LRG :cool:
 
#10 ·
I have no probs with the plugs and carry a kit with me almost all the time. Heck, last year I rode all winter with a nail in my rear tire. I was planning on a new one in the spring and wanted to get a few more miles out of the stock one. It never showed signs of leaking so I just left it there. If I didnt have my sights on a different profile tire I probably could have got 4k more miles out of it.
 
#16 ·
I'll run plugged tires in a car and always run plugged tires on my 4 wheeler (one hole has multiple plugs in it) but the only way I'd run a plugged tire on a bike is to get me home or until I can get a new one. Call me crazy but I don't trust them when all I got is 2 wheels even thought he chance of it coming out is slim.
 
#15 ·
This only works with tubeless tires. Those of use with tubes, you get a nail your tire is flat, quickly.

I have to sympathize though, until recently I've rarely gotten flat tires, my most recent car has those new fangled run flat tires, picked up a nail in one and no one would patch it. Had to buy a new one. Three weeks later that new tire picked up dry wall screw. Had to get another new tire, ouch! :eek:
 
G
#12 ·
My dad had a nail in a tire on the trailer a awhile ago. It wasn't leaking so it ran it for 6 months till he had to replace the brakes. He decided to plug it while it was off the trailer and that's when he found it was in at a really shallow angle and was unrepairable. If it ain't leaking don't touch it.
 
#14 ·
Nails end up in your back tire because it costs more to replace:)....Its funny but I have had the same luck with tires this year, 3 tires 3 nails, I however have plugged a few of them but not for a high speed application
 
#17 · (Edited)
I too had a back tire with a nail....& like Harv....have a tire WITH tube...the nail ripped up the cords in my tire so I was screwed....fortunately I noticed it just as I was leaving a rest stop or it could have been worse.....AND smartly, when I bought Faith I purchased rim & tire insurance & thus the tube, tire & tow bill was paid for....the bad part was being without a scoot for a week because the tire was backordered....
just sayin'...

 
#19 ·
I too had a back tire with a nail....& like Harv....have a tire WITH tube...the nail ripped up the cords in my tire so I was screwed....fortunately I noticed it just as I was leaving a rest stop or it could have been worse.....AND smartly, when I bought Faith I purchased rim & tire insurance & thus the tube, tire & tow bill was paid for....the bad part was being without a scoot for a week because the tire was backordered....
just sayin'...
How do you get rim+tire insurance? I need to get me some of that!
 
#21 ·
Okay Schneidy....
Below is the addy for powersports complete...I bought Road Hazard Tire & Wheel Protection....purchased through my dealership at time of Faith's purchase....the price....$399.00 for the 5 years I'm making payments. This protection covers....Towing & Roadside assistance.....(you have to use THEIR provider)....Flat tires (reasonable costs)....Tire replacement (reasonable costs)....Wheels/Rims (repair or replace if rendered unserviceable)....Mounting/balancing (reasonable cost)....Taxes....Emergency Travel Expense ($50 per day...up to 3 days IF you're more than 250 miles from home)....it also states that this warranty may only be purchased at the time of vehicle purchase.:(

http://www.powersportscomplete.com/

So here's how it has worked for me so far....I had said flat....ruined tire & tube....my bill was....1/2 hour labor($29.00)....tire disposal fee($1.50).....tire user fee($2.50)....4 10G angled spoke($12.00)....tire M6002 120/90-17 ($92.95)....tube($10.95)....tax($8.11)....bringing the grand total to $157.01.....then we think about towing....when I had the flat I was approx 30 miles from my preferred dealer.....I understand most companies charge $75 to $100 for a tow PLUS $1 per mile.....so it could be BAD! As I used their provider....they called a tow from about 60 miles away to take me 30 miles....heh.....whatever. Anyhoo......it was very inconvienient for me....a couple of hour wait for the van.....BUT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING out of pocket!!!! And I have 4 more years of warranty....thats peace of mind for me....the same reason I bought the factory warranty on Faith despite the fact that Aeros are notorious for their reliability....having said that....lol....if I have another flat I'll be looking into brother LRGs solution....it makes sense! I just want to believe it was a freak accident....I dunno. As far as Big G's proposal....I just checked my Progressive Emergency Roadside Assistance....it covers towing (to anywhere within FIFTEEN miles:rolleyes:)....battery jump start.....emergency fuel & fluid delivery.....locksmith service....& flat tire change.....hmmmmm.....I dunno.....I'd be interested in seeing what others insurance covers.....myself....I'm glad I ponied up the bucks on the tire/wheel insurance....its already paid for itself in my mind.....
Just sayin'....
 
#25 ·
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This is the third time I've picked up a nail in the back tire on a motorcycle... this tire happened to be a relatively new, somewhat expensive Pilot GT on my Concours. I ended up replacing it with a $60 Cheng Shin because I'm tired of throwing away money, and I heard good things about this particular tire on my bike so I'm giving it a try.

But I don't get it, I never pick up nails in my car. It has four big, fat tires, and I'm generally a quite reckless as to where I drive it. I don't see how I'm so good at picking up nails with the little sliver of rubber on my MC which only touches nice clean pavement.
I'm aware that this is an old post I'm responding to but this old post will always be a relevant question/comment. I've been pondering this phenomenon for many years and concluded in my own mind that the majority of front motorcycle tires, which as we all know, are not under power from the engine and tend to roll right over nails and screws without tipping them up. The rear tire however, being under power, tends to tip nails vertical and they go right through your tire. Much like if you're jogging and your foot steps on an oval shaped rock, the rock tips up on end, you loose your footing and fall flat on your face praying that no one witnessed your graceful moves.
 
#27 ·
I've had a total of 3 flats in about 38 years of riding, all in the back tire and only one stranding me on the side of the road. I had one just a few hundred feet from a motorcycle shop so I was able to limp in and get a temporary repair until I could get a new tire, and the third one I discovered in my garage with the rear tire on the Goldwing totally flat. I never really thought about it before, that all the flats were in the rear, but I'd much rather have it happen to the rear rather than the front. A bad flat in the rear will make the bike sort of wallow around but it can be handled to come to a safe stop. A bad flat in the front could easily put you on the ground.

I don't have tire protection, but I do have AAA+ coverage, which covers both my cars, my camping trailer, my motorcycle and my scooter. I think my coverage runs about $180 a year for myself, my wife and my youngest son and covers all of our vehicles (if you join AAA the insurance is for the drivers listed, not the specific vehicles and the "+" is what covers motorcycles and recreation vehicles). When I had the flat tire in my garage, AAA sent a flatbed tow truck to take the bike to my mechanic for a new tire at no charge to me for the tow. The same coverage saved the day when I slid off the road in my SUV into a snowbank and was stuck in snow up to the level of my window on the Durango. I called AAA and never even had to get out of my vehicle into the snow (I would have had to crawl out the window). They crawled under my vehicle to hook up the chain and pulled me right out, again at no direct cost to me. Even with newer vehicles, AAA coverage seems like a worthwhile precaution and I've been a "member" for about 40 years.
 
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