Puncture

[The Doctor 46]

I gave the bike a quick wash today to clean the fly's off, cleaned and lubed the chain and gave the whole bike a quick look over. I found a screw loose on the chain guard, no big deal and the kind of thing I was looking for but then found a small nail in my new back tyre. Talk about p****d off!  .

I've ordered a puncture repair kit but the puncture is loosing no air so, I'll ride it slow until the kit comes and I fix it. Would a garage make a better repair than I can do myself?

Something similar happened with my BMW years ago, new back tyre and a puncture. I had a garage repair it and the tyre lasted right down to it's last 1 mil of tread and I didn't restrict my speed with it. 

 

[The Doctor 46]

With reference to my last, I have not removed the nail yet, obviously.

[Mojo-Jojo]

Having it plugged properly from the inside is preferable to the repair kits that are meant to be temporary, although some have used the repair kit and still used the tyre for a long time.

[The Doctor 46]

Thank you Mojo-Jo jo. I'll take it in tomorrow and see if they will plug it. If they do, the kit I ordered won't go to waste it will live under the seat for emergencies. 

[Oop North John]

With respect to a "proper" repair, some tyre manufacturers don't allow / recommend it which can make a professional repairer unlikely to do it. IIRC when I last had a proper internal repair, Michelin didn't recommend, but Metzler did. I had a Tourance next on then 

[UK_Vstrom650]

My local mechanic patched a new Michelin tyre without issue. Was almost brand new when a screw went through the centre of the tyre. Repair lasted the life of the tyre.
Definitely get it professionally fixed.

[Keith60]

Until you pull the nail out, you’ll not know it’s a puncture.   I’d pull it out sooner than later and not ride with the nail in as that could make it go further in and cause a puncture. 

[kwackboy]

With respect to a "proper" repair, some tyre manufacturers don't allow / recommend it which can make a professional repairer unlikely to do it. IIRC when I last had a proper internal repair, Michelin didn't recommend, but Metzler did. I had a Tourance next on then 

Of course they don't recommended it....

They want you to purchase a new tyre.

[The Doctor 46]

The bike's booked in for the 17th, the earliest slot available at my local garage who will do the repair, no question. To be honest I'm not 100% sure it is a nail in the tyre. The tread pattern has small round holes as well as groves and in one of the's small holes is where the nail (?) is. It could be a small stone and the spit test shows me it is not leaking at all.

I don't want to remove it then maybe end up with a flat tyre until I'm at the garage where it will be repaired so I'm going to leave it in. I have been honest with the mechanic and he said it is okay if on the day he isn't needed, he understands and would do the same in my position.

So, until then I am going to continue using my bike with the emergency kit under the seat but limit the speed until it's sorted. I could drive everywhere but I hate driving unless I need to go a long way on motorways. I'll let you know how I get on.

Thanks for the advise and comments and for anybody who thinks I may be a little crazy, I am.   

[Pannier Down]

I had this experience.  Eventually I decided I needed to know so pulled the 'nail' out. Twas a small staple just a mm or two into the tread. Fingers crossed,  you may be lucky 🙏

[vstroman]

I'm guessing you've got Road 5's fitted, as the man said unless you pull whatever it is out it might not even be a puncture, I had a sharp stone puncture a Road 5 trail before in one of those grooves, soft tyres but great grip.

[The Doctor 46]

No puncture. It was a stone which has removed it's self. Still, I now have a puncture kit under the seat now for emergencies. Bought from ebay £20 and it fits under the seat like it was meant to be there.

[Pannier Down]

Happy days😁

[Brockett]

Puncture repair kits are great. However things I learned are;
1. Rear tyres get punctures more than front tyres.
2. A flat tyre renders the bike very unstable on it's side stand and very difficult to get up onto it's main stand. It is a whole lot easier to find the puncture and repair it when the rear wheal is off the ground. For this reason a front tyre puncture is much more difficult to fix.
3. Sod's law says "if a thing that can happen, it will happen, and in the worst possible circumstances". I.e. at night in the rain when you are travelling alone. So I should have read the instructions and practiced attending to a puncture on a nice sunny afternoon.
4. I needed a means of inflating the tyre. I used CO2 canisters which gave around 7lb of pressure per canister  so that's 5 or 6 for a rear wheel. The canisters get extremely cold when the pressure is released so wear gloves or use an application gun and of course familiarise yourself with how to use the canister.  Better alternative is an electric pump clipped to your bike battery or a high power aux socket.
When I picked up a puncture I was lucky  in that I was on a V-Strom ride out with very willing hands helping me out.
If I get a puncture when I'm on my own I'll probably call out  for rescue (Auto Aid) / RAC / AA etc.