Flat tire

[Groversmith]

What happens if you get a flat tire? Hasnt happened... yet. I can imagine its some impossible inconvenient thing to have fixed.

[Mr. Paul]

With the new tubeless tires, flats are not at all common, but they do happen. You could carry a tubeless tire plug kit and a small pump with you just in case. As for me, I dont worry about it a whole lot.

[Stig / Major Tom]

After having a very expensive flat on a nearly new Honda Forza 300, I  made certain to obtain AAA coverage.
I carry tire plug kits and re-inflation methods in ea. scooter....but tire was destroyed by a piece of metal. 6 miles or less to dealer .....flat bed tow cost more than tire & install.
Stig

[Tromper]

I've had great success with Ride-On in my Burgman 650.  Within it's limitations (clearly stated on their site and in their literature) the stuff is great.
Bear in mind this is only for small tread punctures, not side wall hits or real big stuff..best to replace in those cases.

Beyond that I'm impressed to the point that I'm going to proactively put it in both my HDs

[vespbretta]

Various options available:
1. Use a reinforced tire in the first place. Maybe you can carefully and slowly ride home or to next dealer on the "flat" tire.
2. If it´s just a puncture by a nail or small screw in the thread you might also just refill with air and get along for another short while.
3. You could maybe use liquid tire sealant stuff. I would use that only in a life threatening emergency, because this stuff makes a big mess inside the tire and the rim. Huge job to clean up afterwards.
4. You could also remove the nail or screw and repair it with the tire plug repair kit. Takes about 5 min. on the sidewalk to do it. Videos herefore are available on youtube.
5. If the bad valve stem was the cause, replace it more often with quality valve stems, or at least whenever you change the tire. Cheap chinese valve stems tend to go bad much earlier.
6. If your tire has got larger cuts and cracks you might be happy having an AAA coverage and call a tow truck or call somebody else to pick you and your scooter up.
7. Check your tires for wear, punctures cuts and cracks on a regular basis, so you will always be up to date about the condition of your tires.
8. Don´t let tires get too old. After 6 years of age you seriously should think about replacing it. Check DOT number on sidewall.

[Stig / Major Tom]

Speaking of tires.....I noticed that kymcopartsmonster  wants $92 for a genuine Kenda front tire, which is nearly double the price of a good tire! I paid $110 for a SET of Michelins.
Stig

[Tromper]

Speaking of tires.....I noticed that kymcopartsmonster  wants $92 for a genuine Kenda front tire, which is nearly double the price of a good tire! I paid $110 for a SET of Michelins.
Stig

You mean to say their tires are Kenda expensive? 

[vespbretta]

Yes, the (at best) middle class chinese Kendas are extremely expensive. But I wouldn´t buy them again anyways, so I don´t care much about the price of Kenda tires.    I got my brand new set of 2 Heidenau K58 mod. reinf. for €90,- (€45,- each) including free shipping.
The only advantage of the Kendas might be, that they work more or less well in dry conditions during late spring/summer/early autumn and due to the harder rubber compound they last longer with better tire milage.

[TroutBum]

I have AAA roadside assistance, but as a backup I also have a tubeless tire plug kit. They work great. In college I worked at a gas station and the owner who was a grump would tell customers to drive up the road to the next station for the repair. He couldn't be bothered. We who made min. wage got the idea of buying the plug kit and when the owner left for the day, around 8:00 am most days, we had a nice little side business repairing flats. Some days we made a weeks pay of pumping gas for the old fart. 

[jeeves]

Tire plug kit with CO2 cartridges works well.

I had a flat just a few days ago, fixed in about 10 minutes. Longest part was getting the, as it turned out, small piece of box cutter out of the tire.
Never did it before, just followed the instructions. Luckily I was near a gas station so I could inflate the tire.
So far so good!

[Stig / Major Tom]

Tire plug kit with CO2 cartridges works well.

I had a flat just a few days ago, fixed in about 10 minutes. Longest part was getting the, as it turned out, small piece of box cutter out of the tire.
Never did it before, just followed the instructions. Luckily I was near a gas station so I could inflate the tire.
So far so good!

Thanks for your pix, and info about the CO2 kits.
Glad it all worked out well for you and your Michelin!
One day it dawned on me that I needed to place a pair of pliers with my tire repair kits under the seat....to remove whatever I just ran over.
Stig

[jeeves]

Yes, pliers would have made it much easier!


Funny thing, I also punctured my motorcycle tire 5 days earlier. Didn't have a flat for over 10 years, now 2 in 5 days! 

It was a screw that went in so nicely that I only noticed it when I got home, hardly lost any pressure. Took the rear wheel off, and took it to a tire shop.