should it stay or should it go now.

Front or Rear tire? Tough call....looks like centered in tire. Can't tell if it is a roofing nail or a 16d framing gun nail from the picture. Small diameter? Plug it and ride on. Larger diameter? Replace and enjoy new tires!

Plug it and keep a check on the pressure. Then ride on.

Been using plugs of various types for years. They work.

Plug it and run it. Small diameter puncture it seems.

K9 Wee said:

Front or Rear tire?

Click to expand...

it's the rear, I wouldn't plug a front tire, too risky IMO.


and yes it looks like a roofing nail, an 1/8th or less in diameter.

part of my concern is that I go year round ( sunny and above zero, I'll ride) but live in Canada where they salt the roads pretty heavily. salt and steel belting may be a conflict.....

Plug & Play!
Roofing nail = wear bar

Since you already have the replacement tires just put them on and be done. Personally i would rather have the piece of mind and the lack of worry about a tire failure or being stuck out somewhere. Then again the older I get the more risk adverse I get.

Tippy Cincy said:

i would rather have the piece of mind

Click to expand...

Which piece?

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

O.P.: It sounds to me like you've answered your own question: your comfort level, the age of the tires, and the ready availability of replacements on hand, all argue for just replacing it. If I were in your boots, that's what I'd do.

Is it leaking?

You missed an option - leave the nail in and ride it until you replace the tire

Unless it is leaking.

I'd plug it without hesitation.

I live and commute in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada where there is lots of construction and lots of nails on the roads. I ride over 50,000 km / 30,000 miles a year all year round down to -18°C 0°f on salted and salt-brined roads and never have had an issue.

I have lost track of how many punctures I have plugged but it is well over 20 on my own bikes plus puncture on others. I use the "String" type of plugs as everything I had read says that they are the least likely to have issues after installing properly.

..Tom

I'm also in the plug it camp. Like you mention that tire looks like it has a lot of life left in it. Plugging is way less work as well.

When using a plug (I like the gooey worm type) consider the hole. For that one pictured above, it's an easy repair. Put air in it, pay attention to the direction of the hole, clean it with a rasp, insert plug in the direction of the hole.

Solo said:

When using a plug (I like the gooey worm type) consider the hole. For that one pictured above, it's an easy repair. Put air in it, pay attention to the direction of the hole, clean it with a rasp, insert plug in the direction of the hole.

Click to expand...

I think an important thing to do with the string type plugs is when fully inserted twist the insertion tool a bit so as to ball up the string inside the tire. That creates a small ball inside the tire that can't get through the hole no mater how much you screw up the install.

Question: Why do I seem to most often get a puncture the day before I was having a new tire installed or the day after?

..Tom

.

I'd plug it and wear it out. String plugs are what I use.

If you decide to put your new tires on now I'd plug the old one, ride it a few days to make sure the plug is good then store it as a spare against the chance of having a catastrophic failure of the new rear.

Don't be a cheap arse....put the new tyre on
Now...IF i decided to be a cheapster😉, I would only plug one properly. That is, a stringy thingy to get you home THEN a mushroom plug on the inside to finish the job.

Because you have tires, replace.
If you didn't have tires. Order tires now and ride until they would have been delivered.

Plug it and ride