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How do you fix a slow leak in a motorcycle tire?
My motorcycle’s tire is slowly running low each time I fill it up. How do I repair a motorcycle tire that’s slowly leaking out air?
Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
That can be a major nuisance, sorry you’re dealing with that! Luckily, it shouldn’t be too hard to fix if you have the right material.
You’ll need to have either a tubeless or tubed patching kit with you, depending on what kind of tire you have. Tubed tires are a lot harder to patch, unfortunately, just because of the added manual labor involved.
Here’s what you’ll need for a tubeless tires:
- Tubeless tires can be patched with a tubeless tire repair kit
- Use the reamer to widen the hole
- Following the kit’s instructions, get the worm onto the insertion tool
- Apply some rubber cement to the hole and some to the worm. Go slowly and don’t just jam it in there all willy-nilly
- Carefully pull the insertion tool back out while leaving the worm in the tire
- Use the provided knife or blade to cut off the extra bit of plug, so it’s flush with the tread
- Wait a few minutes so the rubber cement has time to completely dry all the way through
- Fill the tire with air
- Spray some water on the plug (or better yet, some soapy water) and look at it closely. If the plug isn’t leaking, you’re all set!
For tubed tires, do the following:
- Completely remove the wheel
- Pop the bead out (having a bead breaker helps a lot) so you can remove the tube
- Press the tube so there’s no air in it. You’ll find out exactly where the hole is while doing this, too
- Use the scrubber in your kit to roughen up the puncture area. You don’t have to go too crazy here. You’re just making it a bit rough so the adhesive can stick to the tube
- Place the patch on the tube and press it down firmly all around, so there aren’t any air bubbles. If the kit comes with glue, use it as directed
- Give the patch time to thoroughly, completely dry
- Put some air in the tube (not too much!) and check that the patch is holding up well
You should definitely invest in roadside assistance, especially if you’re logging a lot of mileage on your bike. Not all punctures can safely be patched, and you don’t want to get stranded!
View full answer
- Gregory R.
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