Last year fitted Michelin PR3 to the MTS and was delighted with the grip, particularly in the wet. In June I was in the Pyrenees where they were patching the road crossing the Col du Tourmalet. There were a few areas that had quite a bit of road gravel to ride over. When I stopped for coffee I noticed 3 small pieces of gravel stuck in my tyre which I removed, but to my surprise the last one had caused a puncture. I used the plugging device in the tool kit and the CO2 canisters. The canisters do not inflate enough but fortunately there was a garage nearby with some air. It didn't prove practical to get the tyre fixed / changed until home again, so I rode around 1200 miles with the plug in place. The tyres had done around 4,500 and the handling was beginning to change, so I decided to bin them rather than get a formal repair, so the helpful guys at SP motorcycles in Exeter changed my tyres yesterday (trying the Z8 this time). When the tyre was off I photographed what a plug looks like on the inside and outside for interest. I was surprised how soft and thin walled the tyres were, (although I am comparing to my last bike with Tourances). Lessons: check tyres after gravel, the PR3 is brilliant but a very soft compound which is easily cut, the plugging kit is easy to use (and works) and punctures are a nuisance! Might be worth practicing using one of the plugs on an old tyre before going, if you have not used before. I also carry foam as a back up!
Good point about the CO2 canisters not having enough gas to inflate the tyre. I always carry a few extra canisters for that very reason. Another point is that the little tube of "glue" gradually dries up; if you have to use it after it's years old, it may have become useless. Buy a fresh, cheap bicycle repair outfit every year or two, just so you can replace the tube of glue in your bike toolkit.
Practice makes perfect! My first plug went straight through and was only seen again when the tyres were replaced! Good piece of kit! Ducati replacement around 80 tip top kit on eBay 20
Thanks for that Ian, when you get the chance can you give us a comparison between the Z8 and PR3 - ta
So guess what....A tale of woe Day before Yesterday I wash the bike, take a photo of her with her shiny header pipe, and set off to a company/work function! Ride home last night in the wet....because someone hasn't told the weather yet that it's supposed to be summer! No worries, get home and decide to give her a quick spray down with the hose pipe ( yes the ban has been lifted), am about to put her back in her stable when....pssst pssst pssst is heard from her rear....no way...it can't be.....shit its a puncture! The tyres are barely scrubbed in and there it is...mr nail....dammit! I can't believe my luck.... Anyway plugged it with the rema tip top kit! Not happy...grumble grumble A new set of pr3's not even paid for yet....
Bummer that Multi Rider !! I had the same when i 1st bought the bike, 100 miles in and a dirty great nail in the reat tyre !! I used it as my excuse to fit a pair of dunlop road smarts ! Lol
Most expensive puncture I ever had was on my R1, about 9 years ago I rode to garage, put on a set of Bridgestone 012ss, rode 4 miles home in the wet, heard a noise, looked down and puncture, took wheel off and went back to garage, he couldnt plug it, a large flint shaped like an arrowhead had gone in and made a cut of nearly 3/4 inch. Needed a new rear after 4 miles!!! That was costly, now I gravel my drive in washed stone, not crushed stone!!
I had a similar issue with my old R6, two punctures in less than a week, 1 the day after I'd fitted them - I was convinced the tyre must have been cursed so I just replaced it.
