i just bought new bridgestone tires for my motorcycle last week, they have less than 300 miles on them. this morning i went out to go for a ride and the rear tire was flat. i bought an air cartrige inflator and used two cartriges to inflate it. rode it to the dealer and asked them to fix the flat. they said they could not due to liability issues. but they would sell me a new one. does anyone know if this is true? i have repaired many car tires by patching then from the inside and have not had any issues. i know that once the tread is severed this can alter the speed rating. comments please.

by the way i had them replace it, i kept the old one and they still charged me for disposing of the old tire

I don't know about their "liability issues" but I think you did the smart thing by buying a new tire. I've had two flat tires on my motorcycles and ended up replacing both instead of plugging.

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1991 300TE Sold
1987 190E 2.3-16v Sold
2009 Toyota Yaris LB
2008 Honda Pilot EX-L
1994 Toyota 4runner
1996 Ducati 900SS

i would never plug them, i think patching them from the inside would be ok?

Patching may be fine, but it's not recommended by the tire manufacturer. No reputable shop will do it. You only have two, and losing the rear while riding is worse than the front (I've lost a few of each over the years).

Also, note that the disposal fee applies to the new tire, not your old tire.

Depends on where the hole is.

If anywhere but the tread area, i.e. on sidewall, it's toast.

Most manufacturers approve patching from inside using the kind of patch that includes a plug that enters the hole.

Too bad you don't have tube-type tires--just put in a new tube.

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

Much less painful as well, unless you are a male prostitute or something along those lines.

I use green slime in both my street bikes and my dirt bike as well.It is now rated for use in the crotch rokets which means I will never approach failure(1980 Kz 650 21K original 2nd owner-and a 1979 CB650 with 25k original-husky 250 two strke))-had some flats over the years and when I used slime first time(dirtbike) got a puncture that afternoon in the slag dump where we ride and not only did it not go flat but sealed itself!good stuff as long as you follow directions for use.try it

Put an inner tube in it.

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5 speed '91 190E 2.6 320,000 mi. (new car, fast, smooth as silk six, couldn't find any more Peugeots)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.5l Turbo Diesel 266,000 mi. (old car, fast for a diesel, had 2 others)
5 speed '01 Jetta V6 (new wifes car, pretty quick)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.2l Turbo Gas 197,000 mi. (wifes car, faster, sadly gone just short of 200k )
5 speed '83 Yamaha 750 Maxim 14,000 mi. (fastest)
0 speed 4' x 8' 1800 lb Harbor Freight utility trailer (only as fast as what's pulling it)

If you put an inner tube in a tubeless tire

1. It will hold air [good thing ]
2. It will build up more heat (BAD thing]

Best thing: new tire = no worries!

i did get a new tire, i just think it is a waste to discard the old one

make something with it, a decorative piece, a surround for a dart board.. be creative