[Monkeyman]

I don't thoroughly check my tires before each ride but I guess I should. I decided to check the air in my tires and when I looked at the rear, I found a rusty nail in it. I couldn't pull it out with my hand so it was stuck in there good but it was at a very shallow angle. (Not sure how I picked it up at such a shallow angle.) I pulled it out with a pair of pliers and it wasn't bent so apparently it just got in the tread. You can see that it was ground down all along the edge and not the top. I rode about 50 miles then rechecked the air pressure. Zero loss so we're ok. Whew! Less than 4500 miles on the tires so I'd hate to have to replace one so soon (although it would give me a chance to get the tire I really want).
It could have been much worse. The nail could have gone through the tire and/or I could have been 1000 miles from home.

 

[Monkeyman]

Freerider --- I never ride in the middle. That's where the cages drip their oil/coolant/grease. Good point about less nails.
marty --- I'm looking for one. Not a single dealer in the US has one and they're on backorder from Victory. I'd trade my almost new Vic branded armored textile jacket for one in Bronze Mist or black if someone had one. Just putting that out there.
bikendad --- Probably a Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3 ZP or a Dunlop SP Winter Sport DSST. I didn't want to start another Darkside war so I didn't mention the type. If things go according to "my plan" (and they rarely do), I'll buy a skid plate (so I can jack the bike up) and some tire tools and do it myself (other than setting the bead and airing it up) some time mid to late summer. All depends how much longer this tire lasts (I can see getting 10k miles out of it so far) and how much money I have. Having the shop change the tire (ride in, ride out) will be about $150. The skid plate and tools will be about $250 and the tire will be about $150. We'll see.
(I guess the short answer would have been..."a car tire".)

 

[Monkeyman]

nice job on that monkeyman,,, you just reaped the benefits of preventative maintenance !

Preventative maintenance is boring and sometimes it's a PITA but it's worth it. I don't do it nearly enough but it's probably a good time to start. God was watching me extra careful today.

 

[Monkeyman]

Same thing happened to me when I bought my Vision in 08. It was our maiden voyage so the rear tire had less than 1000 miles on it. Nail went into the sidewall of the tire but didn't puncture the inner wall. Pulled the nail and rode the tire until it wore out without further incident but I checked that damd thing every time I walked up to the bike until I finnaly got my new sneeker.

I'll make sure I recheck the air pressure before the next couple rides just to be sure the nail only got in the tread but it was at such a shallow angle, I can't see that it got too far. Even if I'd had to replace it, I would have had just under 4500 miles on it. Bad, but it could have been much worse.

 

[Monkeyman]

I picked a nice cotter pin up in mine with only 800 miles on it and it needed replaced

THAT would suck, unless you're Bill Gates. That tire would have gone to the range with me and I'd have shot the hell out of it. (You know, just to teach it a lesson.)