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Home / Mountain Bikes and Gear / Components / Tires All / Survey

Have you Ever Successfully Plugged a Tire Puncture on the Trail?

Tire plugs can be a lifesaver when it comes to tubeless tire punctures, though they aren't foolproof.

By Jeff Barber
May 14, 2023 Last Updated: August 14, 2024

14 comments

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Tire plugs can be a lifesaver when it comes to tubeless tire punctures, though they aren’t foolproof. If you’re carrying plugs and a tool in your kit, be sure to learn how to use it before you need it on the trail.

Share your tire plug stories in the comments below.

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Jeff Barber

Jeff Barber has been mountain biking since 1992 and has tested hundreds of mountain bikes and components. He is the co-founder of Singletracks and serves as Editor in Chief. Contact him at [email protected].

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14 Comments

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[email protected] Colorado // 2023
May 14, 2023

No lie my tire has been plugged for two years and still going strong.

6 reply

Fatiron Utah // 2023
Jun 3, 2023

I've been using plastic grocery bags for years. Use your smallest Allen key to press a fold of the bag in the hole and repeat shoving in the pieces as far as you can. The bag will start to lie flat inside the tire and get glued there by the sealant. Cut off the excess. I always carry a knife and your good to go. Works especially well on sidewall pinches near the rim. Best of all it's free and you can always find a plastic bag lying around.

2 reply

TurnerBikes California // 2023
May 15, 2023

YES! My wife and I successfully plug road, CX, gravel and mtb tires whenever we flat. We never install a tube in any tire unless the tire has a terrible cut that won’t hold a plug. On more than one occasion with a bad sidewall puncture, I have carefully removed the a single side of the tire , tied a knot in the plug material and threaded it from inside out, pop the bead back on and pump up the tire. Still have tubeless with sealant for the rest of the tires life.
Yes we have practiced plugging with a worn tire. Using a screwdriver to pop holes in sidewall or tread, then plug, repeat. I buy extra plugs in various sizes from anywhere but a bike company. Super cheap and since plugs are just chordage slathered in sealant they can be stripped down to smaller diameter and easily trimmed with a knife.
Yes we continue to ride the tire the rest of its useable life with plug/plugs.

DT

2 reply

Pharmer Utah // 2023
May 15, 2023

I plugged one this morning. I hit the lip of a rock pretty hard and it put a hole in the tire that the sealant wouldn’t stop. 2 minutes later I was back on the trail with a working tire.

1 reply

MTBMike4111 Iowa // 2013
May 18, 2023

One word: Dynaplug. Heck with fiddling around with threading bacon strips, and I've never used Stans Darts but have heard a ton of mixed reviews about the leaves falling off before it even makes it into the hole in the tire etc. Dynaplug has never failed me in probably 15 uses now over the years. A note that a huge sidewall tear isn't going to be fixed by any plugs...it is just too much of a gash to fill in with any integrity.

1 reply

wareagle4130 2010
May 14, 2023

The main issues with bacon strips is they are difficult to “thread” in the little fork poker thing, and in time they get super stuck to the backing plastic and impossible to separate. So I tried Stan’s Darts and they work like a charm. Little pricey though. Similar concept to Dynaplugs which are slightly cheaper.

1 reply

Jerry Bob Alabama // 2022
May 18, 2023

I've been plugging car and truck tires for years. If it'll work for full sized motor vehicles, should work fine for bicycles. My concern would be that a bicycle isn't going to have the sort of weight or generate the kind of road heat that helps seal plugs on cars and trucks.

-1 reply

74cruzah Utah // 2018
May 15, 2023

Totally true. I try to keep keep one threaded onto the tool so when I need it, it's ready to go. Saves time and frustration while on the trail. I had to use a plug on Friday. It was nice not to keep my buddies waiting while I was messing around trying to thread a plug. This reminds me that I need to reload my tool.

0 reply

Hotinsac California // 2022
May 16, 2023

Good to know! I have a set of bacon and have never had to use them
I’ll pre thread one , thanks

1 reply

Chad Bickens Georgia // 2023
May 15, 2023

A new plug kit has worked fine for me. Had to use 2 plugs. But another time a kit that's a couple years old has dried up bacon strips and they couldn't be separated from the plastic film.

0 reply

OhioFatBiker Ohio // 2016
May 14, 2023

I had to do it for the first time just a few weeks ago. I lost a lot of air in the process, but I pumped it back up and the plug is still holding up.

0 reply

highland.hippie Queensland // 2021
May 15, 2023

I've had successes and failures. But, my success rate has improved with experience and better understanding how they work with the sealant to plug the hole.

Only ever used SlugPlugs.

0 reply

enduroexpert78 Virginia // 2019
May 16, 2023

Mixed results with Stan's Dart system and tire plugs in the tread and the sidewall, near the bead. Plugs work well for punctures if excess is trimmed; not so much for tears. I've resorted to sewing sidewall tears.

0 reply

TreMTB Arkansas // 2025
Mar 5, 2025

Unless it's a huge slash, I always plug my tire on the trail and not only finish that ride, but keep riding the tire. Never had a plug fail on me. I use the thick plugs, none of that little bacon strip nonsense.

0 reply

Tagged: survey, tire plug, gear, tires all

First published May 14, 2023 @ 4:11:00