Replace vs Repair tires

[DreamBeemer]

Quering all riders!! I have metzeler tourance front and rear. I replaced OEM EXP's at 6285ish, I now have 11700 and I have a leak in the rear tire. This tire shows VERY LITTLE Wear!!. The small slow leak hole is located in one of the lugs no less. Now the dealer says they recommend replacing them. There is a certain amount of truth to that. More demand from a motorcycle tire. But I also think that it depends on where the hole is. If it were a side-wall well that's one thing, but in the center and on a lug?

My question what are other riders doing? I bought this bike Feb '10 and now have 11800 miles on it so I do ride it. But it's hard to throw away a tire with some much life left for such a small hole. Can it be patched with no worries?

Need advice, I'm struggling with my decision.

[kurt1305]

I plug as an emergency repair then do an internal patch for the rear only if it isn't on the sidewall.

[DreamBeemer]

makes sense to me as well..thanks for the input

[marc]

I sometimes patch and sometimes replace. If the tire is newish and I'll be mainly in my local area I'll patch. If I'm going on a trip or the tire is old I'll replace. 11K is about the most I've ever put on a GS tire. In that situation I'd replace. Of course for me in that situation I'd be at the wear bars.