Learn something new every day...

[Syvee]

Driving the car to work this morning and I heard the tick tick tick noise of what I hoped was a stone stuck in the tread of the tyre... Further investigation made me say sh*t and boll**ks alot as I saw the head of a rather large screw poking out of the centre of the nearly new pilot sport on the rear of my car... Straight down to my local tyre fitter who informed me that run flats cannot be repaired ... Bugger... So I'm now £320 lighter after the guy at ATS (who I know) managed to find a new tyre for me at another branch.... After this set if rears it'll be no more run flats and a mobility pack for me I think

 

[Syvee]

Oh on a positive side at least my springs are still intact!!!

 

[braingirl]

According to Michelin, bridgestone and BMW they can be
As long as not driven too fast or long with puncture.

It is more difficult to repair and I suspect that ATS would rather get you to buy a tyre than repair it for less money.

 

[pwo]

They can be plugged . Had one of mine done and its been fine since

 

[Baracus (aka Steve)]

Had a puncture (screw stuck in tire) and had mine repaired no problem at all and told it's no different to fixing any other tire as long as it's not in the sidewall. The only issue was removing the tire and getting it back on but they need to do that if it's a new tire too obviously

 

[Syvee]

I know the guy who works there and he phoned Mitchelin while I was there .. I heard the lady on the other end of the phone who said that under no circumstances should the tyre be repaired.. Some runflats can be repaired but not the pilot sports I have on .... There are however different types of pilot sport (I can't remember the tyre codes) some can be repaired and some unlucky for me cannot

 

[mmm-five]

If you're local tyre fitter categorically stated that "runflats cannot be repaired" (without informing you of the exceptions to that rule based on location of puncture, or manufacturer advice to the contrary), which subsequently forced you into buying a new tyre, then that sounds to me like obtaining money by deception or fraud.

Maybe he meant "company policy is that runflats must not be repaired, as it's better for our margin to fit a complete new tyre"?

I'd recommend finding another tyre fitter in future and telling everyone you know to stay away from the (alleged) rip-off merchant.

Maybe you want to get a letter from Michelin with their instructions/recommendations for repairing a runflat, and then confront the manager of the tyre fitter.

 

[Syvee]

Found this on the net

Why can't Run Flat Tyres be repaired?
The reason behind this, given by the tyre manufacturers is to do with the thickness of the RFT sidewalls. With a conventional tyre when a technician carries out a puncture repair, one of the first things they will do is to check the tyre for damage, especially damage to the sidewall. This damage is easy to spot as it shows up as creases in the sidewall when the tyre is deflated. With the RFT it is impossible to say for sure if the sidewall has been damaged as the sidewall is so much thicker. Therefore they have no option but to replace the tyre.

Makes sense I guess and there was a small amount of sidewalk damage to mine so I really had no choice

 

[Syvee]

mmm-5 i know the guy who served me... I had also spoken to quick fit and another tyre company in Notts who both categorically said the tyre could not be repaired ... The guy I knew at ATS (mitchelins main agents) at first said that we should be able to repair but then checked with Mitchelin tech support who said no... I think there are some that can be done but not all brands of runflats can safely be repaired.. That's what my friend Google is telling me too.

 

[mmm-five]

Found this on the net

Why can't Run Flat Tyres be repaired?
The reason behind this, given by the tyre manufacturers is to do with the thickness of the RFT sidewalls. With a conventional tyre when a technician carries out a puncture repair, one of the first things they will do is to check the tyre for damage, especially damage to the sidewall. This damage is easy to spot as it shows up as creases in the sidewall when the tyre is deflated. With the RFT it is impossible to say for sure if the sidewall has been damaged as the sidewall is so much thicker. Therefore they have no option but to replace the tyre.

Makes sense I guess and there was a small amount of sidewalk damage to mine so I really had no choice

That's no different to a normal tyre though.

There's no way a normal tyre fitter can categorically say whether a normal tyre that's had a puncture but has no visible sidewall damage is any safer than a runflat that's had the same puncture.

In fact there's the argument that it's safer to do a runflat puncture as they're less likely to blowout than a traditional tyre. However, now that you've stated there was visible sidewall damage, it's seems the correct option to replace.

Michelin tyres have a warning on their tyres which should not be repaired. No warning means they're as safe to repair as a standard tyre.

Michelin were the first manufacturer to modify this directive and now most other leading tyre state that their run-flat tyres can be repaired as long as there is no visible internal damage and no more than one repair per tyre is executed. As some Michelin run-flat tyres carry a sidewall notice prohibiting repairs the company state that this should still be complied with. Consequently most run-flat tyres can be repaired, to BSAU 159 specification as long as the sidewall markings do not contradict that advice. Michelin have published their run-flat tyres directive in a question and answer form. This is as follows:-

Why may Michelin ZP be repaired?

We have examined many ZP tyres after they have been punctured in order to establish a position on reparability. This statement is the result of considerable study to ensure that ZP tyres may be repaired safely.

New Michelin ZP tyre lines, such as PRIMACY HP ZP, are repairable once and once only following the same rules as standard car tyres such as Michelin PRIMACY HP. Michelin have prepared this statement which dealers should follow when dealing with the repair of ZP tyres. However, it is the dealer’s responsibility to decide whether an individual tyre is repairable or not.

What about existing ZP versions of tyre lines such as Pilot Primacy, Pilot Sport PS2, PILOT Alpin PA2?

Existing ZP tyres from tyre lines such as PILOT SPORT PS2 / PILOT PRIMACY / PILOT ALPIN PA2 are still considered NON-REPAIRABLE when, “Do not reuse or repair the tires after a low or zero pressure operation” or equivalent is written on the sidewall.

 

[Syvee]

That'll be the ps2's on mine then... Oh well sh*t happens

 

[srhutch]

Please don't tell me you paid £320 for one tyre

 

[Z4 Pilot]

I got a wood screw in one of my run flats and they were able to fix it. That was about two years ago and no problems to date. Z4 Pilot