Puncture repair on a run flat

Pondrew

Pondrew

Lifer
Spaldingski
So after my wife having knackered the rear bumper on my F31 yesterday by letting someone drive into her, today she had a TPMS warning on the rear n/s tyre on the E89. :headbang: :headbang:

Checked the pressure; 32psi as opposed to 38 on the other side.

Took the wheel off to check it and lo and behold found a little screw embedded right in the centre of the tread. I did the 'spit test' and sure enough it is leaking very slightly. All tyres are Bridgestone RFTs (yes the hated ones) with around 7mm of tread, dated 2022 so quite new.

I googled repairing RFTs and it seems Bridgestone say their tyres can be repaired, as long as they haven't been driven on flat. This one hasn't. It has never had less than 30psi in it.

So I will have a ring around in the morning and see if anyone will repair it.

Can't wait to see what she is going to break tomorrow, TBH. :roll:
 
Pondy, if no one will do it for you it’s worth investing in a rat tail kit. Only a few pounds and you can do a robust repair as long as the puncture is in the tread-y part of the tyre, i.e. not on the edge. If the repair works, it will last the life of the tyre in my experience.
 
Places like Kwik Fit will tell you they won't fix it, but good tyre garages know there is no issues repairing a puncture on the runflat.
 
Years ago I got a puncture in a nearly-new Pirelli run-flat on my 1 Series and my regular tyre place repaired it for £10! I got more than 10,000 more miles out of it. :D
 
I'm guessing the reason most tyre places wont touch runflat repairs is because they have no idea how far the tyre has been running flat so compromising the tyre. Not sure if I was the repairer I would take someones word when they say it was driven for a mile at 20mph when in fact they were doing 80 for 20 miles a month ago and just now got around to looking at a repair.

I'm sure at one time some tyre places would repair runflats so long as you signed a disclaimer :?

Tim.
 
When i had my e89 had a similar problem and as previously stated, the main tyre companies said you couldn't repair it.

Found an independent locally and had what has previously described as a rats tail inserted and it lasted for years until I eventually sold the car. Cost £20
 
TitanTim said:
I'm guessing the reason most tyre places wont touch runflat repairs is because they have no idea how far the tyre has been running flat so compromising the tyre. Not sure if I was the repairer I would take someones word when they say it was driven for a mile at 20mph when in fact they were doing 80 for 20 miles a month ago and just now got around to looking at a repair.

I'm sure at one time some tyre places would repair runflats so long as you signed a disclaimer :?

Tim.
Click to expand...
Excuse to sell one a new tyre is my guess.
 
Stevo1987 said:
TitanTim said:
I'm guessing the reason most tyre places wont touch runflat repairs is because they have no idea how far the tyre has been running flat so compromising the tyre. Not sure if I was the repairer I would take someones word when they say it was driven for a mile at 20mph when in fact they were doing 80 for 20 miles a month ago and just now got around to looking at a repair.

I'm sure at one time some tyre places would repair runflats so long as you signed a disclaimer :?

Tim.
Click to expand...
Excuse to sell one a new tyre is my guess.
Click to expand...

Along with a wheel refurb :cry:

Tim.
 
TitanTim said:
I'm guessing the reason most tyre places wont touch runflat repairs is because they have no idea how far the tyre has been running flat so compromising the tyre. Not sure if I was the repairer I would take someones word when they say it was driven for a mile at 20mph when in fact they were doing 80 for 20 miles a month ago and just now got around to looking at a repair.

I'm sure at one time some tyre places would repair runflats so long as you signed a disclaimer :?

Tim.
Click to expand...
I found a few posts on here about this, the best by Mr Wilks as he has a lot of tyre knowledge. I am sure he runs (or ran) a tyre garage.
When the tyre is removed it is fairly obvious, apparently, if a RFT has been driven flat by the state of the top of the inside shoulder. I know my one hasn't (in our ownership) so if I can find someone who is willing to do it, I expect them to remove the tyre and inspect it internally. If they just repair it on the wheel, I won't be happy with that.
 
Pondrew said:
TitanTim said:
I'm guessing the reason most tyre places wont touch runflat repairs is because they have no idea how far the tyre has been running flat so compromising the tyre. Not sure if I was the repairer I would take someones word when they say it was driven for a mile at 20mph when in fact they were doing 80 for 20 miles a month ago and just now got around to looking at a repair.

I'm sure at one time some tyre places would repair runflats so long as you signed a disclaimer :?

Tim.
Click to expand...
I found a few posts on here about this, the best by Mr Wilks as he has a lot of tyre knowledge. I am sure he runs (or ran) a tyre garage.
When the tyre is removed it is fairly obvious, apparently, if a RFT has been driven flat by the state of the top of the inside shoulder. I know my one hasn't (in our ownership) so if I can find someone who is willing to do it, I expect them to remove the tyre and inspect it internally. If they just repair it on the wheel, I won't be happy with that.
Click to expand...

A tyre fitter once told me it is obvious if it has been run flat (even for a few hundred metres), there will be small balls/beads of rubber running around inside due to the tyre rim rubbing on the side wall

As others have said a kit of rats tails off eBay is a very easy fix. As long as the screw was in the central third of the tyre
 
I bought a tyre plug kit some years ago although I don't how easy it is to do. Not sure I would trust myself with flying round corners :lol:

Tim.
 
obewan said:
A tyre fitter once told me it is obvious if it has been run flat (even for a few hundred metres), there will be small balls/beads of rubber running around inside due to the tyre rim rubbing on the side wall

As others have said a kit of rats tails off eBay is a very easy fix. As long as the screw was in the central third of the tyre
Click to expand...

TBF I've heard similar about run-flats that have been run-flat breaking up inside. A few years ago a neighbour of mine had one on his company 3 Series that was shredded on the outside. :o He got it replaced by a mobile fitter. :lol:

My 1 Series puncture happened only 5 or 6 miles from home and the tyre was still holding over 20 PSI when I got home. So I over-inflated it before I took it about 10 miles to my tyre place for the repair.
 
Got it repaired this morning for £25. No damage to the inside of the tyre, so they were happy to do it.
It took the tyre fitter AGES to get the tyre off, as it was well stuck onto the wheel. Stupid RFTs. :x
 
Pondrew said:
Got it repaired this morning for £25. No damage to the inside of the tyre, so they were happy to do it.
It took the tyre fitter AGES to get the tyre off, as it was well stuck onto the wheel. Stupid RFTs. :x
Click to expand...

A few ham fisted crow bars on the rim will soon have that tyre off :)

Tim.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

F
Puncture repair on a run flat?
Replies
11
Views
3K
Surfwooder
S
E
Run Flat Puncture Repair
Replies
7
Views
1K
Mr Tidy
Mr Tidy
B
Puncture repair
Replies
14
Views
498
B21
B21
D
Non RFT Tyre Repair / Puncture Repair
Replies
15
Views
1K
Jembo
J
W
RAC Tyre Maintenance & Puncture Repair Kit SOLD
Replies
3
Views
609
Wrs
W
Back
Top Bottom