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So I've been hearing different opinions from dealerships and online reviews. Some say you can't plug a Run Flat, others say you can as long as the side wall is not punctured.
I just bought a new tire a week ago when the mechanic found a nail in the other. The nail is dead center of the tire, is it possible to plug/patch at least for a little while longer?
I've already had two nails in my 19" Pirelli's. I got lucky with the first one and was able to pull it out with no issues. The second one I was told from Tire Kingdom that they will not plug a RFT. I then went to Mercedes and was told due to liability issues they will also not plug a RFT. So $441.00 later I had to replace the tire.
Plugged my run flat 1 year and 14K miles ago. Now I caught it as soon as I hit the nail, and didn't drive on it and destroy the sidewall. If you use the "runflat" capability of the tire, you must replace it.
Exactly, the tire isn't supposed to be repaired if it was operated below 15psi I believe... So most tire places can't assume responsibility for knowing how flat the tire was for how long and in what conditions, so they require you to replace it.
In my personal experience fixing tires (master tech at Firestone so I get to do flat repairs from time to time), if they look good inside and the puncture is in a location that you would normally repair, IE. not on the sidewall or corner, they will be just fine to patch. Usually a run-flat that has been run low still exhibits sidewall distortion, and any evidence of that is grounds to condemn the tire.
Lost about 5 psi when TPMS flagged it.. I rolled to the local tyre repair place (2km) and got it plugged.. it was 1/3rd across the tread. Tyre pressure never fell below 28psi..
IF i have run the tyre as a run flat ie with no pressure i would not plug....
If i have a screw / nail and zero or minor pressure loss, then I always will..
Exactly, the tire isn't supposed to be repaired if it was operated below 15psi I believe... So most tire places can't assume responsibility for knowing how flat the tire was for how long and in what conditions, so they require you to replace it.
In my personal experience fixing tires (master tech at Firestone so I get to do flat repairs from time to time), if they look good inside and the puncture is in a location that you would normally repair, IE. not on the sidewall or corner, they will be just fine to patch. Usually a run-flat that has been run low still exhibits sidewall distortion, and any evidence of that is grounds to condemn the tire.
Exactly, the tire isn't supposed to be repaired if it was operated below 15psi I believe... So most tire places can't assume responsibility for knowing how flat the tire was for how long and in what conditions, so they require you to replace it.
In my personal experience fixing tires (master tech at Firestone so I get to do flat repairs from time to time), if they look good inside and the puncture is in a location that you would normally repair, IE. not on the sidewall or corner, they will be just fine to patch. Usually a run-flat that has been run low still exhibits sidewall distortion, and any evidence of that is grounds to condemn the tire.
Yes my tire has never fell below 30psi and the nail is still in there. Doesnt even seem like a slow air leak, it was only caught since I was getting my other tire replaced. Who knows, maybe its just a shallow nail and hasnt even punctured the tire.
No run flats for me. I carry a small scissor jack, lug wrench, mini air compressor and 2 cans of tire repair.
I drive to Big Bend National Park on occasion and in some places a service station is over 120 miles away and even with a dead run flat
no one out there carries them for the SL. Cell phone service is non existent in many parts of the park so getting AAA would be problematic.
i also drive parts of the Texas Hill Country where there is no cell phone service in the canyons. Better safe than sorry.....
I caught a nail a few weeks ago and plug it myself with no problem. It went back down to 20psi when the warning light came on, I pumped it up again and it went down to 20psi overnight; that's when I found the nail and plug the tire. So far so good.
I caught another nail on another tire when I started my 125 miles trip to the US Tennis Open a few weeks ago. This time I was not so lucky as I was 35 or so miles on the interstate. I drove myself home; never go over 45 mph. This is the result of my tire after I pull it off the car thinking I could plug it so I could drive to get the 4 replacements put on. Who think it's a good ideal to not have a spare in the car?
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