Runflat tire puncture - safety advice
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Joined: Sep 2018
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C43 Coupe
Runflat tire puncture - safety advice
My tires are still the stock Continental run flats.
My rear left tire has been slowly leaking pressure over the previous few months. It dropped about 5 psi over 2 months, twice. I have been just pumping it back up when I get the low pressure caution message. There was no side wall burst but I found 2 nail punctures through. One of them is actually a bolt with a washer so the shallow bolt head protrudes above the tire surface when the washer stops it from going in more. I didn't pull either puncture out.
I have about 30000km on these tires and would like to switch to new tires soon; I heard that these stock tires don't last so I should be able to replace all to new anyway after this season.
Is it safe to continue running on these tires until I switch to winters soon? I'm not sure if runflats can actually go all flat so my plan is to just keep monitoring it until I have to pump it up again.
Just looking for advice. I run about 90km a day to and from work - 50% highway.
My rear left tire has been slowly leaking pressure over the previous few months. It dropped about 5 psi over 2 months, twice. I have been just pumping it back up when I get the low pressure caution message. There was no side wall burst but I found 2 nail punctures through. One of them is actually a bolt with a washer so the shallow bolt head protrudes above the tire surface when the washer stops it from going in more. I didn't pull either puncture out.
I have about 30000km on these tires and would like to switch to new tires soon; I heard that these stock tires don't last so I should be able to replace all to new anyway after this season.
Is it safe to continue running on these tires until I switch to winters soon? I'm not sure if runflats can actually go all flat so my plan is to just keep monitoring it until I have to pump it up again.
Just looking for advice. I run about 90km a day to and from work - 50% highway.
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From: Omaha, NE
'16 AMG GTS, '21 AMG GLE53
You can get the tire patched to hold over until your switch if you don't want to keep hassling with keeping inflated. 30k km is actually a pretty solid run for the stock Conti-RF's. My fronts lasted 8k miles, rears 25k miles.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2018
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From: Dallas Texas USA
2023 AMG EQE 53
Runflats are considered non-repairable, no legitimate tire shop/dealer will repair them. I would not drive on them if they were on my car. Time to buy new tires, you got a good life from them.
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From: UK
2004 E55 K Wagon &. '96 SL500
They are fine to repair unless on the shoulder- just like any car.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Omaha, NE
'16 AMG GTS, '21 AMG GLE53
100% this. The service department is out to make money too - never forget it. Consumables (tires, brakes, fluids, etc) are their regular income, and because the typical MB buyer/owner has an above average disposable income and highly unlikely to be a shade tree mechanic, they RAKE in the money.
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Super Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 510
Likes: 64
From: Dallas Texas USA
2023 AMG EQE 53
OP says he has a nail and bolt in the tire and lots of mileage ie not much tread left, see https://www.continental-tires.com/ca...ir/tire-repair and then decide whether it's repairable....I don't think so but maybe some of you are out for more risk than me, good luck.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2019
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2019 C43 AMG
The issue with runflats and repairs has to do with not knowing how long they were driven on very low or no pressure. Runflats have a limited life at low/zero pressure driving. A shop might push back because they can't possibly know how the tires were used and don't want the liability. If an owner knows what conditions the tire was exposed to then it can be a safe decision. If the tire just dropped below the TPMS limit a few times and was only a few PSI under then promptly refilled, I personally see no safety concern with repairing the tire.
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Joined: Apr 2019
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nothing
100% this. The service department is out to make money too - never forget it. Consumables (tires, brakes, fluids, etc) are their regular income, and because the typical MB buyer/owner has an above average disposable income and highly unlikely to be a shade tree mechanic, they RAKE in the money.
Member
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 84
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W205 AMG C63S
Why should you not be able to repair a RF? Unless you’ve driven 100 miles on a flat tire, it is perfectly safe to repair.
Anyway, with the mileage on them and the fact that you have two different punctures in the same tire, I would replace it. But at the least, get it repaired! It is not safe to drive around on a tire with a large bolt sticking out of it - it could cause some sort of sudden damage while driving at high speeds.
Anyway, with the mileage on them and the fact that you have two different punctures in the same tire, I would replace it. But at the least, get it repaired! It is not safe to drive around on a tire with a large bolt sticking out of it - it could cause some sort of sudden damage while driving at high speeds.
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C43 Coupe
I appreciate everyone's input here, including Tirgoman's input even though I just repaired the tire for now.
Correction on my info, the 30000km I mentioned included some of the winter months, which I had dedicated winters on. So, these tires have around 20000km. Nonetheless, I want to try the AS3+ on my next set due to the positive comments on here. Or should I do PS4 since I have dedicated winters...?
Anyway, I had a tire shop pull the nails out and plug it up so I feel more safe on the road. Luckily both punctures are not near the side wall. I'd monitor the pressure change of course. So far, it has not changed over 3 days. I'd likely switch to my winters a bit early this year and then replace these summers by next season.
Correction on my info, the 30000km I mentioned included some of the winter months, which I had dedicated winters on. So, these tires have around 20000km. Nonetheless, I want to try the AS3+ on my next set due to the positive comments on here. Or should I do PS4 since I have dedicated winters...?
Anyway, I had a tire shop pull the nails out and plug it up so I feel more safe on the road. Luckily both punctures are not near the side wall. I'd monitor the pressure change of course. So far, it has not changed over 3 days. I'd likely switch to my winters a bit early this year and then replace these summers by next season.
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Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Portland, OR
C450, GLC43
My tire shop has patched runflats for me twice. Some shops will refuse mostly when they are risk averse and can't trust that the customer is telling the truth about whether or not they drove around on a deflated tire.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,577
Likes: 264
From: Portland, OR
C450, GLC43
I appreciate everyone's input here, including Tirgoman's input even though I just repaired the tire for now.
Correction on my info, the 30000km I mentioned included some of the winter months, which I had dedicated winters on. So, these tires have around 20000km. Nonetheless, I want to try the AS3+ on my next set due to the positive comments on here. Or should I do PS4 since I have dedicated winters...?
Anyway, I had a tire shop pull the nails out and plug it up so I feel more safe on the road. Luckily both punctures are not near the side wall. I'd monitor the pressure change of course. So far, it has not changed over 3 days. I'd likely switch to my winters a bit early this year and then replace these summers by next season.
Correction on my info, the 30000km I mentioned included some of the winter months, which I had dedicated winters on. So, these tires have around 20000km. Nonetheless, I want to try the AS3+ on my next set due to the positive comments on here. Or should I do PS4 since I have dedicated winters...?
Anyway, I had a tire shop pull the nails out and plug it up so I feel more safe on the road. Luckily both punctures are not near the side wall. I'd monitor the pressure change of course. So far, it has not changed over 3 days. I'd likely switch to my winters a bit early this year and then replace these summers by next season.
Since you have dedicated Winter tires PSS4 are the way to go for a Summer set otherwise, AS3+ are a great tire. The people that poo-poo them are spouting dated opinions that have been largely irrelevant for the last 5 years or so.
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C43 Coupe
If I don't track my car, is the difference worthwhile for the price premium on the PS4? I do value better and more quiet ride from the stock RF but also don't want to compromise on the performance difference if it's that noticeable.
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Joined: Jun 2019
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W205 AMG C63S
Yes - sure! That is why Michelin still offers summer AND winter tires! Check out any tire review comparing them and you’ll understand the difference. All season tires are fine on a Ford Focus, but if you drive a car with this much power, you don’t just want adequate road performance. Yes, the PS4S is overkill for pure road use, but a set of PS4 or similar definitely isn’t! All season tires are just mediocre under any road conditions. If you need winter performance for some months of the year, the only way to go, is seasonal tires, end of story!
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Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Portland, OR
C450, GLC43
What do you mean by people that poo poo them? Are you referring to the positive comments on the AS3+ being dated and might not be relevant today?
If I don't track my car, is the difference worthwhile for the price premium on the PS4? I do value better and more quiet ride from the stock RF but also don't want to compromise on the performance difference if it's that noticeable.
If I don't track my car, is the difference worthwhile for the price premium on the PS4? I do value better and more quiet ride from the stock RF but also don't want to compromise on the performance difference if it's that noticeable.
No, the AS3+ is a great tire. The people that dis them have never driven on them and they parrot the old line about AS tires being the worst of both worlds. In fact, the AS3+ were superior in every performance measure than the stock Conti performance tires that came with my C450. However, if I lived anywhere that actually gets sticking snow and consistent subfreezing temps for more than 8 weeks a year I'd run a Winter and Summer setup. We only get 1-2 weeks of snow here if we get any and average monthly temps only drop below freezing from late Jan thru early Feb so Winter tires are unnecessary in my region unless you head up to the mountains a lot. The AS3+ on the C450/C43 platform do just fine in light snow, slush, and patchy ice.
Last edited by Mr. J; Sep 20, 2019 at 09:11 PM.
