[chiefneil]

Originally Posted by rolltidef32

If you can manually get a run flat off of a wheel, plug it, then place back onto a wheel, please explain with details.

:

I don't think he's taking it off the wheel. Looks like the repair kit works from the outside in.

[jhuber]

BMW roadside as well as car insurance roadside should do it... Jack and TQ wrench in the garage should take care of the rest would waste a lot of space and unnecessary weight to carry it along

[billiebob]

As others have said, Carry a jack and a plug kit and a tiny compressor and you are good to go.

I've plugged two tires (rft) while on road trips on my 328. Thousands of miles later and they are still fine. Plugs are lifetime repairs for everything but track tires for me.

Why waste hours waiting for a tow, especially on a road trip?

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by SoCalDave

RFTs are there so the car can be driven to a shop for fixing/replacement and I have AAA/BMW assistance if it can't be driven.

If you drive on the tire when fully flat for any distance you'll have sidewall damage, and then it's not repairable. That's why BMW et al say not to repair an RFT, because the sidewall damage can be invisible, and they assume that you're going to drive on it far enough to damage it. If you have the ability to fix it immediately the sidewall won't be damaged and you'll be back on the road in less than a half an hour.

If you can manually get a run flat off of a wheel, plug it, then place back onto a wheel, please explain with details.

You take the wheel off the car so that you can easily find and fix the puncture. You can do it with the wheel on the car, but it's not easy.

[CalCarNut]

Originally Posted by rolltidef32

If you can manually get a run flat off of a wheel, plug it, then place back onto a wheel, please explain with details.

:

I think the confusion is the plug part. The 'old' method was to drive a piece of rubber/glue etc into the hole and it'll act as a plug which you can do either on or off the car. With speed rated tires, this isn't the best idea. Shops, as we all know, remove the tire and patch it from the inside, which is the better process. Tires lose their speed rating once they have a hole. Not sure what it knocks them down to, but they are no longer the designation on the tire. (Not that we all go 130+ mph).

[CalCarNut]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

If you drive on the tire when fully flat for any distance you'll have sidewall damage, and then it's not repairable. That's why BMW et al say not to repair an RFT, because the sidewall damage can be invisible, and they assume that you're going to drive on it far enough to damage it. If you have the ability to fix it immediately the sidewall won't be damaged and you'll be back on the road in less than a half an hour.
You take the wheel off the car so that you can easily find and fix the puncture. You can do it with the wheel on the car, but it's not easy.

Interesting. Don't drive on a run flat. Seems oxymoron-ish to me, right? I get what you are saying though..especially if you put a lot of heat and some miles on the flat....

[rolltidef32]

Originally Posted by chiefneil

I don't think he's taking it off the wheel. Looks like the repair kit works from the outside in.

Ok, I see. Got confused there and wanted to make sure. Carrying a jack is something I did in the past, but just don't see it now.

I carried a hydraulic jack which was a bit big and heavy, but effective and quick to use. Now it stays at home.

[Jbrock22]

Originally Posted by RarScaryFrosty

If you have xdrive, carrying all of that is useless. If you get a flat you're screwed and need a tow. You'll have to replace all 4 tires immediately so the rolling diameter is the same on all 4 tires.

Not exactly true. If you ruin one tire you can purchase a new tire and have it shaved down. Many a tire store does it. Or you can replace two on the same axle.

[metallicpea]

Yes, the best repair is a patch from the inside, but these plug kits certainly are a very effective method to get you off the side of the road and buy time to get the tire repaired at a shop.

Unless you just assume you are replacing the tire, I stop when the tire pressure warning first goes off.

I carry a pressure gauge, very small cheapy pump for emergency use only and plug kit sealed in a ziplock freezer bag so the plug stays soft for as long as possible.

I don't bother with a jack unless I have a spare. I understand the idea that jack helps make the repair easier, but as this is only in case of emergency I get it done without by moving the car to the easiest point to access. It has been awhile since I have had a flat on either run flats or go flats. I keep a close eye on my tires and don't seem to drive in areas risky to get punctures.

I usually stay 100 miles from home, but if I were road tripping I might consider a spare, jack and wrench if I had the room. I am funny about who I let work on my car, so it would buy me comfort if I were away from home.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by SoCalDave

Interesting. Don't drive on a run flat. Seems oxymoron-ish to me, right? .

The advantage to a run flat is that you can run on it until you find a tire shop, so you save the cost and inconvenience of getting a flatbed. The price paid for that convenience is that the tire may well need to be replaced, and chances are the tire shop won't have one in stock. That's no biggy if it happens near home, but a major PITA if you're not.

I usually stay 100 miles from home, but if I were road tripping I might consider a spare, jack and wrench if I had the room.

I only drive about 5k miles a year, but of that 2k miles are road trips. If I ever do get a flat I can predict with 100% certainty it won't be within 50 miles of home.

[metallicpea]

If 40% of your mileage is away from home, then I would do 1 of 2 things:

Either plan on replacing the tire with any flat and carry just a can of fixaflat in case you are more than 50 miles from a replacement tire.

Or carry a jack, wrench and spare.

I think run flats really only make sense under certain use and are playing the odds that you probably wont have a flat with a tire that is worth saving. Which given most peoples use of a BMW is probably a fair bet.

[BEM-S4]

For what it's worth I once waited 4 hours for BMW roadside. In addition to the kit others have mentioned I'd also include a small sledge hammer. If your wheel is stuck on the hub a knock or two (always on tire never wheel) will break it free. Before I started carrying the hammer I once slid under the car and delivered a swift kick. Worked fine but then realized if wheel comes off and jack gets knocked loose, car would have landed on me. No Bueno.

[shinichilee]

Originally Posted by eluded

Agreed, I do not worry about it for four years/50,000 miles

lol true story

[JamRWS6]

The plug kit, air compressor, and tire gauge are a great idea. I keep those in my car although I'm not using runflats. I personally think this is much better and cleaner than fix a flat, that stuff makes a huge mess.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Jbrock22

Not exactly true. If you ruin one tire you can purchase a new tire and have it shaved down. Many a tire store does it. Or you can replace two on the same axle.

Not true at all. Compensating for tires that are slightly different diameter is one of the functions of differentials. A new tire on one side and a practically bald tire on the other wouldn't be a good idea, but a diameter difference of 1/4" or less wouldn't be a particular problem for everyday driving. You could get than much variation with identical tires if the tire pressures differ by a total of 5 PSI.

I personally think this is much better and cleaner than fix a flat, that stuff makes a huge mess.

Fix a flat gunks up TPM sensors too. I have a can of fix a flat anyway, just in case there's a slow leak that I can't find to plug. The TPM will clog but eventually the clog will probably work itself out.

[Jbrock22]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Not true at all. Compensating for tires that are slightly different diameter is one of the functions of differentials. A new tire on one side and a practically bald tire on the other wouldn't be a good idea, but a diameter difference of 1/4" or less wouldn't be a particular problem for everyday driving. You could get than much variation with identical tires if the tire pressures differ by a total of 5 PSI.
Fix a flat gunks up TPM sensors too. I have a can of fix a flat anyway, just in case there's a slow leak that I can't find to plug. The TPM will clog but eventually the clog will probably work itself out.

I think you are confirming what I said a slight difference is not a big deal. The last poster said if one tire needs to replaced then the other 3 need to be replaced also. Thats why I mentioned you could shave a new tire down or just replace two of the four on the same axle.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Jbrock22

I think you are confirming what I said a slight difference is not a big deal.

+1. There would have to be a major difference for it to matter, and I for one wouldn't shave 10,000 miles of tread off a new tire to satisfy what's more of a OCD issue than an actual need.

[Jbrock22]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

+1. There would have to be a major difference for it to matter, and I for one wouldn't shave 10,000 miles of tread off a new tire to satisfy what's more of a OCD issue than an actual need.

agreed