[BimR]

So this really is for sharing information and maybe it will help someone.

I realized that I got a screw lodged in the fat tread part of my tire (not sidewall) and wanted to see if it could be patched. The tires are about a year old but haven't been driven on much due to Covid. I was losing 6-8psi over 12 hours. There is conflicting info on this issue and after the few calls that I made, it will likely stay disputed!

First I called an indy who said that they can patch a runflat but they were booked for a week. Then I called a two major National tire chains who said that they won't patch runflats and I might need 4 new tires as it's an AWD. They both told me to go to a BMW dealer amd see if the dealer would only replace one tire or require all 4. I then drove to my bodyshop and he inspected the tire and determined that they could patch it for the following reasons - lot of tread left, tire was never driven on 0psi and it wasn't a sidewall puncture. He also suggested shaved tires if I only needed one versus buying all 4 if the patch didn't hold.

So here I am. I have it patched, it cost $20 and I'm hoping the plug will stay. If not, I will have to but *atleast* one new tire. I will update if anything changes but if you are in the same situation, be aware that the conflicting info online isn't incorrect. It's likely that different tire shops have different policies on repairing runflats.

[capt_slow]

Yes, you can patch RFTs. I've had it done a few times by America's Tire no problem. In the past, Pirelli didnt allow patching on their RFTs, but changed their position in the last few years.

xDrive requires all tires be within 2mm (a bit over 2/32nd) of each other.

[BimR]

Originally Posted by capt_slow

Yes, you can patch RFTs. I've had it done a few times by America's Tire no problem. In the past, Pirelli didnt allow patching on their RFTs, but changed their position in the last few years.

xDrive requires all tires be within 2mm (a bit over 2/32nd) of each other.

Yes this is basically what my Indy told me. But not the big chain stores. I got a nice run around

[VP_56]

I've had a run flat repaired at discount tire last year with no issues. This was on the stock OEM Bridgestone potenza. Since the repair I have not had any issues with the tire.

[Billfitz]

I've plugged punctures in two of my RFTs, one four years ago, one three years ago. Both are still going strong.
The reason for recommending RFTs not being repaired is if you drive on them when totally deflated for even a few miles the bond between the inner sidewall that makes it an RFT and the outer sidewall can be broken, so even after the puncture has been repaired the tire may fail shortly afterward. To prevent that I have a repair kit, pump and jack in the car, so if the pressure drops below 10 PSI I can pull over and fix it on the spot.

xDrive requires all tires be within 2mm (a bit over 2/32nd) of each other.

You can have that much variation between identical tires that are off in tire pressure by 5 PSI. A variation of 6mm keeps it at 1% or less.

[CajunBMW]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

I've plugged punctures in two of my RFTs, one four years ago, one three years ago. Both are still going strong.
The reason for recommending RFTs not being repaired is if you drive on them when totally deflated for even a few miles the bond between the inner sidewall that makes it an RFT and the outer sidewall can be broken, so even after the puncture has been repaired the tire may fail shortly afterward. To prevent that I have a repair kit, pump and jack in the car, so if the pressure drops below 10 PSI I can pull over and fix it on the spot.

You can have that much variation between identical tires that are off in tire pressure by 5 PSI. A variation of 6mm keeps it at 1% or less.

That is how I have kept my RFTS safe. The one time I needed it, I was in the less nice part of New Orleans with my kid follow the gps short cut to a soccer game. I took a nail and luckily the tire pressure stabilized at 18 lbs or something like that. But as soon as it was safe To stop I pumped it up and for me it was okay. The nail sealed the hole and it held. But I was ready to repair the tire if needed. I was able to drive to the game and spend the weekend in NO for soccer and then get the car the 4 hours home ok before I had it patched. Those tires have long been replaced but had no issue once patched.

[Billfitz]

The first for me was a nail. I went shopping, got less than a quarter mile from home, got the alarm, turned around and got home before the pressure hit 10 PSI. I pulled the wheel, fixed the tire, was back on the road in less than an hour. The second one picked up a screw. The leak was so slow it only lost about 5PSI a month, and it was winter, so I just kept an eye on it and topped off the pressure every couple of weeks until the weather allowed me to plug it.

[dmaxdmax]

Couldn't patch this, but was amazed I could drive 50mph for 50 miles on it. Only went about 30 miles...up to 50 mph at times.

It was so nice not getting stuck waiting for a tow...and I can't imagine being in the middle of nowhere without a spare. G-d forbid we should have an extra 40 lbs. in the car. smh

I'm not racing, so glad I have them around NY/NJ's potholes.

[Billfitz]

NY/NJ potholes are why I got 17s and 225/55s, and a compact spare. The last thing I need is to be six hours from home on a Sunday unable to replace a tire.

[CajunBMW]

Originally Posted by dmaxdmax

Couldn't patch this, but was amazed I could drive 50mph for 50 miles on it. Only went about 30 miles...up to 50 mph at times.

It was so nice not getting stuck waiting for a tow...and I can't imagine being in the middle of nowhere without a spare. G-d forbid we should have an extra 40 lbs. in the car. smh

I'm not racing, so glad I have them around NY/NJ's potholes.

WOW!!!

[chowser51]

yeah, patched many a runflat over the past 15 years with no issues.
get a patch kit so you can do it yourself on the side of the road. and an air compressor.

[Wires]

Don't worry about the plugs. They just work. I had one tire that got 3 freaking nails in it (stupid new construction) in a week. Tire shop plugged it, and I drove it for 4 years.

If you tracked the car, then plugging might not be a good idea due to all the stresses and speed, but for street/highway, no issues.

I ended up buying a tire plug kit, and like good karma, as soon as that went in the trunk I haven't had to use it (it's been there for 8 years!) Hope I didn't just jinx that.

[Carrera Dave]

I think I was taken. Picked up a puncture in driver rear RFT. I drove it almost straight to Discount Tire (approx. 10 miles, 20 mins) . Tire pressure was going down, from 41 to approx. 25.

I got the message the tire could not be patched. They said the tire was damaged running on too low of pressure. Seemed odd to me.

Replaced with Michelin non-RFT which I wanted anyway.

[BimR]

Originally Posted by Wires

Don't worry about the plugs. They just work. I had one tire that got 3 freaking nails in it (stupid new construction) in a week. Tire shop plugged it, and I drove it for 4 years.

If you tracked the car, then plugging might not be a good idea due to all the stresses and speed, but for street/highway, no issues.

I ended up buying a tire plug kit, and like good karma, as soon as that went in the trunk I haven't had to use it (it's been there for 8 years!) Hope I didn't just jinx that.

No tracking for this guy! I hope it stays

[BimR]

Originally Posted by Carrera Dave

I think I was taken. Picked up a puncture in driver rear RFT. I drove it almost straight to Discount Tire (approx. 10 miles, 20 mins) . Tire pressure was going down, from 41 to approx. 25.

I got the message the tire could not be patched. They said the tire was damaged running on too low of pressure. Seemed odd to me.

Replaced with Michelin non-RFT which I wanted anyway.

I would say "probably" that you got taken but it's not that easy. Really depends on where the puncture is and the structure of the tire. But you got your new tires!

[Carrera Dave]

Good point BimR! New tires really make a difference.

[Wires]

Originally Posted by Carrera Dave

I think I was taken. Picked up a puncture in driver rear RFT. I drove it almost straight to Discount Tire (approx. 10 miles, 20 mins) . Tire pressure was going down, from 41 to approx. 25.

I got the message the tire could not be patched. They said the tire was damaged running on too low of pressure. Seemed odd to me.

Replaced with Michelin non-RFT which I wanted anyway.

When you look at a RFT from the inside, they aren't smooth, they have ribs that keep the tire in shape to allow you to drive on it.

If you drive too fast, or too long, or too low of pressure, it starts to destroy the ribs which makes it non-repairable.

Also, if your puncture isn't in the face (tread area) they cannot fix them due to that supporting sidewall design.

[Billfitz]

If your puncture isn't in the tread area you can't fix any tire with a plug. Most tires have ribs on the inner sidewalls. What makes RFT different is they have a second sidewall that's stiff enough to support the car even when deflated.

Tire pressure was going down, from 41 to approx. 25...They said the tire was damaged running on too low of pressure.

They lied. You could drive a thousand miles at 25 PSI without damaging the sidewall.

[Carrera Dave]

Wires - this is what they said, the interior of the tire was too damaged to be repaired. The puncture was in the tread area and usually patch-able.

[silver28]

For $20, was it just a plug? They should also vulcanize it...basically they take off the tire, and also cover the hole with a patch and seal up the hole better. It increases the rigidity and durability.

I plugged and vulcanized a rear RFT - been like that for 4 years and zero issues.

[tjlees]

+1

some RF tyre manufacturers don't recommend repairing but luckily Bridgestone do.

My glued in plug lasted the lifetime of the tyre (2 years) with no issues.

https://www.bushtyres.co.uk/tyre-new...run-flat-tyres

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Carrera Dave

Wires - this is what they said, the interior of the tire was too damaged to be repaired. The puncture was in the tread area and usually patch-able.

They're full of it. Unless it was shredded you can't tell if the bond between the inner and outer sidewalls is damaged until it manifests as a bubbling of the outer sidewall, and that takes a goodly amount of driving to eventually show up. RFTs have been around long enough that this is very well documented, including here, though I haven't seen anyone post about it happening to them for quite some time. The last time you went there should forever remain the last time you went there.