[SilverGrey]

So yesterday my car had its first service at 18,000 miles.

The health check revealed a screw in one of my rear tyres (Bridgestone Potenza RFt 18” 255/40)

There haven’t been any TPMS warnings and there’s no sign of a slow puncture.

There’s still plenty of tread left on the tyre (5mm). If I remove the screw that will presumably let the air so I’m tempted to leave it as it is. BMW quoted £140 for a replacement (inclusive of VAT and fitting) which was a lot less than I expected. My previous e46 had the same size tyres and they were £250 each. They said not to get it repaired.

What would people advise? Leave it as it isn’t causing or problem or get it replaced?

[Malone]

Originally Posted by SilverGrey

So yesterday my car had its first service at 18,000 miles.

The health check revealed a screw in one of my rear tyres (Bridgestone Potenza RFt 18” 255/40)

There haven’t been any TPMS warnings and there’s no sign of a slow puncture.

There’s still plenty of tread left on the tyre (5mm). If I remove the screw that will presumably let the air so I’m tempted to leave it as it is. BMW quoted £140 for a replacement (inclusive of VAT and fitting) which was a lot less than I expected. My previous e46 had the same size tyres and they were £250 each. They said not to get it repaired.

What would people advise? Leave it as it isn’t causing or problem or get it replaced?

Take it to an indy tyre place and see if they’ll repair it - should’t be an issue if the tyre hasn’t deflated and been driven on (obviously also if the screw is in a place that’s repairable)

[Kal101]

Run flats can be repaired depending on where the screw is .

Potential issue with leaving it in ,is that it will start leaking sooner or later - probably at the most inconvenient time

[teaston]

Definitely try to get it repaired as long as it not near the sidewall, it’ll only cost around £15. Try independents though as chains like Fast Fit & Halfords will refuse to repair (as they want to sell you a new tyre). You never know the screw might just be in the tread and not go through the carcass!

[SilverGrey]

Originally Posted by teaston

You never know the screw might just be in the tread and not go through the carcass!

Yes, also crossed my mind, although I don’t want to remove it to find out!

[DarrenL_007]

I had a screw in my rear Bridgestone runflat with less than 2k miles on them. It had only lost 4 psi and I went to 3 garages all who refused to fix it but HiQ agreed to do it with no questions for £18.

[NotGotABimmer23]

Where abouts is the screw? I wouldnt leave it, id get it plugged if possible.

[Steveo.G]

Get it repaired, I've had a couple repaired over the years with no issues.
A lot of people will be reluctant to repair if it's close to the edge or side wall

[Watsey]

Broadly speaking, if the screw is in the tread area and the tyre hasn't been driven with the tyre deflated then it can be repaired.

[willjames]

Drive carefully to the nearest garage so that the tyre doesn't deflate and then get it plugged. If within a suitable spot. Ie away from tyre wall. I've had a few done at Hi q.

[Hooded]

Local tyre place repaired a run flat for me with a screw in and it was absolutely fine afterwards. As long as it's not near the edge of the tyre and you haven't driven on it with very low pressure it's not a problem. Best to get it repaired.

[lethbridge]

Agree with all - unless it is really near the edge it should be repairable - just ring around to find a local place that will repair runflats that haven't been run on when flat... Amazed at the price the dealer was offering to replace it for!

[Olddriver60]

Had this same issue two weeks ago, less than 2,800 miles on tyre, Bridgestone potenza 225/45 18 run flat, screw was on the shoulder of the tread, local independent place I've used previously to repair run flat said it was non repairable, explaining that to be successful the repair has to be within the allowed 75% of the tread contact, apparently a plug repair out with this zone is likely to fail due to flexing of the sidewall also if the cords are disrupted bulging of the tyre is highly likely leading to potential tyre failure, cost me £180 for new tyre.

[Jeff123]

I have had the same type of thing with a bulging inner side wall. Its a bummer, but better safe than sorry.

Once I knew that the tyre had a bulge, it just gets into your head and you imagine it blowing out at any time. Its worth the £180 for peace of mind.

[SilverGrey]

So I bit the bullet, accepting the quote of £140 for a Bridgestone Potenza 18" 255/40.

On arrival, the price was confirmed by the service person. 5 minutes after the car entered the bodyshop, the service person came to have a word. It turns out they quoted me for the front tyre and not a rear. As such they didn't have Bridgestone one in (which should cost £200) and the only one they had suitable was a Continental at £220.

They said it was OK to mix brands as the car isn't X drive and as it was their mistake, they would honour the quote of £140.

They quoted me the wrong figure because the technician put the wrong information on the health check report.

[goodbyalfa]

Originally Posted by SilverGrey

So I bit the bullet, accepting the quote of £140 for a Bridgestone Potenza 18" 255/40.

On arrival, the price was confirmed by the service person. 5 minutes after the car entered the bodyshop, the service person came to have a word. It turns out they quoted me for the front tyre and not a rear. As such they didn't have Bridgestone one in (which should cost £200) and the only one they had suitable was a Continental at £220.

They said it was OK to mix brands as the car isn't X drive and as it was their mistake, they would honour the quote of £140.

They quoted me the wrong figure because the technician put the wrong information on the health check report.

So you have now have mixed tread levels and mixed tyres on one axel...

[Mr NSB]

Originally Posted by goodbyalfa

So you have now have mixed tread levels and mixed tyres on one axel...

Why does it matter?

[goodbyalfa]

Originally Posted by Mr NSB

Why does it matter?

I suppose if you drive like miss Daisy on your trips to the super market every day, or just trundle up and down the motorway then it won't matter one jot.

[Dyl]

I had this taken out of my tyre just yesterday.

He was a bit unsure if he could repair at first because it was going in at a slight angle. Came back with his thumbs up, took him 5 minutes, £10.

[Liquidfox]

Originally Posted by Mr NSB

Why does it matter?

Different levels of grip

[sensible]

Originally Posted by SilverGrey

So I bit the bullet, accepting the quote of £140 for a Bridgestone Potenza 18" 255/40.

On arrival, the price was confirmed by the service person. 5 minutes after the car entered the bodyshop, the service person came to have a word. It turns out they quoted me for the front tyre and not a rear. As such they didn't have Bridgestone one in (which should cost £200) and the only one they had suitable was a Continental at £220.

They said it was OK to mix brands as the car isn't X drive and as it was their mistake, they would honour the quote of £140.

They quoted me the wrong figure because the technician put the wrong information on the health check report.

I wouldn't have done that!

Legally there is nothing wrong with it but you now have two different tyres on the driven axle of your car, both tyres have different tread patterns, different depths of tread and most likely different rubber compounds. There is no way they will have the same level of grip. This can effect handling, acceleration and braking. You would have been much better off having your tyre repaired, but if you decided on replacing with a different brand of tyre then replace both rears.

Read this....https://www.protyre.co.uk/news/may-2...can-be-illegal

I would take your car back to BMW armed with this print out and insist they fit you a tyre that matches the others, because the advice they have given you is bad advice. Even then you will have different tyre tread depths.

[andyca]

Having trouble with this now... first MOT and there is apparently a nail in the tyre... I can't find it, but I took it to two tyre places and they both said they won't repair runflats.

It's an X-drive too so ~£1000 for all 4.

It's not going down, so I'm just going to leave it in there and hope it lasts. Will be looking for non RFTs next time though... It's just not worth the risk for X-drive cars, a tow is cheaper than 4 new tyres.