Run Flat Repair

unikbarna

Member
Fellow Fanatics,

This weekend I took my car for a spin, and I mistakenly got a a nail in my tyre. I tried removing it and I could hear that air was coming out so I left it there but its making a funny sound when driving. I am not looking into buying any new run-flat-tyres soon [I ddnt get a bonus :cry:], is there a way I can get the puncture fixed.

M planning on going for a 3000KM trip this festive and I cant afford to go with a nail in my tyre.
 

msm

Well-known member
Most tyre places should be able to plug it for you provided it is on the thread area and not too much on the side. Make sure they use a proper "mushroom" plug. Also, don't drive the tyre while flat - this will damage the sidewall (if it is not already damaged) and you will have to replace.

One more thing - some TWT stores do not repair runflats. So phone around first before you go through.
 

BMW M

///Member
DIY - Buy the repairkit from Midas/Autozone it costs less than R50. I bought one with some extra plugs and have done two repairs myself, no problem.

One was at home when I could jack the car up and remove the wheel, the other was next to the road, topped up the tire with the supplied compressor and continued onwards without a single problem, it litteraly takes no more than 10 mins from start to finish.

Best investment ever.

 

msm

Well-known member
BMW M said:
DIY - Buy the repairkit from Midas/Autozone it costs less than R50. I bought one with some extra plugs and have done two repairs myself, no problem.

One was at home when I could jack the car up and remove the wheel, the other was next to the road, topped up the tire with the supplied compressor and continued onwards without a single problem, it litteraly takes no more than 10 mins from start to finish.

Best investment ever.

Yes, you can plug them from the outside, but not recommended. With a mushroom plug, the tyre is removed from the rim and sealed from the inside too.

Those DIY repair kits are good if you're stranded, but you rather get a tyre repaired properly for peace of mind. Also, when the tyre is off the rim, you can also inspect the side wall for damage.
 

BMW M

///Member
msm said:
BMW M said:
DIY - Buy the repairkit from Midas/Autozone it costs less than R50. I bought one with some extra plugs and have done two repairs myself, no problem.

One was at home when I could jack the car up and remove the wheel, the other was next to the road, topped up the tire with the supplied compressor and continued onwards without a single problem, it litteraly takes no more than 10 mins from start to finish.

Best investment ever.

Yes, you can plug them from the outside, but not recommended. With a mushroom plug, the tyre is removed from the rim and sealed from the inside too.

Those DIY repair kits are good if you're stranded, but you rather get a tyre repaired properly for peace of mind. Also, when the tyre is off the rim, you can also inspect the side wall for damage.

MSN,

Obviously I'm not going to do 200km with the flat tire before I decide to have it repaired, (Even thou I have tested a run flat, flat for almost 300km under load) wheather DIY or at a garage. The moment the TPM warns theres a flat I stop and check pressures with the guage supplied by BMW.

I agree that a mushroom plug is probably the 'safer/better' plug, but I'm yet to experience any 'normal' plug failure, done DIY or otherwise.

Just my 2c :thumbs:
 

unikbarna

Member
BMW M said:
msm said:
BMW M said:
DIY - Buy the repairkit from Midas/Autozone it costs less than R50. I bought one with some extra plugs and have done two repairs myself, no problem.

One was at home when I could jack the car up and remove the wheel, the other was next to the road, topped up the tire with the supplied compressor and continued onwards without a single problem, it litteraly takes no more than 10 mins from start to finish.

Best investment ever.

Yes, you can plug them from the outside, but not recommended. With a mushroom plug, the tyre is removed from the rim and sealed from the inside too.

Those DIY repair kits are good if you're stranded, but you rather get a tyre repaired properly for peace of mind. Also, when the tyre is off the rim, you can also inspect the side wall for damage.

MSN,

Obviously I'm not going to do 200km with the flat tire before I decide to have it repaired, (Even thou I have tested a run flat, flat for almost 300km under load) wheather DIY or at a garage. The moment the TPM warns theres a flat I stop and check pressures with the guage supplied by BMW.

I agree that a mushroom plug is probably the 'safer/better' plug, but I'm yet to experience any 'normal' plug failure, done DIY or otherwise.

Just my 2c :thumbs:


Hi,

when you say "check pressures with the guage supplied by BMW"

How do you do that, i think i should check mine as well??
 

BMW M

///Member
unikbarna said:
BMW M said:
msm said:
BMW M said:
DIY - Buy the repairkit from Midas/Autozone it costs less than R50. I bought one with some extra plugs and have done two repairs myself, no problem.

One was at home when I could jack the car up and remove the wheel, the other was next to the road, topped up the tire with the supplied compressor and continued onwards without a single problem, it litteraly takes no more than 10 mins from start to finish.

Best investment ever.

Yes, you can plug them from the outside, but not recommended. With a mushroom plug, the tyre is removed from the rim and sealed from the inside too.

Those DIY repair kits are good if you're stranded, but you rather get a tyre repaired properly for peace of mind. Also, when the tyre is off the rim, you can also inspect the side wall for damage.

MSN,

Obviously I'm not going to do 200km with the flat tire before I decide to have it repaired, (Even thou I have tested a run flat, flat for almost 300km under load) wheather DIY or at a garage. The moment the TPM warns theres a flat I stop and check pressures with the guage supplied by BMW.

I agree that a mushroom plug is probably the 'safer/better' plug, but I'm yet to experience any 'normal' plug failure, done DIY or otherwise.

Just my 2c :thumbs:


Hi,

when you say "check pressures with the guage supplied by BMW"

How do you do that, i think i should check mine as well??

Unikbarna,

Late 2008 early 2009 BMW supplied all of there cars with runflats, with a roadside kit, it has a tire pressure monitor, compressor, some 'tire weld' and a pair of gloves.
 

Seether

New member
msm said:
Yes, you can plug them from the outside, but not recommended. With a mushroom plug, the tyre is removed from the rim and sealed from the inside too.

Those DIY repair kits are good if you're stranded, but you rather get a tyre repaired properly for peace of mind. Also, when the tyre is off the rim, you can also inspect the side wall for damage.

+1
 

msm

Well-known member
BMW M said:
Obviously I'm not going to do 200km with the flat tire before I decide to have it repaired, (Even thou I have tested a run flat, flat for almost 300km under load) wheather DIY or at a garage. The moment the TPM warns theres a flat I stop and check pressures with the guage supplied by BMW.

I agree that a mushroom plug is probably the 'safer/better' plug, but I'm yet to experience any 'normal' plug failure, done DIY or otherwise.

Just my 2c :thumbs:

Agree too that you rather plug it on the side of the road than damage the sidewall, as it's not always convenient to get a mushroom plug fitted in the middle of nowhere.

:thumbs:
 

unikbarna

Member
Hey Guys,

Just came from TWT, close to my workplace. The dude I saw who works there said they can do it for me at 75R [which is not bad], but he was telling me there is a possibility that the tyre might split during the mushroom repair process. I asked him what are the chances of getting a split and he said 50% :bangdesk:

Now if the tyre splits during the repair process:thumbdo:, I will have go back home with a taxi since I never considered getting a spare wheel.

Maybe I should just wait and get it fixed over the weekend, I am worried about the damage I am going to make on the tire if I continue driving it like that.
 

Philip Foglar

///Member
Assuming the punctured RFT was not driven on (identified the puncture and slight loss of pressure as it happened), and as such there has been no side wall damage or stress, also the puncture is not too close to the shoulder or outer sides of the treat patch, then I see no reason why it cannot be repaired. And this is where I find this whole thing very funny - non-RFT's are routinely repaired, but they are the ones that offer less protection should the repair fail! With a RFT, all that happens if the repair fails, you end up making use of the RFT technology.

My father in law discovered he had a puncture on the right rear of his Z4. Took the wheel off and chucked it in the pool to see where the puncture was - used a normal plug puncture repair and seems to be fine. Personally I would use that only as a temporary fix and then have a mushroom plug repair for a permanent fix.
 

msm

Well-known member
unikbarna said:
Just came from TWT, close to my workplace. The dude I saw who works there said they can do it for me at 75R [which is not bad], but he was telling me there is a possibility that the tyre might split during the mushroom repair process. I asked him what are the chances of getting a split and he said 50% :bangdesk:

Try going elsewhere - sounds like the TWT might be trying to make a tyre sale ...
 

unikbarna

Member
msm said:
unikbarna said:
Just came from TWT, close to my workplace. The dude I saw who works there said they can do it for me at 75R [which is not bad], but he was telling me there is a possibility that the tyre might split during the mushroom repair process. I asked him what are the chances of getting a split and he said 50% :bangdesk:

Try going elsewhere - sounds like the TWT might be trying to make a tyre sale ...

LOL, :roflol: i thought as much as well
 

Onyx

Active member
msm said:
unikbarna said:
Just came from TWT, close to my workplace. The dude I saw who works there said they can do it for me at 75R [which is not bad], but he was telling me there is a possibility that the tyre might split during the mushroom repair process. I asked him what are the chances of getting a split and he said 50% :bangdesk:

Try going elsewhere - sounds like the TWT might be trying to make a tyre sale ...

Exactly...
R75 with a 50/50 chance... or piece of mind with a new tyre at a drastically increased price tag! :thumbs:
 

Philip Foglar

///Member
Go to another tyre place - if they can repair a normal tyre, there is NOTHING preventing them from repairing a RFT. And tell them that you want them to repair it, since legally they will not want to take responsibility for repairing a RFT - so you are telling them that you are then taking responsibility for the consequences of the repair. Being forced to buy a new RFT is just way to rip the consumer off. Fair enough, if the tyre is badly damaged or the puncture is too close to the shoulder, then replacement is the better and safer option - and the more costly option, because often it means having to replace the tyre on the other side of the axle depending on how much tyre wear there is. Not ideal having tyres of vastly different wear and age on the same axle.

Also, speak to a manager at the tyre place, the sales staff will spin any story to sell you a new tyre, but the manager would prefer repeat business and good word of mouth advertising.
 

frikkieh

///Member
HiQ Centurion plugged a RFT for me:

ee17229a.jpg


It was plugged from the inside with a proper mushroom plug.
No issues thus far :thumbs:
 
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