Update to repairing a leaking RFT

Krockit · 05-12-2007, 08:18 AM

This chapter in RFT ownership ended happily. Drove 15 miles to Firestone service center and got the tire patched and plugged. Total cost- $25. The leak was slow enough that the tire wasn't damaged in this short drive. It lost about 5 lbs. of pressure en route and 5 miles of the drive was interstate.

If a leak happens to you here's some things to remember-

1. If you have driven more than just a few miles without air in the tire, it's probably going to have to be replaced. Sidewall is too weak after holding the car up off the pavement.
2. If the nail, glass, etc. is in the tread near the center of the tire's tread, odds are good the tire can be fixed. If near the sidewall, or in the sidewall it's new tire time.
3. Proper fix means the tire has to come off the rim for an internal patch as well as a more traditional plug punched into the hole. This is why many shops won't touch RFT- they are a bitch to work on. The tire's rim bead is so reinforced you'd think there's a piece of rerod running through it. The lesson is, call around. I made 5 calls before this shop didn't hesitate to tell me to bring it in.
4. Even if the fix is made correctly, there's no guarantee the patch then plug will hold, although this shop had fixed lots of them with a high percentage (well over 90%) of success.
5. If you need a new tire, SHOP. I had price quotes for an 18" Potenza RE050A from $319 (tire rack) to $500 (Firestone dealer)
6. This is only the second flat tire I've ever had in over 1M driving miles, but in retrospect I wish I had bought the R&T insurance. Could've had it for $475.
7. Carry a mini compressor and aerosol tire inflator in the trunk. Before I drove to get this tire fixed, I inflated the tire to 40 psi. Carry a tire good tire gauge with you. Tire pressure monitor did it's job but it's up to you to check which tire is low, at least on my non-nav car.

FrankoQ · 05-12-2007, 09:11 AM

roger roger... thanks for the tips.

SteanLV · 05-12-2007, 02:13 PM

hehe i had a nail on mines the first 2 weeks, but luckily the sensor thing turned on and I saw it while i was on the way back to the car after eating. Got it patched and was on my way! lol

E90330iS · 05-12-2007, 10:27 PM

Cool!

s4iscool · 05-13-2007, 12:57 PM

the Bstones OEM RFT's dont have as stiff a bead than past RFT's. Many shops shit a brick when i asked them to patch one, but once I found a shop to do it, they said, "no, it was easy to take off"

Ryan 330i · 05-14-2007, 03:23 PM

amazing advice. good to hear someone could take care of the run flats. most people wont.

05-12-2007, 08:18 AM	#1
Krockit Second Lieutenant 16 Rep 210 Posts Drives: 06 330i, 03 Boxster Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Wisconsin iTrader: (0)	Update to repairing a leaking RFT This chapter in RFT ownership ended happily. Drove 15 miles to Firestone service center and got the tire patched and plugged. Total cost- $25. The leak was slow enough that the tire wasn't damaged in this short drive. It lost about 5 lbs. of pressure en route and 5 miles of the drive was interstate. If a leak happens to you here's some things to remember- 1. If you have driven more than just a few miles without air in the tire, it's probably going to have to be replaced. Sidewall is too weak after holding the car up off the pavement. 2. If the nail, glass, etc. is in the tread near the center of the tire's tread, odds are good the tire can be fixed. If near the sidewall, or in the sidewall it's new tire time. 3. Proper fix means the tire has to come off the rim for an internal patch as well as a more traditional plug punched into the hole. This is why many shops won't touch RFT- they are a bitch to work on. The tire's rim bead is so reinforced you'd think there's a piece of rerod running through it. The lesson is, call around. I made 5 calls before this shop didn't hesitate to tell me to bring it in. 4. Even if the fix is made correctly, there's no guarantee the patch then plug will hold, although this shop had fixed lots of them with a high percentage (well over 90%) of success. 5. If you need a new tire, SHOP. I had price quotes for an 18" Potenza RE050A from $319 (tire rack) to $500 (Firestone dealer) 6. This is only the second flat tire I've ever had in over 1M driving miles, but in retrospect I wish I had bought the R&T insurance. Could've had it for $475. 7. Carry a mini compressor and aerosol tire inflator in the trunk. Before I drove to get this tire fixed, I inflated the tire to 40 psi. Carry a tire good tire gauge with you. Tire pressure monitor did it's job but it's up to you to check which tire is low, at least on my non-nav car. __________________ Ordered- 4/6, Pro#- 4/8, Vin#- 4/15, Build date- 4/17, Completion date- 4/25, At port- 5/2, Loaded @ Bremerhaven- 5/4, on the water- 5/5, docked NYC- 5/18, Docked SC and released to carrier- 5/23, arrived Milwaukee -5/25! YEAH BROTHER! Drove it home- 5/31 330i SG/Beige 6MT, ZSP, ZPP, Comfort Access, Htd seats, Sirius, 35% tint.
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05-12-2007, 09:11 AM	#2
FrankoQ Deny everything 219 Rep 11,378 Posts Drives: 2006 330i; 2015 X6, S1000RR Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Beautiful MD iTrader: (5) Garage List 2015 BMW X6 [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	roger roger... thanks for the tips. __________________ I need a drink
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05-12-2007, 02:13 PM	#3
SteanLV 249 Rep 2,856 Posts Drives: Liberty Walk M3 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Las Vegas, NV iTrader: (5)	hehe i had a nail on mines the first 2 weeks, but luckily the sensor thing turned on and I saw it while i was on the way back to the car after eating. Got it patched and was on my way! lol __________________
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05-12-2007, 10:27 PM	#4
E90330iS Major General 143 Rep 6,333 Posts Drives: BMW M4 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Arcadia, California iTrader: (56) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Cool! __________________ 2017 BMW M4 DCT Lease Transfer: https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...8#post23736398
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05-13-2007, 12:57 PM	#5
s4iscool Major 26 Rep 1,138 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Neccos iTrader: (2)	the Bstones OEM RFT's dont have as stiff a bead than past RFT's. Many shops shit a brick when i asked them to patch one, but once I found a shop to do it, they said, "no, it was easy to take off"
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05-14-2007, 03:23 PM	#6
Ryan 330i Major 56 Rep 1,181 Posts Drives: '09 E93 335i Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: San Francisco \| LA \| Oregon iTrader: (0)	amazing advice. good to hear someone could take care of the run flats. most people wont. __________________ 2009 E93 335i \| Jet \| Black Dakota \| Grey Poplar \| ZPP \| ZSP \| ZCW \| Step \| Paddles \| i-Drive \| CA \| Sirius \| HD \| Logic7 \| 06FL \| 06NF \| PDC \| OEM Alarm \| LUX Retired: 2007 E92 335i Retired: 2006 E90 330i
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