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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > Wheels and Tires Forum Sponsored by The Tire Rack > Repairing a RTF



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      03-19-2012, 01:41 PM   #1
MTP335
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Question Repairing a RTF

RFT* (cant edit the title)

Dealer said I have a nail in my tire… blah. Can it be fixed?

Currently I am still using the tire; it slowly leaks air, but nothing too bad.

thx
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      03-19-2012, 01:44 PM   #2
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I'm assuming you mean Run Flat?

No can do, it's 100% replacement only for RFTs. They cannot be fixed.
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      03-19-2012, 01:45 PM   #3
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replace.
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      03-19-2012, 01:59 PM   #4
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I've heard of some members pluging/patching them.
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      03-19-2012, 02:01 PM   #5
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Got my shit plugged and rolling on it currently...for at least 5k miles now. It all depends if you damaged the internal "run flat" material on it. Take it to discount tires, they can asses it and fix it for free if it's fixable.
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      03-19-2012, 02:02 PM   #6
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It the inside is still in good condition, you can patch them. People say no because running the run flat tires with no air inside will ruin the insides, making it no good even after it's patched. Assuming you didn't run it with no air, you should be fine.
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      03-19-2012, 02:05 PM   #7
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You are not supposed to plug them or patch them, especially if they were driven with no air. Some shops still do it, but keep in mind the potential risks.

It also depends on where the nail is...

Quote:
Different Recommendations
Manufacturer recommendations about repairing runflats vary. Some manufacturers specify what sort of damage to a run-flat can be repaired. For example, Goodyear recommends repair only if the damage is within the tire's outside grooves and restricted to the tread. The company also specifies that plug of 1/4-inch in diameter be used, with a patch applied over it.

Splits
Some manufacturers recommend that run-flats with splits should be replaced, and that repairing them will void their warranty. If the fabric of the tire has split, repair might still be possible, but it will be more complicated and the speed rating of the tire will be lost. This means it should not be driven beyond normal highway speeds.

Other Facts
Many tire shops refuse to repair run-flats. Most car manufacturers still use conventional radials and not all tire dealers even stock run-flats, so there may be a wait of a few days if you need to replace a run-flat tire.



Read more: Can You Plug a Run-Flat Tire? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_7483459_ca...#ixzz1paj7NJa0
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      03-19-2012, 02:12 PM   #8
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If it slowly leaks out I suggest you keep checking the pressure and adding air. I got a mail in my tire the first day I got them. They fixed it because I didn't damage the side walls
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      03-19-2012, 02:15 PM   #9
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...... Repair it. If you're going to replace it you might as well replace all 4 with non run flat tires. run flat tires are garbage
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      03-19-2012, 02:17 PM   #10
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if you have a slow leak becuse of a nail or something like that and you have never driven on the tire while it's completely flat, yes you can patch it if its in a patchable spot.

if its flat and you drove on it, nope, not patchabale. replace
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      03-19-2012, 02:17 PM   #11
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I would just repair it....did it on my OEM tires to two of them and lasted until they wore down...then got rid of the RFT because they are complete garbage
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      03-19-2012, 02:46 PM   #12
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Yeah, I have a set of dws, but i figure its a waste to mount them since summer is coming. Im gonna patch it.
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      03-19-2012, 02:57 PM   #13
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America's Tire patched mine for free. Ran it until it was completely bald with no issues.

You can patch it if the nail is not close to the sidewall and you have not driven on it with zero pressure. Don't believe anyone who tells you otherwise.
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      03-19-2012, 03:19 PM   #14
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Taking my car to Goodyear to patch it, surprisingly they do RFT repairs.
They said it will cost $50.
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      03-19-2012, 03:20 PM   #15
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yes, you can repair run flat tire much like a regular tire, patching will be better than plugging the hole. and also depends on location of the hole too, if its in on the sidewall or near it, forget it, you shouldn't even repair a regular tire if the hole is on or near the sidewall anyway

however, big disclaimer here, you are doing this at your own risk, if you have patched the tire and doing 100 (or 50?) and you hit a nail, you are increasing the odds of a blow out and obviously, you can forget about any law suit, because the manufacturer clearly stated that you must replace a damaged run flat tire
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      03-19-2012, 03:34 PM   #16
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Got one of mine patched for $20. Been a year now and no issues yet *cross fingers*.
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      03-19-2012, 04:03 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elcheapoloco View Post
America's Tire patched mine for free. Ran it until it was completely bald with no issues.

You can patch it if the nail is not close to the sidewall and you have not driven on it with zero pressure. Don't believe anyone who tells you otherwise.
This is absolutely 100% correct. You can fix RFT in same manner as non-RFT's. I got a 3/8 lag bolt in one of my RFTs when it had 2500 miles on it. I had it professionally repaired. I ran the tire down to past the wear bars. I since replaced my wheels and tires with non-runflats. I still have the repaired tire, still on the rim, in my garage, still holding air 6 YEARS later.

Just get it fixed.
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      03-19-2012, 05:25 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MTP335 View Post
RFT* (cant edit the title)

Dealer said I have a nail in my tire… blah. Can it be fixed?

Currently I am still using the tire; it slowly leaks air, but nothing too bad.

thx
The tire can be fixed assuming you did not drive on the tire without air and that the nail is not in the sidewall. Most people don't understand that the only reason dealers say that a run flat needs to be replaced is because when you drive on it without air, it damages the side wall. I would advise you to have the tire patched rather than plugged.
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      03-19-2012, 06:09 PM   #19
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Bought a plug kit for 7 bucks at O Rielys

Did't even take the wheel off the car . Pulled screw out
reamed hole put in plug ran for a month on it and it wasn't leaking.
Got a new set of tires but from what I read the plug should
have lasted as long as the tire does. Also I can do 4 more plugs with
the kit.
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      03-19-2012, 10:50 PM   #20
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I've plugged my own RFTs on two separate E90s for 6 years. Never had a problem. So long as you haven't run the tire at zero psi for more than a few miles or at high speed, you should be fine. The nail cannot be in the sidewall or close to it. It has to be in the tread that contacts the pavement.

Tire dealers want to sell tires. If they tell you it can't be patched/plugged, walk away.

Dealers that do will charge about $25 to do it.
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      03-20-2012, 06:39 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ENINTY View Post
This is absolutely 100% correct. You can fix RFT in same manner as non-RFT's. I got a 3/8 lag bolt in one of my RFTs when it had 2500 miles on it. I had it professionally repaired. I ran the tire down to past the wear bars. I since replaced my wheels and tires with non-runflats. I still have the repaired tire, still on the rim, in my garage, still holding air 6 YEARS later.

Just get it fixed.
+1 I have one RFT with 4 plugs in it. It's been years with no issues. I would second guess checking the top speed with plugs, but for normal highway driving, it's fine.

RFT's are nothing more than normal tires with extra ribs on the sidewall to keep them stiff with no air. It's not like they are magic or anything. As long as the ribbing isn't destroyed (aka driving a long time without air) they are fine plugged.
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      03-20-2012, 08:13 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wires View Post
+1 I have one RFT with 4 plugs in it. It's been years with no issues. I would second guess checking the top speed with plugs, but for normal highway driving, it's fine.

RFT's are nothing more than normal tires with extra ribs on the sidewall to keep them stiff with no air. It's not like they are magic or anything. As long as the ribbing isn't destroyed (aka driving a long time without air) they are fine plugged.

+1,000,000,000,000


RFT's are perfectly patchable. Most places wouldn't patch them if the nail is on the sidewall or within two fingers of the sidewall...
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