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My left rear has a nail in it . I notice i lose about 5-10 PSI overnight, took it to a local small tire shop and they said they can't plug/patch a run flat, told me i have to buy new tires =(
Is that true? The nail is not near a sidewall but they still won't touch it;. My tire still seems to have a lot of life left.
If i really have to buy new tires, im looking at the Michelin Sport 4s , that will run me about $1,600 shipped.
I hate these Kumho(s) i have anyway but wasn't planning on having to change so soon
Maybe is the camera angle or something, but having a hard time seeing the nail. That being side, if it on the outter tread block, most tire shops will refuse to patch it. I had a nail in the outter treadblock a few years back. Went to several shops and they all refused to patch it, not even to get me home.
The pirellis were like sliding off a cliff and wore so fast. no idea why that's what ya get at delivery.
so I've run the michelin pilot sport 4S as soon as I could, and I've gone through a number of them in the lifetime of my two jags.
they are freaking wonderful and last surprisingly long, and hold up well.
if others choose to chime in, am I correct after my research that this is the favored "standard" by most of us?
I, also, can't tell from the picture where the nail is. But, overall, there is definitely a mix of opinions on whether you can patch a run-flat tire. Most sites say to go with the manufacturer's recommendation. As it happens, Kumho says, OK. Personally, I'd be looking for the excuse to move to PS4S's (now on my second set).
From my brief research it seems the Kumho run-flats are Ecsta SPT KU31 and not plain (no SPT) PS31 (or PS91?) like the pictured tyre.
Which means they appear not to be run-flats.
If for whatever reason you can't get a tyre shop to fix the flat then as long as the nail is well within the tread and away from the sidewall you can easily DIY fix it with a tyre plug kit, I have used the Stop & Go Tire Plugger kit twice with great results: https://www.ebay.com/itm/16266670537...3ABFBM9qaZ54lg
Even if you do get it fixed by a tyre shop it's a good idea to have a tyre plug kit in the boot/trunk anyway as it can (and has in my case) save your bacon on the side of the road.
Best of all upgrade to Michelin PS4S and get a tyre plug kit!
My understanding of run flats (had them in the past and hate them) is that you can't plug or repair them. That's because the structure that makes them "run flats" is reinforced side walls. Once you've driven on them when flat, the reinforced side wall would mask any other damage that might have been caused by driving on a flat tyre, particularly as you might have driven at a speed greater than is safe for a flat run flat. However, if the tyre hasn't been flat, and has just lost a bit of pressure due to a nail, I imagine a plug would be ok
I, also, can't tell from the picture where the nail is.
That's because you need to hold the picture to your ear, and listen for the HISSSSS.
I think that a shop's 'no-can-do' response is because of liability. Same with repairing a puncture in a sidewall.
On my AWD DD, where they want ALL FOUR tires replaced at the same time, I picked up a screw in a sidewall. Not wanting to buy new tires, I backed the screw out a few threads, applied RTV, and screwed it back in. It lasted for 20,000 more miles with only limited loss of air. I DID need to apply extra RTV at one point.
My understanding of run flats (had them in the past and hate them) is that you can't plug or repair them. That's because the structure that makes them "run flats" is reinforced side walls. Once you've driven on them when flat, the reinforced side wall would mask any other damage that might have been caused by driving on a flat tyre, particularly as you might have driven at a speed greater than is safe for a flat run flat. However, if the tyre hasn't been flat, and has just lost a bit of pressure due to a nail, I imagine a plug would be ok
Correct, if you've driven on them while flat. However, in the case of a slow leak, that's not likely to be the case.
I have encountered two screws and 2 nails in the same rear left tire and each time the very savvy Michelin Dealer has put plugs in with no hesitation nor later leaks.
Hi guys, thanks for all your replies and inputs. So i went to another local tire shop and they took another look and indeed, these are not RUN FLATS. phewwww.
They patched it up and now she's been running fine with no leak !
But i will order the Michelin Sport 4 S next month tho hehe
When it's Michelin time, check Costco. I found their prices to be the best, especially considering they bump the periodic factory rebates up from $70 to $150 (on a set of four), and include road hazard warranty. (The rebates are going on now for purchases through 5/17, but they come back every other month, or so.)
As a side note, there is what looks like a good mileage wear warranty on the 4s's, but the coverage is cut in half if you don't rotate the tires (which you never would on a F-Type).
but the coverage is cut in half if you don't rotate the tires (which you never would on a F-Type).
Agreed with DIRECTIONAL tires.
BUT
I've been getting the 'itch' to swap the rears side-to-side on our base F (open diff). For some reason, the right-hand one seems to have a thinner tread!
I somehow got 4 screws in one, and 1 in another, in my PS4S's with 500 miles on them. And no I did not drive through a construction site, lol. I got all of them patched, I would say nearly any puncture in the tread region of a tire can be patched.
Well happy you're squared away! I have had runflats on my previous Corvettes and was happy I had them! Saved me from aggravation more than once, and had them patched no problem. I didn't notice the road noise others complained about!
We had run-flats on a previous BMW and had problems with repairs and an unexplained side wall bulge.
Avoiding RFs was a consideration when we replaced he BMW with an Audi.
Later we came to find out that the Audi P-Zeros (not RFs) actually had some sort of sound muffling filler that prevented even a simple (mid treat) repair!!
Nail in run flat tire
Not wanting to buy new tires, I backed the screw out a few threads, applied RTV, and screwed it back in. It lasted for 20,000 more miles with only limited loss of air. I DID need to apply extra RTV at one point.
