Has anyone had a runflat tire repaired lately? I have a screw in one of my tires. I use to go to the NTB on Eisenhower Rd. They had the special machine that could get the tires on/off the special runflat rim with no damage, but that NTB has now closed. Apparently all NTBs don't have this machine, because the one on Edsall road said they couldn't fix it. What places have others used?

thanks.

 

The Goodyear store in McLean can do them. I had mine removed by a shop that had the equipment to install. I did not want my wheels messed up. To find a shop I went to
www.tirerack.com/tires/
...at Tire Rack's home page I clicked on "Installation" in theblue menu bar that runs on the third line down across the page. It is the last button.

... That took me to their "Recommended Installers" page. You put in your zip code then click on submit.

... this page is a list of Recommended Installers in order by distance from your zip code. You are looking for someone that installs "All" tires. You will still have to call them to see if they have a qualified person or equipment. If you call the shops that sell runflats you will have a better time of it - I'm sure you know that. But at least this will give you a list of people that are close. There is also a customer satisfaction rating.

Good luck
John

 

First, sorry about your screw in the tire. And, I agree with John DaCrema about using the tire rack site. What caught my eye is that you say the NTB at Eisenhower closed. I was the first runflat repair they made back in the summer of 2002 (at least that is what they told me) I was meeting some other Miniacs at the Racing Dynamics shop down the street and picked up something on the beltway on the way over. The guys at NTB were great.

I have used Craven tire (many locations but I used Merrifield VA location) They mounted my Toyo tires and did a fine job.

Good luck!

 

Thanks for the tip. I called the Craven store in Arlington and they can do it. And they even take appointments! Hopefully the screw is in such a place that they can repair, vs replace.

 

NTB in Hybla Valley (off of Richmond Highway) can replace runflats. I had them put new tires on my 17 inch wheels, and there was no trouble. They will also sell tires at the Tire Rack price plus shipping and installation, which can be a very good deal. And they are even closer to my house than the Eisenhower store was. :smile:

 

Goodyear's website has a delaer locator by zip code. The list of possible stores will indicate which are equipped to handle run-flat tires.

 

I went to the goodyear site, thats even better, it tells you exactly which stores have the capability. THANKS! I found something even closer.

 

What a disaster! I went to ARLINGTON AUTOCARE a goodyear dealer i found on their website. They took my car in and looked at the tire, then came back and showed me a picture (in their cell phone) of the screw in my tire and said that it was too close to the side wall to repair. So of course they wanted to sell me a new tire, which they didn't have and would have to order. I said no thanks and please just give me my car back. (I thought I'd check around for a tire at tirerack and get it put on some other place.) The screw had been in there for a while and it was a very slow leak so I knew I had time to find a tire. Well when they brought my car out the tire was completely flat. I asked them to put air in it. The guy started putting air in it, but I could hear it coming out. They didn't tell me that they took the screw out!!!! So even though they showed me the tire with the screw in they took it out before they gave me my car back. So then I had a tire that I could not keep any air in. They offered to PUT THE SCREW BACK IN! Of course that didn't work. Finally they put some kind of temporary patch on it, unclear if its over the screw or not, all I can see is a big brown blob. So now I need to find a new tire (given that it REALLY can't be repair) I have the dunlop 5000 sport M&S 195/55R 16, and tirerack says they are backordered. But the Dunlop site doesn't even list that tire/size anymore. Anybody have a clue where to find a tire? What a night mare... if only the mini S had a spare!!!!

 

are you really that intent on getting a run-flat to replace it? Yeah, I know, it's a good idea to keep a matched set of tire on the car. But couldn't you just get a regular tire put on the rim then put that tire on the rear of the car?

I mean based off the last tech day talk thing the rear tires really don't do anything besides keep the rear end of the car up. the majority of breaking is done via the front axle so I can't imagine that one mismatched tire would affect things too much.

 

well i did find a tire at the Sterling MINI dealer, with the discount its $151 which is only 11 dollars over the Tire rack price. Not that bad. I guess I'll just buy it there and then have someone else put it on.

 

With the desaster my last bit of wisdom led you to, I am a bit reluctant to type any thing. So take this with the good will it is offered but a bit of caution as well. Sorry about your trouble.

I was going to suggest you go to Sterling to see if they could help. But instead of going to parts (they sell new) ask for service and ask if they have a wheel that came off a car. You might come out for a little less cash taking into account the cost of mounting. I purchased a used wheel from them and it came mounted with a Goodyear runflat (someone wanted different wheels and tires). You would have to get rid of the spare wheel but sooner or later someone will need to replace a bent or badly curbed wheel.

 

I discovered a nail in one of my front tires today, well into the bottom of the tread away from the sidewall. Can't this just be plugged?? I have a plug kit and I've done it many times on regular tires, why couldn't I do it on a runflat??

 

yes runflats can be plugged. I've had one of my other tires plugged, but this screw is in the very edge of the tire in between two tread blocks and they say it is too close to the side wall to plug.

 

sounds to me like they already plugged it???? Is it still leaking air???

 

no, they put some kind of temp plug in (brown foam goop that harden), to get me on my way since they were the ones that ripped the screw out, which originally was only leaking slowly over a few days.

 

I bought my tire at Sterling on saturday, for some reason it took them three trys to actually give me the correct tire, they kept bringing the wrong one out of the parts place (note to Sterling give your crew stronger coffee!). Then went down to Chantilly to the NTB right off rt 50. This NTB was great, the counter guys (and girl in the garage who actually did the work on my car!) were very nice and helpful. New tire mounted and balanced for about $30 and free tire rotation all in about 15 minutes. I highly recommend this particular NTB if you need any tire work done.