I have a giant screw embedded in my tire and the tire is visibly flat. Even though they are run-flats I don't think I can make it to the dealership (50 miles away). What should I do? ugh.

 

Local tire store maybe?

 

Buy a plug kit, remove the screw, insert the plug, reinflate, drive to tire store or dealer for permanent repair.

 

Tow it?

 

Tow job would cost an arm and a leg.

You might try one of those aerosol "fix-a-flat" things with an adhesive sealant.

 

Don't drive on it. You'll simply "use up" the RF feature and the tire will not be repairable

normally I'd say try to find a DynaPlug at Harbor Freight or Northern Tool but "giant screw" concerns me.....I took a 1/4 bolt once and that hole was simply too big to plug.
http://www.dynaplug.com/
If you can get the screw out and the hole essentially closes up - but leaks - then a plug should do you for a while (I've had Dynaplug in a tire for 2 years and still holding fine)

This your only car? can you or a friend take the wheel off and hit a tire store or two to see their opinion on a repair? If they say NO because it is a runflat, put thm on your never go back there list and try another. If they say the hole is too big get a second opinion. If two say too big you'd better order a new tire.

 

I took to the tire place near my house (3 miles) and they were able to plug it. Hopefully that will do the trick.

Thanks for the quick responses!

 

Or you can go on craigslist, look for a cheapo Honda Civic Tire for like 50$ or less and use that as a spare for now.

 

Still under MINI Roadside coverage? If you are give them a call, see what they can do for you. They are supposed to tow to the closest dealer for free. Or they might send out a mobile assistance car to see if they can fix it for you or get it so you can drive it to the dealer.

 

Even if they CAN tow you to the nearest dealer, I wouldn't do it. The dealer will likely tell you that the runflat cannot be repaired, and sell you a new one for near the price of a set of conventional tires...
Go to a dealer for a car. Go to a tire shop for a tire/tire repair.

 

So the "screw" that was in the tire was really a 2 inch bolt. HUGE

 

At least the wheel survived. I've seen bolts go all the way through - wasn't pretty.

 

quick question re: what another poster said about using up the Run flat feature...how do you know when you have "used it up". I drove 3 miles to the tire store w/ the big bolt in it.

 

What was your tire pressure then? You would have been better to pump it up and then drive but here's a longer reply.

Many years ago I had a flat and had to drive on it for a mile or so b4 I could safely stop....no one would patch the tire even as I asked 4 just for a short term spare, because the wear the sidewalls took being crushed by the rim made the tire unsafe to any tire store. (I wanted a spare til I decided whr to buy new tires)

A runflat as emplyed on MINI uses a very thick/strong sidewall so the mauf'ctr says "50 miles". This is a BIG ESTIMATE and the bottom line is any time you drive with no pres' in the tire counting on the side wall you are destroying the tire. Hence the tendency of MANY shops to say they are "unrepairable" .... they don't want to run the risk that you drove 100 miles on a flat run flat that they patch and then comes apart 10 miles later....

Is 5 miles safe? 10? I dunno ...... I've plugged my rf's several times but always because on a monthly tire inspection, or a TPMS alert I found a nail or a screw but the tire was FAR from flat; only a few pounds low at most. SO I was CONFIDENT the sidewall integrity was spot on.

As I look at RFs .... you CAN drive on a RF for 50 miles and that is NOT something you can do for a standard tire. A standard tire will fall apart FAR b4 that and you'll be driving on the rim...

OTOH do I COUNT on 50 miles from runflats They may have been my strongest motivation to purchase of AAA - but then again I've never had to ASK AAA to deal with an RF yet