On my way home this evening, I heard a loud thumping like something got caught in my wheel. I pulled over and didn't notice anything so I drove off. A few minutes later, my tire pressure light went off and I knew I must have run over something bad.

When I arrived home, luckily only a couple of miles where this happened, I heard a loud whistling from my rear driver's side tire. And this is what I saw


Now I guess i need to get this tire fixed or replaced. Any thoughts on where to go near the nw burbs of Chicago? or is getting a run-flat tire fixed easily done at any place they fix tires?

Thanks in advance.
DanC

 

oh man, this could have been a lot worse... I thought you meant like body panels keyed

 

+1

It's not nice to fool concerned, paranoid, NAMers

But good luck with your tire repair/replacement

 

sorry about the title. posted during all the excitement. but seeing the picts is pretty wild

 

I went to a Just Tires in Morton Grove for my flat (actually a slow leak puncture in the Subaru and a broken valve stem on the MINI). It was about $30 for both

Brought the MINI tire in loose and they took care of me in about 1/2 hour. I did need to go back to have the tire re-balanced (for free, no problems or questions) a couple days later as there was a small vibration at higher speeds.

I do not have run-flats, so call ahead to check.

 

Discount tire can fix runflats no cost. Just dont drive on it without air. Thank god it is only a tire and not damaged paint.

 

NW Burbs where?

I ALWAYS go to Automekanika in Spring Grove. Ed upgraded my tires to a 215 for free just because he thought it would look good!

But anyway, he deals with tire rack for tires...and i always get a great deal.

 

Holy cow Dan Read the title.. saw the pic.. almost fell out of my chair

How in the world did that happen??? thank goodness for run-flats. Haven't had to fix one yet.. I've been to the Just Tires in MG that Steve mentioned.. it's probably on the way to work for you (Waukegan Rd south of Golf Rd) unless you're looking for one by your house.

Keep the key as a momento after they pull it out

 

He's in the DesPlaines/Mount Prospect area I think... that's where I run into him anyways

 

Hey Dan, can you save that thing, I'd like to know what it is. Very odd. Best of luck with the fix. I have to plug my tire at a station a month ago and it's holding well.

 

I had a screw in the tread and had it patched in 2005. Knock on wood, it is still okay.

 

Thanks, I'll give them a shot after work tomorrow.

It's definitely a house key lodged in my thread. I think I'll keep it for a souvenir. It was attached to a key strap which is what I probably heard hitting my wheel well.

 

Since I didn't want the MINI to ruin the run-flat, I jacked it up and took the wheel off. I then tossed it in the trunk of my other car. As I walked away, as a matter of habit I set the alarm. When I came back I thought I would level the car out since it was jacked up pretty high. As I let the car down a bit, my alarm went off and scared the crap out of me. Its good to know that the alarm is in good working order. I didn't think it was going to be that sensitive but I'm glad it is.

 

lol!!! never seen a tire get keyed like that.

i think it's repairable.

 

now I can see the top part of the key, WOW must have been once in a life time event, key at right position and tire at right speed and position. Will you hang it from your rear view mirror? LOL

 

That's the most bizarre tire invasion I've ever seen!


I thought your paint got keyed, too. Happened to me at MM East /West for having a "new" MINI. Thankfully it wasn't that!

 

I called Just Tires and they said $55 for runflats. NTB said about $30 or $35. I'm gonna shop around some more. I'm in no rush since I can use my other car.

now that's just wrong.

 

Never used NTB... did you try calling Duxler?? I've heard people use them also... there's also a Cassidy Tires on Harlem/Dempster in Niles as well...

keying a car for any reason is just wrong

 

Well, yes it's plain wrong. They got me about 12 " long on the roof right above the driver door so I would be sure not to miss it.

$1600 to paint the roof. I went a step further and changed it from black to Audi Nimbus Gray Pearl as long I was footing the bill. With a sunroof, you have to remove it and also take of the hatch to paint the underneath.

Not fun.

 

man, i know some people are purists...and we all obviously love our cars...but keying? come on! that makes me so angry!

similarly rude- i was at my BF's old house (which is empty and for sale) just pulling weeds with all of our friends. they were mowing so i moved my car, obviously.

so i'm busy pulling weeds and getting attacked my mini thorns, didn't notice that his neighbor, who by the way came out in full force with elastic waist shorts rolled at the waist to be even shorter, started mowing his already short lawn. youd THINK he's see the car- windows and sun roof open- and think "hmmm...maybe i should tell someone to move that or close the windows because im gunna mow!"...nope. s**t EVERYWHERE- inside, outside, in all sorts of crevaces....ugggggh.

 

That's not the way to wear elastic waist shorts? Huh.

 

i was just waiting to look up and see parts of his manhood that i didn't want to see...luckily for me...he kept it modest. sorta.

 

I called NTB again and talked to someone different who said they don't even do run-flat repair because it requires a special machine. So I went for a walk at lunch yesterday. I found an auto shop within walking distance from my office and had it fixed today. The Auto Doctor in Evanston was very professional and had at least two other MINIs with flats in their shop recently.

Total bill $35.72, not bad for the convenient location for me and no issues with it being a run-flat tire. They didn't even look at me funny when I asked to have the key saved as a keepsake. In fact they said a key was one of the more odd things they have pulled out of a tire but they recalled having to pull out a rake for another customer.

Well see how it holds up when I drive it around a bit. So far its holding air.

 

Good to know! Thanks for sharing Dan

I expect to see that key hanging from your cup holder

 

haha- a rake?!

ooooops!

its always a comforting feeling when you see other minis at the "hospital"