Well, managed to get a screw stuck in my passenger rear tire (18 inch performance).

Got the appropriate TPMS warning, and using a tire pressure gauge, determined where the problem was. (Odd to have a gauge read "zero", but still have a tire that doesn't really look flat!)

The good news - the service department was open today, even though it was Labor Day! Hustled in, they wrote me up, and I went off to an open house.

Got called about 45 minutes later - they don't have the tire in stock! So it's going to be a few days before they can get a replacement in.

And a local tire repair place would NOT repair the tire - said too much possible liability if the repair failed. When I asked to explain - what would be the liability if the repair failed on a traditional tire - he didn't really have an explanation. But still wouldn't touch it.

So I really do like being able to continue to drive a few miles when a puncture like this happens, I find it unfortunate that the dealership can't replace the tire in a more timely fashion.

Oh well - I guess this is more justification for replacing the tires before winter!

 

Seems like the run flats are a hit! lol

 

It was my understanding that the run flats were not repairable. On my 06 MCS I had a identical issue and brought the vehicle to a well known reputable tire guy in the area,
he indicated there not made for repairs. Not good that a replacement is days away.

 

I've had luck getting Discount Tire to repair runflats if:

1. The puncture is in/near the center of the tire and
2. It hasn't been driven on it while flat

Basically if the sidewall has been compromised (either by a nail or driving on it while at 0psi), they won't fix it.

 

Go to Auto Zone and get a plug kit with a "T" handle and a little air compressor you plug into your cigar lighter. Pull out the screw, use the rasp on the hole then coat the worm with rubber cement and push it in. Now pump up the tire.

It will take about 15-minutes your first time and 5-10 thereafter. Don't do this on or near the sidewall. Also keep your speed legal after as well just to be safe. The plys and tread on the run flat are the same as on a regular radial tire and those are fixed all the time.

If you have insurance you can still get a replacement.

Now I'm ready for the flack over fixing a run flat.

Bill.

P.S. 9,650 miles and six flats so far. I can't afford a tire each time.

 

Some run-flats are repairable depending on the vendor. However, there are specific guidelines on how to do it and if the tire was run on flat for any length of time it may be too far gone for a repair.

 

I have repaired a few runflats. They key is to not do it near the sidewall (any tire for that mater) and do not repair it if it has been driven at 0 PSI for any length of time. The sidewall is what caries the load and makes the tire not appear flat. Driving on the RF portion of the tire will eventually degrade its strength. This is the reason most places will not fix them becasue they do not know how much damage has been done between the initial flat and receiving the car.

 

I was lucky enough to pick up a large bolt on a Friday night after the dealer closed and even luckier to pay out $220 for a new 16" tire. 2 weeks later, TPMS light on a different tire. Called a tire store down the street from work and they came and got it and it had some type of construction staple in it. Now, my purse just wasn't heavy enough to fork over another $200+ bucks and they were kind enough to patch it for $15. I've heard they aren't repairable as well, it's been a month though and the tire is still going strong (knock on wood).

 

My first experience with a run flat was when going fishing. Early in the morning i ran over something in the road and the car drove a little rough after. This was an R56 and the tire monitor did not light. After a day of fishing and in the dark I loaded the kayak on the roof and noticed the left front looked lower than the rear. When I tested it it had zero pressure. I drove slowly to a gas station, paid the machine and filed the tire. All this time no lighted tire monitor. About 3 minutes after leaving the station the monitor came on and there was no air in the tire. I proceeded as slow as I could on the interstate and when I got home the tire and sidewall could have fried an egg. To put this in prospective I drove about 50 miles at close to 80 on the way to fishing on the tire, then close to 90 miles back at about 60. Discount tire would not plug it and rightly so. I had tires on order from tire rack and did not want to buy a tire to get by with so I bought a plug kit at auto zone, plugged the tire and drove very carefully for another week. When the new tires were installed we looked at the plugged run flat and could see NO damage, except the LARGE hole which I had plugged.

I don't recommend the high speed and feel a little stupid for not realizing the tire was flat in spite of no warning. That incident was not my only flat in the R56, although the monitor work for the rest.

In the Countryman I have had half a dozen and I have had it since January.

I guess the point is they can be fixed. If run under 50 for 50 miles they can still be fixed. And if you have a kit and a pump you don't have to drive all over the place trying to find someone to plug the tire.

Bill who has an opinion. (stealing from Sealy)

 

Basically, when I take delivery I should purchase the tire and wheel road hazzard protection. the plan that I am looking at is the Mini Blemish Buster protection plus. What are your thoughts?
Thanks and have a sparkling rest of the day albeit raining here on the east coast. enough already!!!!!!

 

I would not plug a RF tire that has been driven on for any length of time, especially 50 miles. MAYBEEEE 50 feet but the sidewall is bearing all of the load at NO PSI. The rubber heats up very quickly when not run at the proper pressure as you have already experienced. I agree they can be repaired so long as they are still safe too (not run on the sidewall for a few miles).

FWIW though I carry a plug kit in one of our 2 cars (usually the one I am driving since the wife probably won't be plugging a tire without me).

 

Even when I try to stay out of it, someone drags me in.

Since I'm here - I'll just say that I dislike run flats (ex BMW and current MINI). But I dislike companies that give me no choice but to buy a product that everyone knows is inferior. As a consumer, I think it takes a lot of gall for MINI to take my $40K for this little buggy and screw me on its shoes.


Sealy - Who thinks even BMW/MINI knows RFs are crap, but they're not going to admit it.

 

^ On top of that, they really push for the tire warranty.

 

I know that they push but if you haggle with them you can get them down.

 

Gosh, the dealer never mentioned the tire warrenty to me!

Not that i'd have bought it.

Dave, who hasn't had a flat in 15 years.

 

Dave,

I hadn't had one either but on my last car purchase (it was either abused or just a piece of GM crap.) I purchased the tire hazard warranty for under $200 In the 15 months that we have owned it we have had to have two tires replaced and one repaired at no cost to me. I am seriously considering the protection on my new MINI.

 

I have the Goodyears on my car, and downloaded the info directly from Goodyear's site showing that they are repairable the same as regular tires. This sits in my glovebox, in case I run across a tire shop that has very little experience.

 

Sealy -Since I'm here - I'll just say that I dislike run flats (ex BMW and current MINI). But I dislike companies that give me no choice but to buy a product that everyone knows is inferior. As a consumer, I think it takes a lot of gall for MINI to take my $40K for this little buggy and screw me on its shoes.
Sealy - Who thinks even BMW/MINI knows RFs are crap, but they're not going to admit it.[/QUOTE]

I am with you. The absolute one thing that I do not like about my CM is that they do not offer a spare .... Even as a pricey option. Runflats just plain stink!

 

I love my run-flats!

Dave

 

I'm sure not gonna let a shop touch my tires if I have to prove to them that the repair is feasible!

 

Just had a rear run flat fixed by Savannah Tire in.... Savannah. Great peeps!! At the same time that my front run flats are almost slicks after 9700 miles!! I will be replacing with Kumho Ecsta 4X's. Comments?