I have a nail in one of my tires, only 2,800 miles ! The replacement pirelli will cost nearly $300 once installed. It sucks that the run-flats can't be patched. Do you think I should by all new tires, it wouldn't cost much more money, non-run-flats? Do you know if mini roadside assistance would charge me for the tow if a non-run-flat was to blame for the tow? I would appriciate any help, opinions you could offer. And if you think I might as well buy a new set of tires, which would you recommend, why? I know there have been many posts on tires, sorry.

 

I had my runflats repaired after rolling over a nail! Where is the hole at!?

 

MINI Roadside Assistance is part of your warranty - free!!! Your tire may be able to be saved, but you would need a tire shop - a good one that deals with run-flats to tell you if you aren't sure it can be fixed or not. :smile:

We've fixed one tire from a nail and then had to replace one other because a chunk was actually taken out via some road debris that couldn't be avoided..

Chow! (and yes- I know the correct spelling)

Donna

 

I got a nail in my right rear run-flat at around the same mileage. I had it patch at a local tire dealer for $12.00. The tire lasted until I had to replace all of them, around 33,000 miles. As long as the nail is not in the side wall you should be able to have it patched.

 

Thanks for the help guys, hopefully this will save me nearly $300. I took the car to Crevier and they noticed it. I don't yet know where it is...I hope it isn't the side wall, I would like to think that my service advisor and the techs are full of crap, it's a long shot, but still a shot. I will pick it up in an hour or two, wish me luck! Thanks again!!!:smile:

 

The tires on my MC are the only runflats I've had and I haven't had a flat yet.....but, it makes no sense that runflats can't be fixed. Just like non-runflats they can't be fixed if the hole is in the sidewall. Otherwise, patch it and go!!!


R.E.

 

Yup, had my runflat patched too. Asked one of the service guys at MINI why they can't patch them. He told me that he honestly had no idea and chalked it up to a warranty isssue. He also couldn't tell me that I could get it patched somewhere else... only that, "other's have had them patched but MINI doesn't recommend it."


It's all semantics.

 

Runflats can be patched just like any other tires. They do, however, require special mounting equipment.
Note: repairing any speed rated tire will void it's speed rating certification (so keep 'er under 130, ok?).
Peace - Bodinski

 

I talked to MINI when picking up my car. They said it couldn't be patched becuase the loss of pressure damages the sidewalls. The nail is dead center, so no sidewall issues. I will check the pressure in the morning if the nail seems to have sealed itself in there, then no worries! I called around. Some places cant do it because special mounting equipement is needed. I found a place that charges $25 and another for $49...I don't think I will have difficulty keeping it under 130 I have almost gotten to tripple digits, it got there fast, and in sixth, I was surprised. I wanted to keep going, but it would have been wrong. Thanks again guys!

 

I've had a screw in the rear driver-side run-flat for over seven months now. No abnormal loss in air pressure at all. The damn thing just keeps going like the Energizer Bunny.

Oh, my mileage is over 42K.

 

Guys not all run flats can be patched after the have been run flat, I do believe that if the puncture is in the tread and not the side walls the Pirellis used on our MINIs can be repaired. Pity the guys with the gatorback Goodyears on the new Corvettes as well as some of the other brands including the Michelins used on some of the high end Mercs and Lexus. The are specifically designated as throw aways after a run flat incident. And some of those are $300 to $400 a shoe! Maybe Alex from Tire Tack can shed some light on this one??..............................mgg

 

Hey, the runflats on my MINI are Goodyears, not Pirellis.

 

Hello !! My runflats are the Goodyear's as well. I actually had the runflat fail and due to a real off the wall chance. We had run over what appeared to be some type of brake bleed screw. It was approx 1" long and of some copper composition. Had the warning light appear and drove on home to find tire flat in the am. Put the air tank to the tire and could hear air rushing out. Pulled the screw and discovered of all things for it to be hollow. Tire immediatly sealed and I would have satisfied with a plug but shop told wife the did not plug but repaired internally, at a cost of $18. Now, did they really do anything or is runflat operating as it should ?

 

I think there's a little bit of misinformation starting to circulate here. First, the runflat tires used on the MINI (Pirelli and Goodyear) are not self-sealing puncture-resistant tires. You can get a hole in them just like any other tire...and that hole will let air out. Maybe all of the air if it's a big hole/object stuck in the tire. What makes the MINI's runflats run while flat is an extra strong sidewall that can be driven on for relatively short periods of time until you can get safely "home." Some have reported driving for hundreds of miles and/or weeks on airless runflats...but that's not advised.

Most importantly, it's not a good idea to drive around with screws and nails in your tire, even if they're in there in such a way that the air hasn't leaked out...yet. These foreign objects will eventually move and eventually you'll have a flat tire...or in your case, an airless runflat.

Second, runflats can be repaired, although MINI dealers will not do it. For them, it's unfortunately as much about selling you a new tire (at usually 50% or more over the cost of said new tire purchased from an independent tire store) as anything else. As has been noted, runflat repair depends on where the puncture is; and yes, it does void the speed rating of the tire. But if done by a competent tire repair person, a runflat (with the puncture squarely on the tread) can be patched and will llive out the remainder of its treadlife. Oh, and it doesn't require "special mounting equipment" to repair (???). Anyone with pretty standard tire mounting equipment can do it. I think that the confusion here comes from the equipment required to dismount and remount the tire from the rim...and again, as long as they know what they're doing, any competent tire store can do it (I had mine done at a gas station/general garage that I trust).

Hope this helps.