Run Flat Tyre puncture query

8ofSpades

Ok so I got a flat on my run flat tyre this evening on the way home.
Only drove it about 10-15Km after the indicator went off on the dash.
Not sure of what the damage is until I look at it in the daylight tomorrow.
Didnt hit any potholes so I'd imagine its a nail or screw r something.

If it is a nail, what are my options?

I've seen this stuff you can spray into tyres that fixes punctures, is this an option for me?

Or should I bring it to the local tyre place and see if they can fix the puncture?

Or do I need to look into getting a new tyre?

Not sure what size the tyres are exactly but its a 05 bmw 320d.

I've read a few threads about these run flats and opinion seems to be divided so any/all advice appreciated

Thanks

bazz26

Depends on where the puncture is, if it is in the wall then like a regular tyre it needs to be replaced. If the puncture is in the thread then it can be repaired. Some tyre places will not repair them but it can be done properly. It would need to be taken off, examined and patched from the inside. Some places will also try and plug it but it is not recommended that a RFT be plugged. I had one of my old RFTs patched after a puncture and never had an issue with it. BTW if you have driven a reasonable distance on the punctured RFT then the side wall will be weakened and I would replace the tyre in that case irrespective of where the puncture is.

Long term I would look at getting rid of the RFTs and replace them with standard tyres with possibly a space saver in the boot. I did this and it has greatly increased the handling and ride of the car. They are also about half the price of RFTs of similar size.

robbie99

It could be only a slow puncture you have so you might have lost only 4-5 psi in that tyre and therefore haven't been running on a totally flat tyre. You should check what pressure you have left in the tyre and if you still have 8-10 psi then I doubt any damage has been done to the runflat system. If it's a nail or something causing the puncture then once it's away from the very edge of the tyre and the tyrewall then it should be repairable as if it's a regular tyre.

Nissan doctor

The tyre manufacturers have always specified that runflats should not be repaired. This is because once driven at low pressure, the tyre is deemed to have performed its runflat/get home function and must be replaced.

Runflats are not designed to be driven on with low pressure, they are simply designed to last longer then standard tyres when doing so.

Recently though, because of consumer pressure, most tyre brands have laid out a crazy set of criteria which much be satisfied before a runflat repair can be carried out, criteria which can never be fully tested/confirmed at any local garage or tyre center........so in short.....to repair or not is up the the person doing the repair.

If it is repaired though, I can assure you that the manufacturer will wash their hands on any future issue that you may have.

Matt Simis

Incidentially my mother had a blow out on her 535d (Runflats so no drama). I immediately assumed it was one of the 2 partworns on the rear.. nope, one of the bought new EUR230-a-piece Pirelli's fronts blew out.

On further questioning it appears her local tyre guy (who is unsurprisingly deathly against part worns) repaired a puncture to her [purchased new] runflat a few months ago, which is of course a no-no on RFTs.

Blazer

Matt Simis wrote: »

Incidentially my mother had a blow out on her 535d (Runflats so no drama). I immediately assumed it was one of the 2 partworns on the rear.. nope, one of the bought new EUR230-a-piece Pirelli's fronts blew out.

On further questioning it appears her local tyre guy (who is unsurprisingly deathly against part worns) repaired a puncture to her [purchased new] runflat a few months ago, which is of course a no-no on RFTs.

especially on a 535D....you don't want any suspect tyres on when pushing that baby
I switched over myself to non-rft's and the difference is amazing..highly recommended.
The 2 previous runflats I had just purchased before switching are sitting at home in my shed