RatherBeBoating

Have a nail in rear tire (Firestone runflat). Took the car back to Firestone where tires were purchased 9 mos ago for a patch/plug and was told they cannot patch the tire -- says so right on the tire. Told me those tires are not made anymore so 2 new tires are my only option @ $800. However, I'm hearing that runflats can be patched if in the tread (not sidewall).

Don't trust Firestone to tell me the truth: I'm looking for the tire purchase receipt but shouldn't there be a warranty?

87SAM

Depends on the brand of run flat whether or not they can be patched/plugged, some can be (Goodyear), Firestone I don’t know. There are also other considerations as each brand has limits on the miles driven in the flat condition. I’m sure Firestone is a little litigation shy.

flynbyu2

I had my left rear Goodyear F1 Supercar tire patched about a year ago and it hasn't lost a pound since.

Now my right rear has a nail in the tread about an inch from the inside sidewall. Hopefully Les Schwab is as sucessful with this one.

What is it about these tires that attracts nails? Are there magnatized steel belts in them??? Damn.

bucwheat

My family has been in the tire business for 30 years and you are right if the nail is not in the shoulder or side wall then it can be patched,not plugged.

$$$frumnuttin'

I just had a roofing nail in the tread area...Discount Tire patched it for free...I do love that place!

Road Runner

After going through 3 sets of run flats (various brands) I've given up taking my flats into the dealers to have them patched, I just plug them myself and I never had any problems with the plugs. Why would I do this you ask, I get 3 to 4 flats a year and after 10 years I just gave up and do the work myself. If you are lucky and don't get flats, then definately go to the dealers.

rr

corvettezman

Don't go to a brand store, go to a mom and pop type tire shop.
It can be patched if it's in the tread, and they would be glad to take your $20 for a patch job on that tire.

BRKLYN

I plug my own. Yeap!

Jim2003

I had 3 of my original GY run flats patched. They did them with an internal patch that had a plug they pulled out through the hole. No balance issues no pressure issues no issues of any kind.

We were the first house in the new section of our neighborhood, therefor we were blessed with many nail issues. My wife's Lexus had 2 nails, and my 97 Z-28 had 2 or 3 nails. All the tires were patches by the internal patch plug system and they all held.

Vetteman Jack

I ran Firestone runflats on my '00 and had three punctures in my passenger side tires (two in front, one in back). All were repaired using a plug and patch method and I never had any air leakage or other problems with the tires. So to answer your question, yes, they can be repaired (depending on the size of the hole and the location) and you don't need to go out and buy a new set.

dndrsn

It's a patch. It's a plug. It's a patch-plug.

MNCrystalRed2011

They can be patched. I had one of my SZ50 rear tires patched by a Firestone shop when I was visiting Memphis a number of years ago. Also had one fixed by a local Firestone location here in the Twin Cities, too.

ffas23

I am been using a Black Jack Tire Plug Kit since the early 80's. Never had a problem. The nice thing about it is that all Black Jack Plugs are black in color like the tire itself and are re-enforced with Kevlar. Once inserted from the outside of the tire the plug mushrooms on the inside of the tire and the plug that sticks out wears with the tire so well that it is hard to find the plug after just a little while of driving being it looks like part of the tire being it is black. Its the best tire plug out there that I have seen based on my experience of being in the auto parts business now going on 34 years.

Jistari

Yup, the places near me wouldn't touch a run flat. They say its policy, due to the restrictions on how far the tire "may" have been driven at zero pressure. They seem to feel that they are responsible if you tell them you were within limits (when you weren't) if they fix it and it later lets go. Whatever.

Just remember you sacrifice the speed rating on any tire that gets plugged or patched.

Oldvetter

If patched correctly, internal patch and plug, the speed rating is not affected for at least the first plug/patch.

The reason you want both an internal patch and a plug is
1). The patch keeps internal air pressure from seeping into tire and separating plies.
2). The plug keeps external water from getting into tire and separating/rusting plies.

ffas23

The Black Jack Tire Repair plug does both without having to remove the tire from the rim making for a very fast and lasting repair. As I mentioned earlier the Black Jack repair plug if one wants to call it a plug has strands of Kevlar in the repair according to the company. I call it a plug but it is more then just a plug. Its sort of like a live rubber compound that welds itself inside of the wound of the tire and mushrooms like a glued patch on the inside of the wound.
The patch and plug combo type of repair that many here are talking about in this thread is all rubber. This type of Rubber Repair plug that was inserted into tires many years ago before Steel Belted Tires came on the scene was a good repair but the solid Rubber plug type of repair when inserted into a steel belted radial tire was found to rip apart caused by the steal belts that would shear the rubber plug right off making for the repair to go bad at times. I have yet to hear this ever happening with the Black Jack Repair in the 34 years I have been using it but remember the BJ Repair isn't solid rubber and has strands of Kevlar in the repair. Don't forget they make Bullet Proof Vests out of Kevlar and it is suppose to be stronger then steel. I'll stick with what I know best on my end.

Big Duk

if patched you lose the speed rating, so dont exceed 150 around town!