Can you patch a run-flat?
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
It may be a policy of the store you visited but it is not a blanket policy for Discount Tire.
Discount Tire has patched/plugged two of my earlier Michelin Pilot Sport A/S ZPs, and they did that at no charge. I did not have the extra road hazard warranty either.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 167
While that may be true I do not see any reason to not use them especially if you dont plan on racing or driving at high speeds. They do their job really well and only cost a few cents where as to get a "proper" patch its going to cost you ~30$.
I personally have about 4 of these style plugs in my camaro's tire, Im guessing about eight total in all four and every single one holds air like it should well besides the LF because it has another screw in it.
I personally have about 4 of these style plugs in my camaro's tire, Im guessing about eight total in all four and every single one holds air like it should well besides the LF because it has another screw in it.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 167
The Discount Tire by me will plug and patch a RF tire. One of my RFs picked up a nail in the tread. I pulled the tire, took it up to the Discount Tire, and they properly repaired it for free. And this was one of the original tires on the vette, so it wasn't bought from them, although I have been a customer of theirs in the past. Because of their service, I always shop DT when I'm looking for new tires.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
Funny story (not really) with this. I went to America's Tire with a screw in my Run Flat tire. The store even has a tire in the showroom showing (with paint) where a tire can be fixed and where it can't. The screw in my tire was ~ 1/8" to the outside of the "fix" line. The Service manager said "Sorry Sir, You'll need to replace this tire. The hole is outside of the "fix zone". I said "No problem. It is still under your waranty so, go ahead and replace it. 
Once they realized THEY had to replace the tire, a miracle occured. It was all of a sudden repairable!!! 
Hence, that was the last time I will ever step foot in that rip-off establishment.
Once they realized THEY had to replace the tire, a miracle occured. It was all of a sudden repairable!!! Hence, that was the last time I will ever step foot in that rip-off establishment.
why am I not surprised.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,640
Likes: 83
From: . New York
Depends on where the defect is and what the tire manufacturer recommends for their tire.
I can tell you that the place I stopped to ask near me had a blanket policy not to repair any runflat tire because most manufacturers dont recommend repair after a runflat incident (meaning you had to drive with zero pressure for some distance). Apparently they are concerned that you may have driven it with zero pressure despite what you say.
Depending on the age (how much use Ive gotten out of them) I might repair a small nail on the tread with a patch or whatnot, but (this is just me talking) I wouldnt feel comfortable with that tire on the car at "consdierablygreaterthanhighway" speeds. I might replace the tire......just me....
I can tell you that the place I stopped to ask near me had a blanket policy not to repair any runflat tire because most manufacturers dont recommend repair after a runflat incident (meaning you had to drive with zero pressure for some distance). Apparently they are concerned that you may have driven it with zero pressure despite what you say.
Depending on the age (how much use Ive gotten out of them) I might repair a small nail on the tread with a patch or whatnot, but (this is just me talking) I wouldnt feel comfortable with that tire on the car at "consdierablygreaterthanhighway" speeds
. I might replace the tire......just me....
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,755
Likes: 97
From: Sandy Utah
I was a long way down a lonely narrow road when I stopped to stretch. Noticed a nail in my rear tire and on closer inspection, there was another nail approx six inches from the first nail. Both holes were leaking air. I took out my T-handle repair kit and plugged both holes. Used my WalMart 12v air compressor to bring the pressure in the tire up to spec and was on my way--- for another six years and 18k miles. Never had a problem with that tire---it was not out of balance and it did not leak air. Those plugs go completely through the tread and the inside as well as the outside of the plugged hole is air tight. I would not hesitate to plug any tire any time.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Yorktown Virginia
Its just so much easier to fix a leak yourself, 5 min and you are back on your way.
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 167
I was a long way down a lonely narrow road when I stopped to stretch. Noticed a nail in my rear tire and on closer inspection, there was another nail approx six inches from the first nail. Both holes were leaking air. I took out my T-handle repair kit and plugged both holes. Used my WalMart 12v air compressor to bring the pressure in the tire up to spec and was on my way--- for another six years and 18k miles. Never had a problem with that tire---it was not out of balance and it did not leak air. Those plugs go completely through the tread and the inside as well as the outside of the plugged hole is air tight. I would not hesitate to plug any tire any time.
It may not be true for discount tire but it is for other places. But it is true for others as I have gotten quotes for that and some guys in our club have paid even more for a patch. Also another thing, is your time worth nothing to you? It takes a fair amount of time to take your car in just to have a tire patched, you are looking at a minimum of 30 min just because of travel time. I had to take a tire in to get the bead reset and luckily I had the tire off the car because they wouldnt do it right then even though it would only take 5 min so I had to drop it off and come back an hour later.
Its just so much easier to fix a leak yourself, 5 min and you are back on your way.
Its just so much easier to fix a leak yourself, 5 min and you are back on your way.
By the way, if you doubt me on what most tire professionals think about tire repair, have a read of this: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...jsp?techid=77&
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
It does depend on the tire. Firestone runflats say that they can not be patched on the sidewall.
Original Goodyear EMTs can be patched if driven 50 miles or under flat (they can be driven up to 200 miles flat, but must then be replaced).
The correct way to fix a flat (any flat) is to plug AND patch it, here is why:
1) the plug prevents water from entering from outside the tire, preventing possible separation of tread.
2) the patch prevents air from entering from inside the tread, causing possible separation of the tread.
There are some plug/patch combinations that can be used, BUT a flat tire should always be unmounted to see if there is any damage to the inside of the tire.
Rebalancing of the tire/wheel after patching will negate any weight of the patch.
Original Goodyear EMTs can be patched if driven 50 miles or under flat (they can be driven up to 200 miles flat, but must then be replaced).
The correct way to fix a flat (any flat) is to plug AND patch it, here is why:
1) the plug prevents water from entering from outside the tire, preventing possible separation of tread.
2) the patch prevents air from entering from inside the tread, causing possible separation of the tread.
There are some plug/patch combinations that can be used, BUT a flat tire should always be unmounted to see if there is any damage to the inside of the tire.
Rebalancing of the tire/wheel after patching will negate any weight of the patch.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Yorktown Virginia
If you both are satisfied with fixing a puncture with just a plug, that's up to you guys. I'm more than willing to take the (extra) time necessary to have a puncture fixed in what I (and most tire professionals) consider the proper way.
By the way, if you doubt me on what most tire professionals think about tire repair, have a read of this: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...jsp?techid=77&
By the way, if you doubt me on what most tire professionals think about tire repair, have a read of this: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...jsp?techid=77&
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 167
It does depend on the tire. Firestone runflats say that they can not be patched on the sidewall.
Original Goodyear EMTs can be patched if driven 50 miles or under flat (they can be driven up to 200 miles flat, but must then be replaced).
The correct way to fix a flat (any flat) is to plug AND patch it, here is why:
1) the plug prevents water from entering from outside the tire, preventing possible separation of tread.
2) the patch prevents air from entering from inside the tread, causing possible separation of the tread.
There are some plug/patch combinations that can be used, BUT a flat tire should always be unmounted to see if there is any damage to the inside of the tire.
Rebalancing of the tire/wheel after patching will negate any weight of the patch.
Original Goodyear EMTs can be patched if driven 50 miles or under flat (they can be driven up to 200 miles flat, but must then be replaced).
The correct way to fix a flat (any flat) is to plug AND patch it, here is why:
1) the plug prevents water from entering from outside the tire, preventing possible separation of tread.
2) the patch prevents air from entering from inside the tread, causing possible separation of the tread.
There are some plug/patch combinations that can be used, BUT a flat tire should always be unmounted to see if there is any damage to the inside of the tire.
Rebalancing of the tire/wheel after patching will negate any weight of the patch.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 167
But again, if you're happy with just a plug, it's your tire you're riding on. Just don't do any high performance driving, please.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
I thought it was a company wide thing for Discount on patching RFT. that's what they told a lady who brought a punctured one to my shop. Although they were probably just telling her that so she would buy a new tire.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 167
I can only say that when I brought my leaking RF tire in to their store for repair, not one mention was made that it was not repairable and that I had to buy a new tire. The service manager told me no problem, have it done in 30 - 45 minutes. It was dismounted, plugged and patched, remounted and balanced, all free of charge. And I hadn't even bought the tire from them (but, like I said earlier, I had bought tires from them before).
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
I can only say that when I brought my leaking RF tire in to their store for repair, not one mention was made that it was not repairable and that I had to buy a new tire. The service manager told me no problem, have it done in 30 - 45 minutes. It was dismounted, plugged and patched, remounted and balanced, all free of charge. And I hadn't even bought the tire from them (but, like I said earlier, I had bought tires from them before).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Yorktown Virginia
But like I have said before high performance driving is not recommended and I have had very good luck with just using a plug. Also(IMO of course) once a tire has been punctured it has been comprmised and is going to be more likely to failure in that spot and is going to be more prone to forming a bubble, even if no air gets in the heating and cooling from regular driving.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Proper tire repair
I have a leak in my left rear runflat tire, looks to be a screw or nail of some sort. The leak is very, very slight and only loss a couple PSI over the course of 24 hours, and the leak may have been there longer than that.
Was never driven flat, it's at about 23 PSI now.
Was never driven flat, it's at about 23 PSI now.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 167
I personally would not do any high performance driving with just a standard plug like I said above. I have also never experienced a bubble in the tread of a tire from having a plug or anything else, not saying it cant happen, but I have had plugs in tires for over75% of their life without problems. Keep in mind that my camaro has around eight in various tires right now.
But like I have said before high performance driving is not recommended and I have had very good luck with just using a plug. Also(IMO of course) once a tire has been punctured it has been comprmised and is going to be more likely to failure in that spot and is going to be more prone to forming a bubble, even if no air gets in the heating and cooling from regular driving.
But like I have said before high performance driving is not recommended and I have had very good luck with just using a plug. Also(IMO of course) once a tire has been punctured it has been comprmised and is going to be more likely to failure in that spot and is going to be more prone to forming a bubble, even if no air gets in the heating and cooling from regular driving.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Yorktown Virginia
Well I have never hear anything bad about plugging a tire and that is only on my car. I have used almost 25 plugs on just the cars for my family and I have friends that do the same thing, one drives his car over 20k a year with no problems what so ever. He also races his car and hits speeds in excess of 120 mph, it is a miata so those are some pretty high speeds for that car.