Nail In Tire
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Nail In Tire
Hey guys,
I found out today driving home from work that my rear left tire is flat. Thank god for the run flats. I am unsure of the exact location of the nail or the cause of the puncture, but my question is that can any mechanic fix run flats like "normal tires" with the traditional method of drilling a hole and shoving a piece of plastic? I understand it depends on the location of the puncture, but hypothetically is it possible to fix it like a normal tire?
Dagrad
I found out today driving home from work that my rear left tire is flat. Thank god for the run flats. I am unsure of the exact location of the nail or the cause of the puncture, but my question is that can any mechanic fix run flats like "normal tires" with the traditional method of drilling a hole and shoving a piece of plastic? I understand it depends on the location of the puncture, but hypothetically is it possible to fix it like a normal tire?
Dagrad
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,346
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From: Mustang OK
Depends on the Brand of Tire. Only Goodyear and Michelin say their tires are capable of repair. Too, a proper repair requires a plug and inside patch and should be done by a qualified tire shop/technician. Here's an interesting article by Hib Halverson that you might like to read:Run Flat Facts
Hope this helps!
Hope this helps!
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 93
Likes: 1
From: Dallas Texas
Assuming the puncture is in the tread and you haven't driven it too far a run flat can be fixed just like any other tire. I would take it to one of the larger tire deals as the smaller ones may or may not want to work on it and may or may not know how to properly patch/plug it. A good quality patch/plug combination should be used. Hope this helps.
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I would use the plug and patch method of repair. It is what Goodyear recommends on their tires. I would take it to a shop that has worked on runflats before.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Had the same problem recently. Took it to one of the Big Companies who would have plugged it. Bad news was that the nail had gone in at the edge of the tread and damaged the sidewall internally.
New tire needed!
New tire needed!
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 274
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From: Bergerac Dordogne
Apart from having appallingly low levels of grip and flex, run flats now sound even more dangerous to me.
Here's why:
You get a puncture; you drive 50 miles and get it patched. You now have no run flat repair capacity left in the tire. You sell the car, and forget to mention the tire repair. Next guy gets a puncture, drives his 50 miles and repairs tire. Tire now dangerous, but he doesn't know.
I may be lucky, but I have had just one slow puncture in over 2 million kilometers of driving. I'll stick to regular tires, and hence the road . . .
Here's why:
You get a puncture; you drive 50 miles and get it patched. You now have no run flat repair capacity left in the tire. You sell the car, and forget to mention the tire repair. Next guy gets a puncture, drives his 50 miles and repairs tire. Tire now dangerous, but he doesn't know.
I may be lucky, but I have had just one slow puncture in over 2 million kilometers of driving. I'll stick to regular tires, and hence the road . . .
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 665
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From: Hendersonville NC
Originally Posted by GrayC5
Depends on the Brand of Tire. Only Goodyear and Michelin say their tires are capable of repair. Too, a proper repair requires a plug and inside patch and should be done by a qualified tire shop/technician. Here's an interesting article by Hib Halverson that you might like to read:Run Flat Facts
Hope this helps!
Hope this helps!
Oh Great, I just ordered 4 Firestone FireHawk SZ50 tires after researching them all and never was there any indication that they could not be fixed after a runflat incident. Going to call Tire Rack and Roadway Tire, where they were purchased and see what kind of explanation there is. Both specified that the Firestone meets OEM standards. You just don't know who or what to believe anymore. Mine haven't even arrived yet, and now maybe I won't be mounting them. Hmmmmm
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: cincinnati ohio
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
Originally Posted by Cochemarman
You now have no run flat repair capacity left in the tire.
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Drifting
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From: cincinnati ohio
Senior Member
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Originally Posted by ACELR8N
Oh Great . . .You just don't know who or what to believe anymore.
There were good solid reasons for putting run-flats on the C5. The fact is that in 5 years almost all cars will be sold with run-flats. Remember when you got a spare that was a real tire. . . there is evolution. Why would you not install what you bought. You probably will never get a flat and if you do patch it. Don't be persuaded by wannabees. I am certainly not an expert and do not profess to be an expert on run-flats. I do know that the manufacturers and the tire companys are headed towards all being run-flats in the very near future. The technology will get better and the cost will come down . Put em on and forget the dooms day folks
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 665
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From: Hendersonville NC
Originally Posted by jsdanehy
why do you say that ? I see no logic or technical basis for the above statement.
It's in the Halverson article linked above. But, I just visited Firestone's web site and they have a six year warranty on the FireHawks in which the tire will be replaced (pro-rated of course) if it becomes unuseable for any reason including any road hazard. I can't for the life of me understand why one run flat vs. another can't be repaired by a patch. If the sidewall assures drivability, why wouldn't each tire's tread section be equally patchable? Unless there is some huge heat factor, why would the tires composition be altered and therefore rendered unrepairable. Another mystery. Me thinks the Halverson article needs further research. I just bought four FireHawks and could find no critisim by anyone of this tire. It has countless consumer organization recommendations as well as stellar test results.