Runflat PIA
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Suffield Connecticut
Runflat PIA
After about ten days of rain wind etc here in NE I got in my 99 A4 yesterday for a little spin and lo and behold I have a flat in left rear.
Do runflats lose air if left to sit ??? . I had just checked air pressure on all four before putting car away 10 days ago so I wonder whether the valve was sticky and let the air out. Have not checked for nail yet but doubt there is one.
What plug kits should I consider if I do find a nail?
Tnx
Do runflats lose air if left to sit ??? . I had just checked air pressure on all four before putting car away 10 days ago so I wonder whether the valve was sticky and let the air out. Have not checked for nail yet but doubt there is one.
What plug kits should I consider if I do find a nail?
Tnx
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Simi Valley CA
I'm sure "tire junkies" will chime in here.. but my 02... don't use plugs. have the tire shop pull the tire and patch it from inside. My RF haven't varied more than 3lbs in two years, so going flat that quick is unusual to me.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,235
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From: Haymarket VA
CI 7-8 Veteran
I'll lose air pressure as the temperature drops, as much as 8 lbs from summer to winter. However, they still maintain pressure after that. The only time I've lost more air than that I had collect some debris in my right front tire. I'd check for foreign objects.
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,917
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From: Southern NH
Originally Posted by KidCid
I'll lose air pressure as the temperature drops, as much as 8 lbs from summer to winter. However, they still maintain pressure after that. The only time I've lost more air than that I had collect some debris in my right front tire. I'd check for foreign objects.
If your tire dropped to the Low Pressure warning then you likely have a nail. An EMT tire shop will be able to repair it but as noted the proper repair is from the inside with a patch.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Plug-Patch
Bob...
A plug-patch combination is really the best way to go. It does require removing the tire from the rim, but if you mark the tires location on the rim and reinstall it in the same place, you probably don't even need to re-balance.
They are not hard to install and I have never had one leak.
They're available at any good auto parts store.
GUSTO
A plug-patch combination is really the best way to go. It does require removing the tire from the rim, but if you mark the tires location on the rim and reinstall it in the same place, you probably don't even need to re-balance.
They are not hard to install and I have never had one leak.
They're available at any good auto parts store.
GUSTO
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 185
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From: IL
When the temp drops my runflats drop pressure 6-8 PSI...but the PSI goes up once the car is moving...usually over several miles.
No nails, no problems...this happens all the time in cold weather.
No nails, no problems...this happens all the time in cold weather.
Last edited by 1999 Vette; Nov 20, 2006 at 02:23 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
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From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
Describe flat, ie, physically flat or the Tire pressure monitor warns of low pressure?
I keep mine at 28 lbs cold during the summer. When I put my Vert away a week ago, if found they were about 24 lbs before I topped them to 48 psi for storage.
Chemists and Physicists know the Ideal Gas law. It states P =nRT/V
As T (temperature drops) so does P (pressure).
A 4-5 pound drop is normal, if it is more than that you have a leak.
Some slow leaks are elusive, On my C4, one tire held air prefectly all summer, but continuously lost air over the winter. I took it off and into a tire shop. After looking for a puncture and for valve leakage, they finally found a bead tear. At 30ish pounds the bead held, but at 25 ish it would start leaking slowly.
I keep mine at 28 lbs cold during the summer. When I put my Vert away a week ago, if found they were about 24 lbs before I topped them to 48 psi for storage.
Chemists and Physicists know the Ideal Gas law. It states P =nRT/V
As T (temperature drops) so does P (pressure).
A 4-5 pound drop is normal, if it is more than that you have a leak.
Some slow leaks are elusive, On my C4, one tire held air prefectly all summer, but continuously lost air over the winter. I took it off and into a tire shop. After looking for a puncture and for valve leakage, they finally found a bead tear. At 30ish pounds the bead held, but at 25 ish it would start leaking slowly.
