Someone recently posted that he got a nail in his new Firestone runflat and it was replaced under his optional Road Hazard warranty, because the Firestone policy is to not patch any runflat.

We all know that some types of punctures or damage can't be repaired regardless of the brand, but replacing the tire because of any puncture at all sounds pretty extreme (and expensive).

I asked whether this was the policy of just his local store, or Firestone. Haven't got a reply yet so I started this thread.

 

Looks like the Firestone/Bridgestone website says it's up to your local tire store as to whether the tire can be safely repaired. http://www.runflat-system.com/technical_en/pop.html

 

If I remember correctly, the Firestones on my car say something like 'Do not reinflate after run-flat operation'.

As such, I bought the road-hazard warranty.

 

It was explained to me that it's corporate policy, that if you get a flat on any of there run-flat tires, they replace the tire completely. If they don't have that certain tire in stock at the time, they will order it, and put a loaner tire on your car.

I personally think for $30 per tire, its the best road hazard warranty out there.

 

kaching!

 

The problem IMHO is that Firestone's is being ultra-conservative because of all the past lawsuits. Their lawyers don't want any excuse to have them sued.

 

That also means there quality control is top notch!

 

We seem to be getting conflicting answers; Mohit and 98blackonblack basically say no repairs. Heisnuts says it's up to the local dealer (who could be under orders to "just say no"), his linked website says it varies from car to car.

The Firestone website for road hazard warranty was down, so I couldn't find out any details on that program. Can anyone fill in the info? Most RH warranties won't pay for a new tire if the damaged one is beyond a certain age or a certain tread wear point. And I certainly don't think they would pay to replace the undamaged tire on the other side so you'd have tires with equal tread.

 

A shot of the warning text straight from the rear tire on my car:

 

Firestone here in Dallas wouldn't patch a nail hole in mine that were on my C5, I had road hazard on the tires and they pro rated the tire and replaced it for about $75. I have a set on my C6 and had a screw in the tire, since the tires came on the car, I have no road hazard so I took it over to Discount Tire and they repaired and balanced the tire for $7.

 

I probably won't go with Firestones for the reason you are not supposed to get them repaired. After a couple of replacements that are prorated you could have afford the PS2 or at least be close enough to not care. Firestone is being extremely cautious so when a Vette driver wrecks his car he can't blame the tires if they were repaired.

 

The warning on the tire applies to tires run in the run flat mode. I don't think that it would preclude a tire being patched that simply had a nail and had lost a few pounds of air.

Mert Cheney

 

From the Firestone manual:

RFT Tire Damage and Repair

No tire, regardless of its design or quality is indestructible.

RFT tires can be ultimately rendered unusable due to a
puncture or other road hazard as well as from improper
run-flat or low tire pressure operation. Some punctures
may be repaired under certain restrictions and prescribed
procedures.

When driven at or with low pressure, factors affecting
reparability include vehicle speed, load, and maneuvering;
the amount of inflation pressure loss; and ambient temperature.

In any situation, the extent and location of direct
damage from a puncturing object or other road hazard are
also critical factors.

RFT tires are not repairable in any of the following situations:

• If the tire was operated with inflation pressure less than
15 psi (100 kPa).

• Abrasion or other damage is present on the exterior tread,
sidewall or bead areas.

• Abrasion, wrinkling, or separation is present on the tire
interior.

• Any condition or damage is present that disqualifies
repair of a conventional tire.

Run-Flat Certified Retailers will fully inspect your tire,
inside and out, to determine if the tire can be repaired. Tire
damage is not always visible from the outside and the tire
must be removed from the wheel for a complete inspection.

For more information, see “Tire Repairs” in this manual.

Note: Some vehicle manufacturers do not recommend
using repaired tires. Consult your vehicle owner’s manual
or contact the vehicle manufacturer before operating a
repaired tire on your vehicle.

http://www.firestonetire.com/warrant...anty_US_EN.pdf

 

And they would know how the tire was operated under 15 psi? I can understand caution but I believe this is over kill (no pun intended). It somewhat dampens my enthusiasm about replacing my GY's with Firestone's when the time comes.....

 

I have no problem plugging. Plus, I know exactly what my Corvette is doing 100% of the time, and so will look for and see why there's 2 lbs less pressure inside a tire.

Realistically, I probably won't even go a hundred in this Corvette, so, plugging will do it. In case it doesn't, there's the road-haz warranty which they discounted at purchase time.

If you regularly examine just the part of the tires that is easy to see when you park or wash it you will now and then catch something easy to pluck out. (P.S. A casual discreet glance at a club member or neighbor's car can catch trouble for them too. So carry the flat kit with you.)

 

It looks like Klaus-96 has given us the answer: Firestone's policy is to not repair any runflat that was driven any distance at less than 15 psi.

That knocks Firestone off my list of possible tire purchases. We use the car as a daily driver and also for vacations, even with our inflator pump we could easily end up running flat for a short distance to a Firestone dealer.

The road hazard warranty may be cheap, but we don't want to wait in the Middle of Nowhere for three days while they find and FedEx a new tire. Nor do we want to pay our own money for a new opposite-side tire to keep equal tread wear on both sides. Imagine if they had a strike or fire at the plant, and no new tires were available for several months.

Of course any runflat can suffer damage that renders it unrepairable, but from the posts here and conversations with local C5/C6 owners, it looks like the majority are a "patch properly, then hit the road" situation.

We don't need new tires yet, next year we'll have to decide between Goodyear and Michelin.

Hey, wait...
Aren't Michelin and Firestone part of the same company? Do they talk to each other? Does Michelin allow repair of their runflats?

 

Firestone is part of Bridgestone.

Since you carry an inflator pump, why not buy a plug kit to go with it. If the tire can be plugged, do it yourself. If the tire is damaged beyond plugging, you're screwed no matter what brand tire you have.

 

a plug is not an acceptable repair for any radial tire, esp. a run flat....

there is extensive conversation on this forum about it already... plugs are no good... trust me..

now, if you mean just to get you from "a to b"..then thats fine. as long as when you get to b you get the tire properly repaired for get a new tire..

 

and as long as point b isn't too far away. too far away is a subjective term.

as far as Firestone runflats being too conservative or not enough warranty or whatever, I'd say klaus96's list of items that would knock out a Firestone tire will also knock out a Goodyear or Michelin runflat tire.

for instance, if there's noticeable deterioration on the outside or inside of a tire due to a "flat" and being run in the runflat condition, your tire is toast no matter who makes it.

 

This is just my Opinion from reading past posts and what FireStone says about their RunFlats.
Most Everyone likes the Firestones that has them, saying they're quieter and ride better than GY OEM's
Firestone says get rid of the tire after being driven if it went Flat/no air etc.
Now,.. I'm not saying they are not a great tire and I'm sure can be driven Flat, since they are a Run Flat.
But, to me they are less expensive for a reason.
And, I don't feel just because they're less expensive, that in itself, makes them any less of a quality tire.
I would say the quality of difference in price has more to do with what happens when running them Flat.
I don't feel they are as Strong a tire and that is part of the reason they ride better and quieter.
So for this reason, in my Opinion, once they go Flat and are driven Flat, they should be replaced.
Again, just my 2 cents and always good to hear what others thoughts are