Tire PIA
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35,042
Likes: 12,410
From: NE South Carolina
Recently had the same thing happened to me. Non run flats are not recommended to be plugged! Straight from the manufacture and numerous reputable (in my area) tire companies. Thankfully, my car was in the shop and the technician picked up the screw when driving the car. So, they assumed the replacement cost.
All tires should NOT be repaired if the nail is in the outer tread or certainly near the side wall. If you look at any performance tire, run flat or not there are several extra wraps of fiber reinforcement in that area for performance and handling reasons. They don't allow patching to avoid possible performance issues.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,287
Likes: 448
From: Upstate NY
On my 16 Z51 I have had two tires with screws in them. The first time the tire shop wouldn't plug it because of liability so I bought a new tire from them. But when I went back to pick up the new tire they said they would patch the old tire since they weren't putting it on the car. They plugged it from the inside with a patch with a large patch area and the center of the plug going the screw hole. The second screw in the new tire this time was patched at a second tire store for $75 since they used their touchless tire changer to remove and install the repaired tire. If you look around and find a good tire center they can plug them. The second screw happened at 6200 miles. So now I have a spare tire incase I get another screw. I don't like getting screwed this way. Tom
Its funny, because I had doubted that they could be plugged, so I called Michelin customer support and they told me that these tires could be plugged once if it was in the main tread section -unfortunately after going to (3) Michelin authorized tire Stores and my Chevrolet dealer, it was 100% confirmed that mine was outside of that area, so it had to be replaced.
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Sucks about the bolt getting stuck in the tire. Good luck getting it repaired and back on the road.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 183
From: Maple Ontario
Because of all the liability issues these days, nobody wants to plug a tire that is borderline. Your screw is clearly on the contact patch so a plug would not be a problem, I have plugged tires myself that had screws right on the edge and after 4 years, still no issue. They are just being overly paranoid and making a couple of extra bucks as a result. Now if you track your car or drive over 100 mph, then i wouldn't plug, but if you daily drive, street drive, i would try a plug first and see... you might be surprised... just keep an eye on it... your TPMS is your friend.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,287
Likes: 448
From: Upstate NY
Because of all the liability issues these days, nobody wants to plug a tire that is borderline. Your screw is clearly on the contact patch so a plug would not be a problem, I have plugged tires myself that had screws right on the edge and after 4 years, still no issue. They are just being overly paranoid and making a couple of extra bucks as a result. Now if you track your car or drive over 100 mph, then i wouldn't plug, but if you daily drive, street drive, i would try a plug first and see... you might be surprised... just keep an eye on it... your TPMS is your friend.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,287
Likes: 448
From: Upstate NY
I hope to eventually track it at Watkins Glen -that's why I decided it was better to bite the bullet and not take a chance. The Corvette Tech explained that the patch goes in from the inside and through the penetration. On the inside it would be on the curved section and flexing more than if more centered.
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Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 491
From: Denver, NC
While fueling up I was admiring my car with 800 miles on it. Wow that's a shiny rock in the rear tire I thought... Nope, it was a nice wide screw head nearly ground flat. Drove home, jacked it up and carefully twisted the screw waiting to hear the hssss as the air started to escape the threads.
Then, the tire Gods smiled upon me and it was a screw from a light switch or outlet that holds the wire to the body (New construction everywhere in my neighborhood) and it was merely sunk into the meat of the tread. Explained why the head was wide and flat. No harm, no foul!!!
Then, the tire Gods smiled upon me and it was a screw from a light switch or outlet that holds the wire to the body (New construction everywhere in my neighborhood) and it was merely sunk into the meat of the tread. Explained why the head was wide and flat. No harm, no foul!!!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,287
Likes: 448
From: Upstate NY
Just to close out the story
When I picked up the tire, the tech said that he felt bad that he couldn't patch it since it was so close to the edge and the patch on the inside would have been on the radius to the side wall where it would be subjected to more flex.
Though I hated having to buy a new tire, I would rather be safe than sorry -the bolt was a 1/4" diameter, so it may have compromised the integrity even if patched.
The tech, and someone else that responded on here, asked if I had checked on road hazard warranty.
Just to be sure I contacted Michelin customer support and there is no road hazard warranty.
Though I hated having to buy a new tire, I would rather be safe than sorry -the bolt was a 1/4" diameter, so it may have compromised the integrity even if patched.
The tech, and someone else that responded on here, asked if I had checked on road hazard warranty.
Just to be sure I contacted Michelin customer support and there is no road hazard warranty.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,287
Likes: 448
From: Upstate NY
While fueling up I was admiring my car with 800 miles on it. Wow that's a shiny rock in the rear tire I thought... Nope, it was a nice wide screw head nearly ground flat. Drove home, jacked it up and carefully twisted the screw waiting to hear the hssss as the air started to escape the threads.
Then, the tire Gods smiled upon me and it was a screw from a light switch or outlet that holds the wire to the body (New construction everywhere in my neighborhood) and it was merely sunk into the meat of the tread. Explained why the head was wide and flat. No harm, no foul!!!
Then, the tire Gods smiled upon me and it was a screw from a light switch or outlet that holds the wire to the body (New construction everywhere in my neighborhood) and it was merely sunk into the meat of the tread. Explained why the head was wide and flat. No harm, no foul!!!
I hope I'm that lucky if I'm unlucky enough to get another pucture
