Nail in run flat
 

I have a nail in the tread area of a front tire. I've read many posts here that it can be patched/plugged from the inside. I've called Michelin and GM. Both said this is true. Called Discount tire today (two locations) and they tell me a run flat can not be repaired. (company Policy)
Can anyone clear this up for me? It's just a small screw. I don't track the car, it's a weekend driver. 2017 base Stingray.

Thanks

Call a different Discount Tire. I have had two different run-flats repaired on my '16 Z51 coupe by Discount Tire, both for free!

I wouldn't even take the tire off the car.
Just put a tire plug in the hole and see what happens.
I'm betting it will be just fine, if its not then it shouldn't leave you stranded anyway and you can decide what to do at that time.

I had a screw right through the center of the tread. Patched and plugged no problem by my local Chev Dealer.
You'll find more posts here where patching/plugging a run flat wasn't an issue.

I've had run flats repaired at Discount Tire, no problems.

Discount repaired a Goodyear run flat on my C5 no problem. Depending on the location of the damage they might refuse to repair it. I used the repaired tire for a couple of years without problems. I haven’t tried to get a Michelin repaired however.

That's another thing. The guy I talked to at the local Chevy dealer told me the same thing. That it couldn't be repaired. Hopefully, I'm thinking, he's just the guy who answers the phone!

The policy varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, but Michelin does allow one proper repair (inside patch/plug) per tire in the center tread section. The tire retains it's speed rating. However, if the tire has been driven at ZP for more than a few miles, it's likely the integrity of the sidewalls has been compromised to some extent. If it's holding air long enough to get to a tire shop, then you're probably OK.

See link below:

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret...jsp?techid=226

It is purely a matter of liability. I had the same policy in my tire departments simply because I didn't want to buy a potential problem for a twenty dollar repair. If the tire later fails in an accident or actually causes an accident, the tire repairer is almost certainly facing a long and expensive suit.

Its a shame that's how the world works, but that's how the world works.

Funny, I bought tire insurance from Discount Tire when I got my Grand Sport. Bet my local Discount Tire store will remove the tire and use a plug patch rather than give me a new tire! :lol:

Funny, the BMW Dealer will not patch my wife’s OEM Michelin run flats on her SUV. However the Firestone Dealer in town, who are very carefull and will not by company policy (according to them) patch a hole in the outer tread, fixed her tire with no problem. They say the Firestone defines “to close to the side wall” as the outer tread! That is the reason I bought tire insurance as the outer treads on the Grand Sport are very wide!

As you found, Michelin says one repair allowed in a Vette tire if it is not in or near the side wall.

Very strange, Discount repaired two of my run flats, the first one 14,000 miles ago and the repairs were free.

I just had local Discount Tire plug my 16MY rear tire that got a roofing nail in it. No questions asked and work done very well with my chrome wheels. You might call Michelin 800 # and see if they can give you a lead on a local repair shop they recommend. Are you near Kerbeck?

I just bought a Safety Seal kit and plug my own punctures. I've only had one fail on me, and that was due to me not trimming enough of the excess plug off and it glued to the floor. :hide::banghead:

Other than that I've had absolutely zero problems with plugs. Now, this isn't for autocross or track use, just on the streets.

HTH, and have a good one,
Mike

LOL .... I can totally see how that would happen, its crazy how some of the simplest things can get you.

I found a nail in my run flat this week - had a new roof put on, and they didn't get all the roofing nails picked up. Drove it in to Firestone Complete, took 1 hour and $30 to patch.

I have factory Continental run flats on my Caddy ATS and since the dealer was closer than DT when I saw the TPM indicate dropping to 10# I went to them. $30 later it was repaired and it's been over a year now with no issues. Typical nail in the tread repair. I was not confident the dealership was capable of dealing with a run flat, but they certainly were.

Silly question but did you try removing the nail to see if it actually went through?

Well, to answer all the questions, yes the nail went through, it lost no air so it didn't run on zero pressure to damage the tire.
Ended up taking it to my friends repair shop who repaired it no problems.
Thanks for all the help