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[LM E90]

Driving home from school last night, I got the dreaded low tire pressure warning. Once I got home, I turn on the air compressor and the tire would not inflate to more than 24 pounds. As soon as I disconnect the compressor and turn it off. I can hear the tire hissing and air coming out directly from the center of the rear passenger side tire. My question to you guys is, would you plug the tire? I know BMW says it has to be replaced because it screws with the integrity of the tire but I just spoke to a reputable shop that said it plugs RFT's all the time as long as the hole is in the center of the tire and not the side wall. What would you guys do? It is either pay 10 bucks to plug the tire or $300 out the door for one new tire but I already have 22,000 on these tires and it would be retarded to replace 1 tire. Right?

[Momadness]

plug the tire! Do you take trips?if so I would suck it up and buy the tire. If not try the 10 bucks route and roll

[mjg335]

i thought we couldnt plug run flat tires??
i could of swore i read that somewhere..

[Strongmad]

The tires can be patched just fine as long as the tire didn't lose all air pressure.
The dealer told you the tire cant be patched? And wants you to pay a grand for a new one? Say it ain't so.

[JSpira]

First, RF tires can POSSIBLY be repaired, depending on where the damage is and also on whether you drove the car with no air.

If you drove the car with NO air at all, it should not be repaired.

If the tire is indeed eligible for repair, plugging is not a suitable option. See what the NHTSA has to say on this:

A plug by itself is not an acceptable repair.

The proper repair of a punctured tire requires a plug for the hole and a patch for the area inside the tire that surrounds the puncture hole. The repair material used – for example, a "combination patch and plug" repair – must seal the inner liner and fill the injury to be considered a permanent repair.

Punctures through the tread can be repaired if they are not too large, but punctures to the sidewall should not be repaired.

Tires must be removed from the rim to be properly inspected before being plugged and patched.

[E92_328i_Boston]

I agree. Plug it and monitor closely. Check the pressure at least once a week.

Replace if necessary. Chances are it will be fine for a long time to come.

-A

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by E92_328i_Boston

I agree. Plug it and monitor closely. Check the pressure at least once a week.

You agree with what? The preceding post said the opposite. In fact, every post answering the OP's question said not to plug it.

[E92_328i_Boston]

I agree with post #2, the first response. Sorry, I thought that it was clear, given my response's comments, with whom I agreed.

-A

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by E92_328i_Boston

I agree with post #2, the first response. Sorry, I thought that it was clear, given my response's comments, with whom I agreed.

-A

Post number 2 says, in part, "suck it up and buy the tire."

[ragingclue]

I guess I'd make my decision (if it meets the criteria for a plug in the first place) based on how much tread you have left on the tires. More than likely, if you replace one, you're going to replace both if you have 22k miles on them, but I don't know how you drive so....

Really your call.

[Minefield]

I had a nail in mine. I was told RFTs can be patched as long as the puncture is not along/on the sidewall and can be patched only once.

[tjnptel1]

at first glimpse, i read that as "i got a fiat"

i was going to come in here and ask what's wrong with that but i stand corrected.

[ragingclue]

Originally Posted by tjnptel1

at first glimpse, i read that as "i got a fiat"

i was going to come in here and ask what's wrong with that but i stand corrected.

Panda FTW

[tjnptel1]

Originally Posted by ragingclue

Panda FTW

wha? you mean you don't like the 500?



lol

[kronzprinz]

Originally Posted by LM E90

Driving home from school last night, I got the dreaded low tire pressure warning. Once I got home, I turn on the air compressor and the tire would not inflate to more than 24 pounds. As soon as I disconnect the compressor and turn it off. I can hear the tire hissing and air coming out directly from the center of the rear passenger side tire. My question to you guys is, would you plug the tire? I know BMW says it has to be replaced because it screws with the integrity of the tire but I just spoke to a reputable shop that said it plugs RFT's all the time as long as the hole is in the center of the tire and not the side wall. What would you guys do? It is either pay 10 bucks to plug the tire or $300 out the door for one new tire but I already have 22,000 on these tires and it would be retarded to replace 1 tire. Right?

think about it like insurance... you can't tell when a run flat is damaged by looking at it. so if you plug it and then your warning goes off, you might think it's ok to continue driving but it might be really bad and you could get into an accident... just get two new tires.

[rambalu80]

Originally Posted by LM E90

Driving home from school last night, I got the dreaded low tire pressure warning. Once I got home, I turn on the air compressor and the tire would not inflate to more than 24 pounds. As soon as I disconnect the compressor and turn it off. I can hear the tire hissing and air coming out directly from the center of the rear passenger side tire. My question to you guys is, would you plug the tire? I know BMW says it has to be replaced because it screws with the integrity of the tire but I just spoke to a reputable shop that said it plugs RFT's all the time as long as the hole is in the center of the tire and not the side wall. What would you guys do? It is either pay 10 bucks to plug the tire or $300 out the door for one new tire but I already have 22,000 on these tires and it would be retarded to replace 1 tire. Right?

I bought the Easy Care Wheel & Tire package from the dealership when I bought my car and the first time I had a flat (Right Front), the dealership fixed it and I had no issues for one year. About 5 weeks back, I had a big nail on the same tire and the dealership replaced it for free.

I had 16,000 miles on the original tires and they installed 1 new tire. Just to maintain equally treaded tires I decided to replace the left front with a new one and keep the 16,000 mile old tire as a spare since it still has a decent amount of tread left. The dealership quoted $325 for the job with balancing and installation. I bought 1 Bridgestone Turanza EL42 tire on the internet for $180 (shipped) and had it installed at Firestone for 25 bucks. It would certainly be wiser to replace a pair and it doesn't cost 300 bucks unless you go to the stealership. If get the Conti's they are cheaper and supposed to be better too!

[rrosen]

Run flats can be repaired if:

• Puncture is not in or next to the sidewall
• You did not drive on the tire with no air (if you did, the sidewall is suspect)
• Hole is not too big

The correct repair method is to dismount the tire and use a combination plug/patch--not just a plug. (Think golf tee with a large thin top)

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by rrosen

Run flats can be repaired if:

• Puncture is not in or next to the sidewall
• You did not drive on the tire with no air (if you did, the sidewall is suspect)
• Hole is not too big

The correct repair method is to dismount the tire and use a combination plug/patch--not just a plug. (Think golf tee with a large thin top)

I covered this points in post 5, without the illustration of course.

[PNF]

thank god I bought the wheel/tire protection plan... all flats are covered, even the scratches on my rims (OEM or aftermarket)..

:P

and yea, I heard it from somewhere as well that you cannot patch RFT??

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by JSpira

I covered this points in post 5, without the illustration of course.

Haha it doesn't really matter.

OP, you have 22,000 miles on your current set of tires? How much tread do they have left? I had to replace mine at 15k. I'd just patch it if you can, and replace all four once it's time.

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by PNF

thank god I bought the wheel/tire protection plan... all flats are covered, even the scratches on my rims (OEM or aftermarket)..

:P

and yea, I heard it from somewhere as well that you cannot patch RFT??

That plan is a joke. Didn't help me at all.

[Mk23]

Who got a fiat again?

Why does that smiley look so gay?