Got a flat on my OEM RFTs

tranquility · 11-15-2010, 03:38 PM

Discovered a 3/4" long screw stuck in the middle of my tread in one of my summer tires when I changed to my winters. Once I took the screw out, air started leaking. Just checking if you think the tire could be fixed or not? Pretty sure the screw was holding the air pressure since it must have been there for ages and my tire monitor didn't go off. If useful, it's one of my rear tires and the hole is probably less than 0.5cm in diameter.

Btw, how much does it cost to have the hole plugged? If plugging is advisable, I guess it's better to wait right before spring rolls around (so I switch back to my summers) instead of plugging now and not knowing if it was done correctly? Thx!

KrisNL · 11-15-2010, 03:43 PM

Can be repaired.

Constant.S · 11-15-2010, 03:43 PM

First of all DO NOT listen to any tire seller that it cant be fixed. As long as it is not near the sides of the tire. If they say it cant be fixed, they are only trying to sell you a new set of tires ( yes two, cause the wear of the tire should be even on both sides for safety purposes). the price should be low (in Europe its around 18 USD where i live).
Hope this helped.

Rafale · 11-15-2010, 04:25 PM

It can definitely be plugged. Personally I wouldn't do it. Knowing the way I drive the Z at times, I would rather avoid taking the risk. Depends really on how hard you push your car.
I actually had a long nail in one of my PS2s on my 330ci and never bothered to take it out. The tire was not leaking so I left it there until the tire wore out...

One other way to look at it though is that it is your excuse/opportunity to get rid of the RFTs.

skier219 · 11-15-2010, 05:20 PM

If it can be plugged (basically means the hole is away from the sidewalls and not part of a structural element in the RFT, and there isn't more than one hole in a local area of the tread) then you can do it yourself. Most auto parts stores sell tire plug kits for a few bucks. It consists of some repair plugs (rubberized rope), rubber cement, a t-handle file to rough up the hole, and a t-handle tool to insert the plug. It's a piece of cake, and very convenient. In fact, I can usually do it quickly on an inflated tire still on the car and not lose much air. I've done probably a dozen repairs over the years and never had one fail (if you happen to drive through construction sites a lot, nail punctures are common practice).

It's the same technique most tire shops would use. I can't remember the last time I paid for a repair, but I wouldn't expect them to charge more than $10-15 for a plug job, and that's being generous.

By the way, one factor to keep in mind with plug jobs is that it technically alters the balance of the tire. For a single plug, you can ignore the effect. For multiple plugs that don't offset each other, a re-balance might be in order. If I had to plug a single tire more than three time, I would probably start thinking about a new tire depending on the locations.

Mr. ///M3 RD · 11-15-2010, 06:34 PM

Good point to wait till spring to have it plugged.

And, yes you can have it fixed since it is in the middle of the thread not near the sidewall. Stand your ground when you do have it plugged tell them "I'm the customer, you have the plugs ... plug it" Then you keep an eye on it.

should be okay, much has been written about RFT plug it or don't plug it.

Silver-Bolt · 11-15-2010, 08:54 PM

Speed rating goes away with plugs and patches. Unless you do track days that really shouldn't be an issue.

KrisNL · 11-16-2010, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rafale

It can definitely be plugged. Personally I wouldn't do it. Knowing the way I drive the Z at times, I would rather avoid taking the risk. Depends really on how hard you push your car.
I actually had a long nail in one of my PS2s on my 330ci and never bothered to take it out. The tire was not leaking so I left it there until the tire wore out...

One other way to look at it though is that it is your excuse/opportunity to get rid of the RFTs.

Once I also had a nail in my tire (when I drove Alfa) and just left it in until I needed to replace it. It was plugged and mot leaking, so....

Alext · 11-16-2010, 02:09 AM

I had a 6 inch (yes 6 inch!) nail in my RFT once for several days before I discovered it. The tire was repaired all good.

bmwnorge · 11-16-2010, 09:57 AM

i plugged my rear tire on my motorcycle and it's been fine. lol your car has 4 tires, plugging one is childs play

tranquility · 11-16-2010, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KrisNL

Once I also had a nail in my tire (when I drove Alfa) and just left it in until I needed to replace it.

That's called unwanted plugging lol.

AJE · 11-16-2010, 11:55 AM

I also got a nail (Used for dry walling) in my RFT left rear after driving for 500KM

. As expected BMW ask me to change the tire. But I got it repaired form CanadianTire for 60CAD. Now I am driving close to 4000KM without any problem. Request your tire repair person to carefully inspect the tire and if no issue get it repaired.

11-15-2010, 03:38 PM	#1
tranquility sportscars only 3236 Rep 3,194 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montréal iTrader: (0)	Got a flat on my OEM RFTs Discovered a 3/4" long screw stuck in the middle of my tread in one of my summer tires when I changed to my winters. Once I took the screw out, air started leaking. Just checking if you think the tire could be fixed or not? Pretty sure the screw was holding the air pressure since it must have been there for ages and my tire monitor didn't go off. If useful, it's one of my rear tires and the hole is probably less than 0.5cm in diameter. Btw, how much does it cost to have the hole plugged? If plugging is advisable, I guess it's better to wait right before spring rolls around (so I switch back to my summers) instead of plugging now and not knowing if it was done correctly? Thx!
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11-15-2010, 03:43 PM	#2
KrisNL Hero of the Day 12 Rep 263 Posts Drives: Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Amsterdam iTrader: (0)	Can be repaired. __________________ Ordered my X3 28i, High Executive, M Sport, Topview, Innovation Pack and a lot of extra's first week of June! - delivered September 13, 2014
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11-15-2010, 03:43 PM	#3
Constant.S Resistance is futile... 54 Rep 640 Posts Drives: BMW Z4 E89(N54) Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Greece/Canada iTrader: (0)	First of all DO NOT listen to any tire seller that it cant be fixed. As long as it is not near the sides of the tire. If they say it cant be fixed, they are only trying to sell you a new set of tires ( yes two, cause the wear of the tire should be even on both sides for safety purposes). the price should be low (in Europe its around 18 USD where i live). Hope this helped. __________________ An ounce of performance is worth pounds of promises.
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11-15-2010, 04:25 PM	#4
Rafale Zed Quatre 24 Rep 410 Posts Drives: '11 Z4 35is & '11 535xi GT Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Portland, OR. USA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 535i GT xDrive [0.00] 2011 Z4 35is [7.00]	It can definitely be plugged. Personally I wouldn't do it. Knowing the way I drive the Z at times, I would rather avoid taking the risk. Depends really on how hard you push your car. I actually had a long nail in one of my PS2s on my 330ci and never bothered to take it out. The tire was not leaking so I left it there until the tire wore out... One other way to look at it though is that it is your excuse/opportunity to get rid of the RFTs. __________________
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11-15-2010, 05:20 PM	#5
skier219 Captain 607 Rep 969 Posts Drives: X3 M40i, M2C, Ferrari 328 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	If it can be plugged (basically means the hole is away from the sidewalls and not part of a structural element in the RFT, and there isn't more than one hole in a local area of the tread) then you can do it yourself. Most auto parts stores sell tire plug kits for a few bucks. It consists of some repair plugs (rubberized rope), rubber cement, a t-handle file to rough up the hole, and a t-handle tool to insert the plug. It's a piece of cake, and very convenient. In fact, I can usually do it quickly on an inflated tire still on the car and not lose much air. I've done probably a dozen repairs over the years and never had one fail (if you happen to drive through construction sites a lot, nail punctures are common practice). It's the same technique most tire shops would use. I can't remember the last time I paid for a repair, but I wouldn't expect them to charge more than $10-15 for a plug job, and that's being generous. By the way, one factor to keep in mind with plug jobs is that it technically alters the balance of the tire. For a single plug, you can ignore the effect. For multiple plugs that don't offset each other, a re-balance might be in order. If I had to plug a single tire more than three time, I would probably start thinking about a new tire depending on the locations.
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11-15-2010, 06:34 PM	#6
Mr. ///M3 RD Happy Camper 612 Rep 7,869 Posts Drives: C63 AMG & 280 SL on Weekends : Join Date: May 2010 Location: GTA, Ontario - Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 1969 Restored Merce ... [7.50] 2011 M3 Coupe TRADED [7.34] 1987 BMW 535is [1.00] Cars from the Past [6.50] The ///M3 Engine S65 [9.59]	Good point to wait till spring to have it plugged. And, yes you can have it fixed since it is in the middle of the thread not near the sidewall. Stand your ground when you do have it plugged tell them "I'm the customer, you have the plugs ... plug it" Then you keep an eye on it. should be okay, much has been written about RFT plug it or don't plug it. __________________ Cheers, Rolf-Dieter Life will take us to some interesting places, fortunately The ///M3 will too with a many of us know this very well, now my C6.3 AMG with 487 HP does it too ---> Click here for some good stuff I found
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11-15-2010, 08:54 PM	#7
Silver-Bolt Captain 26 Rep 805 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 35is Melbourne Red Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 Z4 35is [9.00]	Speed rating goes away with plugs and patches. Unless you do track days that really shouldn't be an issue.
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11-16-2010, 02:09 AM	#9
Alext Banned 138 Rep 2,042 Posts Drives: B M W Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Everest iTrader: (2)	I had a 6 inch (yes 6 inch!) nail in my RFT once for several days before I discovered it. The tire was repaired all good.
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11-16-2010, 09:57 AM	#10
bmwnorge Enlisted Member 6 Rep 40 Posts Drives: E70 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	i plugged my rear tire on my motorcycle and it's been fine. lol your car has 4 tires, plugging one is childs play
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11-16-2010, 11:55 AM	#12
AJE New Member 1 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2009 Z4 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Vancouver Canada iTrader: (0)	I also got a nail (Used for dry walling) in my RFT left rear after driving for 500KM . As expected BMW ask me to change the tire. But I got it repaired form CanadianTire for 60CAD. Now I am driving close to 4000KM without any problem. Request your tire repair person to carefully inspect the tire and if no issue get it repaired.
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