Screw in run flat

Screw in run flat

Author
Discussion

woogie

Original Poster:

3,313 posts

252 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
Hi - Just noticed a screw in one of my run flats, dont want to take it out until after I drop the mrs at Heathrow tomorrow. It's pretty central and tyre has plenty of tread. Is this just a repair job at quick fit, any advice?

cheers

Steve_W

1,494 posts

177 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
Just had a nail in one of my rear tyres (only 3000 miles from new) that BMW spotted whilst car was in for a service.

Unfortunately the service bod pulled it out - hence flat tyre and grumpy delivery driver saying he should have left it in to save me only being able to run at max 50mph. Tyre was red hot when driven on flat for no more than 6 miles at low speed.

Kwik fit (company car - no choice on supplier) say run flats cannot be repaired even if nail is in centre of tread.

woogie

Original Poster:

3,313 posts

252 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
Surely they can repaired though ?

Gruber

6,313 posts

214 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
Yes. But I'd be looking for a trustworthy local tyre centre to avoid the nonsense referenced above.

Swervin_Mervin

4,447 posts

238 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
Gruber said:
Yes. But I'd be looking for a trustworthy local tyre centre to avoid the nonsense referenced above.
This

gtidriver

3,344 posts

187 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
I had a screw in a tyre that was only 900 miles old, I left it in for a few months then had the hole plugged. Cost around £15.

Mr Tidy

22,313 posts

127 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
I think it depends where you go - I had a runflat repaired last year for £10 and it gave no trouble until it got replaced 9/10 months later due to tread wear.

woogie

Original Poster:

3,313 posts

252 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
gtidriver said:
I had a screw in a tyre that was only 900 miles old, I left it in for a few months then had the hole plugged. Cost around £15.
I had the same a few years back but not with a run flat, it was near edge so they didnt want to do so I said just do it and dont put it though your books. gave him 20 quid and he fixed it. (kwik fit)

I think I will be ok as i am not pulling screw out so wont damage walls . I will pull it out at a garage and if it goes down they can fix it.


Osinjak

5,453 posts

121 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
You can repair run flats easily (providing not in sidewall and not run for miles whilst actually flat, knackers the sidewalls apparently), my advice is stay away from the big names as they come out with all manner of stupidness when confronted with an RFT. One told me it was illegal and another just kept repeating company policy at me as if that was the answer to everything. Find an independent, they'll usually do it quite happily, I've had mine done three times now by my local bloke, all for the princely sum of £10 each time.

Buster73

5,060 posts

153 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
Osinjak said:
You can repair run flats easily (providing not in sidewall and not run for miles whilst actually flat, knackers the sidewalls apparently), my advice is stay away from the big names as they come out with all manner of stupidness when confronted with an RFT. One told me it was illegal and another just kept repeating company policy at me as if that was the answer to everything. Find an independent, they'll usually do it quite happily, I've had mine done three times now by my local bloke, all for the princely sum of £10 each time.
Think how much the nationals add to their turnover by adhering to the no fix policy ?

No wonder they stick to company policy.

Buster73

5,060 posts

153 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
Osinjak said:
You can repair run flats easily (providing not in sidewall and not run for miles whilst actually flat, knackers the sidewalls apparently), my advice is stay away from the big names as they come out with all manner of stupidness when confronted with an RFT. One told me it was illegal and another just kept repeating company policy at me as if that was the answer to everything. Find an independent, they'll usually do it quite happily, I've had mine done three times now by my local bloke, all for the princely sum of £10 each time.
Think how much the nationals add to their turnover by adhering to the no fix policy ?

No wonder they stick to company policy.

Osinjak

5,453 posts

121 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
Not sure I understand your point, can you state it?

Carmo99

1,308 posts

186 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
I have had 2 repairs done by plugging from my BMW Dealer (for free) . They said a replacement is only needed if in the side wall or if you drive it when flat.

Buster73

5,060 posts

153 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
Osinjak said:
Not sure I understand your point, can you state it?
I don't know if I'm being wooshed here ...

Company policy = no run flat repairs @£10 to £20 each , trade them up to spend £200+ on a new tyre instead.

Increase the turnover / profitability.


Osinjak

5,453 posts

121 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
Buster73 said:
Osinjak said:
Not sure I understand your point, can you state it?
I don't know if I'm being wooshed here ...

Company policy = no run flat repairs @£10 to £20 each , trade them up to spend £200+ on a new tyre instead.

Increase the turnover / profitability.

No whoosh, just wasn't sure what you were trying to say! Anyway, for the more savvy amongst who know that an RFT can be repaired, we'll walk until we find someone that does. For everyone else, dig deep I suppose. My local chain tyre place thing didn't even bother trying to sell me a tyre, just kept banging on about company policy and the illegality of repairing an RFT. Clowns.

Webber3

1,228 posts

219 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
Buster73 said:
Think how much the nationals add to their turnover by adhering to the no fix policy ?

No wonder they stick to company policy.
Exactly, up to £300 to replace vs £20 to repair. None of the local places here will fix them. There's a place about 10 miles from me that does, but by the time you've driven there the tyre is toast anyway.

I've switched out my run flats for conventional tyres now. To me they were pointless. If I got a puncture I couldn't drive anywhere unless I want to ruin a £300 tyre. So no different to a conventional tyre there.

The one time I did drive with a flat RFT it was downright dangerous. They're rated at 50mph, but unbeknown to me the tyre delaminated after 5 miles and I couldn't drive safely at any more than 30mph.

Funk

26,274 posts

209 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
In all fairness I can understand why they have a policy of 'no-fix' on a run-flat. It's possible that the tyre has been run whilst flat for the maximum distance/speed (50 miles at 50mph max) and would therefore be dangerous to repair.

You can picture the scenario:

  • Man gets screw in tyre
  • Tyre deflates and runs on sidewalls
  • Kwik Fit repair tyre
  • Man gets tyre failure due to shagged sidewalls and has fiery accident when tyre explodes
Where do you think the first place the driver is going to point the finger will be? I wouldn't be taking the risk either if I were Kwik Fit... The question isn't can it be repaired - of course it can - but rather should it be repaired. Often the answer will be no.

Webber3

1,228 posts

219 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
Funk said:
In all fairness I can understand why they have a policy of 'no-fix' on a run-flat. It's possible that the tyre has been run whilst flat for the maximum distance/speed and would therefore be dangerous to repair.

You can picture the scenario:

  • Man gets screw in tyre
  • Tyre deflates and runs on sidewalls
  • Kwik Fit repair tyre
  • Man gets tyre failure due to shagged sidewalls and has fiery accident when tyre explodes
Where do you think the first place the driver is going to point the finger will be? I wouldn't be taking the risk either if I were Kwik Fit...
There is an inspection procedure. There are signs inside the tyre that tell the fitter if the tyre has been driven over the limits.

Osinjak

5,453 posts

121 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
Webber3 said:
There is an inspection procedure. There are signs inside the tyre that tell the fitter if the tyre has been driven over the limits.
This. It's not exactly difficult for them to check.

Swervin_Mervin

4,447 posts

238 months

Friday 22nd August 2014
quotequote all
Webber3 said:
Funk said:
In all fairness I can understand why they have a policy of 'no-fix' on a run-flat. It's possible that the tyre has been run whilst flat for the maximum distance/speed and would therefore be dangerous to repair.

You can picture the scenario:

  • Man gets screw in tyre
  • Tyre deflates and runs on sidewalls
  • Kwik Fit repair tyre
  • Man gets tyre failure due to shagged sidewalls and has fiery accident when tyre explodes
Where do you think the first place the driver is going to point the finger will be? I wouldn't be taking the risk either if I were Kwik Fit...
There is an inspection procedure. There are signs inside the tyre that tell the fitter if the tyre has been driven over the limits.
And how would it be any different to repairing a normal tyre that someone might've run on for umpteen miles?