Screw in tyre - usual questions
Discussion
I have noticed a slow lowering of tyre pressure off my TPMS. Today it tripped a warning on the screen. I pumped the tyre up from 31psi to 41psi (usually 39 psi) and checked the tyre. I thought I’d monitor how it went. Anyway, back at home, I found the culprit below.
Tyres are 255/40-R18 Goodyear EfficientGrip runflats with 5.5 to 6 mm tread left.
Question is, I assume this is a quick and cheap repair with a plug? Does the wheel need to come off? Any ideas of cost for plugging? Any issues with plugging? Repairs on tyres are new to me, on the rare occasions that I have had a puncture, my tyres are usually low in tread and a new tyre was always pretty cheap (of course these runflats are not cheap, hence the questions about tyre plugging).
Tyres are 255/40-R18 Goodyear EfficientGrip runflats with 5.5 to 6 mm tread left.
Question is, I assume this is a quick and cheap repair with a plug? Does the wheel need to come off? Any ideas of cost for plugging? Any issues with plugging? Repairs on tyres are new to me, on the rare occasions that I have had a puncture, my tyres are usually low in tread and a new tyre was always pretty cheap (of course these runflats are not cheap, hence the questions about tyre plugging).
Pica-Pica said:
I’m concerned about paying £20 and the tyre comes off, then I’m left with a damaged rim and £xx of rim repair!
To plug a tyre they need to take wheel off the car unfortunately, to get to the inside of the tyre to fix - then refit the tyre to your wheel/re-balance etc£20 is what ive paid around my way.
Beethree said:
Pica-Pica said:
I’m concerned about paying £20 and the tyre comes off, then I’m left with a damaged rim and £xx of rim repair!
Same needs to be done for a new tyre…I have never had a car with runflats, but my understanding is that they can't/shouldn't be plugged or repaired and have to be replaced if punctured. At least that's what a tyre fitter told me once when we were chatting - while my punctured (ordinary) tyre was being repaired, ironically enough.
OP - I guess you better call round a few places and ask. Even if they can do a repair they will have to take the tyre off.
OP - I guess you better call round a few places and ask. Even if they can do a repair they will have to take the tyre off.
Pica-Pica said:
shtu said:
Pica-Pica said:
runflats
You'll struggle to find anyone that will agree to repair a runflat.Deranged Rover said:
Nah - no need. Just tighten the screw right up with some threadlock on it and that should make it air-tight.
Funny you should say that, as I said only a slow loss of air so far, I will leave it for a few days, it’s probably been in there for a few weeks. Maybe I should add a few more screws, then I’ll be ok during the winter as studded tyres!Thanks for answers so far. I wanted to ask the cognoscenti of PH, before I ring around the tyre places. I wanted to prepare for the ‘nah, new tyre mate’ rebuffs.
dontlookdown said:
I have never had a car with runflats, but my understanding is that they can't/shouldn't be plugged or repaired and have to be replaced if punctured. At least that's what a tyre fitter told me once when we were chatting - while my punctured (ordinary) tyre was being repaired, ironically enough.
OP - I guess you better call round a few places and ask. Even if they can do a repair they will have to take the tyre off.
Runflats are just as repairable as regular tyres.OP - I guess you better call round a few places and ask. Even if they can do a repair they will have to take the tyre off.
If they are driven more than a short distance fully deflated they should be replaced, a normal tyre would be pretty much destroyed at that point where as a run flat might not look too bad.
Out of an abundance of caution and absolutely nothing to do with upselling some places recommend against or absolutely refuse to repair runflats.
shtu said:
Pica-Pica said:
runflats
You'll struggle to find anyone that will agree to repair a runflat.A lot of mainstream places will say you can't do it for some reason.
Deranged Rover said:
Nah - no need. Just tighten the screw right up with some threadlock on it and that should make it air-tight.
We were always getting screws in the tyres of our works vans, and this used to be a common solution. Unscrew it, blob of silicon on the threads, then bung it back in. If the screw was knackered, just take a decent one (maybe one size up) out of the toolbox and bung that in instead. Never saw one fail.Go to a proper tyre specialist and get that plugged from the inside. They won't damage your wheel and you won't be told it's not repairable. I've had a number of expensive runflats repaired, either by plugging or with a vulcanised repair (if near the sidewall).
But make sure you keep the tyre pumped up as close to normal pressure as possible. When a runflat is driven "flat" (i.e. under pressure) for any length of time the sidewalls get damaged just like any other tyre. The stronger sidewall of the runflat can tend to conceal such damage and that's why lots of tyre places refuse to fix them, whereas a conventional tyre will always show damage on the inside if it's been driven flat for even a fairly short distance.
The combination of your TPMS, a 12v tyre pump and an eventual proper repair should see that tyre good for many miles yet.
But make sure you keep the tyre pumped up as close to normal pressure as possible. When a runflat is driven "flat" (i.e. under pressure) for any length of time the sidewalls get damaged just like any other tyre. The stronger sidewall of the runflat can tend to conceal such damage and that's why lots of tyre places refuse to fix them, whereas a conventional tyre will always show damage on the inside if it's been driven flat for even a fairly short distance.
The combination of your TPMS, a 12v tyre pump and an eventual proper repair should see that tyre good for many miles yet.
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