Puncture: Replace? Repair? Where?

[Jonblue]

I've got a serious puncture (goes flat in minutes) and I'm not sure how long I had been driving on it before I noticed. The RAC plugged it and said it would get me home. The tyre is an advan with plenty of life left in it and the hole is about an inch away from the edge of the contact surface.

Now what do I do? Take it down to the local ATS, take it to nearest dealer, or get a specialist to repair it? (i'm in slough area if anyone has a recommendation).

I'm fairly new to elises and can't find any other threads that give advice, so any comments would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Pied Piper]

If your not sure how long you've been driving on it then replace as you have probably damaged the sidewall of the tyre.

I would not be confident of driving on a tyre that has been repaired wether driven on damaged or not.

[ganglandboss]

Can't be plugged legally I'm afraid, Too close to the edge! Anything in the outer quartile can't be plugged.

You can have a major repair which would be legal but the process they use de-vulcanises the tyre and reduces its speed rating.

Clicky link!

Edited by ganglandboss on Wednesday 8th August 22:04

[tricky 100]

Why would you not take it to your local tyre centre ? Are there Lotus tyre repair specialists around the country ?

[S Works]

If it's fixable, any local tyre place should be able to sort it. You just need to make sure they take care when jacking the car up. I think in this case though (as mentioned), it might be too near the edge. Any chance you can take the wheel/tyre off yourself and take it down to your local KwikFit or the like?

[jon-]

Pied Piper said:

If your not sure how long you've been driving on it then replace as you have probably damaged the sidewall of the tyre.

I would not be confident of driving on a tyre that has been repaired wether driven on damaged or not.

Listen to this man.

Spend an extra £80 now and save spending £1000s when you have a motorway blowout and end up in a barrier.

[Jonblue]

Thanks for your input everyone.

Well, it turn out that the hole is just an inch from the edge and is therefore irreparable. And in addition I've got a nail through one of the front tyres (also about an inch from the edge). So two new tyres then.

ATS said that they can only get the tyres from the Lotus dealers and that it would be cheaper to get them from the dealer and then get ATS to fit them. Does that make sense?

[S Works]

They can only be purchased via the dealer network. All the specialists around London will be able to help out too.