Slow Puncture in RFT - Rim to blame not tyre ?

[dibbly_dobbler]

Evening All. Sorry bit of a dull one here but can anybody help please

I've had a slow puncture for a while on my o/s rear tyre (18inch RFT - standard on my 330i). It's been needing inflated every few weeks and eventually I have cracked and gone to the local Tyre dealer (Farmer Auto - very helpful).

They couldn't find anything wrong with the tyre itself and did the soapy water test on the rim - no great evidence of bubbles but he cracked it off the rim and put some gunk in to reseal it. (No charge). That was a couple of weeks ago.

Unfortunately this didn't work so I went back tonight fully expecting to be told I needed a new tyre but instead was given the number of a guy who will sand down the rim ('it'll only be £20 - £30 quid') as they cant see any problem with the tyre.

Ok fine I suppose if the fix works (£30 for the fix to the rim is a lot better than £300 for the tyre!) but I just feel a bit dubious about it working. Has anybody had this happen to them ?

Cheers, DD.

[RRS_Staffs]

is the valve OK?

try wiggling it and see if it hisses

Cheers!

[DSM2]

Odds on the rim is cracked.

[dibbly_dobbler]

RRS_Staffs said:

is the valve OK?

try wiggling it and see if it hisses

Cheers!

Thanks. I think the valve is ok - the bloke sloshed some soapy water around it and there was no sign of bubbles but I will give it a wiggle!

[dibbly_dobbler]

DSM2 said:

Odds on the rim is cracked.

Hmm - well you may be right but I hope not! The bloke at the tyre dealer seemed to be saying it was fairly common for the rim not to seal correctly to the tyre but it's news to me ...

[DSM2]

dibbly_dobbler said:

DSM2 said:

Odds on the rim is cracked.

Hmm - well you may be right but I hope not! The bloke at the tyre dealer seemed to be saying it was fairly common for the rim not to seal correctly to the tyre but it's news to me ...

News to me too!

On the other hand, cracked rims with this application, as we know, are quite common to say the least.

[dibbly_dobbler]

DSM2 said:

dibbly_dobbler said:

DSM2 said:

Odds on the rim is cracked.

Hmm - well you may be right but I hope not! The bloke at the tyre dealer seemed to be saying it was fairly common for the rim not to seal correctly to the tyre but it's news to me ...

News to me too!

On the other hand, cracked rims with this application, as we know, are quite common to say the least.

Well the chap is going to do his stuff tomorrow morning - apparently it's 'very common' that the tyre is not sealing properly to the rim (rather than the actual alloy being cracked). We shall see !

It's only costing £20 so I presume he's not doing all that much and it's also no great loss if it doesn't work...

[davec25]

I have exactly the same problem with the o/s front tyre (non RFT) on my 330. The guy at my tyre place did the soapy water thing and you could see very slow bubbles in 2 places between the rim and tyre.
I'd be interested how you get on when you've had your rim done.
I haven't found anywhere that can sort mine out yet, so if anyone knows of anywhere in the Manchester area...?

[StuB]

DSM2 said:

dibbly_dobbler said:

DSM2 said:

Odds on the rim is cracked.

Hmm - well you may be right but I hope not! The bloke at the tyre dealer seemed to be saying it was fairly common for the rim not to seal correctly to the tyre but it's news to me ...

News to me too!

On the other hand, cracked rims with this application, as we know, are quite common to say the least.

Have to agree with this unfortunately, part of my logic for going none RFT.

[dibbly_dobbler]

Right then - spoke to the garage and they've found a 'tiny nail' in the tyre which they missed last time

So I ordered a new tyre at vast expense and with a long wait as they're on back order (I dont want to know about any cheap offers as I just said feck it - order the damn thing). No great rush anyway I suppose as it's a slow puncture.

So a bit of a waste of time, sorry chaps...

[DSM2]

dibbly_dobbler said:

Right then - spoke to the garage and they've found a 'tiny nail' in the tyre which they missed last time

So I ordered a new tyre at vast expense and with a long wait as they're on back order (I dont want to know about any cheap offers as I just said feck it - order the damn thing). No great rush anyway I suppose as it's a slow puncture.

So a bit of a waste of time, sorry chaps...

Why don't you just get the tyre repaired? Perfectly possible.

[dibbly_dobbler]

DSM2 said:

dibbly_dobbler said:

Right then - spoke to the garage and they've found a 'tiny nail' in the tyre which they missed last time

So I ordered a new tyre at vast expense and with a long wait as they're on back order (I dont want to know about any cheap offers as I just said feck it - order the damn thing). No great rush anyway I suppose as it's a slow puncture.

So a bit of a waste of time, sorry chaps...

Why don't you just get the tyre repaired? Perfectly possible.

I'm sure it is but the tyre dealers wont touch Michelin RFTs (although they'll do Bridgestone RFTs) due, no doubt, to some spurious 'safety' reason - so to be honest I wouldn't know where to take it ?

[DSM2]

dibbly_dobbler said:

DSM2 said:

dibbly_dobbler said:

Right then - spoke to the garage and they've found a 'tiny nail' in the tyre which they missed last time

So I ordered a new tyre at vast expense and with a long wait as they're on back order (I dont want to know about any cheap offers as I just said feck it - order the damn thing). No great rush anyway I suppose as it's a slow puncture.

So a bit of a waste of time, sorry chaps...

Why don't you just get the tyre repaired? Perfectly possible.

I'm sure it is but the tyre dealers wont touch Michelin RFTs (although they'll do Bridgestone RFTs) due, no doubt, to some spurious 'safety' reason - so to be honest I wouldn't know where to take it ?

Interesting. Especially as Michelin are one of the few manufacturers who openly state that RFTs can be repaired, as stated on their www:.

Reparability
A Michelin ZP tyre may be repaired once and
once only. This repair must be done by a tyre
professional following the normal rules and
procedures for the inspection, preparation
and repair of non-ZP Michelin tyres.

[dibbly_dobbler]

DSM2 said:

dibbly_dobbler said:

DSM2 said:

dibbly_dobbler said:

Right then - spoke to the garage and they've found a 'tiny nail' in the tyre which they missed last time

So I ordered a new tyre at vast expense and with a long wait as they're on back order (I dont want to know about any cheap offers as I just said feck it - order the damn thing). No great rush anyway I suppose as it's a slow puncture.

So a bit of a waste of time, sorry chaps...

Why don't you just get the tyre repaired? Perfectly possible.

I'm sure it is but the tyre dealers wont touch Michelin RFTs (although they'll do Bridgestone RFTs) due, no doubt, to some spurious 'safety' reason - so to be honest I wouldn't know where to take it ?

Interesting. Especially as Michelin are one of the few manufacturers who openly state that RFTs can be repaired, as stated on their www:.

Reparability
A Michelin ZP tyre may be repaired once and
once only. This repair must be done by a tyre
professional following the normal rules and
procedures for the inspection, preparation
and repair of non-ZP Michelin tyres.

Mmm - very interesting ! Do you have that link handy ? If I have any evidence I will call the tyre dealer to ask why they wont do it ...

[dibbly_dobbler]

dibbly_dobbler said:

DSM2 said:

dibbly_dobbler said:

DSM2 said:

dibbly_dobbler said:

Right then - spoke to the garage and they've found a 'tiny nail' in the tyre which they missed last time

So I ordered a new tyre at vast expense and with a long wait as they're on back order (I dont want to know about any cheap offers as I just said feck it - order the damn thing). No great rush anyway I suppose as it's a slow puncture.

So a bit of a waste of time, sorry chaps...

Why don't you just get the tyre repaired? Perfectly possible.

I'm sure it is but the tyre dealers wont touch Michelin RFTs (although they'll do Bridgestone RFTs) due, no doubt, to some spurious 'safety' reason - so to be honest I wouldn't know where to take it ?

Interesting. Especially as Michelin are one of the few manufacturers who openly state that RFTs can be repaired, as stated on their www:.

Reparability
A Michelin ZP tyre may be repaired once and
once only. This repair must be done by a tyre
professional following the normal rules and
procedures for the inspection, preparation
and repair of non-ZP Michelin tyres.

Mmm - very interesting ! Do you have that link handy ? If I have any evidence I will call the tyre dealer to ask why they wont do it ...

Found it http://www.michelin.co.uk/michelinuk/en/auto-utili...

I'll be giving them a call shortly.

[dibbly_dobbler]

Going to see my tyre dealer tonight but I called a few others and none of them will repair an RFT.

Some useful info in here http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?p=637...

[dibbly_dobbler]

Right well I don't know if anybody is still out there but here's the latest.

My dealer and all the other big boys wont repair any RFTs (except in some cases Bridgestones for some reason) even though the Michelin website says it's ok to repair them.

I am trying to find a smaller outfit to do this for me but the ones I've spoken to so far would have done it but don't have the equipment necessary to deal with an 18 inch RFT - Argh !!

I have a very slow puncture and have not driven far with the tyre soft before reinflating it so I believe the tyre is 'safe' - I understand that if you drive some distance on a flat RFT with the sidewall taking the weight then the tyre is effectively knackered and unrepairable in any event.

Any thoughts ?

Better still anybody know someplace in the Edinburgh area that is willing and able to repair an 18 inch RFT ?!?!

Cheers, DD.

[DSM2]

dibbly_dobbler said:

Right well I don't know if anybody is still out there but here's the latest.

My dealer and all the other big boys wont repair any RFTs (except in some cases Bridgestones for some reason) even though the Michelin website says it's ok to repair them.

I am trying to find a smaller outfit to do this for me but the ones I've spoken to so far would have done it but don't have the equipment necessary to deal with an 18 inch RFT - Argh !!

I have a very slow puncture and have not driven far with the tyre soft before reinflating it so I believe the tyre is 'safe' - I understand that if you drive some distance on a flat RFT with the sidewall taking the weight then the tyre is effectively knackered and unrepairable in any event.

Any thoughts ?

Better still anybody know someplace in the Edinburgh area that is willing and able to repair an 18 inch RFT ?!?!

Cheers, DD.

M<any thoughts.

If the tyre has not gone below 1 bar then it is undoubtedly safe to repair. Even if it has it could still be repairable.

It is a pity that you are not close to me or I would do it for you. I have done many and my company produces kits for tyre retailers, as do other repair materials suppliers.

It's a shame that people refuse to repair these things, it is perfectly safe and approved by most of the tyre manufacturers. What a waste of a good tyre.

[dibbly_dobbler]

DSM2 said:

dibbly_dobbler said:

Right well I don't know if anybody is still out there but here's the latest.

My dealer and all the other big boys wont repair any RFTs (except in some cases Bridgestones for some reason) even though the Michelin website says it's ok to repair them.

I am trying to find a smaller outfit to do this for me but the ones I've spoken to so far would have done it but don't have the equipment necessary to deal with an 18 inch RFT - Argh !!

I have a very slow puncture and have not driven far with the tyre soft before reinflating it so I believe the tyre is 'safe' - I understand that if you drive some distance on a flat RFT with the sidewall taking the weight then the tyre is effectively knackered and unrepairable in any event.

Any thoughts ?

Better still anybody know someplace in the Edinburgh area that is willing and able to repair an 18 inch RFT ?!?!

Cheers, DD.

M<any thoughts.

If the tyre has not gone below 1 bar then it is undoubtedly safe to repair. Even if it has it could still be repairable.

It is a pity that you are not close to me or I would do it for you. I have done many and my company produces kits for tyre retailers, as do other repair materials suppliers.

It's a shame that people refuse to repair these things, it is perfectly safe and approved by most of the tyre manufacturers. What a waste of a good tyre.

DSM2 - thanks for your input

[dibbly_dobbler]

Right I can tell you are all on the edge of your seats so here is the next exciting installment !

I phoned around a bit today and found a smaller tyre dealer who was willing and able to repair my Michelin RFT next week. All well and good except he's a wee bit out of my way.

On the way home tonight and lo and behold who should phone but the original tyre dealer (Farmer Auto) who have reconsidered and have now decided they will do the repair after all - result

So I'm taking it in tomorrow morning and hopefully that will be the end of it...