Run flats, traveling, etc....

[Barrier]

I have used the JC Whitney tool as well as an item called Taylor Plug which is very similar. They both work well and make a semi-permanent repair. The tire companies frown upon this perhaps for liability reasons. The quality of the repair depends the upon damage to the tire when punctured.
I think I'm going keep a small compressor and plug kit in my C5. As someone mentioned the tire may be ruined anyway by riding on the deflated run flat. I'm going to patch or fill depending on the size of the puncture.( I better find some wood to knock on, my donut in the '86 C4 has never been used).
Has anybody here plugged a run flat, if so how sucessful was it?
As a side note the setup in the C4 is well thought out, the carrier actually expands to fit the full size tire you take off, 1986 model anyway.
Barrier

 

[tony@scotland]

I have used the JC Whitney tool as well as an item called Taylor Plug which is very similar. They both work well and make a semi-permanent repair. The tire companies frown upon this perhaps for liability reasons. The quality of the repair depends the upon damage to the tire when punctured.
I think I'm going keep a small compressor and plug kit in my C5. As someone mentioned the tire may be ruined anyway by riding on the deflated run flat. I'm going to patch or fill depending on the size of the puncture.( I better find some wood to knock on, my donut in the '86 C4 has never been used).
Has anybody here plugged a run flat, if so how sucessful was it?
As a side note the setup in the C4 is well thought out, the carrier actually expands to fit the full size tire you take off, 1986 model anyway.
Barrier

I carry a small compressor and will start to carry your suggested J C Whitney plug kit, "Just in case", that's a good suggestion.

I was in Germany a few years ago in a C5 and found a nail right through the sidewall of my 200 mile rear tyre which just a few days earlier had cost me $500 dollars in the UK - can't repair a hole in the sidewall so had to buy a new one ....ever seen a grown man cry???:cry :cry

I drove to Goodyear Cologne and they had only 1 but fitted it straight away - which was great.. I felt very lucky because I was at the start of a two week vacation.

 

[Marlar]

If I have a flat on the runflats, I plan to park it, call AAA and have it flat bedded to the nearest Goodyear store.

 

[marvin32]

Interesting timing!

I just found a small screw in my LF that was about 1/2 burried. The tire is holding pressure but I wonder???

Also, my March issue of Corvette Enthusiast arrived today and it has a major article on "Non-Run Flat VS Run-Flat". Can't wait to check it out.

Tom

today (1/22) i found a screw in my right rear which was holding pressure also, did you take the tire to goodyear or the dealer ?

 

[tony@scotland]

today (1/22) i found a screw in my right rear which was holding pressure also, did you take the tire to goodyear or the dealer ?

The Runflat requires specialist equipment to remove and refit the tire. Also it's very easy to damage the light alloy wheel. It needs to go to a Tire Center with specialist knowledge. Maybe your dealer has it but I think you'd be better going to Goodyear... just my opinion!

 

[marvin32]

The Runflat requires specialist equipment to remove and refit the tire. Also it's very easy to damage the light alloy wheel. It needs to go to a Tire Center with specialist knowledge. Maybe your dealer has it but I think you'd be better going to Goodyear... just my opinion!

thanks tony, ill call goodyear & listen to what they have to say.

 

[MM-C5]

today (1/22) i found a screw in my right rear which was holding pressure also, did you take the tire to goodyear or the dealer ?

No. I monitored air pressure for a few days and since it never went down, I figured the penetration had not gone thru.

You do need to ask GY though if they can handel RFs. Funny, but that goes for
GM too. The local dealer here sends his tires to GY to be changed.

Good luck.

Tom

 

[tony@scotland]

No. I monitored air pressure for a few days and since it never went down, I figured the penetration had not gone thru.

You do need to ask GY though if they can handel RFs. Funny, but that goes for
GM too. The local dealer here sends his tires to GY to be changed.

Good luck.

Tom

Sorry MM-C5, you can't rely on that theory. I saw a nail through the sidewall of my tyre and thought it wasn't right through ...so I tried to pull the nail out and got an instant wooosh of expelled tire air!!!. I quickly pushed it back in and drove 200 miles to goodyear without any loss of pressure!

Tony

 

[MM-C5]

Sorry MM-C5, you can't rely on that theory. I saw a nail through the sidewall of my tyre and thought it wasn't right through ...so I tried to pull the nail out and got an instant wooosh of expelled tire air!!!. I quickly pushed it back in and drove 200 miles to goodyear without any loss of pressure!

Tony

Couple of things here Tony.

One, sidewalls are a completely different issue. My understanding is that a punctured sidewall on a RF or non RF cannot be repaired ~ although I do not know that for sure.

so I tried to pull the nail out and got an instant wooosh of expelled tire air!!!.

My screws were all in the tread. One was in the high part of the tread, the others were in the groves. I pulled all three. No Woosh. I then applied soap over the holes to look for bubbles...nada.

So, I checked air pressure over the next 4 days...no loss of air.

I think it is safe to believe that in these particular instances, there was no penetration into the tires. Obviously that may not always be the case.

Tom

 

[catbert]

Pray there is a Discount Tire store around when you have a flat with an EMT. They don't blink when you bring it in, most have "touchless" mounting machines, AND the flat is fixed free. I've used their services twice with the C6, and that's where I'll go when I replace them.

 

[marvin32]

i got the tire fixed & i was lucky the screw didnt go all the through, guy had a hard time removing the rim from the tire , when he finished i gave him a $10.00 tip, they fixed it for free since i was the only 1 there at the time. with all this construction goin on in VEGAS, i found a screw in the wife's LEXUS today, her right rear tire. now i got to go right back to the tire dearler ( BIG O TIRES ) and get hers fixed.