[OILPowered]

Had a shi**y morning on Monday where I found a nice nail in my rear tire followed by getting a speeding ticket. Since the latter is purely my fault, I am choosing to complain about the former:

I visited my local America's Tire and they informed me the Conti SSR can't be repaired per Conti. I'm already not a fan of these tires and have to shell out $250 to replace it. From my research, the tire can probably be repaired as the nail was in the center of the tread and the pressure only went as low as 30lbs (this pressure triggered my TPMS light). However after several calls around to some other places, I can't find a place that will plug/patch it.

Considered replacing all 4 with some conventional Michelin S Sports, but since the Contis only have 9500 miles on them, I felt like I was throwing out the baby with the bath water.

Seems like a bit of a racket that Conti and a few other RF manufacturers require replacement on a likely perfectly repairable tire.

[geko29]

I bought my d with 9700 miles, and binned the stock Contis less than 2 months later. They're the most awful tires I've ever had, and I'm not sorry I "wasted" the treadlife.

[335dFan]

Originally Posted by OILPowered

Had a shi**y morning on Monday where I found a nice nail in my rear tire followed by getting a speeding ticket. Since the latter is purely my fault, I am choosing to complain about the former:

I visited my local America's Tire and they informed me the Conti SSR can't be repaired per Conti. I'm already not a fan of these tires and have to shell out $250 to replace it. From my research, the tire can probably be repaired as the nail was in the center of the tread and the pressure only went as low as 30lbs (this pressure triggered my TPMS light). However after several calls around to some other places, I can't find a place that will plug/patch it.

Considered replacing all 4 with some conventional Michelin S Sports, but since the Contis only have 9500 miles on them, I felt like I was throwing out the baby with the bath water.

Seems like a bit of a racket that Conti and a few other RF manufacturers require replacement on a likely perfectly repairable tire.

I have 4 OEM Conti for sale. Could tide you over. They have 8794 miles. But they are 225/45-17.

[crazyinp]

Originally Posted by OILPowered

Had a shi**y morning on Monday where I found a nice nail in my rear tire followed by getting a speeding ticket. Since the latter is purely my fault, I am choosing to complain about the former:

I visited my local America's Tire and they informed me the Conti SSR can't be repaired per Conti. I'm already not a fan of these tires and have to shell out $250 to replace it. From my research, the tire can probably be repaired as the nail was in the center of the tread and the pressure only went as low as 30lbs (this pressure triggered my TPMS light). However after several calls around to some other places, I can't find a place that will plug/patch it.

Considered replacing all 4 with some conventional Michelin S Sports, but since the Contis only have 9500 miles on them, I felt like I was throwing out the baby with the bath water.

Seems like a bit of a racket that Conti and a few other RF manufacturers require replacement on a likely perfectly repairable tire.

Buy a kit and fix it yourself. It is super simple and takes 30mins including removing of the tire. You will have hard time getting any big chain tireshop to fix it for you.

[AzureHaze]

Don't feel so bad. I got rid of my run flats that came with my car for only $200 since my tire shop don't normally buy used tires. I just wanted to get rid of them but not for free. They barely had 5K miles!

Just grab the Michelin PSS and enjoy the much improved ride!

[sohcpunk]

Go to a mom and pop shop.
The smallest shop you can find and they will patch it up. Probably will charge you like $10 too!

[OILPowered]

Originally Posted by sohcpunk

Go to a mom and pop shop.
The smallest shop you can find and they will patch it up. Probably will charge you like $10 too!

I seriously couldn't find a shop that would do it. I've never patched a tire myself, so I wasn't confident I'd do it right.

I ended up buying a new tire.

I may buy a new set of wheels next year, (18s), and I'll likely go with the Michelin PSS. Can't beat them.

[Puerto Rican 335d]

All they have to do is PLUG the damn thing and its all over thats what i used to do on my 02 MCS never had the tire dismounted at all!! just plugged it

[SoCalSam]

I was pretty certain run flats cannot be patched, plugged, or otherwise repaired.

I had run flat on my previous car, a 2005 MINI Cooper S, and did not have much issue with them. I found them to be quite handy given the lack of a spare. I did find some good deals on tires via Tire Rack.com.

I also had some great luck with the tire warranty deal at America's Tire. It is priced based on the tire but with such expensive tires, it can be well worth it.

[Puerto Rican 335d]

Socal I believe your wrong, I did it that way and it worked fine many times on my 02 MCS

[OILPowered]

Originally Posted by Puerto Rican 335d

Socal I believe your wrong, I did it that way and it worked fine many times on my 02 MCS

They definitely can be plugged/patched as long as the tire wasn't run too low on pressure. The reinforced sidewalls can delaminate if driven flat or almost flat. My tire never went below 30 lbs before I put air in it.

I just couldn't find a place that didn't care about the liability. Conti specifically advises no repairs.

[WreckerX5d]

I had my Conti Runflat plugged/patched. The nail was dead center. I took it to a Sears Auto. I drove with a plug on it for 25k miles before replacing all 4 tires. I didn't have a single problem with leaks or anything.

[jiaan13]

I plugged my RFT when I got a nail in one. Bought a kit from the store, plugged it, pumped it back up-- doesn't leak a bit of air.

[Quasimodem]

Originally Posted by Puerto Rican 335d

All they have to do is PLUG the damn thing and its all over thats what i used to do on my 02 MCS never had the tire dismounted at all!! just plugged it

+1000 and the runflats seem to wear fast so it wont be long before you replace it anyway.

[kbsilver]

Originally Posted by Quasimodem

+1000 and the runflats seem to wear fast so it wont be long before you replace it anyway.

This must be the 18" summer tires. With my 17" all season Contis and currently 32K on the set, looks like 40K miles out of the rear tires and 80K out of the fronts. I would not call that wearing quickly....

[OILPowered]

Originally Posted by Quasimodem

+1000 and the runflats seem to wear fast so it wont be long before you replace it anyway.

Wear depends on the tire in question- the SSR has a 400 rating (40k) -not all RFs wear the same just like conventionals.

[335dFan]

OEM Tires: ContiPro Contact SSR Grand Touring All Season 225/45/17. These were mine and I thought they were ok. Good wear, good directional stability. Heck they even did well at the track.

[VMRWheels]

Originally Posted by OILPowered

I may buy a new set of wheels next year, (18s), and I'll likely go with the Michelin PSS. Can't beat them.

I think you'll be happy with that decision. Ditch those RFTs and get something worthwhile!

[Quasimodem]

I think my 2009 came with Bridgestone RFTs, they seemed to wear fast to me. I replaced them with Conti pro Contact non-rfts, which seem to be wearing better. I didnt even know Continental produced RFTs.

[joe_planet]

Theres a reason why a tire must be dismounted to properly plug it.
The surface must be sealed from the outside AND inside.
The outside must be sealed because water can get inside that hole and rust the steel belts inside.. and well you can imagine what can happen.
The inside must be sealed so air doesnt leak in between the plies of the tire, same result as not sealing the outside properly in due time. Please dont half ass it.

Also the tire needs to be inspected, the sidewalls could be warped among other things and you wont be able to tell unless you take the tire off.

[Puerto Rican 335d]

joe planet i never had the wheel dismounted cause many of the side road shops did not hv the correct machine to open the tires and thus we would just find the nail/screw remove it and plug it while the car STILL had the wheel on and NO JACKS. I never did hv any problems after we plugged it!!!

[darkevo]

I'm not a fan of the run flats, besides extra weight, they are very stiff (by design), and rims are more prone to cracking with them on. (reg driving)

I hit a bad pot hole on the freeway (at 80mph), cracked both rims and blew the sides of the run flats. (extreme example) Don't think they are worth the added cost. I rather keep regular tires and my AAA membership .. ;-)