Repairing RFs

jlwM3 · 08-25-2009, 07:23 AM

Greetings. Had a 5-8 lb per night leak on an '08 335i Bridgestone (rear) RF. (road hazard cut, non-nail, middle of tread). Local BMW dealer refused flatly (citing liability) as did several local tire shops. Somewhere on the forum, someone posted a comment "keep looking." Sure enough, my last stop was a big Goodyear shop, with a store manager possessing a spine. He said he'd know if the tire had actually been driven with zero psi, and yes he'd be glad to patch it. $39 later (and not a single mark on the OEM 179s) the tire is holding air perfectly. I hope this hasn't been beaten to death elsewhere. Bottom line. KEEP LOOKING. Don't drop $350 unless it's absolutely necessary. My .02

Peter@VMRWheels · 08-27-2009, 12:21 AM

Its not very straightforward to determine whether a RFT which has been driven on at low pressure, has structural damage. Most of the time a shop can tell by the amount of tire shavings collecting inside the tire, but that doesn't tell you 100% whether it is OK or not. So... some tire shops have a policy where they don't patch RFT's, period. As long as its not a shady tire shop you should be OK to rely on their training.

Gary@TireRack · 08-27-2009, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter@VMRWheels

Its not very straightforward to determine whether a RFT which has been driven on at low pressure, has structural damage. Most of the time a shop can tell by the amount of tire shavings collecting inside the tire, but that doesn't tell you 100% whether it is OK or not. So... some tire shops have a policy where they don't patch RFT's, period. As long as its not a shady tire shop you should be OK to rely on their training.

+1 Well stated.

08-25-2009, 07:23 AM	#1
jlwM3 Private 5 Rep 73 Posts Drives: '08 335 Coupe, Dinan Stage3 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ponte Vedra, FL iTrader: (0)	Repairing RFs Greetings. Had a 5-8 lb per night leak on an '08 335i Bridgestone (rear) RF. (road hazard cut, non-nail, middle of tread). Local BMW dealer refused flatly (citing liability) as did several local tire shops. Somewhere on the forum, someone posted a comment "keep looking." Sure enough, my last stop was a big Goodyear shop, with a store manager possessing a spine. He said he'd know if the tire had actually been driven with zero psi, and yes he'd be glad to patch it. $39 later (and not a single mark on the OEM 179s) the tire is holding air perfectly. I hope this hasn't been beaten to death elsewhere. Bottom line. KEEP LOOKING. Don't drop $350 unless it's absolutely necessary. My .02
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

08-27-2009, 12:21 AM	#2
Peter@VMRWheels BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 93 Rep 685 Posts Drives: P85D Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (0)	Its not very straightforward to determine whether a RFT which has been driven on at low pressure, has structural damage. Most of the time a shop can tell by the amount of tire shavings collecting inside the tire, but that doesn't tell you 100% whether it is OK or not. So... some tire shops have a policy where they don't patch RFT's, period. As long as its not a shady tire shop you should be OK to rely on their training.
	Appreciate 0 Quote