[Diesel130]

Its a bank holiday weekend and just picked up a nail - typical! Still undecided whether to have a repair or replacment, as haven't driven with the tyre flat - it's still showing 25psi...

However, I can't seem to find a definitive answer as to whether the OE tyres on my 120d Sport (225/45/17 Bridgestone S001's) should be a specific BMW rated tyre or a regular tyre. I found some reference to a 'star' marking, but not sure what that is. Any wisdom gratefully received.

[ovekvam]

If the nail is in not near the sidewall of the tyre, I would try a repair. Even if it should fail, you will still be rather safe since it is a run flat tire.

[Diesel130]

Takk

[Dim73]

Originally Posted by ovekvam

If the nail is in not near the sidewall of the tyre, I would try a repair. Even if it should fail, you will still be rather safe since it is a run flat tire.

Ovekvam, in a previous thread you mentioned that you use conventional tyres and that you always carry with you a jack, a wrench, a plugging kit and an air compressor. Have you ever tried this plugging kit? How user friendly is it and will you still have to visit a tyre workshop after repairing your tyre with such a kit?

Can we follow this solution/procedure for RFTs too?

[vladberca]

All OEM BMW tyres have a star on the sidewall.

[ovekvam]

Originally Posted by Dim73

Ovekvam, in a previous thread you mentioned that you use conventional tyres and that you always carry with you a jack, a wrench, a plugging kit and an air compressor. Have you ever tried this plugging kit? How user friendly is it and will you still have to visit a tyre workshop after repairing your tyre with such a kit?

Can we follow this solution/procedure for RFTs too?

A friend of mine has plugged a couple of tires for me while I was assisting. I am pretty sure I could also do it alone if I had to. When it is done right, the repair should last the life-time of the tire.

I don't think it would be a different procedure for RFT tires.

[macar]

Originally Posted by ovekvam

If the nail is in not near the sidewall of the tyre, I would try a repair. Even if it should fail, you will still be rather safe since it is a run flat tire.

This morning I discussed about RFT tyres with a guy that works in a tyre shop. He said that they never repair RFT even with just a nail in it.

[Diesel130]

Originally Posted by vladberca

All OEM BMW tyres have a star on the sidewall.

Thanks - so I should get the same as a replacement then? Does the star imply a BMW specific compound (i.e. similar to Porsche N rated tyres)?

[Dim73]

Originally Posted by macar

This morning I discussed about RFT tyres with a guy that works in a tyre shop. He said that they never repair RFT even with just a nail in it.

Why is that? Strange...

[Wozich]

Originally Posted by macar

This morning I discussed about RFT tyres with a guy that works in a tyre shop. He said that they never repair RFT even with just a nail in it.

My father had a nail in a RFT tyre on his X5 and it was fixed. Had the tyres for another 2 years and there were no problems at all.

[Stenvis]

I had a nail in a RFT and had it successfully repaired, the fitter said that it's the same as a conventional tyre i.e. the puncture must not be at the edge. To ensure that the tyre did not sustain any damage prior to the repair I inflated it back to normal pressure as soon as the warning light came on.

[macar]

Originally Posted by Dim73

Why is that? Strange...

Maybe a French speciality too sell more RFT tyres?

[Fanis]

Originally Posted by Diesel130

However, I can't seem to find a definitive answer as to whether the OE tyres on my 120d Sport (225/45/17 Bridgestone S001's) should be a specific BMW rated tyre or a regular tyre. I found some reference to a 'star' marking, but not sure what that is. Any wisdom gratefully received.

The * (star) simply denotes that these tyre adheres to BMW specifications (i.e. it is RFT in plain English and in the right dimension, speed index and weight index!). So, any tyre that is RFT and withing BMW's specs is OK...but these tyres will be marked with a * anyway and you can get them in any tyre shop.

Originally Posted by macar

This morning I discussed about RFT tyres with a guy that works in a tyre shop. He said that they never repair RFT even with just a nail in it.

The only reason I can think of is a legal issue. Because, if the RFT is damaged on the sidewalls (thus, not being a RFT anymore) and the tyre shop repaired it without noticing it, then the custome may have a legal claim towards the tyre shop if he encounters a flat tyre and the RFT does not work.

Otherwise, the RFT tyres can be repaired as any normal tyre, as long as te sedewalls are NOT damaged, i.e. the RFT functionality is not lost. My local tyre shop (who is a friend of mine), showed my the repeair instruction for RFT tyres that they had from Continental...it was a step-by-step process on how to identify if the tyre was still a RFT one (i.e. the sedewalls were OK) and how to repair it.

[vladberca]

OEM tyres not guarantee only the speed and weight index, but these are marked with a paint spot on sidewall too in order to demonstrate that the tyre past the uniformity limits (forces and geometry) agreed in accordance with BMW for each model
Of course there is a special compound for each tyre after the outdoor testing was completed (indoor too)!

[Dim73]

Originally Posted by ovekvam

A friend of mine has plugged a couple of tires for me while I was assisting.

Which plugging kit? You can PM me if you like.

[ovekvam]

My kit is from the Norwegian store Biltema, but the ones I have tried before were from Würth. Mine looks something like this (it is actually meant for motorcycles):


The price is less than €30.

[Dim73]

Thanks ovekvam!