Run-Flat tyre repair stupidity!

Caduceus · 01-07-2009, 05:40 PM

Yesterday I got a tyre pressure warning go off and I found a screw embedded in the centre of the tread of one of my front tyres. It is nowhere near the sidewall of the tyre. I checked the pressure and it is still holding 32 psi. The other three are at 38 psi.

So I took the tyre into the local Bridgestone place this morning and asked them to repair it. They refused.

"I'm sorry, Sir, we are not allowed to repair RFT's. It says so right here on the sidewall of the tyre."

Now this pisses me off. I fully understand that if a customer has used the RF capability of the tyre by driving an extended distance with zero inflation pressure then there may be unseen damage to the sidewall which will render the tyre unsafe for further use. However, this tyre has NEVER been run flat. It still has 32psi in it and there is absolutely no reason why the integrity of the tyre will be any less than any other non-RFT. The "magic technology" is in the sidewall, not the running surface.

Anyway, the store manager is going to discuss it with their head of technical services when he can get them on the phone. I told him to make sure he knows the tyre has never been deflated and driven on with less than 32 psi.

Personally, I blame the f...ing lawyers for this fiasco. Fear of liability has over-ridden common sense.

If they still refuse to fix it I'll be getting it back off them and then doing a ring around to find a non-Bridgestone tyre fitter who will repair it instead. Failing that, this is just the excuse I need to ditch the POS tyres and replace them with something decent anyway.

d3syd · 01-07-2009, 05:53 PM

I'm sure you'll find another tyre shop to repair it. Or buy yourself a tyre repair kit and DIY.

Even my dealer said to me they are repairable when I took delivery.

bmw233 · 01-07-2009, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d3syd

Even my dealer said to me they are repairable when I took delivery.

My dealer told me the same, and I don't even have the car yet!

Timbo · 01-07-2009, 06:39 PM

Bridgestone are a bit strange when it comes to RFT - they wont sell their RFT to other tire shops stating that "because you're not trained we can't sell them to you as you wont be able to fit them" which I think is a load of horses#%t!

Guran · 01-07-2009, 08:16 PM

Funny thing is that I once commented to a local tyre fitter about how difficult it must be to replace runflats given the stiff sidewalls. He responded that R-spec tyres are actually much more of a PITA to fit!

Caduceus · 01-07-2009, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmw233

My dealer told me the same, and I don't even have the car yet!

You might want to try the service department, not the sales staff and see if they say the same. I just tried two BMW dealers in Brisbane and neither said they would repair it. They both send the work out to Bridgestone in any case.

imdanomite · 01-07-2009, 08:56 PM

all dealerships will NOT repair RFTs. it's nearly impossible to find someone to repair a RFT. i found patching the tire from the inside is the best method. my other car is an extensively modded RX8 that i track. i have 18x9.5 all around running on 255/35R18 RE050A (stock rears for the 335i). every one of my tires is patched (i work at a dealership and keep all the RFTs that have nails in them. i have a mountain of tires all patched...hahaha) and they hold up very very well. even on 100 degree track temps.

it's definately do-able, but it's the liability issue that gets most businesses.

boxerdog · 01-07-2009, 09:04 PM

I have a friend who lives in Spain who had a 320 with RFTs. He patched one over a year a go and has been driving it for over 15K miles... he has not had any problems yet. It's all about the stupid liability that it's exaggerated like everything else..

Caduceus · 01-09-2009, 03:22 AM

Well I finally got this tyre repaired. Both Bridgestone and BMW washed their hands of it. I found an independent tyre dealer who was quite happy to do the job. Standard internal mushroom plug repair. I have 100% confidence in the tyre and I'm (finally) happy.

If you live in Brisbane and have a similar problem, send me a PM and I'll let you know the name of the tyre shop.

SimonB · 01-09-2009, 06:03 PM

Well done, persistence pays off.

01-07-2009, 05:40 PM	#1
Caduceus First Lieutenant 342 Rep 396 Posts Drives: 2008 135 (sold), 2017 M2 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	Run-Flat tyre repair stupidity! Yesterday I got a tyre pressure warning go off and I found a screw embedded in the centre of the tread of one of my front tyres. It is nowhere near the sidewall of the tyre. I checked the pressure and it is still holding 32 psi. The other three are at 38 psi. So I took the tyre into the local Bridgestone place this morning and asked them to repair it. They refused. "I'm sorry, Sir, we are not allowed to repair RFT's. It says so right here on the sidewall of the tyre." Now this pisses me off. I fully understand that if a customer has used the RF capability of the tyre by driving an extended distance with zero inflation pressure then there may be unseen damage to the sidewall which will render the tyre unsafe for further use. However, this tyre has NEVER been run flat. It still has 32psi in it and there is absolutely no reason why the integrity of the tyre will be any less than any other non-RFT. The "magic technology" is in the sidewall, not the running surface. Anyway, the store manager is going to discuss it with their head of technical services when he can get them on the phone. I told him to make sure he knows the tyre has never been deflated and driven on with less than 32 psi. Personally, I blame the f...ing lawyers for this fiasco. Fear of liability has over-ridden common sense. If they still refuse to fix it I'll be getting it back off them and then doing a ring around to find a non-Bridgestone tyre fitter who will repair it instead. Failing that, this is just the excuse I need to ditch the POS tyres and replace them with something decent anyway.
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01-07-2009, 05:53 PM	#2
d3syd Major 50 Rep 1,474 Posts Drives: 135i MT, LMB, ProNav Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Scamander, Tasmania iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 135i Coupe [0.00]	I'm sure you'll find another tyre shop to repair it. Or buy yourself a tyre repair kit and DIY. Even my dealer said to me they are repairable when I took delivery. __________________ Fun Car: 135i Manual LeMans Blue / Beige Leather / Grey Poplar / pro nav / euro plates. Delivered 24 June 08 Family Car: Land Rover Discovery 4 SDV6 Spare Car: Volvo V70 Sydney Car: MB 420SEL
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01-07-2009, 06:39 PM	#4
Timbo First Lieutenant 4 Rep 302 Posts Drives: BMW 135 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	Bridgestone are a bit strange when it comes to RFT - they wont sell their RFT to other tire shops stating that "because you're not trained we can't sell them to you as you wont be able to fit them" which I think is a load of horses#%t!
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01-07-2009, 08:16 PM	#5
Guran Captain 24 Rep 895 Posts Drives: 08 135i Coupe Join Date: May 2008 Location: Wollongong, Australia iTrader: (0)	Funny thing is that I once commented to a local tyre fitter about how difficult it must be to replace runflats given the stiff sidewalls. He responded that R-spec tyres are actually much more of a PITA to fit! __________________ 08 BMW 135i Sport Coupe \| Manual \| Sparkling Graphite \| Coral Red Boston Leather \| 10 Speaker Hi Fi
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01-07-2009, 08:56 PM	#7
imdanomite likes boobies ( o )( o ) 13 Rep 275 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 135i Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	all dealerships will NOT repair RFTs. it's nearly impossible to find someone to repair a RFT. i found patching the tire from the inside is the best method. my other car is an extensively modded RX8 that i track. i have 18x9.5 all around running on 255/35R18 RE050A (stock rears for the 335i). every one of my tires is patched (i work at a dealership and keep all the RFTs that have nails in them. i have a mountain of tires all patched...hahaha) and they hold up very very well. even on 100 degree track temps. it's definately do-able, but it's the liability issue that gets most businesses.
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01-07-2009, 09:04 PM	#8
boxerdog Private First Class 11 Rep 117 Posts Drives: Black Saphire 135i Spt & Prem Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Minneapolis iTrader: (0)	I have a friend who lives in Spain who had a 320 with RFTs. He patched one over a year a go and has been driving it for over 15K miles... he has not had any problems yet. It's all about the stupid liability that it's exaggerated like everything else..
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01-09-2009, 03:22 AM	#9
Caduceus First Lieutenant 342 Rep 396 Posts Drives: 2008 135 (sold), 2017 M2 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	RFT = conclusion Well I finally got this tyre repaired. Both Bridgestone and BMW washed their hands of it. I found an independent tyre dealer who was quite happy to do the job. Standard internal mushroom plug repair. I have 100% confidence in the tyre and I'm (finally) happy. If you live in Brisbane and have a similar problem, send me a PM and I'll let you know the name of the tyre shop.
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01-09-2009, 06:03 PM	#10
SimonB 135 to 335 M Sport to X3 30d M Sport 164 Rep 1,788 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 30d, optioned up! Join Date: May 2008 Location: Perth, Western Australia iTrader: (0)	Well done, persistence pays off. __________________ 2018 X3 30d, Carbon Black Metallic, M Sport Package, Panorama glass sunroof, Lumbar support, Instrument panel in Sensatec, Ambient Lightning, Harmon Kardon Surround Sound , Dynamic Damper Control
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