Another RFT puncture story
03-14-2006 | 04:29 AM
#1
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From: Johannesburg, South Africa
I have had my car for 2 years. Not long after I got it I had a puncture.
At that stage, advice from BMW was have it repaired.
The tyre shop did not have the technology to remove the RFT from the wheel so they just plugged it from the outside.
Yesterday, just after going over a speed bump at speed, I heard a loud pop and immediately the flat tyre warning came on, no air at all in the tyre.
The same tyre shop, now with new technology, removed the tyre from the wheel and found that it was the original plug that had been spat out!! Now with the tyre off they did a proper mushroom patch repair and all's well.
Streak
At that stage, advice from BMW was have it repaired.
The tyre shop did not have the technology to remove the RFT from the wheel so they just plugged it from the outside.
Yesterday, just after going over a speed bump at speed, I heard a loud pop and immediately the flat tyre warning came on, no air at all in the tyre.
The same tyre shop, now with new technology, removed the tyre from the wheel and found that it was the original plug that had been spat out!! Now with the tyre off they did a proper mushroom patch repair and all's well.
Streak
03-14-2006 | 06:17 AM
#2
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From: So Cal, USA
My Ride: 545iSMGSilver GrayAuburn Dakota LeatherLogic 7 Premium SoundSports Package
WOW! so those plugs arnt that great huh? Ops... and I have like 3 of them in my MINI... 
Glad they are Runflats then....
Glad they are Runflats then....
03-14-2006 | 06:37 AM
#3
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My Ride: MY RIDE is DA real .-) HAMANN 5 aka BLACK MAMBA born on 16/06/2005/delivered on 05/08/2005 as following:
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I once also believed in RFT, but I think that tech is not yet 100% I mean ok I can still go to a shop in the range of 80-100kms, but if they have no rft or the technic as above mentioned, to take it off then what is the deal with that? regular 20"s will come...
03-14-2006 | 07:02 AM
#4
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From: Johannesburg, South Africa
I must give credit to the RFT's though.
It was in effect a complete blow out at 60km/h with no ill effects.
When I checked there was no air left in the tyre at all.
I only travelled about 2km in this condition at snail pace and all I could notice was a noise coming from the wheel.
It was in effect a complete blow out at 60km/h with no ill effects.
When I checked there was no air left in the tyre at all.
I only travelled about 2km in this condition at snail pace and all I could notice was a noise coming from the wheel.
03-14-2006 | 07:42 AM
#5
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From: West Sussex, UK
My Ride: E60 530D SE
Having had two seperate punctures in my first year, I know a bit about this!
RFT's can't be repaired in any way.
The sidewalls of these tyres are very stiff and the tyre shop will need a strong machine to remove it without damaging your wheel.
Even so, I still had RFTs put back on as being able to continue driving after the punctures was a huge benefit. The only trouble being that you couldn't tell from the outside which tyre had the puncture the sidewalls are so stiff! Other than the tyre pressure warning, it's hard to tell when driving too.
I managed to run on it for a few days by topping up the pressure while I sorted out a new tyres.
I had time to find new tyres at a big discount via the internet, they were delivered within 24hrs and I also found a local-ish race prep shop to fit and balance my tyres using hidden weights.
RFTs really take the stress out of getting punctures and I'll put up with the slight increase in road noise over standard tyres anyday.
RFT's can't be repaired in any way.
The sidewalls of these tyres are very stiff and the tyre shop will need a strong machine to remove it without damaging your wheel.
Even so, I still had RFTs put back on as being able to continue driving after the punctures was a huge benefit. The only trouble being that you couldn't tell from the outside which tyre had the puncture the sidewalls are so stiff! Other than the tyre pressure warning, it's hard to tell when driving too.
I managed to run on it for a few days by topping up the pressure while I sorted out a new tyres.
I had time to find new tyres at a big discount via the internet, they were delivered within 24hrs and I also found a local-ish race prep shop to fit and balance my tyres using hidden weights.
RFTs really take the stress out of getting punctures and I'll put up with the slight increase in road noise over standard tyres anyday.
03-14-2006 | 09:54 AM
#6
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From: Johannesburg, South Africa
Hi Madwax,
Not sure what you mean when you say that RFT's cant be repaired in any way. I have had this done twice, once without removing the tyre and once with removing the tyre.
Except for the firmer sidewalls they are no different to any other tyre.
Many dealers are reluctant to repair them because there is no way of telling how much damage was done to the sidewalls while driving with the puncture. In both my instances I drove no more than a few km's.
Streak
Not sure what you mean when you say that RFT's cant be repaired in any way. I have had this done twice, once without removing the tyre and once with removing the tyre.
Except for the firmer sidewalls they are no different to any other tyre.
Many dealers are reluctant to repair them because there is no way of telling how much damage was done to the sidewalls while driving with the puncture. In both my instances I drove no more than a few km's.
Streak
03-14-2006 | 10:09 AM
#7
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From: Dallas, TX USA
Originally Posted by EBMCS03' post='254681' date='Mar 14 2006, 09:17 AM
WOW! so those plugs arnt that great huh?
03-14-2006 | 10:12 AM
#8
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From: Dallas, TX USA
Originally Posted by streak' post='254704' date='Mar 14 2006, 10:02 AM
I must give credit to the RFT's though.
It was in effect a complete blow out at 60km/h with no ill effects.
When I checked there was no air left in the tyre at all.
I only travelled about 2km in this condition at snail pace and all I could notice was a noise coming from the wheel.
It was in effect a complete blow out at 60km/h with no ill effects.
When I checked there was no air left in the tyre at all.
I only travelled about 2km in this condition at snail pace and all I could notice was a noise coming from the wheel.
03-14-2006 | 10:16 AM
#9
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From: Johannesburg, South Africa
Quite right JDN. I was not very happy the first time when they were unable to get the tyre off and had to plug from the outside.
The internal mushroom patch they used today is there for keeps, it can go nowhere!! It will buy me an extra 5000km or so until I need new tyres.
The internal mushroom patch they used today is there for keeps, it can go nowhere!! It will buy me an extra 5000km or so until I need new tyres.
03-14-2006 | 11:32 AM
#10
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From: New Jersey
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Originally Posted by JDN' post='254799' date='Mar 14 2006, 02:09 PM
Some jackrabbit put a plug in one of my tires in the seventies. Based on that single experience, I have always insisted on an inside patch when needed. Maybe plugging technology has improved, but I would think that patches from the inside get far less stress than a plug through the tread.
cheers
vern