Are run flats more susceptible to nail puncture?

alexg62 · 05-29-2012, 08:29 PM

Is it my imagination or there are more threads about nail damage in run flats. My X3 m-sport is not even a month old (< 800 miles) and I already had to change a tire today. I’m glad I purchased tire and wheel insurance with no deductable (5 year, 50K coverage) or I would be paying $400 to replace it.

I can’t even remember the last time I had a nail puncture, at least 10+ years. Must be my bad luck or these 19in run flats attract nails.

etelbot · 05-29-2012, 09:29 PM

At least you had a whole month

I got a nail in the rear left 2 days after picking up the car. I was ticked. Luckily a certified rft repair shop was able to patch it and saved me big bucks.

lbjgh · 05-29-2012, 10:02 PM

I'm counting the days before I get a puncture... it seems like every other house in my neighbourhood is having its shingles replaced... damn roofing nails... I know there is one with my name on it.

I can't see how rft are any more susceptible to nails though.

Teemo Panda · 05-29-2012, 10:44 PM

So sorry to hear. Glad that u havent gotten into an accident.
Idk but, i read in the onwers manual that the tires has a 1 year warranty could be replaced. Not sure but yea.

April1 · 05-30-2012, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamigawa120

So sorry to hear. Glad that u havent gotten into an accident.
Idk but, i read in the onwers manual that the tires has a 1 year warranty could be replaced. Not sure but yea.

I had a nail after one month of driving. Dealer refused to replace free. I bought a new for $210 from Costco.

Robocheme · 05-30-2012, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by April1

I had a nail after one month of driving. Dealer refused to replace free. I bought a new for $210 from Costco.

They couldn't or wouldn't repair it?

April1 · 05-30-2012, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robocheme

They couldn't or wouldn't repair it?

Dealer refused to repair or replace. I approached a repair center who showed me a document stating that the tyre can only be repaired if the nail is in the middle zone of the tyre, in my case it was slightly away though not near the edge and out side the repair zone. Costco offered the best price, so got it replaced from there.

Teemo Panda · 05-30-2012, 12:58 AM

Yea the dealer itself Wont do you any good. You have to contact the tire brand company about that separately which I remember reading that somewhere.

Usually if they would agree to replace it for a new one, they would notify the dealer and install it for you without any charge.

tank531 · 05-30-2012, 07:05 AM

I am running non-RFT and after 7 months got a nail too. It only deflated slowly (36 hours after each re-charge) so I had time to keep driving and patch up.

Chalky White · 05-30-2012, 09:13 AM

I think that RFTs get more punctures. On my old 325i, I probably had 4-6 punctures in 4 years before I switched all my tires to regular tires. In the two years I owned the car after the switch, no punctures.

My theory is that in order to compensate for the harsh ride of RFTs due to the stiff sidewalls, the tread has to be softer, which allows for more punctures.

April1 · 05-30-2012, 10:32 AM

Getting a nail into your tyre is just a bad luck. I feel much safer on free ways with RFT tyres as any puncture won't make my car unstable. In worst scenario, I may have to spend few hundreds extra over few years to have a better road safety.

Leighton · 05-30-2012, 11:02 AM

As a recovering audiophile who also has driven on runflats since BMW began offering them as an option, the arguments about runflats versus traditional construction tires remind me of the arguments about listening to current technology CDs vs vinyl LPs.

Runflats have prevented injury to family members several times. Also, several times, I have wished that they were on the E39 M5 when the only available aid has been the mobility kit's pressurized can of goo.

With each new generation of runflats, their advantages increasingly outweigh their disadvantages.

tuco44 · 05-30-2012, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by April1

Getting a nail into your tyre is just a bad luck. I feel much safer on free ways with RFT tyres as any puncture won't make my car unstable. In worst scenario, I may have to spend few hundreds extra over few years to have a better road safety.

Agree 100%. The idea that RFTs are more prone to puncture is unfounded.

My experience is just the reverse, and I have had RFTs since late 2007 on several vehicles.

F25er · 05-30-2012, 12:49 PM

Yes it's your imagination. One nail in six years. It has more to do with random chance than anything else. Perhaps geography plays a role too I.e how clean the streets are.

alexg62 · 05-30-2012, 07:48 PM

I hear you, but I have been driving same route for many years and did not do anything different when I got my X3. It was not an out of town trip or anything else, just normal commute to work and back.

My ML430 is 12+ years old and never had a nail puncture. Yes, I've seen small pieces of metal stuck in the thread in ML, but when I pulled them out there were never any damage.

April1 · 05-30-2012, 08:45 PM

Heavier cars and broader tires will have higher chances of getting nails. It's nothing to do with RFT types.

Nahoa · 05-30-2012, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by April1

Heavier cars and broader tires will have higher chances of getting nails. It's nothing to do with RFT types.

+1

halohead52 · 07-21-2012, 08:41 AM

It's karma, that's what. I've been driving for many, many years and in my entire life I have had 3 flat tires. First two were within 6 months of buying a new Chevy; third was 7 years ago when I had not one but 3 nails in a tire on an older Altima. The only 3 explanations for nails in tires are nails laying on the road, the size of the tire (bigger surface to meet up with nails laying on the road), and karma. So I try to always be nice to my parents.

Of course, now that I have cursed myself by saying I rarely have flats I probably have to be nice to my brother as well.

Alligator69 · 07-21-2012, 08:49 AM

And... if the tyre shop refuses to repair, it's too often because they want to sell you a whole brand new tyre. Go to another one ;-)

cheesebag · 07-21-2012, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alligator69

And... if the tyre shop refuses to repair, it's too often because they want to sell you a whole brand new tyre. Go to another one ;-)

Agree.... had a nail in my tyre in the first week... One tyre dealer wanted to charge a new tyre so drove to the next one who repaired it for £10 ($16)

Big difference!!!

April1 · 07-21-2012, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheesebag

Agree.... had a nail in my tyre in the first week... One tyre dealer wanted to charge a new tyre so drove to the next one who repaired it for £10 ($16)

Big difference!!!

I had three choices in US:

1. Repair shop: $40
2. Costco / Wheel Works: $220
3. Dealer: $460

I picked Costco as the big nail was towards edge of the tire.

Alligator69 · 07-23-2012, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by April1

I had three choices in US:

1. Repair shop: $40
2. Costco / Wheel Works: $220
3. Dealer: $460

I picked Costco as the big nail was towards edge of the tire.

A few years ago with my 320d, I got one RFT punctured, more or less at the centre. Repair costed me 15 Euro...

Gosh! What have the Costco guys did to your car and how long did it take???

05-29-2012, 08:29 PM	#1
alexg62 Private 19 Rep 73 Posts Drives: X3 35i M-Sport Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (0)	Are run flats more susceptible to nail puncture? Is it my imagination or there are more threads about nail damage in run flats. My X3 m-sport is not even a month old (< 800 miles) and I already had to change a tire today. I’m glad I purchased tire and wheel insurance with no deductable (5 year, 50K coverage) or I would be paying $400 to replace it. I can’t even remember the last time I had a nail puncture, at least 10+ years. Must be my bad luck or these 19in run flats attract nails.
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05-29-2012, 09:29 PM	#2
etelbot ZitoHellada 3 Rep 37 Posts Drives: '13 X3 35i Msport Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Montreal iTrader: (0)	At least you had a whole month I got a nail in the rear left 2 days after picking up the car. I was ticked. Luckily a certified rft repair shop was able to patch it and saved me big bucks. __________________ There is no 'ctr' button on Chuck Norris' computer. Chuck Norris is always in control!
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05-29-2012, 10:02 PM	#3
lbjgh Lieutenant Colonel 104 Rep 1,511 Posts Drives: 2013 AW X3 M-Sport Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North of Toronto iTrader: (0)	I'm counting the days before I get a puncture... it seems like every other house in my neighbourhood is having its shingles replaced... damn roofing nails... I know there is one with my name on it. I can't see how rft are any more susceptible to nails though. __________________ 2013, AW, xDrive35i, M Sport Package, Technology Package, Dynamic Comfort Package, Premium Package, 3M Clear Bra, Euro foglight switch, a few coded fixes
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05-29-2012, 10:44 PM	#4
Teemo Panda Bimmerpost Plasti Dip Guru 81 Rep 1,174 Posts Drives: E53, E46-M3, E70, F25-X3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New Jersey (NJ) iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 BMW X3 [5.66]	So sorry to hear. Glad that u havent gotten into an accident. Idk but, i read in the onwers manual that the tires has a 1 year warranty could be replaced. Not sure but yea.
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05-30-2012, 12:58 AM	#8
Teemo Panda Bimmerpost Plasti Dip Guru 81 Rep 1,174 Posts Drives: E53, E46-M3, E70, F25-X3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New Jersey (NJ) iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 BMW X3 [5.66]	Yea the dealer itself Wont do you any good. You have to contact the tire brand company about that separately which I remember reading that somewhere. Usually if they would agree to replace it for a new one, they would notify the dealer and install it for you without any charge. __________________
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05-30-2012, 07:05 AM	#9
tank531 Deckhand 5 Rep 389 Posts Drives: F25 2.0D SE xDrive (Sep 11) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Coventry - UK iTrader: (0)	I am running non-RFT and after 7 months got a nail too. It only deflated slowly (36 hours after each re-charge) so I had time to keep driving and patch up.
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05-30-2012, 09:13 AM	#10
Chalky White Private First Class 14 Rep 131 Posts Drives: 2006 e90, 325i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: atlanta iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	I think that RFTs get more punctures. On my old 325i, I probably had 4-6 punctures in 4 years before I switched all my tires to regular tires. In the two years I owned the car after the switch, no punctures. My theory is that in order to compensate for the harsh ride of RFTs due to the stiff sidewalls, the tread has to be softer, which allows for more punctures. __________________ 12/5/13 PCD Delivery of X3 3.5i, Alpine, Chestnut, Premium, Tech, Heated Seats, BMW Apps 2006 325i, Sparkling, Grey, Xenons, Premium, Heated, Comfort (SOLD)
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05-30-2012, 10:32 AM	#11
April1 Love All 170 Rep 740 Posts Drives: X3 28i 2011 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (2)	Getting a nail into your tyre is just a bad luck. I feel much safer on free ways with RFT tyres as any puncture won't make my car unstable. In worst scenario, I may have to spend few hundreds extra over few years to have a better road safety.
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05-30-2012, 11:02 AM	#12
Leighton Enlisted Member 2 Rep 40 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	As a recovering audiophile who also has driven on runflats since BMW began offering them as an option, the arguments about runflats versus traditional construction tires remind me of the arguments about listening to current technology CDs vs vinyl LPs. Runflats have prevented injury to family members several times. Also, several times, I have wished that they were on the E39 M5 when the only available aid has been the mobility kit's pressurized can of goo. With each new generation of runflats, their advantages increasingly outweigh their disadvantages.
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05-30-2012, 12:49 PM	#14
F25er Redline every time 4 Rep 31 Posts Drives: 2006 325i, 2013 X3 28i Join Date: May 2012 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Yes it's your imagination. One nail in six years. It has more to do with random chance than anything else. Perhaps geography plays a role too I.e how clean the streets are.
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05-30-2012, 07:48 PM	#15
alexg62 Private 19 Rep 73 Posts Drives: X3 35i M-Sport Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (0)	I hear you, but I have been driving same route for many years and did not do anything different when I got my X3. It was not an out of town trip or anything else, just normal commute to work and back. My ML430 is 12+ years old and never had a nail puncture. Yes, I've seen small pieces of metal stuck in the thread in ML, but when I pulled them out there were never any damage.
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05-30-2012, 08:45 PM	#16
April1 Love All 170 Rep 740 Posts Drives: X3 28i 2011 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (2)	Heavier cars and broader tires will have higher chances of getting nails. It's nothing to do with RFT types.
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07-21-2012, 08:41 AM	#18
halohead52 Private 10 Rep 63 Posts Drives: 2011 X3 TS w/Mojave Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Florida iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 F25 28i [0.00] 2006 E46 330 CiC [0.00]	It's karma, that's what. I've been driving for many, many years and in my entire life I have had 3 flat tires. First two were within 6 months of buying a new Chevy; third was 7 years ago when I had not one but 3 nails in a tire on an older Altima. The only 3 explanations for nails in tires are nails laying on the road, the size of the tire (bigger surface to meet up with nails laying on the road), and karma. So I try to always be nice to my parents. Of course, now that I have cursed myself by saying I rarely have flats I probably have to be nice to my brother as well.
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07-21-2012, 08:49 AM	#19
Alligator69 Private First Class 1 Rep 143 Posts Drives: X3 F25 2.0d Mineral Silver Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Italy iTrader: (0)	And... if the tyre shop refuses to repair, it's too often because they want to sell you a whole brand new tyre. Go to another one ;-)
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