I got a flat tire today on the front left tire going about 45-50mph exiting the freeway. I have 18's and the pot hole didnt feel that deep when i went over it, but it made a huge sound. Good thing Lexus has free road side assistance. But I was just wondering what I should do first: Should I go straight to the dealership/servicing department and ask them to change the tire for me? Or should I go to a tire shop and have them mend the tire (the AAA guy said it would be possible to do so instead of getting a new one). I'm very unfamilliar with what to do because this is the first time I've gotten a flat tire. Thanks for the help!

 

check your owner's binder thing for something with tires.. i think there was a pamphlet about it.. maybe theres a warranty.. duno cause mine's in my car and i dont wana go check for u

 

I purchased a warranty for that, think it was like 1 or 2 hundred.

 

take the tire to a tire shop and have them fix it.

 

If this happened to me I would use it as an excuse to get new tires. The stock Dunlop MAXX tires are aweful! Squeel like pigs around turns and have softer sidewalls then I'd like. I'm going with the Michelin PS2 tires next.

 

i really doubt you can fix a flat caused by a pothole, probably ruptured a larger hole than what you would get with a nail or screw. Be sure to check if the wheel is still round and true

 

Pothole damaged tires will often develop sidewall bubbles and other dangerous conditions. If you don't change it, keep a careful watch on BOTH sides of the tire for the next few months.

Depending on how severe the impact was, you may want to have the shop check the wheel for runout, and perhaps even make sure the alignment of the car didn't get knocked out of whack.

 

I agree with others. I would not put that tire back on even if they repaired it. Speed ratings and load ratings are all valid for intact tires. Once you patch it, the tire never is as strong as it was before the damage. You are driving a 40K+ car. It doesn't hurt to protect your investment for a few hundred more.

 

so you asked what should you do first....at least have someone look at the tires before you just discard it. Maybe it's not a bad as you think. Because you will have to get at least two new ones.

 

same thing happened to me the 2nd week I had the car. I went through a pothole in a mall. so i wasnt going that fast.. but the tire monitor came on. The dealer didnt want to do anything. Said that the tires were under a separate warranty.. They fixed the tire an charged me. I raised hell and finally they gave me 1/2 of it back.. i really dont think it should of happened. that pothole was in a spot where alot of people would hit it..

 

do you have those crappy dunlops?

 

...that the tire has a warrantee on it, but its only for like the first fraction of its life and its based on tire wear...something like the first 1/32 of an inch or something like that (dont know that much about tires!) but i knew it was a fraction of some sort! also, not sure if it covers road hazard or not - probably not - i think it only covers defects. if you can fix it safely, do it, but i would think a pothole would cause some pretty serious damage. i would get two new tires if it was me, and upgrade after reading the tire forums. good luck!