So, imperfectly timed for Memorial Day, I found that one of the Bridgestone run-flats on my week-old LC 'vert was losing air. Turned out to be a nail in the middle of the tread, repairable by a willing tire shop but not by any dealer (dealers universally and...flatly... refuse to repair run-flats). It never went completely flat.

I had bought Allstate tire and wheel coverage from the dealer, but I found an open tire shop, which expertly patched the tire for $60. Hasn't lost a molecule of air since. Over many, many years of driving, I've never had a patched or plugged tire fail due to the repair.

The dilemma: Next week, I'll be near the closest Lexus dealership, which is 2 1/2 hours away, for a couple of days. Given that I have the insurance but I'm reluctant to have anybody anywhere work on my car unnecessarily, should I:

1. Have them replace the patched but seemingly perfectly fine tire?

2. Just leave well enough alone and spend my time thinking about more important things?

 

Stay as you are. Even good dealers can screw up something unrelated to your perceived problem.

 

choose the path of least resistance. btw, i have had 2 incidences with my bstone runflats, both of which were professionally repaired without
a whimper; i'd suggest anyone who tells you differnt is really just saying f off....

 

I say leave it.

 

I forgot to mention I had a total 5 runflat flats on my first two Vettes, C5 and 6. All repaired and never had any other problem. Construction screws every time.

 

As the others say above, leave it alone. A professionally applied patch is considered a permanent fix. You're good until you run out of tread.

Note: Run-Flat technology primarily deals with the side wall of the tire and not the tread.

 

indeed, as you've pointed out in a previous thread, that sidewall will support the 4500lb vehicle with 0 psi pressure...for about a hundred miles
(actually, a quarter of the vehicle...)

 

Aye. Didn’t mean to imply otherwise.

Given the unanimity of opinion - a rare thing here - I shall let it be. Thanks to all who responded.

 

uh not to not let it be, your tire insurance probably covered your flat repairs

 

If you have a tire warranty they'd likely replace the tire. Not repair since as you stated it's a run flat. However, you'd then want to replace at least 2 tires so the tread is even. If you're not willing to do that, I agree with everyone else. Let it be!