Hi everyone,

I had my NX350H premium trim with a 18” run-flat tires in Canada for almost 3 months now. Great car. Super happy with it so far. Recently, the car started making a noise while running which sounds exactly like a regular flat tire in any other car, however there is no alarm and the pressure in all tires seem to be fine and is exactly the same 36psi. I checked the tires and found a nail in the left front tire so I have a few questions here?
1- can the nail be responsible for making this noise?
2- should I remove the nail myself or leave it there till I take the car to a tire shop?
3- Should I take the car to a lexus dealer to check it for me? Or just a regular tire store or wait till the next maintenance which will be in 4 months?
4- Any one had a similar issue with their run flat tires? Do you guys know, if it’s easily available or not or where to take the car to get it checked basically if you live in GTA?

Thank you

 

No way would I drive with a nail in my tire. I’m not sure but hopefully a reputable tire store could remove and plug the run flat tire.
Let us know if you do that and outcome. Hoping they can plug these tires.

 

A nail in your tire could produce an unusual sound when driving.
If it is in the middle of the run-flat tire - that is, not on or very close to a shoulder - it can be removed by a reputable tire shop and the tire can be reliably plugged. Don't believe naysayers. It can be done and it is perfectly safe (if the nail is in the right location).
If you bring the car to a dealership, it will refuse to remove the nail and plug the tire regardless of where it is and it will insist on selling you a new tire.
Whatever you do, do not remove the nail yourself. At the moment, that nail is self-plugging the hole it made, but that won't last forever.
One way or another, deal with the situation now, before it gets worse (but, again, don't remove the nail on your own).

 

Not all brands of runflat tires are repairable. Sounds like the tire is still holding air and hasn’t been driven on with low air pressure. Definitely have it inspected by a trained professional. Preferably a shop that is a retailer of the brand of tire you have. Always make sure if the tire is repaired it is removed from the rim and inspected/ repaired from the inside.

 

Thanks for the reply! Any specific reason why not to remove it myself!? I was thinking to remove it and see if it would start leaking or not? If it didn’t then it means the nail didn’t puncture the tire and I don’t have to repair or replace it. What do you think?

 

If it's anything but the smallest nail, it almost certainly went through the rubber.
If you remove the nail and you lose all of the air before you can get to a tire shop, you will be safely driving (slowly) on the run-flat but it will be unrepairable. You will have no choice but to buy a new tire.
You have a valuable asset in that vehicle. Just take it to a tire store asap for a consultation with an expert. A look and/or a repair are not expensive. And, yes, as Lexo98 advises, make sure that if they plug it, they do so from the inside.

 

Thanks again! It makes sense! I will call Bridgestone since it’s a Bridgestone tire and ask them about a tire store close to me that deals with their run flat tires!

 

https://www.bridgestonetire.ca/dealer/

You can check it their dealers on their website.

 

Called a few tire shops around! All of them are saying it will beed to be replaced as they don’t fix a run-flat. I wonder if anyone here from Toronto or GTA would recommend someone?

 

I just called Costco they can order them. Probably get good deal, I always go there.

 

I had accidentally ran over broken glass on the interstate ramp and had a large piece go into the shoulder of my tire. Surprisingly, I made it home (roughly 20 miles) and did not notice any noises. I heard the air coming out when I got home. My tire replacement through Lexus came with a warranty, which is probably offered at other tire shops too.

 

https://www.bridgestonetire.com/supp...ection-runflat

Scroll down the the runflat section. Some punctures can be repaired you will need to find the right shop to check it out.

 

Here is the nail, I don’t think it can be repaired! The interesting thing is that it’s not leaking or causing any issues at all so far except a rattling noise (sounds exactly like having an actual flat tire). I’m not even sure if the nail is causing the sound or not

 

It’s a close call, but it’s essentially on the shoulder, rendering the tire unrepairable. Just stop procrastinating and get a new tire before it blows on you and leaves you limping on the highway.

 

Assuming that it at minimal punctured the casing it might need replacing. That area is generally not repairable. The more it’s being driven on increases the chances of pushing it further in.