tttp5

iTrader: (1)

last wednesday I went to get two new tires for the back wheels, $105 each. Falken 912.

In the past weekend I drove down to Austin from Dallas. While I was down in Austin I noticed some unbalanced wheel sounds, it was very faint so just before I headed up on my way back I looked at my wheels. I found a allen head screw stuck in one of the brand new tires! So i keep checking my tire pressure as i drive 220 miles back up to Dallas and i've been constantly checking pressure once a day since i got back. There is no air leakage.

I took it back to the tire shop yesterday and they asked me immediately if i had tire protection. I did not recall them offering me any tire protection package when I purchased it from them. They said the tire isn't repairable because the screw was about 1inch from the side wall and would charge me a new tire to get it changed and would offer me the tire protection plan.

I don't know if this is just a unlucky coincidence or they planted the screw in when they gave me the new tire. The screw is lodged directly into the flat part of the tread, the road contact surface, not in the grooves. Maybe it was just really lucky that the screw would be sitting upright and smack straight into the tire perpendicular to the tire surface.

I was in the parking lot just now trying to un-screw out the screw, i got to about 3/4 of the way out and i decided to not go any further just incase i couldn't drive it home. I estimate the thread to be at least 1/2" long but there was no air leakage.

any suggestions as to how to fix this? I don't feel like spending another 120bucks on a tire + mount after just spending 300 just last week.

lighthalo

why cant you just patch it up?

tttp5

iTrader: (1)

i've asked a friend that always used to do my tires in Los Angeles. he is an independent source and he says it isn't recommended to patch up an area of the tire so close to the side wall because those areas even if patched can still fail after repairs. its ok to patch the middle areas of the tire.

Brandon@TR

When you get home pull it out and if it doesn't leak it sounds like it is just cosmetic damage, and I wouldn't worry about it too much.

bravo261

iTrader: (1)

well, screws do seem to have a magical tendency to enter the tires at a 90 degree angle somehow, so its not all that rare and doesn't really implicate the shop

mitsuguy

iTrader: (2)

nope... sounds like a bit of bad luck...

and yes, RMA, rubber manufacturers association, has agreed upon fairly strict tire repair standards... and when you ask why, just think how sue happy this country is...