[DRAJ]

Was greeted to a low pressure warning this evening upon returning from work.

Drove home very carefully watching the Vehicle Status screen and pressure on relevant tyre didn't fall below 1.1 Bar.

Got home safely and upon further inspection spotted a nail.

This is a really silly question but assuming pressure didn't fall assume I have Run Flats ? I checked the they're wall and can't see it stated explicitly. If I do, can it just be a standard puncture repair ?

Car is a new 50e, only 400.miles on it

[aaaaaaaaaz]

Depends on tire brand. Some manufacture (Michelin, etc) allows repair rft and some not (Pirelli)

[starlights]

Assuming that the nail in not close to the sidewall and that the sidewall didn't get damaged on your drive back, sure. Not all repair shops may be willing to patch but it should be patchable.

It would be good to re-inflate the "Tire" some before driving out to the repair shop to reduce any chance of sidewall damage.

[DRAJ]

Brand is Continental.
Think (hope) sidewall is fine, like I say pressure didn't drop below 1.1 bar.

Some pics

[mscot]

Just buy a tire repair kit and DIY. It's easy and a good skill set to have with RFTs.
Some people say not to do it, but the worse that could happen when it's not in the sidewall is that you still have a slow leak (or perhaps a slightly faster leak).

[cobramite]

^^^^^^This.

[eelnoraa]

The nail location is repairable. As long as you didn’t drive it “flat”, it is entirely ok to repair tire. Same applies for non RFT

[DRAJ]

Thanks all.
Definitely didn't drive "flat".
Will get it checked out (not brave enough to attempt DIY kit!)

[aaaaaaaaaz]

Originally Posted by DRAJ

Thanks all.
Definitely didn't drive "flat".
Will get it checked out (not brave enough to attempt DIY kit!)

While you can do a DIY kit a professional repair (which unmount the tire, apply the plug and also apply a sticker patch from the inside) would be better. If you live in State side Discount tire/America tire and some chain would do it for free.

[jad03060]

A plug installed from the exterior is considered a temporary patch...the industry only considers one done from the inside as a permanent repair.

The issue is, the tire repair shop cannot tell if the vehicle was actually driven while it was flat or not on a RFT unless it was abused...then, it could be full of rubber chunks, which is pretty obvious. So, from a liability standpoint, many will not patch a RFT. But, if it was not driven flat, like most tires, depending on where the puncture is, it can be repaired. You might have to search around for someone willing. During the first year, direct from Pirelli, they will replace a RFT with a puncture if the tread wear is not excessive. The BMW dealer would want you to buy a new tire but a Pirelli dealer would replace it for free.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by DRAJ

Was greeted to a low pressure warning this evening upon returning from work.

Drove home very carefully watching the Vehicle Status screen and pressure on relevant tyre didn't fall below 1.1 Bar.

Got home safely and upon further inspection spotted a nail.

This is a really silly question but assuming pressure didn't fall assume I have Run Flats ? I checked the they're wall and can't see it stated explicitly. If I do, can it just be a standard puncture repair ?

Car is a new 50e, only 400.miles on it

Show us a pic of your sidewall lettering/numbering and we can tell you if you have run flats. That aside, provided it didn't go flat while driving on it, your screw is easily repairable. I've repaired very similar holes myself with 100% reliability till the tires simply were at end of life. Repairing it will also maintain circumference with the rest of the tires. You can buy the repair kit at any car parts store and if you are not familiar with how to do it, you must know someone who is and can help teach you.
That said, its better to pull the tire from the wheel and patch on the inside either in combination with a plug or just the patch but I've never done it that way since all mine happened while I was on the road and I needed to make the repair and get back on the road. The only trick is to be sure you don't push the plug too far such that it goes into the air space of the tire and not fill the hole the screw made. The remaining plug that is left sticking out of the tire can simply be trimmed flush with the tread with a razor blade and Bob's Your Uncle.
Anyway, here is a pic of a typical plug kit. Use plenty of glue, it initially acts as a lubricant to get the plug in place and then it fills gaps and becomes one with the tire. Instructions should be included. The round black disks are for optionally patching the inside of the tire, sorta like we did as a kid with our "tube" bike tires

.

[eelnoraa]

Originally Posted by alanzyy

While you can do a DIY kit a professional repair (which unmount the tire, apply the plug and also apply a sticker patch from the inside) would be better. If you live in State side Discount tire/America tire and some chain would do it for free.

This.
American tire will do it if they check and determine side wall isn’t compromised. I have used them quite a few times.

[DRAJ]

Thanks all
Pics of sidewalls

I recall my last X5 had RFT plastered all over them but these don't so not entirely sure !

[aaaaaaaaaz]

Originally Posted by DRAJ

Thanks all
Pics of sidewalls

I recall my last X5 had RFT plastered all over them but these don't so not entirely sure !

Your tire does not look like a RFT I think.

Also it is 22". I *think* all X5 on 22" are on non-RFT.

[BMthusiast]

Those tires look brand new. Patch up and forget about it, you're good.

[eelnoraa]

Originally Posted by alanzyy

Your tire does not look like a RFT I think.

Also it is 22". I *think* all X5 on 22" are on non-RFT.

Just notice OP is in UK. I googled continental eco contact 6. It is supposed to be run flat. It is called SSR. Maybe in UK, the marking for runflat isn’t the same. This size is also only available in Europe for some reason. We cannot have it in US.
What is more weird is this tire is claimed to be summer touring, but looking at the thread pattern, there is nothing summer about it. It has all season tread pattern. It also has snow grid and ice grid designation too. I will call this all season tires.

I think those of us in a different country where rules are very different for driving, we don’t even drive on the same side, we probably are not providing info accurate to you location. From the look of tire, definitely repairable tho.

[Zorrotwo]

Originally Posted by DRAJ

Brand is Continental.
Think (hope) sidewall is fine, like I say pressure didn't drop below 1.1 bar.

Some pics

I have had a several run flats tyres with similar punctures plugged by my local (good) tyre fitter without any issues and have never had any problems. It's pretty simple, no need for a ramp or tyre off. Simple job and the last time, 6 months ago it was £10.

I don't believe its recommended by BMW or the tyre companies but £10 v £200+.

However, I believe the UK spec 22inch are non RFT so tyre may have to come off for repair but definitely repair.

[slicky]

Run flat or not, just patch or plug it and move on with your life. It will be fine.

[DRAJ]

Thanks again for all the replies.

Did some more googling and don't think my tyres are RFTs, for Continentals they would have "SSR" printed on the sidewall which doesn't seem to be the case.

Hopefully get it repaired in the next day or two

[streborx]

I've experienced nails in tires that are nearly self sealing -- the tire will lose only a bit of air pressure over several days. I've used plug repairs, but no longer do as the rasp tool tears through the steel belts, and that's not good. If you can't drive on the tire, remove the wheel, take it to a tire shop and have it patched from the inside. RFT or not, an interior patch is the way to go.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by DRAJ

Thanks again for all the replies.

Did some more googling and don't think my tyres are RFTs, for Continentals they would have "SSR" printed on the sidewall which doesn't seem to be the case.

Hopefully get it repaired in the next day or two

I went to the UK configurator and selected the 22" wheels/tires. According to this, they are not run flats. The run flats are removed when you go to the 22" tire. .. .. which leads me to a question, you have the "e", did they give you a spare tire of sorts or at least some way to temporarily plug a puncture? If they gave you a spare, where in the world did they store it

.

[six]

As above, UK 22’s are not run flat so go ahead and get it plugged and carry on!

I stick with 21’s as I am odd and specifically want run-flat’s