Do-it-yourself runflat tire repair

In detail: do-it-yourself runflat tire repair from a real master for my.housecope.com.

Run flat tires differ from conventional tubeless tires in a denser sidewall, which makes it difficult to mount the tire on the rim. To assemble the wheel, the so-called “assistant” or “third hand” is used.

Our tire fitting stations offer quality service installation and repair of RunFlat tires.

Run flat tires differ from conventional tubeless tires in a denser sidewall, which makes it difficult to mount the tire on the rim.

To assemble the wheel, the so-called “assistant” or “third hand” is used - a device that is attached to the tire changer. This device serves to press the sidewall of the tire, and also saves the disk from damage during work.

It should be borne in mind that such devices are only included in the package of professional tire changers, which are not installed in all tire changers due to their cost.

That is why it is worth contacting professionals, which include the specialists of our station.

Professional tire changer, especially for runflat tires, with an automatic mounting system that does not damage the rim and reduces the operating time;

Professional balancing equipment with Haweka adapters, which allows you to achieve high-precision balancing;

Repair of the tread part of the tire is made with Tech materials in compliance with the repair technology, which ensures the reliability and safety of the repaired tire;

Professional editing of discs guarantees the complete elimination of axial and radial runout;

Proper seasonal storage of tires and wheel assemblies will ensure that your tires will last you as long as possible.

Puncture repair on tires with Run on Flat technology is 400 rubles, plus the necessary work to remove / install the wheel.

RunFlat is translated into Russian as "flat rideor driving on a flat tire.

RunFlat technology is based on the principle of reinforced tire sidewalls. When a regular tire deflates, it buckles under the weight of the car, the beads pull away from the rim, and the tire flattens onto the road. When driving, the weight of the car completely destroys the tire in a few hundred meters. The reinforced sidewalls of the RunFlat tires keep the tire on the rim and support the vehicle's weight after a complete loss of pressure. At the same time, all dynamic vehicle security systems such as ABS, ESP, DSC, CBC, etc. remain active.

Video (click to play).

The maximum driving distance on a flat tire depends on the tire manufacturer and operating conditions (50-150 km) The maximum vehicle speed is up to 80 km/h.
In order not to destroy the tire due to pressure loss, pressure sensors are installed inside the wheel, which will notify the driver of a decrease in pressure.
Without a pressure control system and a stability control system, it is dangerous to use RunFlat tires, as it is possible to lose control over the vehicle's trajectory in the event of a loss of tire pressure.

Tire manufacturers use different designations for run flat technology:

good year RunOnFlat, Bridgestone RFT, Michelin ZPContinental SSR, Pirelli Run Flat, Dunlop RunOnFlat, Nokian flat run, Yokohama ZPS). All RunFlat tires fitted to BMW vehicles use the designation RunFlat System Component. For RunFlat tires used on Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the designation is used MO Extended

Are special rims required for RunFlat tires?

– All tire manufacturers with runflat technology allow them to be installed on standard rims.

Do tires with run flat technology need to be bought assembled on rims or is it possible to mount and dismantle every season?

– All tire manufacturers with run flat technology allow seasonal tire changes without any negative consequences for the tires or rims themselves.

Do I need special tire fitting equipment to mount these tires?

– To carry out tire fitting work, a tire fitter with the necessary qualifications and modern equipment equipped with a “third hand” is enough

– In any case, only the tread part of the tire can be repaired. The side cuts of RunFlat tires are beyond repair.
Repair of punctures in the tread part should be carried out using special patches.

Undoubtedly, progress does not stand still, and every day more and more new developments and devices appear in every field of production. Not far behind this progress and the industry of production of automobile wheels. Relatively recently, a new system has appeared that allows the car to move even when the wheel is punctured or flat.

This development is called Run Flat tires, which means driving on flat tires. This development helps the car move even after a wheel has been punctured. This development has become popular, and all manufacturers use it for their products. One feature of each manufacturer is the Run Flat designation of the system.

In fact, Run Flat technology implies lateral support for the tire. This happens due to the thicker rubber in this place. During a tire puncture, Run Flat is able to keep the car in the same position in which it was before the tire puncture. It should be noted that all stabilization and stability systems remain operational and continue to help the driver keep the car on the road.

Increasingly, drivers are asking how far a car with a punctured tire can travel with Run Flat technology. The declared figures are eighty kilometers at a speed of eighty kilometers per hour. In practice, these figures increase significantly. Some drivers can drive like this for several days.

The main difference between RunFlat tires and others is that more rubber is used to make the tires, and specifically for the sidewalls of the rubber. The second difference between Run Flat tires is that the driver can drive a long distance with a punched wheel without replacing it.

In order for the Run Flat technology to work properly, and the driver to be able to monitor the actual condition of the tires of his car, some sensors must be installed on it. The main thing that should be is a tire pressure sensor. During a tire puncture, the sensor will show that the pressure in the wheel has dropped, and the car is now running in Run Flat technology. The presence of this system is necessary so that the driver knows when he pierced it, and from what moment he rides RunFlat. The second system that must be installed for the full operation of RunFlat is the stability control system.

In addition, drivers still have the question of whether RunFlat can be installed on regular drives and used all year round. A response was received from manufacturers that they take this fact into account when developing tires. Therefore, drivers have the opportunity to ride RunFlat tires all year round without worrying about having to immediately change a punctured tire.

Despite all these advantages, runflat tires can be installed by an ordinary tire fitting worker with conventional equipment. In addition, the safe types of RunFlat tires can be repaired, but there are limitations here. Only the tread part of the tire is repaired.

These tires can be installed both in a specialized car service and in those in which the owner has purchased tires of this technology and sells them to his customers. It should be noted that RunFlat is not a brand, but just a development that many well-known wheel manufacturers use in their production.

As mentioned above, these tires can be repaired.In fact, if after a strong puncture the tire has been driven for ten kilometers, then it is better to replace it with a new one, we recommend making such a decision. As you know, they are more expensive than ordinary tires, so it is not always possible to replace damaged wheels with new ones. In this case, you should resort to repair. In fact, the process of repairing these tires is no different from repairing conventional tubeless tyres.

Unfortunately, all developments are imperfect and have their own advantages and disadvantages, this also applies to RunFlat.

Typically, the price of RunFlat tires is 15-25% higher than regular tires.

The second disadvantage is that the car is stiffer on these tires than on conventional tires due to the hard sidewalls.

The advantages of RunFlat have been listed above, but there are some more that we will briefly discuss.

First, safety is created during a wheel puncture.
Secondly, it is a long-distance stock without a spare tire.
Third, improved governance is created.

All people know that progress does not stand still, and everything is constantly evolving. New phones and computers are released every day, progress has not bypassed the automotive sector. This time, new wheels have been developed that are able to hold the car even after it has been punctured. This technology is called RunFlat, which means running on flat tires.

The essence of the invention is that after the wheel is punctured, it does not descend like a regular tire, but remains at the same level as with air. Like all car systems and the latest inventions, this technology is not perfect and has a number of advantages and disadvantages.

Tires made using RunFlat technology have been on sale for a long time. In the event of a puncture or damage, these tires allow you to get to the nearest (or not so) tire shop, and not have to replace a damaged wheel with a spare tire somewhere on the road. RunFlat is translated into Russian as “driving on a flat tire”. Tire manufacturers use different run flat designations (example: Goodyear RunOnFlat, Bridgestone RFT, Michelin ZP, Continental SSR, Nokian Flat Run, Dunlop ROF, Pirelli Run Flat, Yokohama ZPS).

Run Flat technology is based on the concept of reinforced tire sidewalls. When a regular tire deflates, it simply sags under the weight of the car, the beads pull away from the rim, and the sidewalls flatten onto the road. The weight completely destroys the tire in a few kilometers. Reinforced sidewalls of Runflat tires keep the tire on the rim and successfully support the weight of the car after a puncture and complete loss of pressure.

The benefits of RunFlat tires are clear:

1) Safety - in case of a puncture at high speed, the wheel will not explode and the car will not lose contact with the road (many people probably heard unpleasant stories about how wheels exploded at a speed of 180 km / h while driving on the highway).

2) Saving space in the car: most cars for which RunFlat tires are recommended by the manufacturer are not equipped with a spare wheel.

3) Convenience - in case of a puncture, you do not have to stand on the road, jack up the car and install the spare wheel, just drive to the tire shop.

All RLD centers are equipped with modern German Hoffman equipment, which allows you to easily install Runflat tires

At first glance, everything is fine: RunFlat tires allow you to continue driving even with severe tire damage. True, not too far (no more than 80 km) and not too fast (no more than 80 km/h). You don't have to think about a spare tire or about problems with changing a wheel. All you have to do is drive to the nearest tire shop.

But don't think that RunFlat tires are perfect. They also have disadvantages.

The main disadvantage is their high cost, as a rule, tires with a reinforced sidewall are 1.5-2 times more expensive than ordinary ones. The second disadvantage of runflat tires is that they are not meant for every car. The manufacturer completes the vehicle with RunFlat tires on the conveyor, that is, the suspension of such a vehicle is designed for the use of such tires.It is difficult to predict what consequences the shock absorbers of a conventional car expect from constant driving on tires with reinforced sidewalls. In addition, it is not always possible to find a tire service within a radius of 80 km on some remote highway.

RunFlat technology, based on the strengthening of the sidewalls of the tire, requires the use of special tire changers to mount and demount the tire on the rim. Not every workshop has such equipment. True, if you do not spare the disk, such tires can also be mounted using a conventional machine, but only if the tire fitter is smart.

Another nuance of RunFlat tires is that you can often find out about a puncture only by chance, the behavior of most of these tires in normal and punctured states is almost the same. This means that the breakdown of one or two wheels can only be learned “de facto”. Therefore, a prerequisite for the use of RunFlat tires is that the car is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system. Otherwise, such tires may not improve safety, but rather harm. For this reason, RunFlat tires should not be used on vehicles that were not factory equipped with RunFlat tires. The opposite rule also applies: the installation of ordinary tires on cars designed for the use of RunFlat tires, even of the same make and model, leads to a sharp deterioration in stability and handling. The obvious reason for this is the difference in stiffness between RunFlat tires and conventional tires, which results in their different cornering behavior.

Among other things, in the RLD centers it is possible to repair Run Flat tires, associated with the elimination of their side damage. Details about tire repair can be found in the section “Tire repair”

What are run flat tires? Translated, it means "driving on a flat tire."
Run flat tires differ from conventional tires in that their sidewall is significantly reinforced, and they allow you to support the weight of the car even when deflated.

The figure below shows how the Run Flat tire achieves this capability.

In this case, the car on which the Run Flat tire is installed must be equipped with a tire pressure sensor and an ESP directional stability system.

However, Run Flat tires allow you to drive after a puncture a distance of no more than 50 km with a heavy load and no more than 150 km with a light load at a speed of no more than 80 km / h to the nearest tire changer, in which tire changers must be equipped with a special device - “third hand ”, such as SL Technoroller https://my.housecope.com/wp-content/uploads/ext/3554/products_a. dovanie/12687/
or Technoroller XL https://my.housecope.com/wp-content/uploads/ext/3554/products_a. dovanie/12688/ ,
as well as a special Helper lever for mounting especially hard tires, since Run Flat tires are stiffer than regular tires https://my.housecope.com/wp-content/uploads/ext/3554/products_a. dovanie/12689/.

These Technorollers are mounted on tire changing machines of the Italian company Sicam.
Sicam has now developed a new universal NG Technoroller for mounting and demounting Run Flat tyres.

The serviceability of a run flat tire is affected by the speed, distance and degree of vehicle maneuverability when the tire is flat. Driving a long distance on a run flat tire can damage the sealing layer of the tire carcass.

The tire is checked for maintainability after the tire has been removed from the rim.
The tire must be mounted on a bead expander with good lighting.
It is necessary to carefully check the integrity of the tire beads, its sidewalls inside and out, as well as the tread area.

The photo below shows damage to the gas-tight rubber sealing layer located on the inner surface of the carcass of a Run Flat tyre. In this case, the Run Flat tire is not repairable.

A run flat tire also cannot be repaired under any of the following conditions:

Discoloration, separation, wrinkling, wrinkling of the inner tire liner;
The formation of swelling on the side surface of the tire;
Tread groove depth less than 1.5 mm;
The bare cord is visible;
Tire bead twisted or torn;
There are cuts or punctures in the side of the tire;
The dimensions of cuts or punctures in the tread are beyond repairability.

Once you are satisfied that a Run Flat tire is repairable, it can be repaired with Tech International's Uni-Seal fungus https://my.housecope.com/wp-content/uploads/ext/3554/products_and_prices/gribki/

If the puncture angle is greater than 25° from perpendicular to the tire, a combined repair method using a Uni Seal fungus stem and a Centech patch is used.
https://my.housecope.com/wp-content/uploads/ext/3554/products_and_prices/zaplaty/

Punctures in Run Flat tires can only be repaired within the tread area and must not exceed 6mm in diameter. TESN does not limit the number of small puncture repairs up to 6 mm in the tread area. The main thing is that these punctures do not damage the same cord and patches or fungi do not overlap.

Some run flat tire manufacturers set a minimum tire pressure at which the tire can be re-inflated without removing it from the rim for inspection. Check the manufacturer's warranty for your Run Flat tire and its tire repair policy.

TESN recommendations for the repair of Run Flat tires do not override the recommendations of the manufacturers of new Run Flat tires. They are based on tests carried out in the TESN factory and in an independent laboratory. TESN is constantly researching and testing new Run Flat tires that appear on the market.

As soon as vehicles with pneumatic tires appeared, along with a number of other problems, the problem of tire repair began, which still stands today.

All motorists, and even professional drivers, almost always encounter troubles - punctures, tire cuts. Unfortunately, on Russian roads, for which there is almost no normal care, this is completely obvious and natural, and no one is immune from the fact that stones, nails, glass fragments, etc., fall under the wheels, and which is especially unpleasant when damaged brand new tires.

Tire damage is different, and depending on this, you can change the wheel yourself by sealing a hole in the chamber or applying a patch to the side wall of the tire, or you can try to get to the nearest car service and make a qualified repair or tire replacement there.

One way or another, but the repair of local damage to tires, carried out by a motorist or special workshops and technical service enterprises, allows a significant number of tires (up to 70% of damaged ones) to be returned to operation. Repair costs depend on the extent of damage and amount to 5-10% of the cost of a new tire.

Recently, there have been significant changes in the composition of the vehicle fleet due to an increase in the number of imported vehicles and, accordingly, tires, the speeds and loads on tires have increased, their consumer properties have changed, many new materials have been introduced, both for the manufacture of new tires and for their repair and restoration.

That is why there is a search everywhere for how to do without repairs and spare tires and wheels.

It is known, for example, that on a number of car models, the developers did not find a place for a spare wheel, or maybe they simply decided to do without it, providing a kind of tire repair kit with a small compressor that pumps a special sealant into the tire that seals punctures up to several millimeters in diameter. .

The wheel will not have to be changed, but this system will become ineffective with more serious damage. Compositions have been invented that are pumped into the tire through the valve spool. Such compounds contained in a pressure canister spread over the inner surface of the tire as it rolls, “closing up” the punctures that appear. There are other suggestions - small punctures are tightened with a polymer located inside the tire.Finally, the legalized "dokatka" - a special wheel, appeared in order to reduce weight and take up space in the trunk.

However, at the moment there is practically no alternative to spare wheels, except for RUN-on-FLAT tires, which are equipped as standard or “optionally” on models such as 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th series and Z4 BMW, SNEVROLET Corvette; FERRARI 612 Scaglietti; LEXUS SC 430; MERSEDES-BENZ A-class, SLK, CLK, CLS, CL; all MINIs etc.

RUN-on-FLAT tires basically have the following constructive difference from conventional tires: they have significantly reinforced sidewalls due to hard rubber. Due to this, when a tire is punctured and the pressure in the tire drops down to a full tire, taking on the corresponding part of the mass of the car, it retains the ability to continue driving at speeds up to 80 km / h in the range from 80 to 250 km. This is the essence of the so-called "puncture-free" tires.

However, the use of such tires requires the obligatory equipment of the car with a tire pressure monitoring system: inside the tire, a sensor is installed on the rim (Fig. 2), from which pressure information is displayed on the car's instrument panel.

Without such a monitoring system, the driver cannot know about the pressure drop in the tire in the event of a puncture or other damage to the tire, since practically nothing changes significantly when the car is moving.

As a rule, RUN-on-FLAT tires are equipped with cars with high engine power, sports cars. At the same time, tires have a series starting from 50 and below, for example, 215 / 45R17 87 V ContinentalSportContact 2 SSR.

Such cars, getting into the road conditions of Russia, are inevitably doomed to damage unique for today and very expensive tires. After all, we know what kind of roads we have ...

And then the question arises - what to do? To repair such tires or not. If not, does it mean throw it away? Where can I get a replacement? The car does not have a spare tire...

Practice shows: among tire shops there are those who undertake the repair of RUN-on-FLAT tires, as they say at their own peril and risk.

The fact is that among tire manufacturers there is no consensus yet - to repair or not. Continental and Pirelli unequivocally answer this question: RUN-on-FLAT tires cannot be repaired!

Others are more cautious about this issue. Repairing small punctures in the tread or shoulder area of the tread is not difficult in the same way as with ordinary tires: with a fungus or a flagellum. The main thing is that the punctures should be no closer than 40 mm to the onboard zone. This is especially true for damage to the side walls of the tire with a violation of the integrity of the carcass cord threads. In this case, the tire cannot be repaired under any circumstances.

And further. Repair of RUN-on-FLAT tires must be carried out by qualified personnel who have received special training and have the appropriate certificates.

About responsibility. Whoever takes on the repair of Continental RUN-on-FLAT tires takes on additional responsibility. This company in Russia has not licensed anyone to repair its tires.

The figure below shows how the Run Flat tire achieves this capability.

In this case, the car on which the Run Flat tire is installed must be equipped with a tire pressure sensor and an ESP directional stability system.

These Technorollers are mounted on tire changing machines of the Italian company Sicam.
Sicam has now developed a new universal NG Technoroller for mounting and demounting Run Flat tyres.

The photo below shows damage to the gas-tight rubber sealing layer located on the inner surface of the carcass of a Run Flat tyre. In this case, the Run Flat tire is not repairable.

A run flat tire also cannot be repaired under any of the following conditions:

To drive a few dozen kilometers on a flat tire and not damage it is no longer invented, but a real achievement of technology referred to as RunFlat. Let's talk about the pros and cons of such tires, as well as the principle of operation and device.

The name RunFlat itself translates as driving on flat tires or flat driving. Many manufacturers have a range of tires with this technology in their arsenal. But the price, of course, will not be small. Like any technology, it has its pros and cons, for some conditions it fits perfectly, but for others it does not work at all, despite the fact that the technology has declared itself quite positively.

Still, how does the RunFlat technology work, which allows you to get to the nearest service station even on a punctured wheel or even wheels. Thanks to this breakthrough, some drivers simply removed the spare tire from the trunk.

The main differences of tires with RunFlat technology from conventional ones are the presence of special reinforcements or inserts in the side parts of the tire, a modified carcass and bead of a different shape, as well as a heat-resistant mixture of the main rubber. For the most part, RunFlat tires are low-profile and are found primarily on sports cars.

And so, how is such a bus with RunFlat arranged. As a rule, a conventional tire has a court in its composition, the lower part of the tire is thicker with a reinforced rubber layer. The sides are weaker and, as a rule, a simple board for landing on discs. In non-flat tires, RunFlat is different as the side part, so maybe the whole inside.

The manufacturer reinforces the side parts of the tires with inserts, but some manufacturers can reinforce them with a crescent.Such a crescent reinforces not only the side, but also the lower part of the tire. Each manufacturer of such tires keeps the manufacturing technology and material in secret and often does not indicate details anywhere. But still they say that such reinforced inserts are made of durable polyurethane.

Any driver knows that after puncturing a tire, the car will almost immediately begin to throw along the road and pull in one direction. Then you should not delay it and in the very next few minutes it will stop and replace the damaged tire with a spare one. If your car is equipped with tires with RunFlat technology, then a prerequisite is the presence of a vehicle stabilization system and a standard tire pressure monitoring system.

It is these two systems that will monitor the integrity of such car tires, otherwise it is very difficult to understand whether there is a breakdown or not. The stabilization system will also help you drive a car, since for bad roads such tires are quite rough and road bumps are well transmitted to the steering.

The tire pressure monitoring system will show how big the puncture is and which of the tires is damaged. It is enough for the driver to visit the equipped service station and repair the RunFlat car tire. If such systems are not on the car, then there is a high probability of getting into an accident. The driver simply will not see a puncture in the tire, thereby not slowing down, and can enter the turn at high speed. As a result, it will lose control and fly off the road.

Quite on the other hand, the moment is disturbing, not all service stations, especially outside the cities of millionaires, can restore a punctured RunFlat tire. Therefore, with a planned train over long distances, experienced drivers are advised to take a spare tire. Although the standard equipment of a premium car usually simply does not provide a spare wheel. Turning to artisanal tire fitting shops, they will refuse you or simply ruin the tires.

Like any technology, RunFlat tires have their pros and cons. On the plus side, a fairly large resource of use in different conditions can be noted. Having received a breakdown, you can drive more than a dozen kilometers and not at all worry about disk damage. But there were not so many pluses in comparison with the minuses. There are not many negative indicators, but they are quite serious.

If we talk about repairs, then first of all it is a question of whether it is possible to seal the breakdown. The answer is unequivocal, it is possible, but the manufacturer no longer guarantees that with a new breakdown you will travel the same distance. Repairs can be routine, just like tubeless tires. But if the damage is on the side or deep along the tread, then it cannot be repaired.

Experienced drivers add unreliability, poor handling and excessive stiffness to the disadvantages of such runflat tires. The latter is strongly felt with poor suspension or weak shock absorbers. Bumps and bumps in the road surface will be strongly transmitted to the steering wheel and several kilometers will seem like a hundred to you. Usually this is a low-profile tire, and if you get into a deep hole in the roads of Russia, you can easily damage the disc. Some tires marked V / W / Y are not recommended to be repaired at all, otherwise they are disposable or a maximum of one repair.

Shaking in the cabin will be intense, and on an uneven primer it will completely shake out and throw it on the seat. Grip with the road will be poor, as will the response of the steering wheel to turns, and when entering a turn, you need to be careful at all, as the tire will simply come out of the side of the disk. As a result, the manufacturer of such rubber with RunFlat technology advises to put it on a car with a suspension prepared for this, adapted to bad roads. Without exception, RunFlat tires are quite loud, although some people may like this sound.

Video of the principle of operation of RunFlat tires:

At present, it is rare to find a car on the road that is not equipped with a spare tire and a set of tools for self-replacement of a suddenly flat tire.Unfortunately, tire breakdown on our roads is not such a rare phenomenon, so the driver’s desire to get a spare tire is quite understandable - it’s impossible to drive on a flat tire.Replacing a wheel, of course, is not the most time-consuming operation, but it requires a certain amount of time, and if the weather is dirty, damp outside, it will not work to stay “clean”. This explains the desire of car owners to install such tires so that after a puncture it is possible to continue driving. Developments in this direction have been going on for a long time, and of many of them, for example, self-sealing and supporting tires, the most interesting is the runflat technology.Unlike other developments, such tires do not require special equipment for mounting rubber on disks, and in the event of a breakdown, they will allow the car owner to drive about a hundred kilometers - for most, this distance is quite enough. In order to be able to continue moving after a puncture, runflat tires must not only support the weight of the car, but also carry all static and dynamic loads. To do this, the side walls are made very thick, often multi-layered, which improves the performance of the product.The standard rubber installed on the car, in the absence of air pressure in it, is not able to support the weight of the car. Further movement on such a wheel is impossible, since even a hundred meters of road will make it impossible to repair a punctured tire, and most likely will seriously damage the disc. The run flat technology consists in strengthening the sidewall of the tire, which allows it to withstand the weight of the car even if the tire pressure is zero.

The runflat rubber includes carcass reinforcements, as well as a stronger and thicker side ring, which differs in its width. In addition, the composition of the rubber itself is heat resistant. All this makes it possible to continue driving the car after a puncture and loss of pressure in the wheel. It is important that the thick sidewalls of such rubber, preventing it from flying off the disk, and all active security systems available on the car, remain fully operational.Despite the fact that the run flat technology is, in general, the same for all manufacturers, each of them uses its own tricks, so tires may differ in mileage after a puncture. It can vary from 50 to 150 km. Of course, the total mileage also depends heavily on the load on the vehicle - if the driver is driving alone, it increases, while the presence of passengers or cargo reduces the allowable distance. Accordingly, in order to get the maximum benefit from such rubber, you need to carefully study its characteristics before starting operation. In sufficient detail about this technology is described in the video: