Had a slow leak in one of my RFTs. Was dropping 6-7 psi over two days. My tire monitor lit up when driving and I stopped and took a PSI reading from all four tires (http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AB2&url=index.jsp). The passenger side rear tire was 17 psi, hot. All others were in the 32-34 psi range. Got out my portable 12 VDC compressor and restored the affected tire to 35 psi. Two days later the monitor came on again. Checked the pressure, and it was 20 psi. All others were in the 32-34 psi range. All tires (http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AB2&url=index.jsp) have less than 16K miles and plenty of tread left.

Called the local Firestone (http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AB2&url=/firestone/fireston.jsp)/Bridgestone dealer and he refused to repair the tire. Said it was against their policy as the internal structure of the tire was different than conventional tires (http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AB2&url=index.jsp) and the company policy was "no RFT repairs". None in stock. 2 days to get any.

After some research on this forum and the net, I decided to get the tire repaired at another local tire shop (Gemini/Goodyear). Turned out there was a nail in the tread portion of the tire. By their account, they patched the tire on the inside. Pressure is stable in all tires (http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AB2&url=index.jsp) now.

My conclusions:

1. The tire pressure monitor is effective and caught the problem well before the tire reached 0 psi.

2. Frequent manual pressure checks are a great idea.

3. The Bridgestone (http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AB2&url=/tires/bridgestone/bridston.jsp) RFTs are repairable if the tire does not drop below 15 psi, but may not take the kind of stress tracking puts on a tire following repair. I don't track my car so I'm counting on the repaired tire to last another 10K-15K miles.

4. When the RFTs are done, I'm shifting to a non-RFT, all-weather, high performance tire.

5. Thinking about getting the LeatherZ donut spare for emergencies.

Comments? Suggestions?

Word is, RFTs are as repairable as any other tire, especially if the damage is caught before it becomes catastrophic. So I think you're right about checking the pressures on a routine basis. But liability issues are a factor in repair refusals, and apparently they're also more difficult to mount/dismount.

A number of my local tire shops also refuse to deal with RFTs. Big help.

I thought the driving dynamics of the RFTs were too poor to keep running them. Adequate grip, but too much tramlining to tolerate. I just scored a set of 18 inch rims, and when the dedicated wheels/snow tires come off, will mount non-RFTs (thinking Goodyear Asymmetrix?) on the new rims as my fair-weather set.

The half-size spare is probably a good idea, tho. Have no great urge to dig Fix-a-Flat out of a blown tire.

The RFT's are completely repairable like you guys said as long as the tire pressure doesn't drop too low and compromise the sidewall.

BUT, the tire manufacturers do not recommend patching them, and therefore, we can't do it due to liability reasons. We used to do it all the time, but new service manager won't let us.

Word is, RFTs are as repairable as any other tire, especially if the damage is caught before it becomes catastrophic. So I think you're right about checking the pressures on a routine basis. But liability issues are a factor in repair refusals, and apparently they're also more difficult to mount/dismount.

A number of my local tire shops also refuse to deal with RFTs. Big help.

I thought the driving dynamics of the RFTs were too poor to keep running them. Adequate grip, but too much tramlining to tolerate. I just scored a set of 18 inch rims, and when the dedicated wheels/snow tires come off, will mount non-RFTs (thinking Goodyear Asymmetrix?) on the new rims as my fair-weather set.

The half-size spare is probably a good idea, tho. Have no great urge to dig Fix-a-Flat out of a blown tire.

Thanks for the feedback. I AM going to get the spare but I will use it only on trips out of town. I have the hangup bags from Roadster Solutions to put on the headrests and I'm buying some duffel bags vs. the rollaboards we have now. I think I can fit the duffels around the donut spare.

I looked at the Goodyear Eagle F1 All Season tires today and they are my leading choice for replacing the RFTs. I'm just a mature guy who is beyond racing or pushing the car hard on a road trip. Love the open air and spirited drives with reliable rubber. Let's face it; we ALL need reliable rubber(s).

I purchased the M mobility kit in my trunk as I no longer have runflats, however, I've never had the chance to use it. But it is a nice $125 security blanket. I was thinking about picking up a spare too for those longer trips.

I purchased the M mobility kit in my trunk as I no longer have runflats, however, I've never had the chance to use it. But it is a nice $125 security blanket. I was thinking about picking up a spare too for those longer trips.

I mentioned the mobility kit to the shop fixing my tire. To them it's a full tire replacement. So...

A given: RFTs certainly are repairable as long as the sidewalls aren't damaged by the nail. I carry a Dynaplug kit and a Sear's portable air compressor (works both from car's battery and on its own). Total cost around $80. Also a given: When the tires loose tread, off they go for conventional ones.

I mentioned the mobility kit to the shop fixing my tire. To them it's a full tire replacement. So...

Well on a non runflat, that is sort of a given. But being able to drive off of the highway and to a repair place > being stuck.

The leatherz spare kit is expensive!!!

I, too, had a slow leak in one of my RFTs. And I was told it could be repaired the the bridgestone tire dealer. The problem was that he said it would no longer have the speed rating after the repair. Anyone take a repaired RFT over 100 mph or more?

Tramlining is awful on RFTs esspecially if the tire pressure isn't exactly right. Just a few pounds of incorrect PSI can really make a difference.

Had a RFT repaired by a small town shop 1 year ago, and have had at 100 mph a few times since then whith no problem, also tire pressure has maintained

I had the same RF tire repaired twice. One was very close to the edge which they have to repair it twice. I had my car close to 120 after the repair without issue. I noticed it was more noisy after the repair. The shop I go to for over twenty years never said it would affect the tire rating.