Feakin Nails

[XterraVersa]

The TPMS came on & I checked all 4 tires. The drivers rear was at 32. I drove home & it was still at 32, so I thought maybe the dealer didn't check the tire preasures before delivery. I pumped it up to math the rest & drove around the block. It was still holding preasure. An hour later I checked & it was back to 32. I pulled the tire to see if there was a puncture. Well therer was, one nail near the side wall and another in the center. The local Firestone shop will not fix the tire because they say the one nail went through the sidewall. They didn't have the size I needed & it would be 2-4 weeks to get one. Tire Rack is back ordered with no estimate of stock. I will check with the dealer tommorrow. Damn these tires are expensive.

Guess I have to drive the Xterra for a few days now.

[evildky]

if you check with a smaller local shop they might be willing to pathc the tire from the inside, I believe firestone, the dealer and most chain tire stores ahve a policy of plug only as a patch is much more involved and time consuming, granted some saidwall punctures simply can not be repaired but a shop that does this tyope of repair would be able to tell you

[BigMACKenzie]

I agree with firestone, once you damage the sidewall catastrophic failure is much more likely and even if that doesnt happen the tire is still mad unsafe. We wont patch or plug tires with sidewall damage at my shop either.

[Slider4105]

Don't patch the sidewall, there's a reason no shop will do it.

Try calling around a few different places, Tire Kingdom or something like that may have it. You could also for a temp fix try like Walmart or something and get the cheapest tire you can possibly find to hold you over until you can get the make of tire you want.

[XterraVersa]

I didn't want a patch if it was in the sidewall. It was just frustrating having to buy a new tire in less than 500 miles. But I was talking to one of my friends & he says the Potenza tire is only good for 3-5000 miles. Less if you autocross, more if you baby the tires. He said something about a Bridgestone pole position tire is only 1 speed rating down, but comes with a 40,000 mile treadwear warranty & about $200/tire.

The dealer I bought it from had some in stock & sold it to me at cost. $250 installed.

[Burtonboarder950]

this is an awesome post bc i already have the same problem. Im buying the car knowing there is a screw, not a nail on the side of the tire. The mechanic said its on part of the tire that doesnt even touch ground, but its already driving me crazy just knowing its there. I dont even have the car yet! Ill try a mini mechanic like you guys are suggesting.

[rmezz13]

replace the tire FTW..... sidewall puncture is no joke - there is a reason its not repaired

[BlackSmoke]

Never patch a sidewall. I did it, was a catastrophic blowout after the patch. The only thing the patch is good for is smokers.

[bmike818]

replace the tire FTW..... sidewall puncture is no joke - there is a reason its not repaired

+1

The sidewalls of a tire are subjected to the most stress during turns, where a tire failure could come at the worst time. If your car's tires blows out when you are travelling a straight line, you're fine. But if you were in a turn...I don't have to say it.

Too bad it wasn't one of the fronts. At least they would have been cheaper.