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So driving home tonight on a familiar road (in the soggy melbourne weather) the car slightly bottoms out over a speed hump.

Strange, as it hasnt happened on this speed hump before....

car felt quite squirmish in the rear.... oh oh...

Pull up in my garage and I can hear and smell the air leak from the right rear...
Screw is in the corner of the inner tread and sidewall, so I'm guessing that means 2 new tyres at least (my life is worth more than risking it on a questionable tyre repair)

Problem is, this is a NA Le, with the gorgeous BBS rims (in a 14 inch).

so that instantly limits tyre choice..and no, I wont change the rims.

Oh, and it's on Tein superstreets, with a fair amount of rear camber....

so, what's out there in a 185/60/14? The car currently has obsolete re001's on it, and they've been nothing special and just OK for my style of driving.
Treadwear is unimportant. Safety is paramount.
The current tyres have done around 5000kms in the last 5 years.....(the car is one of many toys...), so the rubber will degrade before the tyres are worn....

Take it to a tyre shop and see if a repair is doable.

There's no issue with a repair, especially the inner patch.
I've had many done over the years without a single problem.

RE001s are pretty much as good as you can get in 185/60r14. The trouble is that you can't get them any more. I'd just get the puncture fixed at a tyre shop to milk another couple of years out of them rather than buy new ones that are not as good. There's absolutely nothing wrong with a properly done repair. I've raced on a few.

Thanks for the replies, so quickly.
Im just preparing myself for the worse case scenario. Looks dubious as the screw is poking out at the edge of the inner treadblock ar 45 degrees to the tread and 135 to the sidewall.
Given theyre also 5+ YEARS old its not exactly tear shedding time, especially considering the camber theyre running... oh and i guess the driving style is best described as "spirited" on a public forum. I considered toyo 888's but i am concerened re warm up and re wet weatger on public road performance. That and tge unnecessary cost given the limited driving.
I did see some reference to ku31s or ku36s, but i think that they are obsoletealso...

Just preparing myself for the worst. Might call Stuckeys for advice, if the tyre is deemed unsafe to repair..... good chance to get the slow leak from the opposing wheels valve fixed too...

Given its one of many toys maybe look at importing something from the USA? They have a wider selection in 14" still.


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I'd just buy one tyre (if unrepairable). I doubt you'd notice the difference in a mis-matched tyre.

bruce wrote:I'd just buy one tyre (if unrepairable). I doubt you'd notice the difference in a mis-matched tyre.

I'd like to think I would be able to notice the difference. After all, one tyre lower on pressure was noticeable.
Having mismatched tread on a dríven axle is also unroadworthy.

Luckily, my go to guys were able to repair it. There was no damage to the sidewall internally so they were able to repair.

However.. Tyre options in this size will be increasingly limited and uninspiring here forth!

5 years old, they are probably starting to go hard and less grippy anyway. I noticed the Fedral 595-RSRs go off at about 3 years.

Entice wrote:

bruce wrote:I'd just buy one tyre (if unrepairable). I doubt you'd notice the difference in a mis-matched tyre.

I'd like to think I would be able to notice the difference. After all, one tyre lower on pressure was noticeable.
Having mismatched tread on a dríven axle is also unroadworthy.

Luckily, my go to guys were able to repair it. There was no damage to the sidewall internally so they were able to repair.

However.. Tyre options in this size will be increasingly limited and uninspiring here forth!

Glad to hear that the car is still alive and kicking and I am sure it still is in absolutely pristine condition. My mate Denis still likes to hear of it so will send him this post.

I am with you ,I cannot believe that anyone would tell you to run mismatched tyres,what a recipe for disaster!!

Cheers,

Peter.

You asked for advice....thanks.

[quote="Entic. I considered toyo 888's but i am concerened re warm up and re wet weatger on public road performance. That and tge unnecessary cost given the limited driving.[/quote]

R888s also noisy and harsh.

Not that OP needs to replace tyres now, but Dunlop Direzza Star Spec & Yokohama Advan 0A048 come in 14".