How would they patch that foam? Seems like local stores won’t be familiar with patching foam tires.
Now that I own a Tesla with the acoustic foam (Model 3 with 20" Michelins), I contacted Michelin to get specific tire repair info. Here is the e-mail reply:
MICHELIN® Acoustic Technology Inspection & Repair Procedures
Michelin tires with Acoustic Technology will be available on certain new vehicles as original equipment
beginning in 2016. These tires contain a proprietary polyurethane foam ring applied to the inside of the tire
for the purpose of reducing interior noise generated by the interaction of the tire with the road surface.
Refer to
http://www.michelinman.com/US/en/why-michelin/michelin-acoustic-technology.html for more
detailed information. This bulletin will address the recommended tire repair procedures of these tires with
the new acoustic Technology.
All repairs and inspections of Michelin tires with Acoustic Technology are to be completed by a trained
tire service professional. The repair of a Michelin tire with Acoustic Technology must be preceded by a
careful examination of the tire concerned.
Only after a thorough inspection of the demounted tire can it be determined if the tire is repairable. If it
is determined that the tire is repairable, the following repair procedures needs to be followed. If the repair
is done correctly and according to the provided instructions, the original level of noise reduction should be
attained, but it is not ensured.
Note:
In the case that the polyurethane foam is found to have peeled off along the tire circumference following
puncture, the foam should be completely removed from the tire. In this case, the tire may be repairable but
its functionality of reducing noise will no longer be active.
Acoustic tires are to be repaired the same as standard tires following RMA Industry Standards for tire
repair. The only permissible repair method is to dismount the tire, fully inspect inside and outside, and if
repairable from inspection use a one piece or suitable two piece patch/stem repair unit.
1. Identification of the puncture on the inside of the tire.
2. Remove the foam from the repair area. To do this, carefully cut out a foam square with
a pair of
rounded-end scissors. To have a comfortable working area, a 4x4 inch square cut area is sufficient.
Be careful not to damage the interior rubber when cutting the foam.
3. Ream the hole from the inside following its perforated trajectory.
4. Preparation of the repair area. Pull the adhesive beads of the cavity foam with the round part of the
scissors while being careful to not damage the inner liner of the tire.
Finish the repair procedure by following the final steps for standard tires referencing RMA & Industry
publications and wall charts.
5. Remove the protection from the one piece patch-stem without touching the uncovered surface.
6. Insert the one piece patch-stem from the inside.
7. Pull the patch-stem smoothly from the outside.
8. Roll over the patch-stem head moving from its center towards its edge.
9. Cut the protruding part on the outside, without pulling the body of the patch-stem.
If you have further questions please reply to this email.
Thank you,
Sincerely Joe
Michelin Product Specialist
