[Closed] car tyres - anybody here experienced in run-flat tyres?

I have run flats on my car and pressure sensors.

Tyre has deflated once and it was noticeable but not the same as a normal. I would suggest £102 is not a run flat as i have been quoted around £300 a corner for replacement run flats.

I have Michelin Pilots

Some info here

http://www.runflattyres.com/article/run-flat-technology

This should explain most of what you ask and gives you options for your car (by reg)
http://www.blackcircles.com/tyres/runflattyres

All runflat tyres should have RF on their sidewall - its not always obvious online that that is what you're getting (incl on black circles).

The sensors are just speedometers on each wheel- once a tyre has no air in it its circumference is slightly smaller and that wheel has to turn slightly faster than the other 3: on board computer then warns you.

Reinforced tyres arent the same- they're mainly for vans.

You can however use normal tyres (cheaper and a smoother quieter ride) - so long as you have a means of reinflating a flat for long enough to get to a garage (we've got cans of sealant gunk).

xl or reinforced are not runflats. They are 'normal' tyres with stronger sidewalls.

Edit: Beaten by above

I test drove a 3 series with runflats (no room for a spare tyre).

It was a bit "harsh". Can't imagine driving on anything other than motorways with them.

All runflat tyres should have RF on their sidewall - its not always obvious online that that is what you're getting (incl on black circles

Some do some don't have RF, they ALL MUST have RSC on them in a circle, RSC stands for (Runflat System Component)

My old dear had run flats on her BMW 1er, the first lot - Continental(?) were laughably harsh, felt like solid rubber (not helped by "sports" suspension :roll:) the second set Michelin(?) were better.

As above, XL are just extra load - often used on MPVs, estates etc. My winter tyres are XL compared to normal for the summer version which does give a nicer ride by countering some of the squishyness of the softer tyre and tbh I would buy XL summer tyres next time. I often have a lot weight in the car.

According to BMW, cars that come with run flats should not be fitted with non-run flats as the suspension is set up softer to account for the run flat. Strange that when they supplied Dad with free winter tyres they gave him non-run flats, presumably to save money.

The ride on his 3 series is horrible. I like a firm car but it is silly and he prefers the ride with the winter tyres.

Different manufacturers use different symbols for run flat tyres. If your car came with run flats fitted then you should continue to use them otherwise it's classed as a modification by insurance company and can void your claim

Just to be clear - we changed ours to normals, the car rides a lot better (comfier and quieter).

I rang our insurance about it - they didnt care - so long as the new tyres were the same size and loading as the originals.

But of course if you're doing it then its worth phoning your own insurance.

Thanks, I'll have a look at the links above.

BMW told me that it wasn't a problem to swap run flats to normal tyres (on a car that came with run flats)

Seems like they Can't make their mind up.

I suppose if the person asking the question was buying tyres from the dealer, they may have more of a reason to give some bollx about having to buy run flats rather than normal tyres ???

I wasn't buying tyres from them, just asking the question in the service dept, so I could buy elsewhere.

Swap them out for normal tyres. The ride will be much better and there's no issues with rims or insurance in my experience (and those on pistonheads)

Runflats are an invention of the devil. They just make cars really uncomfortable.

Worse than that glen, they aren't repairable! I had two nails through my tyres in 3 weeks, both would've been easily fixed on normal tyre but no garage would touch them! Straight onto Google when the first garage said it, looks like both car and tyre manufacturers won't sanction repairs as there is no way to check for secondary damage 🙁

As above the difference is distinct.

I had Bridgestone run flats all round, £225 front, £300 Rear each.

Finally made the switch to non-RFT a few months back, got a full set of Michelin's for £560 fitted, Much improved ride & grip. I would recommend it to anyone.

BMW salemen saying you ca not switch is a load of bo11ox, like you cant get your care serviced else where etc etc

Runflats are an invention of the devil. They just make cars really uncomfortable.

They are repairable. I've have many nails fixed with plugs and had them fixed at ATS. You get a slip saying something about not guaranteeing the repair or some thing but I've had run flats and never had an issue in 10 years.

They come into there own when its late at night driving through a rough bit of town and the puncture light comes on. Just drive on home and get them repaired at your leisure.

£300 a corner could only be a quote from a BMW dealer. Far more reasonable prices out there.

So what do people do then, in case of a puncture?. carry a spare wheel in the boot, or is there a better alternative?

I've hot run flats on my car - just replaced 2 at £150 each for Pirellis with mytyres. I've also got winter tyres for the car which are not run flat and the ride difference isn't all that. (FWIW run flats are 225/50/17 and the non run flat winter ones are 225/55/16). I keep tyrefix gunk in the car in winter. Just my experience, like.

You run it whilst it's flat..... Hence why its called a runflat.

Get to garage and replace.

Early RF tyres were a bit harsh but modern ones are brilliant. You can drive with a flat tyre, what's not to love.

Very hard ride - changing mine to normal tyres once they've worn out (I must not wheelspin, I must not wheelspin!) 🙂

Offroading - Member
You run it whilst it's flat..... Hence why its called a runflat.

Get to garage and replace.

So what do people do then, in case of a puncture?. carry a spare wheel in the boot, or is there a better alternative?

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sniff - Member
They are repairable. I've have many nails fixed with plugs and had them fixed at ATS.

I also did this with no problems

sniff - Member
puncture light comes on. Just drive on home and get them repaired at your leisure.

Hey? If you have a proper puncture & drive on zero pressure you get 150 miles @50mph & then they are scrap...

sniff - Member
£300 a corner could only be a quote from a BMW dealer. Far more reasonable prices out there.

Cant you find 255/35/18 for much less from the premium brands?

B.A.Nana - Member
So what do people do then, in case of a puncture?. carry a spare wheel in the boot, or is there a better alternative?

Look up Conti Kit, lots of people carry that or similar (Electric compressor with foam) and a tyre weld or two.

Also have the full monty roadside cover

Plenty of modern cars from new come with standard tyres & a compressor/foam solution for get home, Honda civic an example

randomjeremy - Member
Early RF tyres were a bit harsh but modern ones are brilliant. You can drive with a flat tyre, what's not to love.

The fact its scrap once you get home if truly flat & then more expensive than a conventional to replace

You shouldn't have a runflat repaired at all. My company has a policy about this, absolutely no repairs on a runflat. You can't tell what damage has been done to the tyre outside of the puncture.

If someone does do it then they can't care too much about the job, if it fails it's them that is liable.

FYI, tyre weld etc - once you put that in a tyre you can't repair it.

You can get runflats repaired, there was an article recently about garages miss-leading consumers and forcing them to buy a new tyre when its not always required.

The key thing is that if you've driven any difference on a punctured runflat, then it shouldn't be repaired.

Edit: Further to this, surely a damaged repaired run flat is less of a risk than a damaged repaired traditional tyre (of which there are loads) as if it punctures again its not going to come off the rim and leave you sliding backwards into some trees.

Offroading - Member

FYI, tyre weld etc - once you put that in a tyre you can't repair it.

Aware of that, my point was a conventional tyre is cheaper than a run flat.

How often do you lot get punctures then?

I've never had a puncture in 16yrs of driving.

(I bet I get one en route from Manc to London tonight now)

Hm, the car I'm thinking of buying is becoming a bit more realistic. There's no way I would buy if a new tyre was £200+ every time (I'm used to paying about £55). A conti Kit + normal tyres + inform Ins co, seems a good alternative. Budget tyres are then £70+.
I think I've had 2 punctures in the last 7 years, on both occasions I couldn't get the bloody wheel nuts off, so had to call the AA.

The fact its scrap once you get home if truly flat & then more expensive than a conventional to replace

That's not the point of runflats though; the point is if you have a puncture you don't have to be stranded, and you don't have to stop at the side of the road and fix anything, you can just drive to a garage or home or wherever, and then make arrangements for a replacement.

Basically they play on the "if my lady wife and precious children were in the car and they had a puncture, would I rather they are stranded until the AA turn up and risk being ploughed into by a lorry on the hard shoulder / stuck in the middle of nowhere in the rain, or would I rather that a light comes on in the dashboard and they all drive home safely?" aspect, which is powerful.

Edit: yes yes I know all the STW wives can change lorry tyres with their eyes closed, I'm on about the normal people.

randomjeremy - Member
That's not the point of runflats though; the point is if you have a puncture you don't have to be stranded, and you don't have to stop at the side of the road and fix anything, you can just drive to a garage or home or wherever, and then make arrangements for a replacement.

I think we all know the 'point' of runflats. The majority of people (men or women) can learn how to plug a Compressor into a ciggy lighter & attached to a flat tyre valve.

The point is they offer reduced comfort, reduced grip & cost more.

So its a simple personal choice.

Offroading - Member
You shouldn't have a runflat repaired at all. My company has a policy about this, absolutely no repairs on a runflat. You can't tell what damage has been done to the tyre outside of the puncture.

spooky_b329 - Member

You can get runflats repaired, there was an article recently about garages miss-leading consumers and forcing them to buy a new tyre when its not always required.

The key thing is that if you've driven any difference on a punctured runflat, then it shouldn't be repaired.

Its kind of a grey area isnt it? my understanding is you can repaair if its a puncture in the tread that hasnt been driven on at zero/very low pressure, ie a slow puncture. But once you drive it flat, its scrap?

If a tyre has been run flat, be it a runflat tyre or normal tyre it is scrap.

Technically a runflat can be repaired just the same as a normal tyre, however as i mentioned before my company flat out refuse to do so (as do most) because motorists aren't the most honnest of folk.

but who drives on a flat non run flat? or am i missing something?

You would be amazed at the amount of people who do....

We had an older lady in the other day that drove 20 miles with the tyre completely flat. Destroyed the rim in the process.

Some people really are that thick.

ahh well, get what they deserve

I think we all know the 'point' of runflats.

You don't seem to

The majority of people (men or women) can learn how to plug a Compressor into a ciggy lighter & attached to a flat tyre valve.

I guess the tire is flat. Because. It. Has. A. Hole. In. It.

never mind keith lad 🙄

yes quite

wtf grantway? You stoned or somehow turned into a spambot?