06 Mini Cooper - tyres(run-flats) + alloys

shanel23

Hi - quick question re run-flats on the above car .

Just been to a tyre shop as pressure gone in one of the tyres . Problem diagnosed as a cracked alloy so will need a new one. Guy in the garage said that because it has run-flat tyres that the new alloy I have to get is a run-flat alloy ?? Is this the case I assumes alloys were common in that you could use either run-flat or normal tyres ?

BTW - don't like the run-flats and was thinking of swapping them all out for regular tyres ... but will have to seriously re-think this if 4 new alloys are also needed ?

Is this the case ?

Cheers

Shane

Gumbo

if its a cracked wheel you only need a new wheel.
depending on the damage to the tyre and how long you drove on it flat then you might be able to re-use the RFT on the new alloy.

if you want to get rid of the RFT then your better off waiting till you need 4 tyres, otherwise its just a waste bining the RFT. unless you can sell them of course!

Owen

If you're going from runflat tires to non-runflat (Which you should) - the runflat alloy will be fine. It's only if you're going the other way from non-runflats to runflats that you should change the wheel.

My MINI had 18's with runflats, and it was a nightmare. I've switched to 17"s with non-RF's and it's transformed the car. It's one of the first modifications people make on http://miniclub.ie - and nearly everyone says it softens out the car and improves the handling.

shanel23

kceire wrote: »

if its a cracked wheel you only need a new wheel.
depending on the damage to the tyre and how long you drove on it flat then you might be able to re-use the RFT on the new alloy.

if you want to get rid of the RFT then your better off waiting till you need 4 tyres, otherwise its just a waste bining the RFT. unless you can sell them of course!

Agree that will run the RFTs till they need replacing - just curious about the specifics as to whether RFTs require a different type of alloy ?

Owen

Runflats DO require a different alloy. In my best ascii art, a normal wheel has a cross section like this :

/

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\

A runflat wheel has a ridge in near the outside of the wheel :

/--^

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\

shanel23

Any recommendations where to get a new alloy for this - it's a 17" factory issue I assume - was just quoted 450 for a new one or 50-100 for a repair - not too keen on a repair but should I be OK with a repair ?

Owen

Depending on who does the repair. It's difficult to weld aluminium. Can you tell me which wheel you have? I might be able to source a second hand one through the MINI club for you.

Failing that, the only crowd I'd trust to weld a wheel are wheeldoctor.ie - no connection with me whatsoever. Met them at the VAGE meet in Fermoy last year and they showed me before and after photos of damaged wheels. They can do stuff that most places would turn away.

shanel23

Hi - here you go

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Owen

17" Bullet alloys, will see what I can turn up for you.

shanel23

Cheers

VW 1

A couple of months ago just after the snow i drove into a pot hole resulting in a puncture on the front tyre and a cracked alloy on the rear tyre, the garage i brought it to was the one where i had already bought the alloys. result was that the cracked alloy was welded with a stamp on the inside and a guarantee that if there was a problem with it it would be fixed for free and a repair on the tyre which had been punctured all for 100 euro, havent had an ounce of bother with either wheel since. not sure if it is the same for runflats or if the repair is possible but hopefully this helps and saves you from going with the more expensive option!

Owen

What are the odds, there's on on eBay UK at the moment with a buy it now price of 79 sterling for a genuine wheel. You'd be mad to turn it down at that price :

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-Mini-One-Cooper-S-GENUINE-17-Bullet-Alloy-Wheel-/250663899809?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Trims_Car_Rims_ET&hash=item3a5cbb92a1