run flat tyres

cozzie55

Looking for a quick bit of advice

I'm looking at buying a BMW, I have the search narrowed down to two cars. Both the same in every way except one has run flat tyres and one has standard tires and no spare, it only comes with a compressor.

My question is would you recommend buying the car with run flat tyres and paying nearly 200 quid a tyre every time I change them or stick with the standard tyres and a replacement cost of 100 quid a tyre but run the risk of getting stuck somewhere and the compressor not being able to pump the tyre.

I'm being put off the standard tyre as I wonder what happens if I get a blow out? no matter how good the compressor is I doubt i'd be able to keep it pumped until i get to a garage, unless i happen to have one rite outside the garage.:)

Owen

I'd pick the car that's right for me, regardless of tyres.

cozzie55

Owen wrote: »

I'd pick the car that's right for me, regardless of tyres.

Well the are both the rite car for me, both even in the same colour and 800km between them.
I'm just thinking would is it better to have the extra cost of runflats or are they a bit pointless

Owen

Runflats are a terrible invention. Even BMW are rumoured to be thinking of ditching them. The tyre manufacturers promised they'd be able to eventually bring out a run flat which was as quiet and as pliant as a normal tyre, but have admitted they can't now.

The compressor and can of tire weld is a good alternative, not as good as a spare wheel, but in most cases it will get you motoring again. It's very rare that someone would get a complete blow out, most punctures are just nails or bits of wire in the rubber. If the very worst came to the worst and your wheel gets demolished by a pothole, that's what your Insurance breakdown assistance is for.

cozzie55

Owen wrote: »

Runflats are a terrible invention. Even BMW are rumoured to be thinking of ditching them. The tyre manufacturers promised they'd be able to eventually bring out a run flat which was as quiet and as pliant as a normal tyre, but have admitted they can't now.

The compressor and can of tire weld is a good alternative, not as good as a spare wheel, but in most cases it will get you motoring again. It's very rare that someone would get a complete blow out, most punctures are just nails or bits of wire in the rubber. If the very worst came to the worst and your wheel gets demolished by a pothole, that's what your Insurance breakdown assistance is for.

Really? I've heard some people raving about them, and the connivence of not having to change a tyre. I know people on the continent don't really like them cause they usually have winter tyres aswell so they would have 8 tyres to change granted they would be changing them half as many times as us.

Have you ever used the compressor and tire weld? Is it easy enough to apply the weld, especially considering you have to find the leak aswell in the tire, or do I need a degree in engineering to do it?

Owen

The convenience of not having to change a tyre is negated by the price of run flats, the horrible drive quality, and the increase in road noise. The tyre weld is simple to use, you connect it to the tyre valve, squeeze the bottle, and then pump using the compressor. Job done.

George Dalton

If I owned a BMW I would definitely bin the runflats. A quality set of normal tyres makes them much nicer to drive.

There are a few things you can do to reduce the chances of getting stranded at the side of the road. Keep good tyres on a car and you will minimise the risk of getting a flat. Also I find if you check your tyre pressures regularly you will generally notice a slow puncture long before it becomes a major problem and be able to get it sorted. I check the tyre pressures on my car about twice a week and in 12 years of driving I have only once had to stop at the side of the road to change a wheel. Keep the compressor and tyre weld in the boot. If you do all that you would be very unlucky to be caught out.

woody_2000

I used Slime once with a car in the US and found it good. I went to a Walmart store to get a puncture repaired, but there was no auto service facility at that particular location. I then decided to try Slime, as they had it in stock, and went out and fixed the puncture at the gas station on their grounds. I just put the Slime in the tire, as per the product instructions, then pumped the tire up somewhat and then turned the wheel slowly a few times to get the Slime to the puncture location - and then pumped to the specified tire pressure. I then drove slowly for a while, as per instructions, and then drove on normally for approx. 10,000 miles without any problem whatsoever. Full puncture repair! The product was rated for two years, so could probably last the life of a tire. I had never used Slime before, but that's my experience. Puncture repair in approx. 5 minutes! Good experience. A pump is required, but if I had a compressor I'd keep a mechanical/manual pump also as a back-up.

Edit Note: Just to add, the tire/tyre (confused by often using mixed spelling) had a fast puncture and would go completely flat within a short few minutes - and was not fitted to the car at the time of repair.

bazz26

I had run flat tyres and now switched to standard tyres. This has transformed the handling and ride of the car and also reduced the road noise. The side walls on the RFTs are reinforced making the ride very firm.

I got my hands on a space saver wheel from someone for free and bought a jack/wheel brace from a local scrap yard. BMW actually sell a spare wheel kit for about €300 to €400 but note that the E90 3 Series does not have a tyre well so a spare wheel will eat into boot space. Most BMWs with RFTs have an onboard tyre pressure monitoring system so it will tell you if the tyre pressure has changed but out of habbit I check the pressure myself reguarly.

BTW don't forget to inform your insurance company if you are switching. Most have no issue with this once they are informed as technically switching from RFTs to standard tyres is a modification of the manufacturing original specification.

cozzie55

Thanks for all the help guys. I think i'm going to go for the one with the standard wheels over the run flats.
There isn't a space for the wheel in either of the cars so i doubt i'll be putting a space saver wheel in the boot as it is small enough as it is.

Anan1

cozzie55 wrote: »

Really? I've heard some people raving about them, and the connivence of not having to change a tyre. I know people on the continent don't really like them cause they usually have winter tyres aswell so they would have 8 tyres to change granted they would be changing them half as many times as us.

My mother has a 320d with runflats for both summer and winter. It's on 16" wheels and, while firm enough, it's by no means uncomfortable. Given her age, and the kind of driving she does, i'm far more comfortable with RFT than normal tyres. On the other hand, I did drive an E90 with 18"s and RFT and I found it far too harsh. I think the moral of the story is that runflats are worthwhile on 16", but not really an option on the larger wheels that so many Irish owners prefer.

zipcode

Can anyone recommend a reliable and good value tyre sales outlet, dont mind travelling to get right tyres. I live in Mayo but Dublin is no problem 2 hour 20 minute trip.
I have a 08 320D SE Edition, with low emission / low tax engine. I am getting out of run flats.
Front are 225 45 R17
Rear are 255 40 R17

Any useful advise appreciated.

bazz26

zipcode wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a reliable and good value tyre sales outlet, dont mind travelling to get right tyres. I live in Mayo but Dublin is no problem 2 hour 20 minute trip.
I have a 08 320D SE Edition, with low emission / low tax engine. I am getting out of run flats.
Front are 225 45 R17
Rear are 255 40 R17

Any useful advise appreciated.

I bought these for my E90 but in 18" and I am very pleased with them:

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m54b0s16p12403/VREDESTEIN_TYRES_CAR_VREDESTEIN_ULTRAC_SESSANTA_-_225_45R17_94Y_XL_TL_

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m54b0s321p14920/VREDESTEIN_TYRES_CAR_VREDESTEIN_ULTRAC_SESSANTA_-_255_40R17_98Y_XL_TL_

I bought from them too, very fast delivery (2 working days) and even taking fitting and balancing into account I saved about €100 over buying them local. Find a place that will fit them for a reasonable price.

zipcode

Thanks for the reply.

I have an NCT comming up in March, will I pass with normal tyres or will I need to have a spare and jack in the car also?

creedp

Owen wrote: »

Runflats are a terrible invention. Even BMW are rumoured to be thinking of ditching them. The tyre manufacturers promised they'd be able to eventually bring out a run flat which was as quiet and as pliant as a normal tyre, but have admitted they can't now.

The compressor and can of tire weld is a good alternative, not as good as a spare wheel, but in most cases it will get you motoring again. It's very rare that someone would get a complete blow out, most punctures are just nails or bits of wire in the rubber. If the very worst came to the worst and your wheel gets demolished by a pothole, that's what your Insurance breakdown assistance is for.

I though that too with an S-Max and no spare until I had 2 blowouts in the space of less than 2 months - one having hit a pothole and second due to a kerb (latter one obviously my fault!). In both cases I had to get a mobile unit to replace the tyre at €240 a pop. Lesson learnt I bought a 2nd hand mondeo spacesaver .. problem solved. I wouldn't depend on that foam stuff .. its clean useless if you get a bad puncture and happen to be miles from anywhere in the middle of the night on a bank holiday!!

Blazer

bazz26 wrote: »

I bought these for my E90 but in 18" and I am very pleased with them:

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m54b0s16p12403/VREDESTEIN_TYRES_CAR_VREDESTEIN_ULTRAC_SESSANTA_-_225_45R17_94Y_XL_TL_

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m54b0s321p14920/VREDESTEIN_TYRES_CAR_VREDESTEIN_ULTRAC_SESSANTA_-_255_40R17_98Y_XL_TL_

I bought from them too, very fast delivery (2 working days) and even taking fitting and balancing into account I saved about €100 over buying them local. Find a place that will fit them for a reasonable price.

+1 for camskill...i ordered my runflats from there as well and saved about €124 from buying them online in Ireland...