Run flat tires

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J

jrcowboys

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Round Rock Texas
Guys:
My daughter has BMW with run flat tires (very expensive). Just wondering if most of you replace with run flats or conventional tires and buy tire inflation kit?

If inflation kit, what kit do you recommend?

Thanks for help.

JR
 
If you stay within city limits, get regular tires.

But if you travel to BFE a lot, then I'd stick with runflats or get a spare tire kit.
 
I keep run flats on my car that came with them. An inflation kit and plugs won't fix a seriously damaged tire, been there done that.

Actually, I also carry an inflation kit and plugs. If I get a puncture in a run flat on a trip I will use the kit to try and fix the tire on the spot so I'm not limited to the 50 to 100 miles range at moderate speeds that you get running on a flat run flat before you destroy the tie.

My Corvette came with Goodyear run flats. I replaced them with Michelin run flats for less money, quieter ride, longer life and a bit better handling. I also hear good things on the Corvette forum about Firestone (must wash my mouth out) run flats
 
Originally Posted By: casperfun
None. I get tire insurance for about $10 at my tire place and get a new tire.

And how does this tire insurance get you going if you're stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire and no spare in the trunk? The point here is that these BMWs with runflat tires have no spares in the trunk. That's why OP asked about repair kits.
 
Originally Posted By: jrcowboys
Guys:
My daughter has BMW with run flat tires (very expensive). Just wondering if most of you replace with run flats or conventional tires and buy tire inflation kit?

If inflation kit, what kit do you recommend?

Thanks for help.

JR


The run flats have a reputation of being harsh on the ride quality. I have regular tires on my Z4 and invested in a complete wheel that's in the trunk. It takes up most of the trunk space but I cannot imagine driving around without a spare wheel.
 
Ditched the run-flats on my wife's 530i Sport Package. It's got a glorified donut spare in the trunk. Bought Bridgestone RE960 Pole Positions 6-7K miles ago and have been very happy. Ride is not as harsh and I can't tell any difference in traction. I also have plugs and Slime 12V pump in trunk for long trips.
 
Originally Posted By: jrcowboys
Guys:
My daughter has BMW with run flat tires (very expensive). Just wondering if most of you replace with run flats or conventional tires and buy tire inflation kit?

If inflation kit, what kit do you recommend?

Thanks for help.

JR


Run flats if she is rich. They do not insure run flats for $10. It's more like the cost of one tire to insure 4.

Would she change her own tire even if she had a spare? If the answer is no, get the inflation kit and buy roadside service protection.

The run flat has to be replaced after you drive some distance, so the cost of a run-flat equals a tow. Very little in the way of economics or performance to support them, only the safety issue that she can drive from an unsafe place to a safer place.
 
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Not a fan of run flats. They ride terribly.

Replaced them on my Vettes with regular tires. HUGE difference in handling and ride.

On long trips I carry an extra wheel and tire with me.
 
Originally Posted By: jrcowboys
Guys:
My daughter has BMW with run flat tires (very expensive). Just wondering if most of you replace with run flats or conventional tires and buy tire inflation kit?

If inflation kit, what kit do you recommend?

Thanks for help.

JR



You can get rid of the run flats and buy a BMW spare kit with tire and jack for about $300.I dumped the run flats and bought this kit for a 335 I owned.
Says 5 Series but works with the 3 Series too.
Give her an inflation kit too.



www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cf...;catalogid=4462

Picture of the spare in my 335 trunk with cover and BMW trunk cargo net.

http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo215/wheelsetc1/DSC07022-1.jpg
 
Originally Posted By: casperfun
None. I get tire insurance for about $10 at my tire place and get a new tire.

FWIW, Costco now carries Bridgestone to make people who want the OEM Bridgestone RFTs on BMWs and Toyota Siennas happy and all tires sold there have a prorated road hazard warranty.

Supposedly, Bridgestone and Toyota have a 3rd generation RFT for the new Sienna AWDs based off the Turanza EL400 that has better ride quality...
 
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Depending on the year of the vehicle RFT's have improved considerably. Michelins PS2 ZP's are great tires.

I choose RFT's. RFT's CAN be plugged like a regular tire (Shops which say "no" are doing so because they repair tires by taking them off the rim and RFT's are harder to do that with. You do not have to take a tire off the rim to plug it.)

People who go the doughnut route forget that those tires are single use and should be replaced (added cost).

Try tirerack for prices.

Slim is "ok", but of course won't help a seriously damaged tire.
 
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That's news to me as well. I've never seen this mentioned in any owner's manual that a donut is single use. I'd like to read more on the subject.

Or maybe he meant that once the tire on the donut is worn out, you can't just replace the tire itself. Instead you have to replace the whole donut, which I would assume to be true.
 
Originally Posted By: BMWTurboDzl
.........RFT's CAN be plugged like a regular tire (Shops which say "no" are doing so because they repair tires by taking them off the rim and RFT's are harder to do that with. You do not have to take a tire off the rim to plug it.).........


Here's the problem with repairing RunFlat - regardless of whether it's a plug, a patch, or the proper way - plug/patch combination.

When regular tires are run flat, they will show some damage. The damage might be on the outside (the sidewall) or on the inside (the innerliner) or both. By plugginf a tire, you can not see what damage might be on the inside - and that would be a clue that the tire is rapidly headed for a failure.

On the other hand, RunFlat tires, when run flat, will not show any damage to either the sidewalls or innerliner. If there is damage due to it being run without inflation pressure, it is between the stiff rubber insert and the plies - completely invisible. So repairing a RunFlat tire is problematic. It carries a risk that isn't prsent in a regular tire.

As a result, some tire manufacturers do not recommend repairing a RunFlat tire. Other tire manufacturers recognize that tire failures due to running RunFlat tires without inflation pressure are fairly rare and cautiously allow repairs.

Tire shops are not populated with rocket scientists - or in this case, tire engineers. They want simple, easy to understand, and apply, rules to follow - rules that will always result in a legally defendable position, regardless of the situation.

In the case of repairs, they may decide not to take any risk and not repair RunFlat tires. The fact that RunFlat tires require extra effort to mount and dismount is just a side effect.

Originally Posted By: Rand
can you link me to a single use donut?
All the ones I've seen say 3000 miles.


That's funny, because I have been quoting "50/50" (50 mph/50 miles) for quite a while now! The tires will actually go further, but that was their intended usage.
 
plugging a modern tire is always risky.

Many times nothing happens at all.

But every once in a while...

That's why the dismount and patch is used, even that's not foolproof.

On one of my personal rides which goes to road courses I never patch the tires in any way. I;m not going 150 mph and having a tire go away on me!
 
Originally Posted By: CapriRacer

That's funny, because I have been quoting "50/50" (50 mph/50 miles) for quite a while now! The tires will actually go further, but that was their intended usage.

What is it about a donut tire that only makes it good for 50 miles?
 
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
What is it about a donut tire that only makes it good for 50 miles?


First, the design standard for T type tires allows a higher deflection than regular passenger car tires. This translates into less fatique resistance and a higher operating temperatures - both of which are harmful for tire endurance.

Second, the government compliance testing for T type tires is less stringent.

And lastly, I suspect that many tire manufacturers have further relaxed standards for T type tires.

Overall, I would try to avoid driving very far on the donut type spares.
 
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