A new tyre today cost me...!!!

[slackjack]

No chance of a repair sadly due to them being run-flats. Cannot repair them at all, believe its due to them being tubeless.

Was tempted to get them all on standard non-flats but thought better of it due to having only done 8K on the other 3.

Interesting fact today though, the puncture sensor works from the ABS system which can detect any lag from a whell (from a deflated tyre). I thought it could have been an internal pressure gauge on remote but simply the ABS system.

Just a few things:

1. You CAN repair a run-flat, but most places will not due to liability issues, especially on high performance tires.
2. Automobile tires have been tubeless for what, 45 years?
3. Facelift Zs in the USA DO have in tire sensors. Pre facelift work as the UK ones do-off the ABS.

Good for you smoking. :wink:

The problem is I rang about three repair centres and you'll be hard pushed to find somewhere that WILL repair a busted runflat. I did push for a repair but nobody was having it. The markup some of them make on the tyre is minimal from what I could gether so its not particularly in their interest to "just sell a new tyre". A repair would take no time. They must not repair them for a reason, and that is the walls could be damaged.

I am glad now that I bit the bullet and bought a new tyre as I don't need to worry when I'm doing 70 with the beloved next to me and it possibly failing.

 

[slackjack]

Other than having tyre insurance (£250 when I bought the car and already paid for itself), the only thing the RFT manufacturers could do better is to have a compound in the tyrewall that releases a coloured compound into the tyrewall as it's driving on flat. Once you see the coloured line/spot/section you'd know that the tyre was scrap or not.

A good idea there, its the not knowing how far its gone on the wall...

But then the other side of the coin I guess they see it from is, if you have the money to buy such a car that would use runflats, you could pay for a consumable which is tyres.

 

[un1eash]

I do believe its more common sense, if you get a flat on a RFT and havnt driven on it i dont see the problem with fixing it. Its alot worse when people with non runflats drive around on a flat then get it repaired. Ive thort about changing to non runflats as they are about half the price but with the amount of miles i do (5k a year) i can live with the cost of my 17's and that extra piece of mind if i ever get a blow out.

 

[AJZ4London]

I am getting 2 new RFTs for free as the stealer sold the wrong tyres but would probably stick with them anyway. I am driving down to the south of France next weekend and would not risk anything else.

Kwikfit quoted £220 for the cheapest runflat or up to £360 for the most expensive!! PER TYRE. Middle-aged woman stood next to me almost had a heart attack.

 

[mmm-five]

Isn't one of the problems of a runflat that you don't know when you've got a flat until you've possibly driven 50 miles on it.

At least with a normal tyre you'd notice a huge difference between fully/partly inflated and flat and thus wouldn't drive on it for any length of time.

 

[Smokin]

Isn't one of the problems of a runflat that you don't know when you've got a flat until you've possibly driven 50 miles on it.

At least with a normal tyre you'd notice a huge difference between fully/partly inflated and flat and thus wouldn't drive on it for any length of time.

Nope, sensors pick it up pretty quickly. Those of us with the TPM in the tire, it will go off as you start the car at change of season (especially from fall to winter) as there is a change in the pressure of the tire. Those who have the ABS system, iirc, it's also pretty sensitive (not as much as the TPM, but the ABS is monitored quite frequently as you drive). I believe what you're thinking about is you can drive up to 50 miles at up to 55 mph on the tire after it has lost all pressure. If you do that, however, it's definitely time for the trash heap.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Isn't one of the problems of a runflat that you don't know when you've got a flat until you've possibly driven 50 miles on it.

At least with a normal tyre you'd notice a huge difference between fully/partly inflated and flat and thus wouldn't drive on it for any length of time.

mmm-five - when my rim split the sensor picked it up in no more than 100 to 200 metres. Even then it was only partially deflated. I know when it went to as I was leaving the tyre shop and that's where it was cracked.

 

[csmith319]

You can tell if a run flat is deflated within a few PSI - the handling is affected. The sensor will pick up large changes in PSI very very quickly, slower ones less so it seems - at least that from my experience (I've had them for 6 years on various cars and because of where I live in the country I do get a lot of punctures!!!).

Apart from the cost, I do like them, I don't mind a harsh ride, just doesn't bother me - so the convenience is a winner for me on them.

 

[Mr Whippy]

Are there not insurance impications for moving to non-rft's though too?
Dont some insurers insist on run flats.
For those who have gone to normal rubber, I hope you've notified them or it could be a case of "I dont think so" come pay out time.

That's correct. Apparently More Than and Kwikfit both state they don't cover non-RFT's. Chris Knott (forum insurance scheme) don't mind though.

It is a bit of a grey area in terms of insurance companies that haven't made comment. Personally I never told me previous insurer, and it did always worry me a little.

We need to start a thread for this.

Basically black list insurers that want them, as retarded, and to be avoided, if they can act so stupidly on one thing, what else are they going to act stupidly on? Sorry sir, no payout, you had non-oem floor mats fitted!

(since the BMW tech material actually says it's ok to run a non-rft tyre on an rft rim/car if needed btw)

Dave

 

[sp3ctre]

(since the BMW tech material actually says it's ok to run a non-rft tyre on an rft rim/car if needed btw)

Do we have a copy of this anywhere Dave?

 

[Mr Whippy]

(since the BMW tech material actually says it's ok to run a non-rft tyre on an rft rim/car if needed btw)

Do we have a copy of this anywhere Dave?

http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/06%20E85%20Chassis%20Dynamics.pdf

Top of page 21, 4th point under the Note: section...

"- In an extreme case, standard tires can be temporarily substitued on the same
wheel (rim) if RFT is not available."

OK, it says extreme, but for BMW that is an admission of it being possible at all. If you did this in an 'extreme' case and it resulted in a death, they would be liable, so I can only assume it is 'ok' enough to not incur the wrath of the "non-RFT devil"
Ie, no RFT's at the tyre shop, fit one and drive on for the rest of your potentially 500 mile trip without issue. If that is ok, then why isn't full-time use ok?



Dave

 

[slackjack]

Isn't one of the problems of a runflat that you don't know when you've got a flat until you've possibly driven 50 miles on it.

At least with a normal tyre you'd notice a huge difference between fully/partly inflated and flat and thus wouldn't drive on it for any length of time.

Yea as mentioned you notice pretty quick...

As I mentioned I have a 3/4 mile commute which takes 10 minutes if that. My warning light came on before I got to work and once I was alerted, I could feel the slight difference in handling. It was a rear drivers side and you could marginally tell.

Thought at first it looked much like the handbrake light and it took a minute for the penny to drop (excuse the pun!). One thing I will say is that they do work great and quite the safety blanket when you do get one, especially if you're in unknown territory.

 

[polak]

Makes me so glad I've changed away from run-flat tyres on my Z4 - I couldn't handle the costs of replacement tyres...

£350 for 4 (yes, a full set) of Falken FK452's in 225/40/18 and 255/35/18 Z4 fitment, no brainer for me.

Where did you find these for this price? Cheapest I've found so far is 415 for all round, could you point me in the right direction?

 

[Mr Whippy]

Makes me so glad I've changed away from run-flat tyres on my Z4 - I couldn't handle the costs of replacement tyres...

£350 for 4 (yes, a full set) of Falken FK452's in 225/40/18 and 255/35/18 Z4 fitment, no brainer for me.

Where did you find these for this price? Cheapest I've found so far is 415 for all round, could you point me in the right direction?

Camskill will do them for about £320 delivered, but then you need fitting...

Dave