RUNFLAT ENDURANCE?

S

ScorpionFrance

Member
 Burgundy
I wonder if anyone on the Forum has any experience of driving long distances on a deflated run-flat tyre. I know the recommended speed and distance for this situation, but has anyone exceeded this distance to any great extent, and , if so, by how many miles?
I own a 2001 Z3 and a 2007 Z4, and until this year have always used the Z3 for my, five times a year, visits to the UK. Having the space-saver in the boot, I've never had any concern about getting a puncture on the journey, however, as I'm possibly going to sell the Z3 in the Spring, I'm concerned about finding myself in the middle of France in the Z4 with a punctured run-flat. I live 400 miles from the Tunnel, so an incident en route could be difficult to sort out, given that it's unlikely that small towns on the route would have a run-flat in stock or even be able/willing to fit a conventional tyre to get me home or to the UK.
My other related question is; do the temporary sealants that can be squirted into a flat conventional tyre work in a run-flat?
Scorp.
 
Being of that industry, I've come accross a Goodyear Eagle runflat that had gone for 300+ miles in Arizona, where the outside temperature was over 100 degrees.
Yes temporary sealant will work on RF's, as long as the puncture occured in the tread area.
 
powerontap said:
Being of that industry, I've come accross a Goodyear Eagle runflat that had gone for 300+ miles in Arizona, where the outside temperature was over 100 degrees.
Yes temporary sealant will work on RF's, as long as the puncture occured in the tread area.
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Many thanks, that is very encouraging. Hope the Bridgestones have a similar chracteristics.
Scorp.
 
Not wishing to state the obvious, but why not get a space saver for the z4 for peace of mind? Although, isn't space saver recommended mileage only 50 miles? Sure you could get much more out of it, but it sounds like runflats and space savers have similar safe mileage recommendations.
 
Personally I would not want to risk driving on a run flat for any great distance. Risk of accident or tyre damaging bodywork. But spraying gunk in should work, unless it's a very big leak.
 
Run flats that are run when flat deteriorate really quickly. I've seen one after a few miles and the inside of the sidewall is trashed. Would be very dangerous to go long or fast on it.

Of course if filled with goo and inflated it would be fine to get home, if you hadn't driven it flat.

I carry a space saver albeit compromises luggage capacity and would be happy to do more than 50 miles on that if driven with respect.
 
cj10jeeper said:
I've seen one after a few miles and the inside of the sidewall is trashed.
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That was definitely not a Goodyear RF. Obviously, not all of them are built to equal standards.
 
Actually it was. I purchased a set of 108's and the owner had a flat on one. He drove it and later had it repaired. Inside contained handfuls of rubber dust and balls that had worn off rhe inner sidewall.
 
Have you considered the liquid solution that lives inside your tyre until a puncture then seals itself ?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TYRE-SEALANT-TYRE-PUNCTURE-PREVENTION-FOR-CARS-1-CAR-PACK-/261157749383?pt=UK_Cars_Tyres_RL&hash=item3cce370287
 
In the first week of ownership last year i covered 60 miles + from Carlisle to Stratstone BMW Wallsend, Newcastle on a completely flat rear Bridgestone Potenza RF tyre with a nail in it. I was on my way there anyway for some warranty work and had purchased the tyre/wheel insurance, so they replaced the tyre on arrival. Anyway, travelled about 45-50 mph with no handling problems and tyre was fine on arrival. Only problem was the long line of traffic behind me at times on the single carriageway sections of the A69, didn't do the car any favours and certainly got some strange looks, as with a RFT it looks OK from a distance.
Had them go flat on MINI's years ago and again no problems travelling on them.
 
I remember when RFTs had just come out, Top Gear timed a 5 series around the track, then did it again with the tyres deflated. Obviously slower, but not by that much.

But I would still not want to drive a long distance on flats. If you had to do an emergency stop, or swerve to avoid a small child, who knows how well you could do it?
 
My local main dealer said he had one customer come in with the tyre warning light on and wondered what it was. When told the tyre was flat he advised that the light had come on when he just got on the M4 off the M25. The dealer is in Penryn in Cornwall! 300 miles away and he had driven down at motorway speeds not realising he was on runflats.
 
I had a leaking wheel and I had it for about a week kept stoping to top up on air when the alarm went off. Kept driving at normal speeds didn't notice a difference at all, when I fixed the wheel the tyre needed replacing. But mostly due to low tread small bit of damage on the inside. They really are a great piece of enginnering :thumbsup:
 
cj10jeeper said:
Actually it was. I purchased a set of 108's and the owner had a flat on one. He drove it and later had it repaired. Inside contained handfuls of rubber dust and balls that had worn off rhe inner sidewall.
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I stand corrected, although quite surprised because I've come accross dozens of them run for long distances without any issues.

A client of mine who works for a BMW group of dealerships also stated that Goodyear was their OEM brand which had the least number of units taken off after their customers ran on them flat.
 
mr wilks said:
Have you considered the liquid solution that lives inside your tyre until a puncture then seals itself ?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TYRE-SEALANT-TYRE-PUNCTURE-PREVENTION-FOR-CARS-1-CAR-PACK-/261157749383?pt=UK_Cars_Tyres_RL&hash=item3cce370287
Click to expand...
I might try that. I have a similar product in my off-road bikes and, touch wood, haven't had any punctures as yet.
Scorp.
 
Be careful with the puncture sealants - dependent on the tyre they can (due to the ribs inside low profile tyres) set up vibration.


Tapatalking...
 
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