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Run flats should be banned, they are bad for the environment and costly to replace. It cannot be repaired if it just has a simple hole. So you have to replace a perfectly good tire when a simple hole can be patched but the tire repair shops won't do it and you have to throw away a pretty good tire just for a simple hole.
That's absolute nonsense. I've had runflats on most of my cars for 20+ years and have had more than a handful of times when I had nails pulled out and then plugged by tire shops. The tire manufacturer might say that they can't or shouldn't be plugged, but I've never had a problem with a tire shop or a gas station mechanic agreeing to do it as long as the leak is in the tread area and not the sidewall.
Do not get them. I moved people out of them. Not only are they firmer in riding comfort but even in the event of a flat that you continue to drive on-they turn to dust inside and it has to be replaced.
Not to mention, no one carries those in stock so if you are in the middle of BFE and have an serious issue, you are SOL. Yes, it can be repaired but it's not something you want to continue to drive on long term.
Thank you to everyone that has responded. It is a lot to think about. They don't sell them here in town where we live, so I would need to order them to be shipped in. The pluses may not be enough to justify them. Yes, my Durango does have that system that alerts to pressure. Flat tires are not that frequent at all. The biggest issue I thought of is that anymore, one could sit some time waiting for AAA, or even be remote enough to not have a cell signal, think "rural", although that has improved over the years.
Tires are a big investment anymore, and I don't mind paying what it takes for decent quality though where it has to count. I will study tires a little more before deciding which to choose. These tires are huge! I couldn't have probably lifted one even 20 years ago!
I've gotten plenty of screws in tread like that ^ in non-runflat tires. Just results in a slow leak you can address at your convenience.
It wasn't a slow leak. Even though I was about 5 miles from home, it was fully flat by the time I pulled into the driveway. Since there's NO room to put a spare in my Roadster, and I won't use the goo, run-flats like these are great.
That's absolute nonsense. I've had runflats on most of my cars for 20+ years and have had more than a handful of times when I had nails pulled out and then plugged by tire shops. The tire manufacturer might say that they can't or shouldn't be plugged, but I've never had a problem with a tire shop or a gas station mechanic agreeing to do it as long as the leak is in the tread area and not the sidewall.
It is not nonsense, show me a link of a reputable tire shop that will repair a run flat. I know run flats can be repaired, but it is not officially supported since it is no longer a run flat after it's been used and repaired. Run-flats are nothing more than a tube tire that has a extra chamber that stores the foam similar to Fix-a-Flat. It will seal a hole that's it but the extra chamber inside is no longer pressured and the tire's rigidity is compromised.
Unfortunately, when it's time to consider repair, even a trained tire specialist may be unable to confirm internal structure damage resulting from a run-flat tire having been driven in a severely underinflated or zero pressure condition. Such damage may not be visible on the surfaces of the tire's exterior sidewalls or interior liner, making it impossible to determine tire suitability for repair or reuse. Because of this, Tire Rack and many tire manufacturers recommend replacement of run-flat tires driven in a severely underinflated or zero pressure condition.
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Originally Posted by H8PJs
It wasn't a slow leak. Even though I was about 5 miles from home, it was fully flat by the time I pulled into the driveway. Since there's NO room to put a spare in my Roadster, and I won't use the goo, run-flats like these are great.
What a joke, run-flats are tires that have thicker foam glue inside with a much thicker sidewall. Once it is punctured it releases the foam glue, it is simply a convenience to have run-flats instead of using a fix-a-flat can. It's waste of money, gas, handling, and just noisy to have run flats than traditional tires. And normal tires last twice as long as run flats.
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Originally Posted by notnamed
One of the best things I did for my Mini was replace the runflat tires with some good regular tires. Made a huge improvement in ride and traction.
I've gotten plenty of screws in tread like that ^ in non-runflat tires. Just results in a slow leak you can address at your convenience.
Wow a JCW Mini with a run flat. Doesn't sound like you're a real Mini enthusiast. Run-flats added a lot of unsprung weight to the car. It also reduces handling especially grip. The reason why almost all Teslas are poor handling on the track because they have run-flats. And once they get rid of them, the car's handling especially grip and rotation on corners are improved.
I think RF tires have inferior ride quality especially on roads with surface transitions. Once worn I replace them with quality non-RF tires and am happy with the change.
It is not nonsense, show me a link of a reputable tire shop that will repair a run flat. I know run flats can be repaired, but it is not officially supported since it is no longer a run flat after it's been used and repaired. Run-flats are nothing more than a tube tire that has a extra chamber that stores the foam similar to Fix-a-Flat. It will seal a hole that's it but the extra chamber inside is no longer pressured and the tire's rigidity is compromised.
Unfortunately, when it's time to consider repair, even a trained tire specialist may be unable to confirm internal structure damage resulting from a run-flat tire having been driven in a severely underinflated or zero pressure condition. Such damage may not be visible on the surfaces of the tire's exterior sidewalls or interior liner, making it impossible to determine tire suitability for repair or reuse. Because of this, Tire Rack and many tire manufacturers recommend replacement of run-flat tires driven in a severely underinflated or zero pressure condition.
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Run flats that have been run while flat are generally not going to be repaired by shops since they don't know the condition of the tire/how long it has been run while flat. Run flats that have not been run while flat (say, you get a nail in the tire and a very slow leak or something and go right to the repair shop) are absolutely repairable. It's not different than a regular tire in terms of repair-ability, other than you can get yourself somewhere if the tire is flat. Both can be repaired, and if you driver either while flat, maybe not.
As for ride, older run flats definitely were harsher than comparable non run-flats. However, they've gotten much better in recent years (and "Standard" tires have gotten more sportier/stiffer as well to meet in the middle). Wouldn't hesitate to get them now, and if your experience with them is 10 years old, ignore what you know.
It is not nonsense, show me a link of a reputable tire shop that will repair a run flat. I know run flats can be repaired, but it is not officially supported since it is no longer a run flat after it's been used and repaired. Run-flats are nothing more than a tube tire that has a extra chamber that stores the foam similar to Fix-a-Flat. It will seal a hole that's it but the extra chamber inside is no longer pressured and the tire's rigidity is compromised.
I won't use goo in a regular tire and then force a tire shop guy to deal with it, as it gets all over the inside of the tire. Not surprised you don't know that, as you don't seem to know a lot about cars.
I simply had the tires replaced with the road hazard warranty that comes free with purchase of the tires at Tire Rack.
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What a joke, run-flats are tires that have thicker foam glue inside with a much thicker sidewall. Once it is punctured it releases the foam glue, it is simply a convenience to have run-flats instead of using a fix-a-flat can. It's waste of money, gas, handling, and just noisy to have run flats than traditional tires. And normal tires last twice as long as run flats.
I don't think so, I've had the current set on for 10k miles and they still look new, even though I do drive it hard when I drive it (it's my weekend car). And as I said, the run flat seals up without spreading the goo all over the inside of the tire. soi it's not a PITA for the tire guys.
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Wow a JCW Mini with a run flat. Doesn't sound like you're a real Mini enthusiast. Run-flats added a lot of unsprung weight to the car. It also reduces handling especially grip. The reason why almost all Teslas are poor handling on the track because they have run-flats. And once they get rid of them, the car's handling especially grip and rotation on corners are improved.
Wow. On my 3rd MINI, am a member of 3 different MINI Clubs, I've been road racing and autocrossing for DECADES, and the MINI is just fine as the weekend fun car:
And the Dunlop Sport Maxx run flats are ultra high performance summer tires, with loads of grip, great responsiveness, weigh barely any more than the other Max Performance summer tires, and wear really good. I don't drive that car on the track, so shaving another couple hundredths of a second off a backroad jaunt is seriously not important.
Extra weight? Really? They weigh 20 lb. Same as the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 autocross tires I'd use if I were using it for that:
And only 2 lbs more than the Bridgeston Potenza Sport.
Seriously the JCW has really stiff suspension anyhow. The difference in the tires is unnoticeable. Regular MINIs with softer suspension? Yes, you will notice it. But this car? nope.
Seriously the JCW has really stiff suspension anyhow. The difference in the tires is unnoticeable. Regular MINIs with softer suspension? Yes, you will notice it. But this car? nope.
There are tons of folks in the various Mini groups with JCWs that saw huge improvements on ditching the run-flats, myself included.
Do see a lot of run-flat failures due to potholes that they just can't handle as well as a standard tire.
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