Run flats versus non-run flats

[tceditor]

Had my first real experience with the run flat tyres which i have never really been keen of - but got to a roundabout and there was no taction what so ever, so pulled over to find that my front near side was flat!

The tyre pressure indicators never done a thing, so i can only assume that it was a suddern punture. Now, im looking to sell the car soon, and i have to replace the tyre. Is it possible to have non-run flats on the front but run flats on the rear?

Feel a bit hacked off having to pay £195 per tyre if its going to be sold soon. Anyone have any good tips of where to go for cheap tyres?

Any help much appreciated.

Thanks
Paul

[nylo]

Have you tried a search? If you do an advanced search with "runflats", and specify the wheel and tyre forum, lots of info comes u about runflats V non runflats, repairing them, replacing them etc etc. Hopefully you'll find stuff that's of use

[nylo]

PS, if you phone around, you should be able to find cheaper than £195. That sounds very dear if you are replacing a 17" tyre. When I had 17s, my MINI dealer wanted £165, but I got one locally for £120

[tceditor]

just phoned round and got a few quotes, and one company said that they dont like to sell non run-flats for the mini, as they feel the run-flats were put on there for a good reason!??!!???

Not too sure what he meant by this, but i said it was to save having a full size spare wheel.

Does anyone think it is worth replacing all the tyres with non-run flats, im wondering how this would effect the ride.

[laura f]

a lot of tyre places don't like taking run-flats off and putting non runflats back on, they give you allsorts of excuses someone somewhere where will do it tho I used to carry a can of goo incase of a flat, seemed to work well enough.

as for prices, have you tried the internet? etyres, black circles and mytyres are usually a bit cheaper

[nylo]

Non runflats were put on for a good reason, namely not having a spare.

A primary reason for companies not liking runflats is the extra elbow grease needed to get them off. Because they are reinforced, the sides have very little give, meaning they are a bugger to prise from the alloy. (Just watch out for damage to the rim if you go to someone who doesn't usually deal with RFs)

As for non RFs affecting the ride, again, do a search. A lot of users (Damo springs to mind) swear by non RFs, you have to weigh up the pros and cons for yourself

[Richard Crofts]

I never had any traction when my runflats were inflated so I'm suprised you noticed a difference

BMW are rip-off merchants with regard to RFs. You can get pirelli RFs from a local tyre shop, even a kwikfit for only 120. Some tyre places will do them for less. You can run nons on the front and Rfs on the back if you wanted, sometimes the mixed tread patterns can make handling a bit off though. Best to try and stick to the same all round. Plus if only 1 RF is flat then thats 120 ish, to get 2 half good non RFs will still cost 60-80+ each making 120-140 anyway. best to just put a new single RF on the front again and sell it with all matching tyres.

R

[*Vikki*]

Hey you are not far from me! check out www.bmautosport.co.uk tell him Vicky sent you! he will be able to get you a runflat like new for cheap as chips less that £100 probably more like £40

[Westy]

My Mini/BMW dealer had no objection to going non-runflats, they just laid out the pro's & cons in a non-biased way as we've all discussed here before, and said it's up to you. (Yeah, I was surprised too!)

The only part they had strong feeling on was not mixing them, & I would agree.

I asked them so I could quote the main dealer when local tyre places came up with the usual lame excuses.

[Electric Blue]

You can also get a goo like liquid to go inside non run flats that stops punctures from allowing air out of the tyre (used by bikers for years apparently)

I will probably never change from run flats as the wife uses the car the most, and I don`t want her to be stranded without a spare, it would be more hassle than its worth

[woodman]

£ 195 ??????? Youve Been Ripped Off You Should Of Been Charged Around £150 Per Tyre. Unfortunatly It Is Not Recomended By The Tyre Manufacturer Of The Tyre And Bmw Mini To Mix Runflats With Non Runflats. It Would Make Your Car Handle Like A Pig!