Wheels for Winter Run Flats

[Zip I Do]

Hello Guys!

I am a new owner of a Countryman S All4. First winter and it is time to change to winter tyres, however Mini's winter wheel and tyres packages are too expensive and the taste in the wheels are not that super, super cool for their price. Any suggestions when it comes to pick a good set of wheels for Pirelli or Continental winter run flats? I heard they must have a bigger lip for a better fit and avoid low/ loss of pressure, any suggestions?

Thank you and Cheers!

[bmwr606]

there is no difference in rim for run-flat or non run-flat tires

get the rim you like, then pick a tire to fit the rim

my stock tires/wheels on my cms all4 are 225/45-18 pirelli p7 run-flats on white 18" turbofan rims



for my winter tires, i bought mini oem 16" silver alloy rims and dunlop grandtrek sj6 205/70-16 winter non-runflats



scott

[Angib]

Quote: Originally Posted by bmwr606 (original)

there is no difference in rim for run-flat or non run-flat tires

Quite untrue - indeed dangerous advice.

Runflat tyres can only be fitted to runflat rims if the tyre is going to be able to be used as a runflat.

The other way round, putting normal (non-runflat) tyres on runflat rims, is OK.

mab01uk of this parish kindly produced a photo showing the raised ribs that are present on a runflat rim to stop the beads of the deflated tyre dropping into the tyre-fitting well in the middle.

Without these ribs, a runflat tyre could come off the rim when driven deflated.

[bmwr606]

i based my answer on this quote from edmunds.com and asking at tire/wheel stores

http://www.edmunds.com/driving-tips/...a-primer.html:

"Two kinds of zero-pressure tires exist in the market today. Both types still require the usual amount of air to provide day-to-day performance.

Self-supporting tires (SSTs) are the original and most common run-flat type. Heavily reinforced sidewalls support the vehicle after air departs the scene. This sort of run-flat is designed to fit on normal wheels with no modifications.

Michelin's PAX, a patented auxiliary support run-flat system, is a relative newcomer. PAX sidewalls, while still stiffer than normal tires, are not as rigid as SSTs. Instead Michelin designed a unique wheel that positions a semi-rigid "support ring" inside the tire to hold the car up when the air goes bye-bye. A non-standard bead design is necessary where wheel and tire meet."

no PAX tires are curently available that i could find in the usa

also, 2 different tire stores said they can mount run-flats on my 1997 pickup truck, built before run-flats were commonly available

scott