Replacing run flat tyres with standard tyres?

[Bells]

Hi all,

Time to replace my first set of run flat tyres and i'm a little shocked at the replacement cost.

Have on my car Dunlop Sport 3000 (195/55/R16).
Cost of replacement £115 per tyre.... seems expensive.

(My last Mini has 15" rims, cost of replacement Pirelli was £45 per tyre)

So can anyone help please...

Does this sound right for the price of replacing Dunlops?
Are there any other run flats i could consider?
Can i put standard tyres onto my rims and carry some tire weld in the boot? (Is this even a good idea?). And if so what tyres would you reccomend? Not looking for the softest, grippiest thing out there due to number of miles i drive, but still want something that i can feel safe with

Any other suggestions from fellow run-flaters would also be appreciated.

Regards
Chris

[MickPad]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bells

Hi all,

Time to replace my first set of run flat tyres and i'm a little shocked at the replacement cost.

Have on my car Dunlop Sport 3000 (195/55/R16).
Cost of replacement £115 per tyre.... seems expensive.

(My last Mini has 15" rims, cost of replacement Pirelli was £45 per tyre)

So can anyone help please...

Does this sound right for the price of replacing Dunlops?
Are there any other run flats i could consider?
Can i put standard tyres onto my rims and carry some tire weld in the boot? (Is this even a good idea?). And if so what tyres would you reccomend? Not looking for the softest, grippiest thing out there due to number of miles i drive, but still want something that i can feel safe with

Any other suggestions from fellow run-flaters would also be appreciated.

Regards
Chris

That's not a bad price some people have been known to pay £160+ for runflats.
If I was you and I have gone this way along with several hundred others I would think. Ditch the run flats and go for the normal tyres and a can of tyre weld. Not only will you have saved a ton of money but also the ride will improve, no more fillings being shaken out of your teeth when you go over a bump or pothole.
There is a list for replacement tyres in this forum. So make your choice.

[Restyle]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bells

..... but still want something that i can feel safe with

Seeing as I had a rear blowout in my MCS with Pirelli Runflats at ...errrr -a very fast pace, & I didnt notice hardly anything, sort of gives me a sense of safety that normal tyres wouldnt.
While its quite true that quality normal tyres have a better grip in certain conditions, their sudden deflation could quite easily cause an accident.
Decisions ...Decisions

[Bells]

A split decision! That's no good! I need help

Cheers for your help and info MickPad and Restyle, it's appreciated.

Now if someone could help out again please... should i chose heads or tails for when i flip the coin?

Many thanks
Chris

[Nick16vCooper]

I'm buying after market pirelli tyres for my new alloys,
just buy a can of tyre weld. I mean what did the world do before runflats?

[Raify]

Another vote for ditching the run flats.

It's not just the cost, but the inconvenience of the tyres. Most places refuse to repair them (when, like me you run over a screw) so something that would cost £15 to fix on a normal tyre, ends up costing a runflat replacement (ie up to £160)

for me, it's a no-brainer:

1. Proper tyres grip better, and give better ride quality
2. They're up to 50% cheaper
3. They CAN be repaired

[MickPad]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nick16vCooper

I'm buying after market pirelli tyres for my new alloys,
just buy a can of tyre weld. I mean what did the world do before runflats?

That my friend is an excellent point, "What did the world do before runflats" Got cheaper tyres that handle better and give a smoother ride.
I am still trying to figure out why BMW went this route, when what they could have done is stick a can of tyre weld in the boot (trunk) and stuck cheaper better tyres on the car.

[Nick16vCooper]

Cheers Mick, but that's what i think to the runflat idea.
I mean everyone bangs on about the 'safety' issue of not using runflats,
but what are other cars running on?

Inevitably you'll get a flat using aftermarket tyres, but being prepared IE tyre weld will surely provide the 'quick fix' that the RF offers without the hefty bill afterwards due to the
RF being non-repairable!

Just my 10p's worth

[MickPad]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nick16vCooper

Cheers Mick, but that's what i think to the runflat idea.
I mean everyone bangs on about the 'safety' issue of not using runflats,
but what are other cars running on?

Inevitably you'll get a flat using aftermarket tyres, but being prepared IE tyre weld will surely provide the 'quick fix' that the RF offers without the hefty bill afterwards due to the
RF being non-repairable!

Just my 10p's worth

IMO well worth 10p hearing your worth

[JohnWB]

Has anyone told thier insurance company that they have changed to none runflats as there is a possability that they could say that the car is not as safe aanymore and may charge more or say you are not insured in the case of an accident. I know that is spliting hairs but you know what they are like.

Also, has anyone tried the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 215/45ZR17 XL as the XL bit means extra load rating compared to the older Eagle F1 GS D2 215/45ZR17. I was wondering if the ride quality / performance would be much difference with what are probably stiffer tyre walls and the slightly different construction / tread of the D3 compared to the D2

[Nick16vCooper]

Nope, *** that telling them about bloody tyres! They are lucky they know i've got a bodykit.

[VeloMini]

The runflats are used because they had to move the battery to the boot on the MCS and there was no more room for the spare. Compare it with a car from a division of the other German car company. They also moved the battery to the trunk to fit the bigger engine on the Chrysler 300C SRT-8. Its engine is a 6.1-liter Hemi that makes 425bhp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque. It is a $40,000 car and does not come with runflats but with Goodyear F1 Supercar tires that measure P245/45R-20 (front) and P255/45R-20 (rear) and a can of fix-a-flat. If they have no fear doing that with a car with that much power and the American legal system, I would have no fear in a MCS with non runflats. My friend just replaced his runflats with Yokohoma ES100 on his MCS and they perform so much better. A lot less tire squeal on the corners. In the States we have free roadside assistance. Even if you get a flat you can have it towed if the fix-a-flat does not work.

[kezman50]

Raify's points are well made and I agree/and have first hand experience of this issue with the Runflats on my MCS. 2500 miles on a new car and my back nearside runflat picked up a....well technically it was a screw but the size and thread on it was luckily, such a non-event that you'd class it as a tack! Everyone I took it too for a repair turned me down FLAT ! (ahem...sorry) It would seem there are cases where people have gotton RF's repaired in the past but during my research at the time it suggested to me that this was a loophole the Main tyre manufacturers are now closing!Quite simply at this point it was a new £150'ish tyre untill I found a product wait for it........da...da...dada....daaaaaa!

ULTRA SEAL !!

Basically I'm so gratefull to this product as it's sealed my puncture first time and saved me forking out for a new tyre prematurely. Absolutely no negative feedback what so ever. No imbalance vibrations at the steering wheel or anything.Am just a private individual like you guy's and am no way affiliated with who ever makes Ultra Seal.People have got to know about this product.

JohnWB's point is equally valid though. Alot of us have, or decided to, ditch the runflats when their change is due, but would this be a get out clause for Insurance companies? Truly, I don't know. Yes, Runflats are the ultimate for safety but surely it couldn't be argued that a 'NORMAL TYRE SETUP' is UNsafe could it? What about the wheels ? I'm sure I remember reading a post where someone mentined that Non-RF's shouldn't be fitted to Runflat wheels (something to do with the Rim ?) I didn't even know there where RF and Non-RF wheels ! Could therefore, this be an angle to not pay out for insurance cmpanies?????

Comments/Test cases seriously needed on this one I feel !!

[Raify]

Seeing as some of the MINI models come with normal tyres + a can of weld, I can't see how it becomes an issue for insurance companies.

As for the "Run-Flat rims so you can't change them" argument, that's the bull***t line that garages spin you, in order to sell a £160 run-flat tyre, rather than a £80 normal tyre.

As an aside to kezman's post, one of the guys at John Cooper recommended an ultra seal company. It sounds like quite a neat solution. Hopefully though, I've used up all my bad luck with tyres. I expect to have at least 3 years puncture-free motoring in return for the £800 I've spent on tyres in the last year and a bit...

[Nick16vCooper]

Where can i buy this Ultra seal Kezman50? I'm in a situation where
my ruflats are getting replaced with aftermarket tyres this week, and with no spare
tyre am looking for piece of mind to put in my boot.