Run Flat Tires

[17M]

You can find them in luxury cars like late model model BMWs here. As far as I know, they are made by Michelin, Bridgestone, Dunlop. How good are they?

1. Thread wear & tear
2. Availablilty
3. Replacement cost
4. Do we have vulcanizing shops for them?
5. Pros & cons

Anybody here using it now?

[v6dreamer]

There are two diff kind of Run Flat Tires. The Self-Sealing and the Self-Supporting, either one are good but, I dont like it. Why not? It cost too much money.

[Type 100]

Goodyear also makes run-flat tires...look for the "EMT" designation.

Run-flats are one reason why the 2002-2003 BMWs had a pretty bad ride in Europe. The carmakers have to retune the suspension to account for the stiffer sidewalls of these tires (which are the primary reason why they're run-flats in the first place). By 2004 the Munich boys sorted out the suspensions.

If anything, there's a chance we'll see more run-flats as standard-fit items in newer cars. For example, Honda Japan sells its new GE-series Jazz/Fit without a spare tire because it's shod with run-flats and comes with a puncture repair kit.

[HardCharger]

Yep, these things are expensive.

I checked out run flats inserts that are used in security and military vehicles and they cost something like P17K or so per tire! My tire size is (31x10.5xR15)

Price is dependent on tire size and width.

The only advantage is that you won't be a victim of vultures (tow trucks) and those yokels who love to place stuff on the road so that you get a flat and they take advantage of you in one way or the other.

Also, you can drive to a safe spot after getting a flat to change the tire.

It would be nice to have them though.

[Type 100]

Huwaw. Mahal nga!

I think I'll take my chances on the non-RFT type.

[patabihon]

I've got Continental and Dunlop run-flats. I am sure BMW would have a selection for their cars but make sure to bring a lot of cash, hehehe. I think the point of having run-flats is to get rid of some of the stuff you normally carry around in the trunk for when you do get a flat tire (plus the security and confidence that you can drive away even with all tires "running flat"). As such, newer BMWs don't have a spare tire, jack and tools. According to the manual, the deflated/punctured tire should be able to go 250 kilometers at 80 kph before you need to replace it. After this, you will have to replace the tire. I've never had the experience to corroborate this though. An extra cost to this innovation is that the car will need to have a flat-tire monitor.

[niky]

Run-flats save you trunk space, but some of that weight you take off of the rear merely gets transferred to the wheels, which become heavier and harder to rotate (every pound at the wheels equals 30 pounds on the car... so running a set of run-flats doesn't actually save you weight, it just saves you trunk space.

I'd rather have a donut spare and a puncture kit.