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School me on tires (regular vs. run-flats)
- Thread starter friskinator
- Start date
Run flats ride like crap, are a pain to install and expensive to boot.
Get an air pump and tar plug kit, almost no reason to have a spare anymore with dummy lights to warn you of a low tire.
No tire snot- absolute garbage that stuff.
I've been a mechanic for 20 years. for reference.
Get an air pump and tar plug kit, almost no reason to have a spare anymore with dummy lights to warn you of a low tire.
No tire snot- absolute garbage that stuff.
I've been a mechanic for 20 years. for reference.
I drove 40k miles last year. 12 miles would last me 3 to 4 months or once every oil changes (10 - 12k in my car depending on how hard I drive it).
Never had run flats before so I was floored reading 12k til worn out. That would get me one rotation on my 60k tires.
Sorry - back to the regular scheduled programming -
- Ben
Alkali Ike
Gold Supporting Member
- Jan 1, 2011
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- I never actually learned to play very well
I got a flat on my GTI while driving over the Cascades from Eugene to Bend. Happened right near pass level where there's no cell service. Man I was glad the GTI has a donut spare. It was a 1/4" lag bolt that went straight into the tire, probably too large a hole for a can of flat-fixer to handle. Without a spare, my only option would have been to hitch a ride with someone to take me to Sisters and call AAA and they'll ask Do you have a spare? No? Then we will have to tow you.*
I'm too old and decrepit to crawl around on the shoulder of a busy highway when it's 90 degrees hot sun, rying to plug a tire. Don't trust some goofball towing my GTI either.
No thanks.
If I didn't have a spare, it would have to be run-flats.
*Actually my current phone has satellite service for emergencies when there's no cell service.
I'm too old and decrepit to crawl around on the shoulder of a busy highway when it's 90 degrees hot sun, rying to plug a tire. Don't trust some goofball towing my GTI either.
No thanks.
If I didn't have a spare, it would have to be run-flats.
*Actually my current phone has satellite service for emergencies when there's no cell service.
Spending almost 3 weeks in Colorado in September and made me think about looking at my spare before just to make sure my spare is good!!
The OEM run flats are the main reason I got rid of my 3 series. They cost more, wear faster, cannot be repaired and I think they were more fragile. Same goes with the OEM wheels, I thought were too fragile also.
It was “death of a dozen cuts”. One by one each wheel/tire failed. I spent many thousands in the end.
WISH I had just bought aftermarket rims and regular P tires from the start. (Suggest find a mini spare and jack. This will of course eat up trunk space. But better IMO). Good luck. (BMW was awesome. But just too expensive per mile for a 3-400 mile a week commuter like me.)
It was “death of a dozen cuts”. One by one each wheel/tire failed. I spent many thousands in the end.
WISH I had just bought aftermarket rims and regular P tires from the start. (Suggest find a mini spare and jack. This will of course eat up trunk space. But better IMO). Good luck. (BMW was awesome. But just too expensive per mile for a 3-400 mile a week commuter like me.)
My C-7 Corvette came with Goodyear Run Flat OEM tires. Only got about 12,000 miles out of them. I replaced with Goodyear non run flat tires for about half the cost. On Amazon, I purchased a 12 volt small compressor that plugs in to cigarette lighter receptacle. I always keep it in the storage part of the car and had to use it once after picking up a nail in a rear tire. The compressor worked great and would recommend to anyone going from run flats to regular tires.
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My new metal band prefers rounds, my old school funk likes flats. Hope this helps.
My Mercedes has run flats on it, as did my last one. This is Texas, and changing tires on the side of the road is NOT a great experience in this heat.
Given that all tires are expensive, I have stayed with the run flats for ease. I have also found that Continentals ride very nice and usually last longer than the other run flats I have tried.
Given that all tires are expensive, I have stayed with the run flats for ease. I have also found that Continentals ride very nice and usually last longer than the other run flats I have tried.
Thanks for all the replies and advice. I'm the 2nd owner of the car, and it was a BMW Certified lease turn in when I bought it. It only has around 37K miles on it right now. I assume the tires are the originals. The dealership tech informed me it was getting close to time for new tires during my last visit.
If it helps, I don't do a ton of driving these days. I work from home most of the time, and most of my driving is within 5-10 miles of my house. Mostly city roads. I already have a plug-in compressor in the trunk.
If it helps, I don't do a ton of driving these days. I work from home most of the time, and most of my driving is within 5-10 miles of my house. Mostly city roads. I already have a plug-in compressor in the trunk.
Retired wrench here..... started in 83 and retired in 22 after 36 years at the same shop.
Don't miss the Monday morning phone calls that began with "ever since you" or "it didn't do that before"......
I work in Fleet so the difference is when they break something, they say it was because of me, not the fact they use excavators as hammers and self-rescue trucks by pulling on suspension parts.
I'm a manager now, but still wrench on stuff that's too complex for my crew.
This thread is giving me an appreciation for the cheap beaters I drive. I usually go through the trouble of snagging a full size spare with a matching tire. It’s saved me a lot of time/trouble.
You might be fine with run flats. For example, what if you forgot to turn off the stove and you went to the grocery store and you had a flat. A run flat will allow you to limp back Sometimes triple A can take as long as 2 hours. Unless you take your right turns at 35mph on regular basis you should be fine. I can wrench a bit but changing tires is even a pain for me. I use to rotate them myself but now I just go to the tire place, I think low profile tiles and run flats are all rough anyway, low profile as in an 18 or 19 inch wheel on mid size sedans, they are high pressure and also have stiff sidewalls
Get a donut and a jack and leave them in the trunk.
Actually I don't recommend that. One problem with spares is that very few people still know how to change a tire while on the road.
Actually I don't recommend that. One problem with spares is that very few people still know how to change a tire while on the road.
If my dad were alive, he'd throw-in his two cents re: wear, rolling resistance, etc. He was the chief compounder for Goodyear / Kelly Springfield.
I pulled the full-size spare from under my Ford Transit and it now rides in cargo with a pump, jack, breaker bar, and plug kit. I would never travel without a spare. I once picked up a hunk of rebar which left a hole as big around as my thumb....Fix-A-Flat, my eye!
Riis
I pulled the full-size spare from under my Ford Transit and it now rides in cargo with a pump, jack, breaker bar, and plug kit. I would never travel without a spare. I once picked up a hunk of rebar which left a hole as big around as my thumb....Fix-A-Flat, my eye!
Riis
Well another phenomena is that people put oversized rims and wheels in their SUVs and do not even have room to put a spare. Those things are heavy and can bed SUV hinges. And many folks cannot even lift those things. It is comical honestly. And I have seen many folks with lifted trucks and forgot to upgrade their jack or still have dinky spare. It's 10 times worse than driving a donut spare
Also all those push in tire puncture plugs that some people are recommending, please note they should be treated as temporary fixes like liquid fix a flat. And they will not fix any sidewall punctures. Another thing corrosion can make that wheel stick . My son is very capable in ficing cars, but one time he was stuck because he cannot get the wheel off. I had to come with a piece of wood and a sledge hammer to get it out. So I would add a block of wood , some sort of jack stand and a mallet if you really want to be prepared
One thing that my family has now are electric impact wrenches. to remove wheels easily I got some inexpensive ones from AMZ. Also any special tire bolts that require a special key, I've changed them all to regular. We use to have a gooseneck 4-horse trailers when we had a thriving horse related business , so we have a share of trailer wheel tires blowing up. And most of the time my wife was driving by herself, so she has more roadside experience of changing wheels. The impact wrench and electric jack were wise purchases if you have a heavy vehicle or pulling a trailer.
Having said all that AAA membership and a national tire change extra warranty is highly recommended. Specially if you travel a lot. Tire changing it a dangerous thing even in your own garage. You may be old school but you are also getting old,
Also all those push in tire puncture plugs that some people are recommending, please note they should be treated as temporary fixes like liquid fix a flat. And they will not fix any sidewall punctures. Another thing corrosion can make that wheel stick . My son is very capable in ficing cars, but one time he was stuck because he cannot get the wheel off. I had to come with a piece of wood and a sledge hammer to get it out. So I would add a block of wood , some sort of jack stand and a mallet if you really want to be prepared
One thing that my family has now are electric impact wrenches. to remove wheels easily I got some inexpensive ones from AMZ. Also any special tire bolts that require a special key, I've changed them all to regular. We use to have a gooseneck 4-horse trailers when we had a thriving horse related business , so we have a share of trailer wheel tires blowing up. And most of the time my wife was driving by herself, so she has more roadside experience of changing wheels. The impact wrench and electric jack were wise purchases if you have a heavy vehicle or pulling a trailer.
Having said all that AAA membership and a national tire change extra warranty is highly recommended. Specially if you travel a lot. Tire changing it a dangerous thing even in your own garage. You may be old school but you are also getting old,
Ah, the only time flats aren't an improvement. Medium scale or long scale?
I certainly don't know how. I've luckily never had to do it, and I'm not about to start at my age.
Given everything I've learned in this thread, I'll likely stick with run-flats. They seem better suited for me overall.
Well, after more research, I decided to go with the non run-flats. I’ll save a bit of cash, and get a better ride, from what I understand. I’m having them installed at a garage that specialized in European cars, and I’m having them do an alignment at the same time. Looking forward to seeing how different the drive is.
