Run flats shite

[///AMG]

The 135 went in for its first MOT 3 weeks ago. I knew the front tyres were borderline but thought I'd see what they say. Anyway they needed replacing and cost me £240 each fitted. Now as you can imagine £480 on 2 tyres I was a bit pissed about; but at least I knew they'd last me ages because I don't use the car much..

Yesterday I got a screw in the sidewall of one of my rear tyres. Couldn't be repaired and was £258 for a new one fitted (bigger tyres on the rear hence the price difference).

So nearly £750 on 3 tyres in 4 weeks has left me slightly pissed off.

I was gonna ditch the run flats and run standard tyres. I've never liked the drive with them but now I'm stuck with £750 quids worth of new tyres that will last me ages with the thought that I could get another puncture and be in a never ending cycle of new run flats I don't want to change costing me an arm and a leg each time

Got me thinking is there really any great benefit to having run flats?

 

[Dan@M.A.D]

The 135 went in for its first MOT 3 weeks ago. I knew the front tyres were borderline but thought I'd see what they say. Anyway they needed replacing and cost me £240 each fitted. Now as you can imagine £480 on 2 tyres I was a bit pissed about; but at least I knew they'd last me ages because I don't use the car much..

Yesterday I got a screw in the sidewall of one of my rear tyres. Couldn't be repaired and was £258 for a new one fitted (bigger tyres on the rear hence the price difference).

So nearly £750 on 3 tyres in 4 weeks has left me slightly pissed off.

I was gonna ditch the run flats and run standard tyres. I've never liked the drive with them but now I'm stuck with £750 quids worth of new tyres that will last me ages with the thought that I could get another puncture and be in a never ending cycle of new run flats I don't want to change costing me an arm and a leg each time

Got me thinking is there really any great benefit to having run flats?

Yep they run when flat.

 

[Stig182]

Yep, helps the car theifs no end! Stinger.... i dont think so!! :rasp:

 

[BIGASH]

Gone through all of this myself and still not sure what to do myself! I think once I take the winters off I will buy a set of 18's instead of 19's and then chuck a set of Dunlop/Michelin non run flats on! I must say by reducing the car onto 17's for the winter tyres the car is totally transformed! I would suggest going for function over form even though it pains me to say! The car is much more rewarding to drive! It just doesn't skit around and try jumping itself off the road with the superstiff sidewalls of the RSC's

The only real issue that I see is the puncture situation and also apparently the suspension is designed for them :s was tempted to fit the Bird's Hartge suspension kit that is designed for normal tyres but then I can't tow with the car

 

[joshclio999]

no. they make the ride much harder, they dont flex aswell as normal tyres, and cost much more. sell them on ebay and get good non runflats. one of the best things i did on my mini

 

[KevF182]

Is there any sign that manufacturers are listenning to customers? Surely not.

It's not just runflats though, my mate has recently got a FWD FSI Audi TT, a fairly cheap car to run... appart from 255/35 r19 pirrellis at over £250 each. !!! ouch

This is stupid money for consumables, but would non-runflats have been that much cheaper? I don't really know - it's modern tyre sizes that are stupid. Surely the car comanies can see a market opportunity here?

I could say It's our (your) fault for buying these cars but aren't a large proportion lease cars? I would wager that (in our company car park) over 75% of the cost "claimed" on our lease company will be for tyres to be replaced. Surely that should be putting pressure on them - the manufacturers?