Run Flat Tires

[kilby]

Has anybody who has run flat tires had to get one repaired yet? I wrote a letter to Bimmer magazine about it this month after a friend who works at the BMW Store said that if you get a nail, the tire is basically worthless and you are out $4-5 hundred for a new one. Another neighbor who is a third year apprentice mechanic told me yesterday that one of his instructors is a BMW mechanic and he brought a run flat tire to school that had a nail in it, he said that it was garbage due to the damage. When manufacturers start lauding new technology to sell cars, they don't always inform the consumers the real costs of maintenance of all this hi tech stuff. The more I watch the progress in the auto industry (and there are lots of good developments) The more K.I.S.S (keep it simple stupid) makes sense. Great while under warranty but look out! The purchaser 4 years down the road.

[The General]

Why do run flat tires exists? 2 reasons in fact.

1- There is no room in the vehicle to store a spare and or;
2- Weight reduction

Manufacturers sell the idea as a safety feature which is also true but at what cost?

What you say makes tons of sense.

[Huggyd]

"get a nail, the tire is basically worthless and you are out $4-5 hundred for a new one"

:shock: WOW for a tire or a pair of tires??

Why do run flat tires exists? 2 reasons in fact.

1- There is no room in the vehicle to store a spare and or;
2- Weight reduction

Manufacturers sell the idea as a safety feature which is also true but at what cost?

What you say makes tons of sense.

I don't see Weight reduction as a good reason to dump a real spair tire, at all possible I try to keep a full size spair (good used) in the car if not then I keep it at home and keep the small (doughnuts) in the car.

I take it that these run flats or just full of the crap that you can buy in can and inject it into the tire when you have a flat on the side of the road and are to lazy to change the tire or you took the spair out and the speaker (sub) in, never a smart idea....