[MoonieGT]

This is my first car with run flats. I've always heard that they are not comfortable, are more expensive, and don't perform as well as their non - run flat counterparts. I'm thinking I'd pick a standard, but relatively sticky tire when they need to be replaced and just keep a can of fix a flat in the car. Thoughts?

They tried to get me to buy the $1750 wheel and tire warranty, but I passed. If I have issues with run flats I'll get ones; if the wheels get damaged I'll upgrade to aftermarket rims. The warranty price seems absurdly high...

 

[uke]

This is my first car with run flats. I've always heard that they are not comfortable, are more expensive, and don't perform as well as their non - run flat counterparts. I'm thinking I'd pick a standard, but relatively sticky tire when they need to be replaced and just keep a can of fix a flat in the car. Thoughts?

They tried to get me to buy the $1750 wheel and tire warranty, but I passed. If I have issues with run flats I'll get ones; if the wheels get damaged I'll upgrade to aftermarket rims. The warranty price seems absurdly high...

I went with the mechanic-in-a-can approach on my R56 for about a year, then finally couldn't take it any longer and bought a spare which I kept strapped down in the back. I have had mixed results with the green goop and my local tire places give you the stink-eye if you bring in a tire dripping green snot all over their shop floor.

And the goop cans won't help if the sidewall gets damaged. A spare's the only remedy there. Also, think about the TPMS sensor. Probably won't react well to being covered in green barf.

 

[jeremybingham]

I had run flats and they are supposed to be improving but I hated them on my r56 vile. Can't believe how much better the wife's is on non run flats of the same make, continental. I have the mouse, in the uk changing a tyre by the roadside is now so dangerous I'd just call out breakdown cover if the can didn't work. At home would pop a winter tyre on to get me to the garage.
Better ride better grip better price.mmmm

 

[jeremybingham]

Ps and as for tyre and wheel in. No way. That would nearly buy a new set!

 

[JJH]

This is my first car with run flats. I've always heard that they are not comfortable, are more expensive, and don't perform as well as their non - run flat counterparts. I'm thinking I'd pick a standard, but relatively sticky tire when they need to be replaced and just keep a can of fix a flat in the car. Thoughts?

They tried to get me to buy the $1750 wheel and tire warranty, but I passed. If I have issues with run flats I'll get ones; if the wheels get damaged I'll upgrade to aftermarket rims. The warranty price seems absurdly high...

I had run-flats on two R56-model MINI Cooper cars and found the ride hard but acceptable.

As I consider run-flats to offer important safety benefits (and I've had some scary moments with standard tyres), I paid to have them on my F56 Cooper and they are a revelation by comparison!!

My latest MINI has Pirelli run-flats which are quiet, comfortable & very good in the wet... but I think BMW has tuned the suspension of the F56 to deliver this improvement - it's not just the brand of tyre.

Which tyre brand does your car have and do you like the way your car drives/handles?

 

[MoonieGT]

Mine came with Pirelli Cinturato P7. The ride is nice compared the the STI I traded in . I have no real complaints per se, but I imagine it would ride and handle a bit better with a non run flat.

 

[jeremybingham]

They are getting better all the time so perhaps best stick ing with them .if you're happy there are definitely benefits. I will have to have a test drive in one so equipped and do a like for like comparison. I have Dunlop sportmax on mine,17" and it's very quiet and refined and comfy. Really pleased with them

 

[JohnWB]

They are getting better all the time so perhaps best stick ing with them .if you're happy there are definitely benefits. I will have to have a test drive in one so equipped and do a like for like comparison. I have Dunlop sportmax on mine,17" and it's very quiet and refined and comfy. Really pleased with them

I second that great tyres

 

[profiteroles]

18" Runflat Pirelli Cinturato P7 here and they ride much better than my previous F20 with 17" Runflat Bridgestone R050s. Quieter, smoother and grippier.

However... I looked at the price of ONE Cinturato... £271 was the cheapest I could find for 205/40R18!

 

[jeremybingham]

Ouch, not cheap. Still don't think the tyre warranty is worth it though!

 

[MoonieGT]

Ya, way too expensive. You'd have to replace 6-7 tires to break even on it. I think I'd rather replace them out of pocket. Surely I won't have that many tires fail, right?

 

[jeremybingham]

Would hope not!! Unless the tour de France is coming past your area(someone sabotaged it one year with tacs!!!!)

 

[droffilc]

I work in industrial area where there's a wooden
pallet factory on nearly every corner and the street
people take in used ones for recycling.
Loose nails are everywhere.
Run flats and tyre insurance are significant
assets here

 

[jeremybingham]

Yes not a good environment for tyres! Could be very pricey!

 

[toprunmini]

i use a ton of tyre on my clubman wich left me at 350,000 km, run flat tires but at 100,000 i quit runflat and cruise for regular tire since then. Runflat were way more expensive and lasted way less, all my run flat tyre (except maybe Nokian, and Michelin) last at most 10,000 to 12,000 km. Noise, harder on the ride and less fuel efficience. So for my F 56 hatchback 2015 i running winter non runlet Nokian in my harsh Québec winter ( we are down to -25 C below since 2 weeks now) and i would never buy runflat again.

Toprunmini

 

[jeremybingham]

Totally agree tolprunn had them on my r56 s they were continental and not nice.would never have them by choice.

 

[olliesgrandad]

I am really pleased with the way my car runs on Dunlop runflats.
Had a Cooper petrol F56 5 door on loan for 3 days this week on 16 inch non runflats and found the handling quite skittish- a couple of times when driving it no faster than my car on 17inches I thought it was going to let go. The ride was very bouncy ton one motorway journey down the M5 with my wife driving the ride made me feel a little car sick it was so bouncy.

 

[Sunster]

I have non-runflats on my CSD and am happy with them and the drive of the car.

Had an interesting conversation with the salesman about the tyres... I have no interest in getting run flats. I know never say never, but after 25 years I've yet to have anything but several slow punctures, and that was when I lived in the city.

Anyway, I asked him about the mobility gunk stuff and whether the breakdown cover mini provides also includes fixing the tyre (rather than me having to deal with it myself). the answer was not to bother with the gloop unless absolutely necessary - just call the number and let them deal with it. He certainly wasn't a fan of the gloop!

 

[jeremybingham]

Most tyre people hate the gloop.

 

[Oost]

I've had both runflats and non runflats on my R55. The original Continental RF tires were hard and not too sporty. I replaced those with Hankook and then Bridgestone non RF. This resulted in much improved ride and handling. Since I had the room for a spare tire using regular tires didn't phase me much and indeed I never used the spare. The spare was just peace of mind. However in the winter I used RF since the idea of changing tires at the side of the slushy, dirty road in the cold winter was very unappealing. My overall opinion of RF tires wasn't that great.

Now I drive a F56. There is no room for spare or the tools needed to change a tire. When I bought the car I thought I would swap the tires to non RF (the car came with Pirelli Cintaturo) and rely on roadside assistance if needed. But after almost 10,000 kms with the car I have to say these tires are a vast improvement over previous runflats. I have heard that the F56's suspension has been tuned for RFs and this could be a factor, but whatever the reasons, I find the handling and road feel to be very good. I also have Pirelli Sottozero RF for the winter and I like those a lot too. So my opinion of RF has changed.

Oost