My BMW has run flat tyres and no spare. I have had 2 punctures in 12 months. The tyres cannot be repaired. They cost double the price of a normal tyre. If you have a puncture, you can drive for 200km at 80kp but in Australia, it is very easy to find yourself over 200 km from a major city and if you get a puncture you can be stranded. Run flats may be safe, but they don’t eliminate the need for a spare tyre.
Run flats - you still need a spare.
- Thread starter Tim Cogan
- Start date
I have to ask you, where the hell do you drive? The fact that you have that many flats, the question has to come to point.
I have had run flats for a few years now, and I actually like them, people say that the tread doesn't last as long but I've found it not true. Contrary to popular belief they actually ride tighter (easier to control), a lot of motorheads like Clarkson and Tiff said right when BMW started installing them and said they are horrible but have since changed their mind and said they like them.
One thing is keep your traction control off (except when you need it), that will help keep the tread from burning up because of the harsh difference between a normal tire.
My suggestion buy extra tires, it will cost you the same down the road with a reg. tire, also de-flat them about 3 psi, if a nail does hit the tire it has less of a chance of going flat then a fully inflated tire (its like a balloon). I’ll buy stock in Bridgestone, and patiently wait for my dividend.
I have had run flats for a few years now, and I actually like them, people say that the tread doesn't last as long but I've found it not true. Contrary to popular belief they actually ride tighter (easier to control), a lot of motorheads like Clarkson and Tiff said right when BMW started installing them and said they are horrible but have since changed their mind and said they like them.
One thing is keep your traction control off (except when you need it), that will help keep the tread from burning up because of the harsh difference between a normal tire.
My suggestion buy extra tires, it will cost you the same down the road with a reg. tire, also de-flat them about 3 psi, if a nail does hit the tire it has less of a chance of going flat then a fully inflated tire (its like a balloon). I’ll buy stock in Bridgestone, and patiently wait for my dividend.
In answer to your question - not off road. Handling with runflats is OK. I've bought a spare wheel, but the problem is where to put it on a long trip with luggage and passengers. I'm going to pack it on a roof rack which spoils the look of the car, but at least I'll get where I'm going.
Thanks for the sharemarket tip. I reckon its a good one.
Thanks for the sharemarket tip. I reckon its a good one.
The TC reins the power in when you accelerate, you get wheel spin, but you get “bad” wheel spin.
Get on an empty paved road, open your door make sure the TC is on all the way, then accelerate look at what it does to your tires, they spin but the TC reins the tires in so its stopping you from properly accelerating and not moving the car normally causing the tread to get eaten because of you kind of sitting there think of it as a “micro burn-out”, and it does this every time you take-off! Then turn your TC off completely you take off just fine, and very little wheel spin (well depends how you accelerate), nothing reining the tires in with TC completely off.
You make think I just smoked a ton of crack for saying that but I’ve heard it from people I know that work for Bridgestone, the run-flats make it worse infact because it’s adding extra pressure on the treads. Try it sometime! And let me know how much crack you think I smoked, or ate.
Get on an empty paved road, open your door make sure the TC is on all the way, then accelerate look at what it does to your tires, they spin but the TC reins the tires in so its stopping you from properly accelerating and not moving the car normally causing the tread to get eaten because of you kind of sitting there think of it as a “micro burn-out”, and it does this every time you take-off! Then turn your TC off completely you take off just fine, and very little wheel spin (well depends how you accelerate), nothing reining the tires in with TC completely off.
You make think I just smoked a ton of crack for saying that but I’ve heard it from people I know that work for Bridgestone, the run-flats make it worse infact because it’s adding extra pressure on the treads. Try it sometime! And let me know how much crack you think I smoked, or ate.
I don't think you smoke or ate crack, I now see what you meant. I didn't fully get your point from the beginning because my car doesn't have the power to spin the tires unless the road is wet, covered in snow or some other debris. If I get you correctly, you are talking about the period when the tires are caused to stop spinning and start pushing the car and its worse with traction control because it does that multiple times. Did I fully understand the thought behind it all? Or did I miss something?
wait... doesnt that only apply when the TC light flashes? what does it matter if its on or off? as long as the TC doesnt "apply" when you accelerate then im guessing there is no loss of acceleration or tire-thread fades. unless of course you have 600HP at the wheels, but we are talking about the e90 330 right?
Well that reining allows you to go but the braking (from the tc) is what chews them, its like stopping hard, its two forces working against each other. Clarkson a few years back did this on the Mercedes SL AMG, which has a LOT of hp but it works in all cases; he said you can't get going unless you turn it off and then you've transferred all your rubber onto the pavement.
Phat it does stop from tires slipping but that braking is what the problem is, the tc working light only comes on when the car senses traction loss, which isn't 100 percent because I've been in situations where I know I have to traction and it doesn't come on, its one of those things, computers.
My suggestion is leave TC off when you’re accelerating and re-engage it once you get going- safety first, especially with run flats because you have a third force, brakes, acceleration, steel rim in tires.
Phat it does stop from tires slipping but that braking is what the problem is, the tc working light only comes on when the car senses traction loss, which isn't 100 percent because I've been in situations where I know I have to traction and it doesn't come on, its one of those things, computers.
My suggestion is leave TC off when you’re accelerating and re-engage it once you get going- safety first, especially with run flats because you have a third force, brakes, acceleration, steel rim in tires.