What IS the point of Run Flats?

Apples2

I picked up a new car (new to me but 2nd hand) last week.

It was advertised as having a space saver - Great, I thought.. until I got there and looked at it, no spare and run flats.

Not tremendously irked, Autotrader fills out some default details based on the model so it wasn't necessarily something to rant at the dealer about.

Anyhoo, it has Runflats. If the tyre deflates, I can merrily drive for up to 50 miles with it.....great
UNLESS I am half way up Country, too far away from my destination, and too far from home, it's 9-30 at night so no tyre shops open.

I can't continue and I can't return home, I can't change it as I have nothing to change it with.... err, Hotel it is then or a long drive in an AA van, and the next day about £200 for a new one of these things.

I can't see a single good review of them, harsher ride, worse handling to name just two.

My plan is to rotate them ensuring they all wear down together, then wallop, all in the skip and put normal tyres on (and have to buy a spacesaver).

What a croc!!

scheming_gypsy

why not buy a spare for it?

TrickyWicky

Personally I don't think you can beat the good old fashioned normal wheels/tyres. My car is a bit of an old wreck and I've had 3 of them including breaking one up and also obtaining spare alloys/tyres with another one I bought. I've got 8 spares in the sheds! I've still not had to change the tyres once yet either but the day I do I'm well prepared

Apples2

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

why not buy a spare for it?

The good book says you are not allowed to mix Runflats and normals, in any combination. I have read about people who have changed on an axle basis but they have struggled to find a garage prepared to do it.

I could, of course, buy a standard size wheel and stick a runflat on it to use as a spare, my main gripe is that they are significantly more expensive than a normal tyre, but for no benefit.

anotherbaldrick

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

why not buy a spare for it?

Where are you going to put it ? BMW have blocked off the wheel well in the boot .

scheming_gypsy

anotherbaldrick wrote: »

Where are you going to put it ? BMW have blocked off the wheel well in the boot .

have they got a BMW with a blocked wheel well?

Apples2

anotherbaldrick wrote: »

Where are you going to put it ? BMW have blocked off the wheel well in the boot .

It is a BMW 530D, the spare well is still accessible under the boot lining. It just has some plastic basket divider thing there (good for storage though!)

It looks large enough for a full size wheel there but I'd have to try with one of the real wheels before opting to buy one. Spacesaver kits available on Fleabay for £160

All the fittings are still there (the centre securing screw)

scheming_gypsy

Apples2 wrote: »

The good book says you are not allowed to mix Runflats and normals, in any combination. I have read about people who have changed on an axle basis but they have struggled to find a garage prepared to do it.

I could, of course, buy a standard size wheel and stick a runflat on it to use as a spare, my main gripe is that they are significantly more expensive than a normal tyre, but for no benefit.

yeah but there's a difference between mixing them, and having a spare that'll get you home instead of limping on a run flat.

JQ.

I'd imagine that if you suffer a blow-out at 70mph in the outside lane of the motorway you might be grateful of the runflat not spinning you off into the armco.

If you're a 80yr old granny I'm sure you'd be grateful for not having to try and change a tyre at the side of the road or wait for an AA van.

What % of journeys in the UK are greater than 50 miles?

I'm no fan of them, but have had a car with them in the past and it was convenient still being able to drive to work with a flat tyre and getting it changed at my convenience. I certainly wouldn't chose to have a car with them due to the cost, but to say they have absolutely no benefit is rather short-sighted.

SHIPSHAPE

I agree, runflats could be useful but, I fear, more useless which is why I've never bought them.

I reckon there are quite a lot of gimmicks about tyres. eg Winter tyres? Give me a break! In the UK??

Better off with tyres that perform well in rain, be it mid July or late April.

TrickyWicky

SHIPSHAPE wrote: »

I reckon there are quite a lot of gimmicks about tyres. eg Winter tyres? Give me a break! In the UK??

I've never used winter tyres but I know a lot of people who have / do and they swear by them. Remember all the snow we had last year? - I slipped all over the place in my car but winter tyres have better grip. I agree most of the time the weather here doesn't warrant them but if you have a spare set of wheels you could always get winter tyres put on them and just switch the wheels when needed.