Run Flat Tyres

jamieh

Hey all,

I've ordered a new car that should be in at the end of Feburary.

It comes with run flat tyres as standard....I've heard that the ride isn't as smooth with the run flat tyres.

Am I better off getting 4 high quality tyres and a spare wheel instead of the run flats?

Litcagral

jamieh wrote:

Hey all,

I've ordered a new car that should be in at the end of Feburary.

It comes with run flat tyres as standard....I've heard that the ride isn't as smooth with the run flat tyres.

Am I better off getting 4 high quality tyres and a spare wheel instead of the run flats?

Yes they appear to give a very hard ride as the side walls are more rigid. Its especially noticable if you used to a softer ride. I would definitely get 4 normal tyres. I presume the garage will be looking for more money for this.

Alun

On the other hand, having once had the "pleasure" of a blowout on a very busy M6 in England at 70mph in lane 2, I'd be willing to put up with a bit of a hard ride to avoid ever having to experience that again to be honest

fletch

Depending on your car there may not be space in the boot for a spare tyre especially since it's come "standard" with run flats

jamieh

Hey all,

You can get a spare wheel as an optional extra so there is defo room in the boot for it. As far as I know the tyres will cost €250 each for the fronts and €300 each for the rears.

Its a 5 series M Sport which has a tighter suspension than the standard 5 series so I don't think I want an even tighter ride.

Thanks for the advice.

MercMad

I drove a 530d, new shape, with the sport suspension and the run flats, over Christamas, long journey !

I found the ride unbearably hard compared to my CLK !

It put me off the car completely............and it was just the looks I was struggling with before !

I would also double check on that spare tyre thing aswell, the CLK needs to be ordered like that from the factory as they have a huge boot floor insert that has to be changed at build stage !

JackieChan

Don't forget that generally the tyres can not be repaired after a puncture so you have to buy a new tyre instead!!

Atomic Pineapple

Alun wrote:

On the other hand, having once had the "pleasure" of a blowout on a very busy M6 in England at 70mph in lane 2, I'd be willing to put up with a bit of a hard ride to avoid ever having to experience that again to be honest

I had a blowout on the toll bridge, blocked up the whole eazy pass lane, not a pleasant experience.

can you not test drive a demo car with run flats and see how the ride feels compared to standard tyres?

el tel

JackieChan wrote:

Don't forget that generally the tyres can not be repaired after a puncture so you have to buy a new tyre instead!!

Friend had puncture in a run-flat and the BMW dealer told him run-flats couldn't be repaired and charged him £240stg for a new tyre.

Three days later, another puncture much the same as previously. Deciding that he didn't want to fork out again he took it to an independent tyre specialist in Belfast for an opinion and they repaired it there and then for £7.

The whole notion of run-flats is not being repairable totally defeats any advantage that they might offer. What is the point of a tyre that costs you the guts of €350 every time you run over a nail?

jamieh

So leaving money out of it......Should I go for run flat or 4 normal tyres?

Seth Brundle

jamieh wrote:

So leaving money out of it......Should I go for run flat or 4 normal tyres?

I would recommend normal tyres but as already said, check that there is room for a spare - if not get AA membership just in case.