Tyre Pressures with run flats

[GFWilliams]

Okay, I am currently driving an r56 Mini One (owned by my dad). It's on run flats and the ride is bone shatteringly bumpy because of the run flats.

I can't swap them for a normal set of tyres as my dad won't let me, as he thinks they are safer, especially in the case of a blowout.

So if I want to do a little spirited driving, should I lower the tyre pressures to give me more grip (as the side wall is rock hard), or won't it work like that?

TIA

George

[Maxym]

GFWilliams said:

So if I want to do a little spirited driving, should I lower the tyre pressures to give me more grip (as the side wall is rock hard), or won't it work like that?

TIA

George

Don't be daft. It won't give you more grip anyway. That's how MINIs are. Live with it and stop moaning about your dad's motor, or buy yourself a car you do like.

[gonzales]

I am an enthusiastic driver of a R53 MINI and still use runflats. I have no major beef with the runflats and indeed they have saved my ass a few times.

It is your dad's car, he likes the runflats, you get no say. If you want to do spirited driving in a car without runflats, buy your own car.

[sparkyclarky]

He was only asking? Monday morning George - everyone is in a stty mood......

[balls-out]

gonzales said:

I am an enthusiastic driver of a R53 MINI and still use runflats. I have no major beef with the runflats and indeed they have saved my ass a few times.

It is your dad's car, he likes the runflats, you get no say. If you want to do spirited driving in a car without runflats, buy your own car.

I'd be interested in the 'saved my ass a few times'. Have you had multiple blow-outs?
What happens when the run flats, err run flat? I assume you can still feel all isn't well? Even for the rear wheels?

[Accelebrate]

balls-out said:

What happens when the run flats, err run flat? I assume you can still feel all isn't well? Even for the rear wheels?

All cars with runflats should also be fitted with tyre pressure monitors, on the MINI it uses the ABS sensors to calculate any sudden change in pressure.


I've kept the runflats on mine, to be honest they're at their worse when driving over rough tarmac at lower speeds. I don't tend to be pushing on much if the road surface is rubbish.

I wouldn't have thought that lower pressures would do much good, even with next to no pressure in them the sidewalls are thick enough to allow you to carry on driving, so you probably won't notice any difference until the point where you're likely to damage the tyre with prolonged use.

[gonzales]

balls-out said:

I'd be interested in the 'saved my ass a few times'.

There have been a few times when I am in the deepest depths of the countryside when I have had a puncture and without runflats I would need to call a recovery service and be picked up and deposited at a garage. The runflats just carry on regardless allowing me to call around and get a decent quote for a replacement, not have to fanny around changing a tyre at the side of an unlit country road and still drive a stable car.

I have never had a blow out, with either a run flat or a 'normal' tyre. A combination of luck and checking my vehicle is safe to drive with the tyres at the correct pressure probably.

The runflats have a tyre pressure sensor that is located in the wheel arches and checks for differences in wheel revolution speed. A change of pressure of more than 10% will activate the sensor warning light.

HTH

[deaglecat]

Please be aware that you WILL destroy your run flats if to let the air out of them and then drive them. They are only designed to control a blowout and get you somewhere where you can have the tyre replaced. The air in them is not optional.

I read a post over on the Z4 forum about a chap who deflated them cos' he wanted better performance in the snow... like on that top gear video in Iceland.... trashed his tyres.

[nonuts]

gonzales said:

There have been a few times when I am in the deepest depths of the countryside when I have had a puncture and without runflats I would need to call a recovery service and be picked up and deposited at a garage. The runflats just carry on regardless allowing me to call around and get a decent quote for a replacement, not have to fanny around changing a tyre at the side of an unlit country road and still drive a stable car.

IMO you'd be better off with normal tyres and a compressor and can of gunk than run flats. Or just an old fashioned spare wheel!

[gonzales]

nonuts said:

IMO you'd be better off with normal tyres and a compressor and can of gunk than run flats. Or just an old fashioned spare wheel!

You would probably be right if we were talking about any car other than a R53 MINI where the boot space is tiny, there is no room to fit a spare wheel. The car battery is stored in the boot of the MCS which is where the spare wheel would go, along with a compressor and the car jack.

Also would require re-work of my car insurance policy. Too much hassle for something which I have never found to be a problem.