Replacing runflats. What about a spare?

[TeaVR]

Afternoon.

I'm just about to replace the runflats on my 3 Series with normal tyres.

What are my options with regards to punctures? i.e. I have no space saver / spare, so for those that have done this already, what do you carry in the car for when you have a flat?

Cheers.

TeavR

[Gaygle]

IIRC BMW do a flat tyre pack that they use in the M cars without the runflats. Think it costs about £80.

[Shaw Tarse]

Tyre weld?

[RobM77]

Cars without a spare (e.g. Lotus Elise/Exige, just have a can of tyre weld or similar as standard. I think I've heard people say that it'll wreck the tyre and you'll need a replacement as soon as possible though (no chance of repair).

[dvance]

RobM77 said:

Cars without a spare (e.g. Lotus Elise/Exige, just have a can of tyre weld or similar as standard. I think I've heard people say that it'll wreck the tyre and you'll need a replacement as soon as possible though (no chance of repair).

The can usually says you need to get it repaired pronto, and that it can be repaired just in a slightly different way.

[TeaVR]

Just spoke to the guy that's doing the tyre change. He says two options -

1. Tyreweld - then the tyres ****d
2. Get a space saver

Great

[HellDiver]

How often do you get punctures?

I think I've had a puncture severe enough to need the spare once in 15 years, and I used to do 65k a year for 5 of those years. Either the tyre was going down slowly enough to make it to a tyre place, or it had gone down so fast it was fooked anyway, so limping to the nearest tyre place was required anyway.

[GrahamFarthing]

Few garages will repair runflats anyway, and IIRC, BMW recommend replacing a punctured runflat. So - get you home foam or runflat - you're in the same boat. (Unless you find someone who can repair a runflat). When I replace the runflats on mine I'll just carry a can of foam. (you'll need a jack and spanner too if you get a space saver).

[TeaVR]

Thanks all.

Problem solved. Tyre chap has just found that two of my wheels are cracked!!! So now I need new bloody wheels!!!! NOT A GOOD DAY!!!

TeaVR

[RobM77]

TeaVR said:

Thanks all.

Problem solved. Tyre chap has just found that two of my wheels are cracked!!! So now I need new bloody wheels!!!! NOT A GOOD DAY!!!

TeaVR

Try E-Bay and then an alloy wheel reconditioning company. I recently got a set of four 3 series wheels from E-Bay for a very reasonable price, then took them along to a superb local alloy wheel refurb place. I picked them up from the refurb place last week, and the end result is that I now have a full set of 'as-new' wheels for a third of the price charged by BMW. There is a small risk the wheels you buy will be out of alignment, but that's all part of buying 2nd-hand I guess.