Change from run flats to normal tyres
Discussion
I recently put on new tyres. 17 inch. Existing tyres were run flats but I decided to go with normal tyres (same size) with a can of emergency tyre inflator in the boot (I have breakdown cover too).
Anyway, a day or so after fitting my wife got an error message saying pressure low. I checked and two tyres were a bit low. I pumped them up and reset the warning. Now two weeks later my wife says that the warning is there again and one tyre looks flat (I am going to check when I get home).
I assumed that the alloy wheels I have were not specifically for run flat tyres (I am pretty sure I had a five series in the past and swapped from run flat to normal without any problems). Is there a potential issue in swapping (apart from risk of getting a flat tyre!)?
Anyway, a day or so after fitting my wife got an error message saying pressure low. I checked and two tyres were a bit low. I pumped them up and reset the warning. Now two weeks later my wife says that the warning is there again and one tyre looks flat (I am going to check when I get home).
I assumed that the alloy wheels I have were not specifically for run flat tyres (I am pretty sure I had a five series in the past and swapped from run flat to normal without any problems). Is there a potential issue in swapping (apart from risk of getting a flat tyre!)?
More likely explanation is there is some cr@p around the wheel lip & the fitting garage didn't bother cleaning the tyre mating surface up.
Could of course be a cracked alloy they are well documented, take it back to the fitting garage & get them to check it out.
In my experience there should be no issue with swapping, I have done it both ways before without issues.
Could of course be a cracked alloy they are well documented, take it back to the fitting garage & get them to check it out.
In my experience there should be no issue with swapping, I have done it both ways before without issues.
Somone asking about going to 'normal' tyres & a can of sealant in GG today:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
As I said there:
"Be interesting to know the view of your insurers.
If the manufacturers spec is that a specific type of tyre must be used - the runflats in the OP's case - would they regard the use of 'normal' tyres with a can of sealant as is common on many cars as a modification that should be declared with potential financial consequences in the event of an incident?"
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
As I said there:
"Be interesting to know the view of your insurers.
If the manufacturers spec is that a specific type of tyre must be used - the runflats in the OP's case - would they regard the use of 'normal' tyres with a can of sealant as is common on many cars as a modification that should be declared with potential financial consequences in the event of an incident?"
jon- said:
Agreed with above, likely to be a bad seal or a cracked wheel.
Which'd still be letting air out even if it was an RF...jon- said:
Insurance companies can't say anything between runflat and non-runflat, as long as the non-runflats meet the correct size and load rating specified.
True. But if you're stuck because of a flat after going away from OEM RFs, and don't have some other way of keeping moving, the breakdown services will either refuse to help or bill you. It wouldn't surprise me if that included an aerosol which didn't cope.TooMany2cvs said:
True. But if you're stuck because of a flat after going away from OEM RFs, and don't have some other way of keeping moving, the breakdown services will either refuse to help or bill you. It wouldn't surprise me if that included an aerosol which didn't cope.
Is that experience or opinion speaking?"Hello, RAAC. I have a flat tyre, and can't change it."
"Certainly madam, is your car a 2016 Tomato GeeWhiz with Run-Flats and have you changed the tyres to plain ones? You have? Goodbye, Madam!"
Or,
"I note on examining your car, madam, that is lacks the original run-flat tyres. I shall therefore leave you here on the motorway verge, and wish you a good day!"
Is either likely?
Anyway, for a tyre problem you don't get a neatly uniformed RAAC representative. You get a local tyre depot fitter, who will tow you back to their place and sell you a new tyre, even if the old one had a repairable fault, even if the new tyre is the wrong bloody size. They don't care if your car had run-flats or wooden sabot originally.
John
Changing tyres can break away lacquer from the wheel (stuck better to the tyre than the wheel!) so suddenly after changing wheels you find they loose air. As above, find where it's leaking from, then decide if you want to spend the money on a refurb (if it's the wheels) or try to use bead sealant to stop the leaking.
There are not run flat specific wheels, but the previous system that BMW tried that locked the tyre onto the rim did require specific rims and tyres with unique sizing (the name of the system escapes me)
There are not run flat specific wheels, but the previous system that BMW tried that locked the tyre onto the rim did require specific rims and tyres with unique sizing (the name of the system escapes me)
NotBenny said:
There are not run flat specific wheels, but the previous system that BMW tried that locked the tyre onto the rim did require specific rims and tyres with unique sizing (the name of the system escapes me)
Michelin TRX, back in the 80s.390mm - 15.5" - was one of the common sizes, then 25mm intervals up and down.
BMW now offer models with or without rft, so I doubt insurers will give a hoot. As for recovery I did this on my Mini, and had a blow out on the M40, AA recovered but it was a pain taking until 07:40 the following morning to get home. They wanted to get a tyre shop out to me but I have specific tyres on and their option would have forced me to spend over the odds on a miss matched tyre type I didn't want and which would have made the car unsteady, plus nobody would likely keep what I have fitted, eventually they agreed to recover. (I use Federal RSR595's)
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