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      11-03-2011, 12:37 AM   #1
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Anyone had a flat with a run flat?

With all the discussion about the pros and cons with run flats does anyone have any stories about getting a flat in a run flat tyre?
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      11-03-2011, 05:04 AM   #2
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Got one on a very busy, dangerous road with no shoulder. Was able to continue driving to the dealership of my choice and get a new tire. Worked great for me. Was very glad to have it that day as changing a tire there would not have been a matter of the effort required to do it, it would have been dangerous. Blocking traffic in the middle of an unfriendly commute rush.
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      11-03-2011, 05:46 AM   #3
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How much did that cost you?
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      11-03-2011, 06:11 AM   #4
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Yes, had one with only 800 miles on my loaner 35i. Picked up a nail while driving. Dealer was able to patch the tire while they waited for a new one to come in. Took 2 days for the replacement RFT to arrive. Have to say the RFT did it's job. When I picked up the nail, nothing in the car let me know right away. The X was parked for 2 hours before I came back out to it and when I got in, the I-drive warning was on and indicated which tire was going flat. Got out and looked and sure enough the right rear was a lot less inflated than the other tires. Drove it without a problem to the dealer that was 15 minutes away.
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      11-03-2011, 06:46 AM   #5
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The little worry I have about runflats is the limited 50 mile range. I have BMW Assist so I assume the strategy (if more than 50 miles from home) would be only to use the runflats to get the car somewhere safe to stop and then call BMW.
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      11-03-2011, 07:23 AM   #6
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One of my test vehicles emptied its rear left tyre during night. In the morning I noticed a slight clonking sound from rear and steering pulling to left. I drove slowly to near service station and plugged in the compressor. Meter showed 0 bar. I was surprised as the tyre did not look empty (obviously because of its RF function).

I added air into tyre and drove the car back to dealer. We never figured out why the tyre empted during night.

Other example is from Finnish BMW forum, this picture shows that "puncture" with RF tyre does not always mean you can drive to nearest service station:

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      11-03-2011, 07:28 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kirby View Post
How much did that cost you?
I have not had one on my X3 , my friend did about a month ago, went to the local dealer....$600...
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      11-03-2011, 08:18 AM   #8
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Post FYI Road Hazzard Warentee on RFT's

Pls be advised the Run Flats now come with a 1 year prorated warranty (the details are in the warranty CD that comes with the car) for road hazards. I had a puncture (nail) on my car with 3K miles, and I had to do the dance of the mongoose with the cobra (dealer), who wanted $5-600 for the replacement. Finally he conceded, the problem seems to be that the dealers buy their tires from a local tire wholesaler, and the wholesaler is the only one who can file a claim with the tire mfg for the replacement. Thus there is no profit money for the dealer. I actually had to call Pirelli to get the bite on the cobras head. Dealer folded, free replacement, they are not called stealers' for no reason.
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      11-03-2011, 09:33 AM   #9
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Last month I ran into rocks across the road after a sharp turn at speed with my 2010 Z4 35i and took out the L front( big cut in the tread ). I was in an impossible place to have changed a tire. Drove 25 mi at 40 mph to the dealer left the car overnight(it was closing time) picked the car up the next day(they had the tire in stock) paid $440 and all was well. I just got back from a 4000 mi. X country trip with my 2011 X3 35i shod with 19 in. Goodyear FS2's found that they performed very well. I drove between 70-100 mph (averaged 72 mph and 24.3 mpg for the whole trip) and running at those speeds for hours in 80 degree temps the tires were just slightly warm to the touch at gas stops. One cold (27 F) morning I got a low tire warning and found the tires 4 psi low, added air, reset the computer and was on my way.
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      11-03-2011, 09:55 AM   #10
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I have gotten 2 nails since purchasing my X3 in April 2011... One in each rear tire. Both tires were patchable. I was originally slightly annoyed at the idea of RFT. Not because of the last of a spare but because of the performance loss (both in efficiency and driving dynamics). However, with RFTs... a flat tire isn't a big deal and it makes them completely worth whatever performance hit you take.
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      11-03-2011, 11:13 AM   #11
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why do people buy tires from the dealership? $600 tires at BMW is $400 at discount tire (or similar place) still get the warranty and can get an extended one for dirt cheap!
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      11-03-2011, 12:06 PM   #12
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I'd say that it's because once you've got a flat, it behooves you to get a replacement ASAP to get your car back in action rather than risk not finding the right replacement at an independent tire shop or waiting for it to come in the mail (so to speak). You pay a premium for the better odds of being able to find a suitable replacement quickly vs. being out of commission for some time or risk driving on the flat tire while waiting.
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      11-03-2011, 12:15 PM   #13
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i've had 3 nails in run flats before, on all occasions just continued to drive (under 50mph) and changed the tyre for new after.. it does seem to work as what it says on the tin

this time around, i chose to go for tyre insurance with bmw as the cost of the policy would be recouped if i just had 1 flat which made economic sense... now i just need to find that nail when tyre thread is low
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      11-03-2011, 03:11 PM   #14
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      11-03-2011, 10:31 PM   #15
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Its hard to tell but it looks like there is almost no tread on that tire, ifs that the case can't be surprised it failed like that.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodion View Post
One of my test vehicles emptied its rear left tyre during night. In the morning I noticed a slight clonking sound from rear and steering pulling to left. I drove slowly to near service station and plugged in the compressor. Meter showed 0 bar. I was surprised as the tyre did not look empty (obviously because of its RF function).

I added air into tyre and drove the car back to dealer. We never figured out why the tyre empted during night.

Other example is from Finnish BMW forum, this picture shows that "puncture" with RF tyre does not always mean you can drive to nearest service station:

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      11-04-2011, 05:23 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kirby View Post
How much did that cost you?
Was a few years back on a 330i. Believe it was $400. Definitely more expensive that a $150 regular tire, but for me I'd happily pay the $250 not to be stuck on that road messing with a tire. I'd be pissed to die being hit by a distracted commuter while changing a tire. Might not see the same value if I lived where the traffic wasn't so bad.
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      11-04-2011, 05:25 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cooldude00 View Post
i've had 3 nails in run flats before, on all occasions just continued to drive (under 50mph) and changed the tyre for new after.. it does seem to work as what it says on the tin

this time around, i chose to go for tyre insurance with bmw as the cost of the policy would be recouped if i just had 1 flat which made economic sense... now i just need to find that nail when tyre thread is low
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      11-04-2011, 06:00 AM   #18
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Just one question: where on earth you drive?

I've driven almost 1 million kilometers over 14 years and I have never had a punctured tyre.

Only once a flat tyre and it was with that BMW test car with RF tyres.
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      10-22-2012, 12:48 PM   #19
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First experience on the weekend. 220 miles from home on Saturday morning. Started the car after an overnight stop and got the tyre pressure warning. Checked and found rear tyre flat with a large screw thread buried.

Then the stress of run flats became apparent. Several phone calls and could not locate a shop that would attempt a repair - not even interested in looking at it. Started getting quotes for a Pirelli P Zero 245/50 R18 100w ranging upwards from £275 and told they could not get it in until Monday/Tuesday. BMW dealer 30 miles away had one in stock at £345.
Tried one last phone call to a small loacl shop and they said bring it along. Car handled fine at 40mph the 5 miles up the road. Two guys agreed they could make a safe repair. The full length of the screw below was buried and luckily was pointing in away from the edge of the tyre making it "just repairable".

Job done for £12
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      10-22-2012, 09:35 PM   #20
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now imagine if that got kicked up into a following car's windshield instead!

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      10-23-2012, 05:20 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pault View Post
Its hard to tell but it looks like there is almost no tread on that tire, ifs that the case can't be surprised it failed like that.
I was going to say the same thing. That tire looks like it was used for track day and is shot regardless - possible reason for it's coming apart.
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      10-23-2012, 02:02 PM   #22
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I had this in my tire....

wifey called me from the side of the highway; she didn't notice any handling issues, the dash just lit up like a Christmas tree. She came home, I drove it to the dealer, 700 bucks later new tire (I have 245 x 45 R19 pirelli pzeros on it)

as a run flat tho.. did what it was supposed to
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