Topic: Run flat winters?

[sailor723]

The next thing to decide now that I've ordered winters for the ML is what to do about the 328. The first decision before I get down to specific tires is RFT's or regular winters and a repair kit with goop and a compressor? The RFT's seem to be running about $30 a tire more.

[rrocket]

The next thing to decide now that I've ordered winters for the ML is what to do about the 328. The first decision before I get down to specific tires is RFT's or regular winters and a repair kit with goop and a compressor? The RFT's seem to be running about $30 a tire more.

I'd forget the run flats. and use a conventional tire.  I wouldn't even use a compressor.  The tire flat stuff I use comes in a pressurized can, so that fills the hole and inflates it all in one step.  Plus I have CAA.

[Julie]

I hear that discussed a lot on the forums and there's no clear winner.

I just bought runflats because my car's suspension was calibrated with runflats and, since I like how my suspension feels, I didn't want to mess with that.  And if I punctured my tire, I wouldn't want it to blow out suddenly or something like that, decreasing my chances of being able to control my car.

[mmret]

The next thing to decide now that I've ordered winters for the ML is what to do about the 328. The first decision before I get down to specific tires is RFT's or regular winters and a repair kit with goop and a compressor? The RFT's seem to be running about $30 a tire more.

It might be worth it for $30/tire. RFT prices seem to have come down a lot.

That said the ability to actually repair a regular tire with goop (and still have it be prefectly usable) is advantageous. I am not sure this is possible with RFTs.

[ovr50]

I have run RFT winters on the 535xi for 2 winter seasons with no problems. Repair kits carried in the car, if liquid kind, don't work very well in the cold.

[rrocket]

For fun....has anyone EVER had a flat tire in the winter??  For the record, I have not..

[mmret]

I have run RFT winters on the 535xi for 2 winter seasons with no problems. Repair kits carried in the car, if liquid kind, don't work very well in the cold.

Keep it in the cabin maybe helps.

[1TSX]

For fun....has anyone EVER had a flat tire in the winter??  For the record, I have not..

The TSX...twice! Luckily it was in the city and 5 mins away from home, both times.

[ovr50]

For fun....has anyone EVER had a flat tire in the winter??  For the record, I have not..

Nope, touch wood.

[rrocket]

For fun....has anyone EVER had a flat tire in the winter??  For the record, I have not..

The TSX...twice! Luckily it was in the city and 5 mins away from home, both times.

TWICE???

[sailor723]

For fun....has anyone EVER had a flat tire in the winter??  For the record, I have not..

Nah....several over the years but always in the summer (usually in the boatyard at our yacht club...lots of screws/nails/bits of metal  etc)

[sailor723]

Well, if I do go with RFT's it looks like my choices (at least from Tirerack) are...

Blizzak LM-25...$170
Pirelli Winter Sotto Zero Series 2...$155
Dunlop Wintersport M3...$167

all of the above in 205/55/16 (-1 sizing)

In rechecking it looks like the additional cost for RFT is more like $45-55/tire between a manufacturer's regular tire and the same model of runflat. I'm leaning towards the RFT's as 80% of the time it will be my wife or daughter driving the car and I just can't see either of them using a repair kit.

[mmret]

For fun....has anyone EVER had a flat tire in the winter??  For the record, I have not..

The TSX...twice! Luckily it was in the city and 5 mins away from home, both times.

Construction?

[Julie]

Well, if I do go with RFT's it looks like my choices (at least from Tirerack) are...

Blizzak LM-25...$170
Pirelli Winter Sotto Zero Series 2...$155
Dunlop Wintersport M3...$167

all of the above in 205/55/16 (-1 sizing)

In rechecking it looks like the additional cost for RFT is more like $45-55/tire between a manufacturer's regular tire and the same model of runflat. I'm leaning towards the RFT's as 80% of the time it will be my wife or daughter driving the car and I just can't see either of them using a repair kit.

I have the Blizzak LM-25.  Reviews are great.

[HeliDriver]

For fun....has anyone EVER had a flat tire in the winter??  For the record, I have not..

Yes, but it was on a gravel road so may not count for you city folks. 

And changing the tire at minus twenty degrees was a truly awful experience.

[GapBoyPCS]

For fun....has anyone EVER had a flat tire in the winter??  For the record, I have not..

Twice. First was a piece of wiper blade that had been run over so many times it was like a spike that went straight through the tread block into the tire. I was on a major highway on a snowy day, and I had CAA help me (mainly so the tow truck could be a buffer against any crazy driver that didn't see us). Second was another piece of something that had also punctured through the tire. I was able to pull off into a parking lot from the 401, and boy was that fun changing myself in the midst of snowplowing and sleet

[mmret]

And changing the tire at minus twenty degrees was a truly awful experience.

Particularly if you're not certain what kind of surface the other 3 tires are on.

[Guy]

For fun....has anyone EVER had a flat tire in the winter??  For the record, I have not..

Picked up a roofing nail on my way to the airport last winter. Have no idea where it was coming from. TPMS light came on and I toggled computer to see actual pressure. Front left was going down FAST! Took the first parking available and left it there for the duration of my trip.

[1TSX]

For fun....has anyone EVER had a flat tire in the winter??  For the record, I have not..

The TSX...twice! Luckily it was in the city and 5 mins away from home, both times.

TWICE???

For fun....has anyone EVER had a flat tire in the winter??  For the record, I have not..

The TSX...twice! Luckily it was in the city and 5 mins away from home, both times.

Construction?

Yes twice. It could have been construction, but it was a nail each time.

[sailor723]

Just got a promo email from BMW promoting winter tire and wheel packages. Looks like they are about $1200 higher than Tirerack for the same tires. They are offering either 16" Blizzak LM-25 ($2497 on alloys) or the Dunlop Wintersport M3's ($1891 on steelies with hubcaps) for the 3 series. Granted,the alloy wheels are undoubtedly better quality than Tirerack aftermarket but for use in salt and sand.....