On sunday night, I was leaving an event and it was colder than normal.

When I started the car, the yellow tire pressure warning light came on and the red tire pressure symbol showed all 4 runflat tires low.

I checked the tire pressures and they were 32-33 psi.

So I called Mini Roadside Assistance. They said they would send a tow truck to take my car to the nearest dealership that night. I asked if they could add air to bring up the pressures, but they said no. They would only tow it to a dealership on Sunday night. (Does everyone know that?)

Since I also have AAA towing service, I decided to call AAA instead. They were able to add air and all the warning lights turned off like normal again.

I think we all need to carry an air pump to add air to our runflats, before we damage them!

 

Portable air pumps for just such a purpose are really cheap $15-20. Buy one and leave it in the Mini. A lot easier than calling someone to put air in your tires.

 

You'll never know, but the local driver (possibly the same one AAA sent) may very well have done the sensable thing for you.

That doesnt rate a call for assistance in the first place. Find a service station and put a quarter in the air machine.

 

Reminds me of the last time my old Beemer wouldn't start and the guy aaa sent couldn't find the battery until I showed him it was in the trunk. Obviously he couldn't start the car and I doubt he knew anything about cars. Had to call back and have it towed.

 

Driving moderately on 32-33 psi would not have damaged the tires. Just fill them up at the earliest opportunity.

I do think carrying a compressor is a good idea though. You can drive quite a distance on most punctures by periodically stopping and refilling the tire. Even runflats are damaged when running at zero pressure.