My clubman should arrive next week.
I've never had run-flats.
What happens when I'm on a long drive, L.A. to S.F. or Phoenix and have a flat in the middle of nowhere?

 

"run flat"= you have to "run" to your destination, cuz your tire is "flat"...

j/k I have never had run flats so I cannot give an answer besides the one above..

 

I got a large screw in my runflats once but I didn't loose tire pressure. I drove around for almost a week before I got it fixed.

 

Call Mini Roadside Assistance.

But seriously the run flats let you drive up to around 50 or so at 50-55 mph with out problems to hopefully get you to the next rest stop/exit so that you can have it looked at.

I would suggest though that if these are trips you are making frequently that you purchase a donut tire (spare) and carry that with you. If your car is a S version and youhave a flat int he front you will need to move a tire from the rear to the front as the donuts do not fit over the front brakes many times.

 

I bought a spare for exactly that scenario. You have room for a spare under the boot. Its just cheap insurance.

 

Raceface,
I've got 16" alloy wheels.
What kind of spare should I look for and how much do they cost?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run-flat_tire

by the way I have a nail in my tire and I was told you could not patch run flats basically have to replace. My friend has a WRX with run flats and has had a nail in it for 2+ years.

My tires are almost $300 each, I'll drive until it goes flat.

 

That is misinformation. Many places are hesitant to patch a runflat, because they don't know if you've run it while it was flat, which could compromise the integrity of the tire. Find a good shop, however, and they can patch it up just like any other tire. The only difference in runflats is the thick/stiff sidewall.


To the OP - if you get stuck in the middle of nowhere you can:
carry a true spare
have tire which is almost the right size installed, until you can get a replacement
have a replacement sent to the middle of nowhere
have four 'regular' tires installed for the price it would cost to get your runflat overnighted to the middle of nowhere

 

good to know but why wouldn't my dealership do it?

 

When the run flats die, ditch them and never look back. You'll get a smoother ride with better handling from non-runflats. That's what AAA is for.

 

Likely because of liability.

As posted above, it is possible to repair a runflat especially if the puncture is not on the sidewall. I got a screw right in the middle of the tire and I was able to get it fixed and it has been fine. If the sidewall is punctured then shops are not likely to fix it and rightly so.

A good reputable shop should be able to evaluate whether it is OK to fix or not.

 

No spare = long, long walk.

 

Yeah, what everyone said.
1)Get a donut sooner than later. I need one, too.
2)When it's time to replace your tires, get regular tires. Your ride will be smoother, too. The dealers are offering around $1200 for new run flats. You can shop around, like Firestone, for far less, if you still want run flats.

 

Not to go off topic from what Chilao is asking, but is there any other reason to have runflats other than being able to drive on them for 50 miles+.

 

I ended up picking up a Mini donut spare on a 15" wheel for $50 from a wrecking yard. If you've got an S, the spare will not clear the front calipers. You have to rotate a wheel to the front and run the spare on the rear....which is better anyways for your differential. Lots of others will fit the bolt pattern, just make sure you get the bigger rim.

Good luck!

 

Hey There, This topic always gets alot of words. I will tell you my story,
I had a 2006 MCS in a year I had 6 flats, 5 of them I drove the 30 miles home, 2 I had repaired, and four were replaced at the Mini dealer under the tire insurance program. I bought the doughnut at the dealer, I think I paid $150. Never used, and now in the basement compartment of my Clubbie, it gives a whole new piece of mind, and well worth the $150.

Good luck with the new car,

larry

 

Because they're kitty cats.

(and most people who go to the dealer for a flat will pay for a new one. I know a friend of mine did. I could have bought her two sets of take offs for the tires she replaced there...)

 

None that I can think of.

However, there was one poster here on NAM that said he preferred the steering feel of the runflats over regular tires. The stiffer sidewall probably provided that better feel that he liked.

 

I have runflats now, the noise is really bad, and if you get a nail in it you have to replace the whole tire about 400 bucks my new on the ship has the standerd tires the steering is not better, but you will have to keep the stereo up, to hide the noise:(

 

As stated above, you do not necessarily have to replace it. It depends on where the puncture is and whether you drove a lot on the tire while it was deflated.