Twice now, I've come close to ordering a Countryman All4 but have stopped myself at the last moment both times thanks to the dreaded (to me) issue of runflat tires. Does anyone have anything nice -- or even mediocre -- to say about runflats? The comments I've seen on this forum don't seem to show them much love.

My concerns:

1. Reports of poor handling. (I haven't taken a long-enough test drive to have a point of view on this.)
2. Reports that, if you drive on a flat runflat for more than 50 feet or so, you're in the market for a new tire.
3. Reports that tire shops won't work on runflats, even if you do stop within 50 feet.
4. Worries about getting a flat on a coast-to-coast trip in the middle of eastern Colorado, with no spare. (Points added for middle of the night or middle of a blizzard.)
5. Sense that there is something philosophically (and ecologically and economically) wrong with buying a new, and not inexpensive, car and then immediately buying four, or five, new non-runflat tires to put on it. Not to mention what to do with the new runflats you've just taken off your new car.
6. Concern that, if you do buy the new tires and include a spare, you'll have to carry it on the roof. (Visions of 'Grapes of Wrath'.)
7. Concern that for low-mileage drivers like me (4-5K annually), waiting for the runflats to wear out before buying replacement tires will take years, years in which you'll fret about items 1-6 above.

Please, someone, show me the errors of my ways, tell me there's nothing to worry about, that you've driven on runflats for XX miles with no problems, or that there's an easy workaround, so I can stop obsessing and order the damn car.

Thanks.

 

I have done 14,000km on my run flats with no issues. I just switched them out for regular snow and ice tires though, mainly due to price. I will put the run flats back on in spring. Snow tires are required by law here.

 

I don't think that 50ft thing is right. If it is, what would be the point of runflats?

I had a 2005 cooper s, and I drove on the runflats until they needed replacing. I flatted once. Was able to drive to where I needed to go(all in town), call a couple shops, and found one who said they could patch it. They patched it, and it drove fine for the rest of the tires life.

I later switched to regular tires, and the ride did improve.

I'm in a countryman S with 18's, and while the ride is harsh, I'm not sure if it's more the tires, or the sport suspension.

 

I have about 7000 miles on my CM4, including about 1000 last weekend. Comments for you:
1) I think the ride with the runflats is OK (or we wouldn't have bought the car) but firm. It corners well, accelerates well (when on the turbo), and goes where you point it. The extreme was when we drove across a surprise piece of concrete on the freeway this weekend and both of us on the right side of the car could feel the trip of each wheel over the bump - up, over, down. It was startling. As for handling, I think the CM4 with all-season tires can be skitterish - when encountering bumps in a turn, it tends to go sideways, sometimes toward the outside, sometimes inside. I'm used to the generous wheel travel on earlier vehicles and their better maintenance of contact between the tires and the road - this occasionally feels a little like an MGB looks - bounding from bump to bump. I suspect that alternative tire selection might give better adhesion and ride - unconfirmed.
5) I've previously bought cars accompanied by limited tire selection available through the dealer and purchased replacements right away, since I knew what I wanted and you can't always get what you want.
6) I don't have a spare yet, but others have reported they can get a spare in the back OK (or even put it on the roof).
7) I'm in the same boat in that I'll probably keep these tires at least for a while and then choose replacements with a pretty strong feeling for what I'd like different. Maybe I'll last until they wear out, or I may act sooner. Right now I'm seeing how it goes - sometimes rough, sometimes OK.

Oh - even though the ride can occasionally be harsh and the car sometimes skips a little sideways - the CM4 is still a very fun car to drive (24 hours this weekend) and it was a great purchase choice, especially when playing in the dirt.

 

I drove my Cooper S on runflats during the summer-fall months (studded tires during winter/snowy months) and the only issue I had with the runflats was how much the tire guys hated putting them on the rims. They may not like it, but they do it, it's their job.
Aside from that, I never had an issue with them, and will be getting the all-weather runflats on the CM4.

 

my CM-S ALL4 has run-flats and sport suspension. Although I'll likely replace them with non-runflats once the stock tires wear, they're not that bad. Already had one nail (didn't go flat, just got the tire light)... got it patched 30 miles later, and have had no problems since.

 

The appeal of the runflat is that you don't have to pull over on a busy highway and change a tire, which is how way too many people get killed these days. Aside from that, there's not really any advantage.

As for having to buy a new tire after driving on a flat runflat--you wouldn't be able to drive at all on a flat regular tire (flat meaning 0psi). Most of the time, the tire sensor will go off long before the tire hits 0psi which allows you to put air in it before it's flat. I've had a couple runflats patched after noticing they were leaking since they were never driven on while flat.

All in all, I'm not a big fan of runflats and don't think the expense is worth it, but they're certainly not as bad as you make them out.

 

p.s. A spare will fit in the boot for long trips.


Sorry about the double post; hit quote instead of edit.

 

If if hit a bad pothole the wrong way, the Runflate won"t do u any good.

 

dang... did it bend the rim at all?

 

I've had 2 BMW's and a MINI with them and was not a fan of run flats until I was driving from San Francisco to Reno in the middle of winter in 20 degree weather with snow on the side of the road late at night. We had a leak in one of the rear tires. The TPMS did its job and provided the warning as it should. Long story short, I was able to drive 100 miles on that tire with three air refills and made it all the way to Reno.

While I was happy to not be stuck in the middle of nowhere, I put non run flats to replace the originals and bought the compressor / can of goo as a backup on all three cars.

I would not let the runflats stop you from buying the Countryman. Buy it, drive it with runflats and if you hate them replace them. The used tires can be sold on Craigslist for 30 to 40% of new price if there is still good tread on them. I've sold several sets of tires I did not like that way.

 

I've put 11,000 miles on my stock all season runflats, and they're fine. I don't find the ride particularly harsh. The car's suspension is stiffer than many other cars, but that's part of the reason the handling is so good. I don't find them "harsh" at all. Maybe I'll be even happier if I go non-runflat on my next tires, but the car is comfy and agile as is.

If you don't want runflats, you can always buy the car with them and immediately change them out and sell them. It's not a waste from an ecological standpoint if somebody else uses them, and you may recoup a significant portion of your money.

I haven't found a donut that fits under the boot floor, but there are some small ones that can go in the back.

 

I don't mind the run flats on our loaner. Like was mentioned before if you don't know any better than you won't tell they are there at all. I had to get down and look to see the symbol to tell.

If you had regular tires then installed run flats then you may notice a differance. I have a set of 18" winter non runflats to be installed at the dealer before I take delivery and using these as my winter set. Buying another set of aftermarket 18" wheels and installing the stock runflats on them for the summer months. Once they wear out I will move up to a set of 19" for my summer shoes.

As for the repairs.....I am a mechanic by trade and repaired all types of tires, run flats, non run flats, bias ply, whatever. Just don't use the old push and pull out plug. (Illegal now). Get the tire taken off the rim and use a quality combination plug and patch....no worries.

 

I had my runflats on for a few thousand miles before I needed new ones (car was used.)

They were a little rough, and they did "skip" a bit under VERY hard cornering, but I think the runflat hate here is overblown. I thought I was going to see a night and day difference when I went to regular summer rubber, but I didn't. Yes it grips better and is a little less bumpy, but not enough to justify the enthusiasm of ditching brand-new runflats I see around here.

They aren't the greatest, but they aren't a horrible nightmare either. Get the car, drive until they wear out, and then replace them. My main complaint about RF is the ridiculous cost.

 

I won't let tires stop me from buying a car I want,,, easy to fix problem!

 

Thanks, everyone, for your comments. Still not a true believer in runflats, but won't let that get in the way of placing an order. The only downside is that now I really do have to make a final color choice....

 

I agree…If you like the car….including a somewhat stiff and at times bumpy ride, gooooo for it. Changing wheels/tires will not change the ride all that much. It's the nature of the Beast. Swapped out the stock wheels/tires for 19" wheels and summer performance rubbers. Perhaps a bit more traction and handling…but all in all it drives and handles like a MINI. Stock All Seasons will be going on shortly…as the weather report mentioned that 4 letter word…..SNOW

 

I drove the car on the regualr winter tires last night for the first time (hubby had them installed) and to be honest they didn't really feel any different. I do not get the runflat hate and I wonder if it's a "man" thing.

I bought this, just in case. http://www.hammacher.com/Product/Default.aspx?sku=81766

I am not likely to switch out a spare, even if I had one!

 

A Man Thing….Could very well be. Well my countryman's a manual…and my significant other is only a auto gal ….so…she's in it only for the Ride.

 

Naw, I'm a guy and do not hate my runflats. Aside from two having to be replaced (slight vibration at 60 mph, replaced under warranty) I like them and will most likely replace them with runflats when I need new tyres.

 

As posted in another thread, I recently swapped out my 18" run flats for 17" winter non-runflats. While I did notice a difference, it was not a huge one.
I threw a Slime kit in the car (slime+pump), and I'm good to go.

 

I have already put a Slime Safety Spair (http://www.amazon.com/Slime-70005-Sa...9819987&sr=8-1) in our car. It fits nicely down in the covered well of the "boot". I like this kit because you can either add slime via the compressor or just add air. If you have a slow leak then you can skip the slime blow up the tire and get it fixed (they won't have to wash out the slime). Personally I don't think the RF's are worth the money. We have AAA and the Slime kit. When they wear out I will go to regular tires. I am only expecting a small improvement in ride but I am more concerned about the long term cost of RF's versus the ride benefits. Just my take.

 

I will add that I like the Slime Safety Spair kit so much that I added it to our other cars even though they had spares. If I have a flat in my Volvo in a congested spot I would rather click a button on a compressor and get out of the way than deal with changing a tire. Even if I am in a safe spot I would try the compressor first to see if it held air and got me to a tire place versus dealing with a tire change. Most of the time I am in dress clothes and I don't want to change a tire.

Bottom line is that I would not let the RF's be a major decision point in buying this car. There are many options and they are not that bad to begin with.

 

I just picked up my CountrymanS today and the finance gal was trying to sell me a protections plan for the run flats and rims which would have added almost $40 a month to my payment. I didn't do it. She told me that you can't patch a run flat tire, but now I am seeing that others have had them patched...so was I being sold something I really don't need? Can they really be patched?

 

Even though this is made by Slime, you have to be careful with the type of sealant used in these combo pump/sealants kits. Slime is good, but stuff like Fix-A-Flat will gum up the TPMS and you'll have to replace it (about $50) Outmotoring sells a very small compact spare that I'm probably going to buy for longer trips. (link below) Looks like it will fit in the boot nicely standing up. Couple of bungy cords and I'll be good to go!
http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...pare_tire.html