Hey all, How many of you have changed your run flats out?

 

I have.. went from a set of P zero's which honestly were very good they were sticky but they have a short life.

now I'm running a wider regular tire.. which is cheaper and does not seem to be as sticky as the P zero's but the ride difference is drastically better over bumps. next time I'll buy a more expensive name brand regular tire and I think I'll be even happier.

 

Most folks get rid of them as they wear out....or even BEFORE cause they get LOUDER as they wear....
And the ride....don't even go there!! It gets WORSE TOO!!

 

I ask this because I changed mine out last week. they only has 20k miles on them. I went from the stock 205/50R/17" to a 225/55/17's. a bit wider and not a run Flat. They are a Nexen Brand Tire of high quality. Man all the difference in the world. My Mini has always been impressive but now is incredible all around. Feel like an entirely different car. Well worth the early tire replacement.

 

The frist thing I do is swap them for real tires, then sell the spares on the market place here. Or at least I have for the past 4 MINIs. The one before that it took 800 miles to persuade me.

 

When my run flats wear out, they're gone! I already picked up a spare tire for my clubman to use with my non-runflat winter wheels.

 

I had them and at 17K miles last October going to MITO, the right front shredded in backwoods Arkansas. Don't know why this tire treads started peeling off (Car is a 08 R56)but it did ride rough and was noisy.
Anyway I knew I could not find a 17 inch low profile runflat tire in the backwoods . I did find a small mechanic shop that had 1 used 17" tire to swap out so I could get to MITO and a larger town with tire stores.
I didn't look in the small towns due to the fact when I put my windows down I thought I heard BANJO music like in that movie Deliverance.
I replaced all 4 tires in Branson area and couldn't believe how much better and quieter it rode.
I will get a spare tire on ebay if I see one. I do carry my Porsche compressor in my car just incase I need a little air. Also have a Plug Kit.

 

Just switched out the Dunlop run-flats on my JCW... at only 4500 miles! Got a great deal on the Hankook Ventus S1 from Tire Rack. Smoother and quieter -- the way it should be! Will put an ad out locally to sell the Dunlops.

 

Its an amazing difference, It seems as though Mini should be able to find the solution for this problem. The sacrafice for the run flats is just way to high

 

Now that the tire issue is behind me I would consider some performance upgrades if the price is reasonable. any suggestions of what is the best bang for the buck?

 

Try a post in the make/model forum...
Best bang for buck mods varry based upon gen of mini and s vs non s vs JCW!

 

Thanks Zippy, I'll Try that

 

My run flats had 4000 miles when I took them off. Replaced them with Yokahama Avids. The ride is fantastic. Love them.

 

Hi Chris,
It was well beyond my expectations. I knew it would be better but no ides this good. Its been alongtime since I've been that impressed.

 

Swapped them out at 4k miles, didn't even care to sell them, just gave them to the tire shop who I've been dealing with for 35 years. Just wanted them out of my life lol...

AND because Mini refuses to sell me a car without them, I just bought another car and its not a Mini. Yeah, was going to buy another Countryman but nope, MUST take the RF crap... Did it with the first one, not gonna do it again. They lost.

So also having fun with a Fiat 500L.... Not quite a mini, but it is a lot of fun.
Still have and love my mini, but NEVER going to let a car sales guy tell me I HAVE to do ANYTHING!

Next car will be in a few years, we'll see if they change their mind by then, if not, oh well, love the cars but RF tire to me, are reason enough NOT to buy it.

PZeros are really nice on the Mini. And as has been said makes the mini a nicer riding and just overall better car....

 

I'm buying an '06 GP w/ run-flats. I appreciate the consensus that it's a good idea to replace them with regular tires and plan on doing so when they are worn out. In the meantime I will need 215/45X17 winter tires to go on a set of Kosei 17X7.5 wheels. These tires are pretty pricey at nearly $200 each. Any suggestions regarding winter tires. Anyone in the forum reply. Thanks

 

Hi Catrider, I will never have run flats again!

 

See the reply to this in your other thread.

 

Cannot access my other thread where you stated your reply appears.

 

Cannot access my other thread to see your reply.

 

I'm another MINI owner glad to be rid of run-flats!

Bought a 2010 Cooper hardtop from a MINI dealer a couple of months ago. The car had a new set of 16" Conti run-flats that the previous owner had put on as part of his lease turn-in. Being a base Cooper it has a spare, but I didn't think anything about the run-flats as I'd had them on a Corvette with no real issues and thought they might be a plus as I will pull this car behind a motorhome often (I hadn't spent enough time on this forum at that point to know better). Put ~2000-miles on the car and kept thinking "this is just not right!?" - I've had a lot of sports and sporty cars in my advanced years and have never driven anything as harsh.

After seeing all the reports here of dramatic improvement when ditching the run-flats, I put a set of Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3's on yesterday and the difference was just as amazing as everyone says! I'm very happy with the car now.

Now it's clear that the previous owner must have received a sweet deal on a set of take-off run-flats from the dealer as part of his lease return - the tires likely available due to someone buying a new MINI who knew the score and had them removed before delivery - hence run-flats on a car with a spare tire!

Ron (now a Happy Camper)

 

Story always seems to be the same !! My Mini is flat out awesome now with the non Run Flats !!!!

 

just curious, as my 2010 MCS is at 28k and I'm looking at those run flats... for those of you who have traded them out, do you keep a can or three of tire plugger in the boot just in case, or merely accept that there might be a tow in your future if you have a blowout?

 

Tire plugger only will work on a flat/slow leak, but not a blowout, keep that in mind. And in my experience a flat is the kind of thing you find after parking for several hours and then you generally know you are soft, not flat, with enough air to get to the next pump and fill it up. That goop can play havoc on your existing tire and rim to be certain.

I have an '05 Cabrio S that I'm going to swap out the run flats and I think I'm going to get a spare and keep it available for long trips, standing it in the trunk/behind the seat space or maybe even in the rear seat area. I understand there's a new unit available that actually comes in a bag so you can keep things clean. For short local stuff I can leave it home, but for road trips, it becomes a piece of luggage.

 

I agree with patchelect. The plugger can also ruin your TPMS (Tire Preasure Monitor System) if you have it on your vehicle. I also joined AAA