I have been running my '03 Cooper on runflats but need 4 new tires and think this might be the right time to switch to non run flats but I was told you can only do this at the dealer. Is this true? I feel like I'm getting the run flat runaround! I have a spare so non run flats not a worry.

Ms. Pepper

 

??? Sounds like BS to me. If you had a 2nd gen Mini you might want to transfer the Tire pressure sensors to the new tires but our Gen Mini's don't use that system so buy your tires and have them installed wherever you see fit.

 

Negative! You can get tires ANYWHERE!!!

 

i just got non runflats from a tire store, whoever told you that was wrong.

 

They said that with a straight face??

Watch out, next they will try and sell you a bridge in Brooklyn.

 

No, any tire shop should be able to get them. Heck you can order them from Tire Rack yourself if need be.

 

thats what I did!

 

Im guessing the dealer said that?

lol

 

I bought my Kumhos for my '03 from Tire Rack too, they shipped em straight to the tire store I designated. When they got there they called me, and a couple hours later I was motoring on fresh rubber - no worries, mate.

You might have to reset your tire pressure warning light, but that's easy and the instructions are in your owner's manual........

 

Except for Costco. At least the two in my area. Neither would do it. Both said "The car came with RF's, so we have to put RF's on it."

Took my business to America's Tire Center. Been running non-RFs since and will never go back.

 

I bought non-runflats from TR. I had to acknowledge that I had ordered non RF tires.

Tire shop that did the mounting and balancing just charged me a little more for the removal but other wise said nothing about the switch.

 

If you put non run flats on a car that originally had run flats.....the car will explode!!! LOL

 

some lady (a mom of one of my kids classmates) told me that she could only replace tires on her 08 Odyssy at the dealer at a cost of over $1300! And she believed it too! After all, she'd always been treated well at the dealer, and trusted the BS they shovel...

Matt

ps, I just did some digging... Turns out that you COULD get Michelin PAX system tires.... And they ARE only available from the Honda dealer..... But you can get tires and wheels to replace them.... I'll be damned!

 

Costco in No. Virginia will install non-run flats IF YOU HAVE A SPARE. They informed me that Company policy will not permit them to install non-run flats without a spare. I plan to acquire a spare in the near future.

 

Am glad I was able to make you guys chuckle...thanks for the input, I knew I would get correct info. It was Costco who told me "only the dealer" too. So any suggestions for replacements? I live in Southern California.

 

but to really give good advice on what tire to replace with, you have to give some information about what you want out of a tire. Performance? Gas Mileage? Durability?

A good place to look is TireRack, and check out the reviews of the tires.

Matt

 

I thought about that after I posted- but I thought there maybe five tried and true brands etc.... I am looking for Performance and Durability. Thanks everybody!

 

adhesion tends to lead to lower tire life times. I get really sticky tires and am happy if I get much more than 20k miles out of a set. My dad, on the other hand, wants 50k+ from a set of tires....

Matt

 

I have a 2nd gen with the TPMS and I still had a local shop do it. All is well.

 

Got it. I need major tire education now that I want to switch to non run flats - I've just been sticking on those run flats since I got the '03.

 

and read some of the comparative reviews. Also, think about your driving situation.... Do you ever have to drive on snow (think all weather) or no snow and some rain (think summer tire with good wet traction)?

Where I live, I don't worry about snow but do have to worry about wet roads from fog pretty much year round. So I get high performance summer tires with good wet traction. For me that has been Goodyear F1 GS3Ds, but there are many other good tires out there and I think my model is close to end of life. I may have to get something different next time.

Matt

 

I read this today.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...omparison_test