You guys and girls were all 100% correct on the recommendation to do this! Thanks to all of you who ever commented about ditching run flat tires. After nearly 30K miles on my Clubby S, I decided to take the plunge. Based on several thread recommendations, I decided to go with the 215/45/17's instead of my factory 205/45/17's. I purchased the Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500 (could they possibly have created a longer name for a stupid round piece of rubber?) and had them mounted this week. The ride improvement is just amazing even at slow speeds. Now I understand the "spongy" road feel point that many of you made who have changed over to conventional tires. It's a very different road feel from the run flats and "spongy" is the best way to describe this. Considering the fact that my MINI is a 60 mile per day work communter on pothole infested New Jersey roads, I'll take that bit of sponge and enjoy it!

Thanks to all who contributed to my decision to make this change. If any others are on the fence like I was for a long time, do it! You will definitely not regret it!

Oh by the way, PM me if you are interested in some Dunlop SP Sport 01 205/45/17 run flat tires. I have three of them that have never had any damage, repairs or problems. Umm, yeah, and ignore everything I said above. The Dunlops are great!

 

 

My turn is coming up real soon...

 

I think the run flats are a misunderstood tire. I really like mine, and like how they stiffen the ride. I think there are very few who agree with me...

 

I already have a plan for getting rid of mine and I've only 115 miles oh my new car... I want them OFF! BUT since they're on there, when they fail OR Winter gets here, snow tires or new non RF tires will be purchased. Will NEVER buy a replacement RF tire... Thats a guarantee....

Now to decide on the best non RF replacements for this new countryman...

 

I just got a whole lot closer to the dump run-flat move this week. My space saver spare from DetroitTuned arrived this week. $125 including shipping.

The space saver tire/wheel, which is under 5" wide, drops nicely into the rear seat wheel well on the passenger side without intruding on front passenger foot room. My lady is going to make me a cover from heavy black canvass and stitch a MINI logo near the top where it peeks over the rear seat backs when they are folded down.

Now it is time to order the Yoko Avid Endeavors I've been coveting. I just need to work out the economics on whether the order the tires on wheels from Tirerack and pedal my original rims/tires, or just order the tires and pay to have them switched. Once I have the numbers, I'm going to join the dump runflat crowd.

Tom

 

Love mine too.

 

Did you put a Slime kit in the trunk for "just-in-case"?

 

I have heard that slime kit may damage the TPMS. True?

 

We are twelve hours into making the change from the run flats to Michelin AS tires. What a difference...my back has already decided this was a very, very good move!