How valid is this disclaimer? I have seen in with several aftermarket wheel companies, notably everything sold through MOSS MINI. ARE there some aftermarket wheels that you can't use run-flats with? How can you tell which ones you CAN use them with?

 

Hey, come on SOMEONE must know why some aftermarket wheels say not for use with run-flats. I want to run my run-flats at least until they need replacing. But I would also love to get lighter wheels. What to do? Which can I use? Dan@tirerack, can you help?

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Lean, Mean, British Green, MINI Cooper 'S' Machine!

(G.I.R.)

 

We're currently researching with Pirelli on this topic. Certain wheels have a saftey hump that may be too large for use with run flats.

A safety hump is a circumferential rib just inboard of the bead seat area of a wheel, about 1 inch. Its designed to keep the beat of the tire seated on the tire in the event that there was a catastrophic loss of pressure.

Run flat tires tent to have incredibly rigid sidewalls, and the bead seat area tends to be even stronger than the sidewall. When a tire is mounted the bead are placed into the drop center (middle of the wheel) Pressure in the new wheel tire assembly is raised until the beads jump over the safety hump and and the bead is "seated"

The extra rigidity of run flats may not be able to clear large safety humps. We're researching the conditions that apply to the mini under these circumstances. I will post when we have answers.

Dan
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MCO tire and wheel forum Moderator

 

Very interesting (and helpful) info as usual, Dan! Thanks.