Opinions on run flat vs regular tires (tyres)

They do, but only in situations like a nail in the tire with a slow leak. Like waking up with a flat and it will get you to the tire store.

If you have a proper blow-out, I’d just opt for a tow instead.
gatorcpa

I just pay for a roadside assist service, it’s only $80/year here with free towing. Driving old German cars all the time, I’ve gotten my money’s worth out of it and then some.

Jacking up a car on the side of the road makes me nervous when there’s so many bad drivers rubbernecking and uneven ground around, I’d rather wait in the car for an hour than have someone bump the car end end up with a brake rotor in my lap.

If you regularly check the air in your tires (and don’t ignore the low pressure indicator light), you are unlikely to to have a blow-out. I keep a pump in both my cars, and as soon as the TPM light indicates a problem, I check ALL tires. If all are low, no problem, just fill all back up. But if only one is low, fill it up then immediately have it checked out.

Haven’t had to change a flat in 30 years.

Then check out the best tires anyone makes: Michelin CrossClimate2.

I now have them on my Subaru Outback (upsized to 235) and my wife’s BMW 3-series GT (after swapping out the stock run-flats). The tread pattern looks like it might be loud, but it’s not at all. Remarkable and noticeable improvement across all categories.

Don’t just take my word for it. Read the ratings and reviews on the Tire Rack website, etc.


Sorry for what appear to be stains in the driveway. It rained last night.

I have put Michelins on every vehicle I have owned and will definitely look into the CrossClimate2's. Thanks 👍

Maybe some actual Tire Rack data is needed. The AS4 runs circles, literally, around the CrossClimate 2. Snow and longevity may be not.

Well this thread was some sort of jinx...only my second ever puncture (my wife has had 3 or 4):



Can't quite tell if it's a nail or screw...



On the way to tennis when I got the alert that the front left tire was low. Found a spot to pull over and looked at both fronts - couldn't see a difference. Since we were about a km away from the courts I got back in and drove there carefully without incident.

After we finished 2 hours later, went out to the car to call a garage that was about 500m from the courts, where I had my only other puncture plugged maybe 35 years ago. They were not doing that anymore, and suggested I call the Canadian Tire store - I did but no one was working in service on Sunday.

Meanwhile my wife is on the phone with CAA, and I took out the gunk from the trunk - sealant and compressor. I didn't want to use the sealant if I didn't have to, so I hooked up the compressor, which has a gauge on it, and the tire is at 30 psi so only 5 pounds down. I pumped it back up to 35 and let it sit as we got the tow truck scheduled, but it was going to be 2.5 hour wait, and they would not drop us off at home even though they would drive right by taking the car to the dealer.

So my wife said she would walk home, I would go with the tow truck, and she would meet me at the dealer to pick me up. This meant she would have to walk on a 2 lane road with no sidewalks where people drive fast, and I was not comfortable with that. Checked the tire (now 30 minutes after I pumped it up) and it hadn't dropped any pressure. We cancelled the truck, and I drive it home carefully. Got home and it was still 35.

So will have to see what they say about patching this, and if it holds pressure enough for me to drive it in or if I will need a tow. Might need a new tire, but maybe not - we'll see. I haven't replaced any so not sure how expensive these will be...

That should be able to be patched, so long as the nail went straight in and did not damage the sidewall.

gatorcpa

While it's a bit tangential, I have a real pet peeve with anyone spilling an unsecured load. My Mrs used to work in an industrial area with a lot of metal recyclers and the amount of stuff I ran over during those years taking her to and from work was maddening.

We have some decent laws here for driving with an unsecured load, much stronger again for spilling anything on the road but its hard to prove unless you have the dash cam footage and I really need to get one at some point, I just never got around to it.

It's been holding pressure pretty well all week. Got a chance to drive it to a local tire shop today, and 20 minutes later and $25 and it's done. They showed me the screw that came out, and honestly it was quite short so must have just barely punctured the tire.

Forgot to add - when I got to the tire shop they handed the keys to a young guy - he looked like he might have been 18 or so. He went out and got in my car, and then got right back out and went inside. An older guy came out and got in - he smiled and he said the young guy can't drive a manual...

I'm glad that at least he didn't try to learn in my car!

I decided to ditch the run flats and had Michelins put on. Much happier with the ride now. Thanks again for all the feedback and apologies to Archer for causing the screw in his tire 😉

On Sunday I was driving past our Ford dealership and I noticed a new white, 60th anniversary Mustang 5.0 on the lot. Took a look at it, yikes, MSRP $65,000. On the window sticker was a 'compact spare and jack' option.....$695.

Mustang sales have been declining for years...maybe MSRP is contributing to that trend.