How important are run flats REALLY?
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,208
Likes: 2
From: Rochester MN
CI 5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
NCM Ambassador
I remember the post when someone was turning off the highway, but he was a little later than he should have been getting out of the center lane, so he was, shall we say, taking the exit a little hot? Anyway as he got around the truck and over to the exit he ran over a piece of metal, and kaboom - all the warnings on the DIC went off indicating a flat (front, no less) tire. The only weird part was he still had complete and full control, he had run flats. .
They are expensive, certain brands may be noisy, but if your driving habits do not require the enhanced performance of non run flats, how much is your security and well being worth, not to mention loved ones, friends or whoever you may have with you? This is one area that was a no brainer for me - maybe you can find peeps in your area that have other types of run flats and see if you can take a ride with them, unless like I said earlier, you need the enhanced performance of non run flats.
They are expensive, certain brands may be noisy, but if your driving habits do not require the enhanced performance of non run flats, how much is your security and well being worth, not to mention loved ones, friends or whoever you may have with you? This is one area that was a no brainer for me - maybe you can find peeps in your area that have other types of run flats and see if you can take a ride with them, unless like I said earlier, you need the enhanced performance of non run flats.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
I was on my way to pick up my girlfriend for lunch on our anniversary and she only had a 1 hour lunch break. I had a completly perfect picnic lunch planned to make the day a memorable one. I got on the freeway to go pick her up for lunch, and my dic went CRAZY. LOW TIRE PRESS FR, Then FLAT TIRE FR, Then REDUCED HANDILING, MAX SPEED 55. I thought ok these are runflats, no emergency. I continued to my girlfriends work, picked her up. Then we went to the park and had a great anniversary lunch picnic like I had planned. After that I dropped her back off at work and went off to discount tire to get it fixed. I can honestly say that if your time is important to you, stick with runflats. I LOVE THEM. They saved me, and what if it would have been a life threatening emergency?
I think that they are the best tire you can put on any vehicle!
I think that they are the best tire you can put on any vehicle!
Last edited by pewterwest99; Jun 5, 2005 at 12:38 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 10,223
Likes: 344
To me the issue is that I don't have a spare or a jack, or the room for either since I added a subwoofer in the storage area of my coupe. I don't ever drive w/o a cell phone, and I have AAA. But I think I'll get quieter runflats when my Goodyears wear out. I like the peace of mind, but could live w/o the runflats I guess.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 0
From: Big Bear City CA
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
No run flats for me either. I just carry a plug kit, cell phone & Triple-A card. I'd bet that if you ever drove your Vette with non-run flats, you would never put the run flats back on. What a difference 
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 14,372
Likes: 2
From: Indianapolis IN
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
The runflats are important to me, and since I got rid of the GY's for Michelin Pilot Sport ZP's, the ride is 99% quieter and softer. If necessary I can plug it and air it up on the spot and get the internal patch later.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 323
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
Originally Posted by army2000
Yup, that "goop" fix a flat stuff will ruin a TPS. You have to use a plug it kit and AAA. The plug it kit only lasts long enough to get your vehicle to a repair shop.
15,000 miles and counting in a Nitto tire on my vette. If you use a plug other than the crap you get at a gas station, you will be fine. If you know how to plug a tire, no need in Runflats if you dont have the money to blow. Unless the tire is unrepairable, I am not gonna use a spair anyways.
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Verdad Gallardo
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 182
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Florida
'probably saved my life. How much is your life worth?...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1083651
By the way, trying to repair a tire or change a flat on the side of a busy road, especially at night IS NO PICNIC. Been there, Done that.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1083651
By the way, trying to repair a tire or change a flat on the side of a busy road, especially at night IS NO PICNIC. Been there, Done that.
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It depends on how much security you like to have when driving your car. The runflats will allow you to keep going should you lose air pressure, which depending on where you are at, may be a very important safety issue. Yes they usually make more noise and perhaps do not handle as well as non-runflats. I run the runflats in the winter simply because I do not want to take the chance of being stranded on the road when the temp is way down there. Otherwise, I run non-runflats.
