More MPG's with Runflats?
Thread Starter
Bow-Tie Guy
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 30
From: Chesapeake VA
More MPG's with Runflats?
Read a thread response claiming that runflats get 3 mpg's more than nons. Getting ready to make a tire purchase & hope there's no truth to it. Thoughts?
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,799
Likes: 1
From: Dayton Ohio
One of the popular magazines (Vette, I believe) found about 3mpg difference over a test loop. They found that the stiffer sidewalls give you better cornering and mpg at the expense of a rough ride and road noise.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 0
From: clackamas oregon
well the runflats are stiffer and may cause less rolling resistance. but they are heavier also. then again runflats cost about twice as much. so... how many gallons of gas could you buy for oh say.. $800.00. that should bring you about 290 ish gallons so... maybe 5800-7250miles depending on how and where you drive for miles worth on the money you save buying non runflats
Last edited by rgtkst; Jan 7, 2007 at 08:48 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,071
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From: clackamas oregon
we dont get flats!!!! we can avoid anything with the added handleing the non runflats give
seriously.... i have not had a flat in years. and you can get a little kit that has all the stuff you need to temp plug the hole. it will have a little air compressor that pugs in your cig lighter spot, a little tool that pushes the plug in the hole, a few little plugs that you put this glue/goop on and away you go to the tire shop just like you would if your runflats picked up a nail and spit it out leaving you in need of imediate repair, the thing is most flats are from slow leaks and you can add air and make it to the repair shop without bothering with the plug kit at all.
seriously.... i have not had a flat in years. and you can get a little kit that has all the stuff you need to temp plug the hole. it will have a little air compressor that pugs in your cig lighter spot, a little tool that pushes the plug in the hole, a few little plugs that you put this glue/goop on and away you go to the tire shop just like you would if your runflats picked up a nail and spit it out leaving you in need of imediate repair, the thing is most flats are from slow leaks and you can add air and make it to the repair shop without bothering with the plug kit at all.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,707
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles
Runflats provide a tremendous level of safety and security that is unequalled by any non-runflat. However, non-runflats are quieter, ride better and provide better grip. There is NO APPRECIABLE DIFFERENCE IN MILEAGE. I am the kind of person who is very **** about that stuff and I monitor my mileage all the time. I never was able to perceive a difference when I switched to non-runflats. 3mpg is a very optimistic claim to say the least. Having driven a C6Z on the track quite a bit, I noticed that those new runflats are quite good and surprised me with their performance. The C5 runflats were not good on the track at all. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
we dont get flats!!!! we can avoid anything with the added handleing the non runflats give seriously.... i have not had a flat in years. and you can get a little kit that has all the stuff you need to temp plug the hole. it will have a little air compressor that pugs in your cig lighter spot, a little tool that pushes the plug in the hole, a few little plugs that you put this glue/goop on and away you go to the tire shop just like you would if your runflats picked up a nail and spit it out leaving you in need of imediate repair, the thing is most flats are from slow leaks and you can add air and make it to the repair shop without bothering with the plug kit at all.
seriously.... i have not had a flat in years. and you can get a little kit that has all the stuff you need to temp plug the hole. it will have a little air compressor that pugs in your cig lighter spot, a little tool that pushes the plug in the hole, a few little plugs that you put this glue/goop on and away you go to the tire shop just like you would if your runflats picked up a nail and spit it out leaving you in need of imediate repair, the thing is most flats are from slow leaks and you can add air and make it to the repair shop without bothering with the plug kit at all.Really, has anyone ever fixed a flat on a C5 ?
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 72
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From: Racetrack of your choice
Then again different tyrebrands(or even types) also have wildly differing rolling-resistances so did they test Goodyears only or ...?
I would not go back to runflats, worse grip and lot more noise and in 80000 miles I've never had a flat tyre so if it happens sometime its not a big deal, once every 5 years etc!
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 503
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro NC
A couple of years ago I was driving on a 4 lane highway in a very hard rain 60-65 MPH. I'm between two tractor trailers and I hit a piece of metal and the LF runflat tire lost pressure instantly. I never saw what I hit but I heard it. Car remained stable and I drove it home around 20 miles or so. Nice big gouge in the tire - beyond repair. Had that tire been a non runflat I believe I would have lost control of the car and hit one of the trucks. Also my car is lowered and if a non runflat were to blow out I think I'd be scraping a header on the pavement.
Le Mans Master
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From: Freezing in the Midwest. Fort Wayne IN. Global warming my azz.
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Two weeks ago I was driving home from work, changed lanes and there it was, a piece of 1/2" aluminum pipe ~6" long. Looked like a piece off of a kids swing set. The front drivers side wheel caught it and must have kicked it up just enough that the back tire got it right through the side wall. I was running pretty much wore out TOYO's (new GSD3's on all corners now)
Anyway tire goes flat immediately. This is at 60 mph. NO bad handling issues at all. Pulled over right now and had to call tow trailer service. $45.00 to tow to the tire shop. Now if it had been the front tire that got it? I don't know if it would have been as controllable or not. Sorry this got longer than I thought it would. .02 deposited.
Oh, and I have not noticed reduced MPG with new non-runflats. Still get 35 MPG on highway.
Anyway tire goes flat immediately. This is at 60 mph. NO bad handling issues at all. Pulled over right now and had to call tow trailer service. $45.00 to tow to the tire shop. Now if it had been the front tire that got it? I don't know if it would have been as controllable or not. Sorry this got longer than I thought it would. .02 deposited.Oh, and I have not noticed reduced MPG with new non-runflats. Still get 35 MPG on highway.
Last edited by CertInsaneC5; Jan 8, 2007 at 06:17 PM.
Pro
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Los Angeles
I still get 31+ mpg on the highway with the cruise set on 80.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 619
Likes: 2
From: Destin FL
Last year, one of my tire sensors began reporting low pressure. I put air in. Next day, low again. I inspected the tire and could not find the cause. Over the next week it got worse and worse and worse until I was having to air up from 0 pressure TO AND FROM work!!!! I kept searching and searching but could find no nail, cut, gouge, anything. I eventually took the tire/wheel completely off and soaped it up. One spoke of the wagon wheel cracked at the base of the spoke!!! Perfect excuse for new wheels ($1200) but moral of the story is, no amount of tire plugs or sealant would have fixed that. Run-flats definitely proved their worth to me and I will never put non runflats on a car that has no spare or jack. My .02.
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I've run both the runflats and non-runflats on my car and have not really noticed any difference in the MPG that car gets.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 789
Likes: 38
From: Shreveport LA
a 10% increase in efficiency with a heavier tire that is the same height....there is no way. Everyone does know that even tires with the same RATED size like 275/35/18 in different models have different inflated heights. It can range all the way up to 3-5% (.7"-1") and depending on gearing and different temps while testing that might make the difference they tested.