posted 07-19-2009 11:50 AM                  

I always felt that my 2001 (which had the excellent "Wonder Bar" fitted by the previous owner) was a pretty comfortable ride, all things considered, running on original Goodyear EMTs with 25k miles on them. A couple of months ago, I picked up a puncture in France. I took it to a reputable tyre repair shop and they said that despite the fact that the screw I'd picked up went through a tread block, they could not repair the tyre. I then had a choice of having the car recovered several hundred miles on a low loader to the ferry port, plus the same again when I got back to the UK, or drive it home. I put in 2 cans of tyre inflation mousse, inflated it correctly and got home at up to 80mph without problems.

My local tyre depot then said that they too would not repair it as they didn't know how far and fast it had been driven while flat (not far and not fast was the actual answer!). Replacement runflats would be very hard and expensive to get hold of, so I elected to fit Toyo R-1 tyres all round as the originals were down to around 2.5-3mm, which is excellent in view of the performance the Prowler offers.

What a difference!! All are correct size and are being run at standard recommended pressures without problem. Total cost £580 or around $980 fitted. Dry grip is excellent although I am told this make of tire can 'snap' suddenly in the wet, so I'll be cautious if caught out by the weather. The ride is much more comfortable, the grip levels are excellent and it is overall far more pleasant to drive. My wife and son both noticed the difference from the passenger seat too.

I now carry 2 mousse cans with me all the time, but in view of the fact that (in Europe at least) the run-flats only enable you to drive to the tyre depot, before junking the tyre in question, it's no contest. At least I now have a chance of repairing a puncture or getting a replacement easily for sensible money.

I would not advocate removing perfectly good run-flats for the sake of it, but I thought I'd post this topic as one person's experience of the alternative solution.

I'd be interested to hear from other members who have also made the change or are thinking of doing so.

UK ProwlerFan

posted 07-19-2009 12:06 PM                  

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posted 07-19-2009 02:16 PM                  

However, I do think you missed a couple of other points from my post, if I may say so!

Firstly, I got my info from the guys whose livelihood is to fix or sell me tyres!! I couldn't get the puncture repaired in France, even when they knew they could not sell me a replacement (waiting at least 48 hours). The answer was the same in the UK and neither of them put this down to mousse. Asking the tyre dealer to refer to the Prowler manual wouldn't have cut much ice. I could not persuade them to carry out a repair - I tried, believe me - and I am in Sales! Talking of the manual, I am pretty sure it says you can drive up to 50 miles at 50mph and not 'a long way'!

My local dealer, that I know pretty well, said that he would happily repair his own run-flat knowing how far it had gone and at what speed. He explained that the strengthened sidewall means it is difficult to tell from tyre condition how it has been driven while flat, so, to avoid potential litigation, they err on the safe side and decline in case there is unseen structural damage that subsequently leads to a blowout at speed. I am surprised it's not the same in the States.

I have also read that tyres can be damaged if you leave the mousse in, but I'd just use it to get to a tyre depot and have the tyre cleaned out and repaired straight away(if possible) or replaced for around $170 for the front and $340 for the rear. Rubber degradation is not likely in the space of a few hours. Considering my last puncture prior to this one was about 150,000 miles ago, I hope it's likely to be fairly academic and I won't need the mousse anyway...

I am surprised that you said that I've already lost a lot of my handling capabilities. I can see you have been a member for years and must therefore have loads more experience on Prowlers than I do, and I salute that, but I very much doubt run-flats were standard fitment on the Prowler for their handling characteristics instead of the fact there is no room for a spare? To the best of my knowledge, they aren't fitted to Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin, Lamborghini etc. so that must tell us something!!

I covered about 3000 miles (wet/dry/road and circuit) on my 75% worn, 8 year old run-flats and was pretty aware of their limits. With discretion being the better part of valour, after only a few hundred miles on the new tyres I am still getting used to their handling characteristics, but initial indications are that grip is comparable with the Goodyears and ride is dramatically improved. I'll report back after another few thousand miles, or after my next track outing.

All I'm saying is, don't dismiss them out of hand, they may have certain advantages and, as ever, it's interesting to have the debate, which is why I put the question mark after "Ditch the Run-Flats"!!

All the best from England...

UK ProwlerFan

posted 07-20-2009 09:08 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by Skullrodder:
I got rid of my run flats with less than 4500 miles on them. Replaced them with Goodyear Eagle RSA tires just like on my SSR and the ride improved GREATLY! No handling problems even with major rain returning from Woodward in 2007. You might want to look on e-bay for a small 12 volt compressor package (standard in the SSR) and a plug kit, both will fit in the back of the Prowler without any problem. No run flats for me, JMO.

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I have done the same, not a big difference just feel it a little when pushing it into turns but thats really pushing, other wise handle great in all weather! I carry a small compressor and plug kit.

posted 07-20-2009 11:29 PM                  

Can your non-runflat tire, your air compressor, and your tire plugging kit take you 130 miles in distance,,, at 60 mph,,to the next town,, with a hole in the sidewall of the tire, like this runflat did???

posted 07-21-2009 10:14 AM                  

G

quote:

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Originally posted by ALLEY CAT:
[B]bg,,,

All I'm trying to point out is that 'if' you are out in no man's land,,,,like we were when this happened, one will wish they had the runflat tires.

At the time, we were up in the Arizona mountains,,,,,out of cell phone connections, and were unable to get a tow truck. This left us no choice,,,but to drive it on the wheel this way. Tire 'never' came off the wheel,,and held up perfectly, as advertised. If this happens to a non-runflat tire,,OUT OF CELL PHONE contact,,,,one is in deep crap situation.

Hopefully,,,it will not happen to anyone, but that is what everyone always thinks.
[/B]

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posted 07-21-2009 02:04 PM                  

It appears there is no 'right answer', but it is interesting to see both sides of the debate and I am certainly going to keep an eye out for a small compressor as advised in more than one posting.

posted 07-21-2009 10:31 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by MeanGene:
UK,

I've had numerous cars that did not have runflats. In the past 45+ years of driving, I've had exactly one flat. It was on bald tires, I did not have the money to replace at the time, and it came as no surprise. At the first opportunity, I replaced on the Kat- the teeth-jarring, hard ridin' run-flats with traditional ones. The transition was like "ridin' in a Caddie. Yes, I have the "Kit" (pump, patches, tire goog, etc.), and knowing that I might have a flat in some remote part of the universe, I still wouldn't go back to those tires - period.

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OK Gene, Tell us what you really think....

This is something I have been debating when the time comes to replace the tires on my 2000.

I am fairly comfortable with the run flats not coming apart on me due to their age but have some concerns regarding adhesion on wet roads since I suspect they have likely lost their adhesion qualities as they aged.

The run flat tires give me piece of mind that I will not have any issues getting stranded due to flat tires.

The regular tires with a plug kit and portable compressor will offer my back an easier ride and my check book as more affordable price.

posted 07-21-2009 10:38 PM                  

Sometimes we don't all agree and sometimes even experts disagree totally. That is when you have to decide for yourself. I ran runflats for the first ten years, I am switching over to non runflats as I need tires so check back in 2019 if I am still alive and I will give you my fair and unbalanced opinion.

posted 07-21-2009 10:53 PM                  

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posted 07-21-2009 10:59 PM                  

quote:

---

Originally posted by MeanGene:
UK,

I've had numerous cars that did not have runflats. In the past 45+ years of driving, I've had exactly one flat. It was on bald tires, I did not have the money to replace at the time, and it came as no surprise. At the first opportunity, I replaced on the Kat- the teeth-jarring, hard ridin' run-flats with traditional ones. The transition was like "ridin' in a Caddie. Yes, I have the "Kit" (pump, patches, tire goog, etc.), and knowing that I might have a flat in some remote part of the universe, I still wouldn't go back to those tires - period.

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And the first time MeanGene let me drive his non runflats (in Louisville at an event), it steered me directly to the non-runflat column of choices and I was fortunate to have mine replaced at Woodward (thanks again Bob Longstreth!). I had over 35K on the original tires and they were close to replacement insofar as treadwear, so it was time to make a decision. Gene sold me in 10 seconds (or less!). Never looked back, and never will. Also has been decades for me since my last 'flat'... and that's okay

posted 07-22-2009 08:44 AM                  

Goodyear Runflat Info

posted 07-22-2009 09:31 AM                  

What about the tire that is outdoors a very limited portion of its life. It is kept clean and its surface treated regularly. Then during the winter its kept in a bag out of the UV, ozone and humidity for five months? The same is done for our spare tires. They are kept in opaque bags to block the UV and ozone and stored with desiccant to remove excess moisture.

Would I race an old tire, no. Would I feel safe driving tires that I know have been pampered and cared for, absolutely. I replace my trailer tires every four years because I know that no matter how careful I've been, they get curbed and scrub horribly when backing up and turning. That's the same reason that I use trailer tires on my car trailer and not passenger car tires. Its also the reason that I use LT tires on my trucks and not passenger car tires.