My Octavia needs 4 new tyres, I haven't bought any since buying the car last year but I have been recommended the "Toyo Proxies" by a friend who also has an Octavia. Apparently they scored very well in a wet test, which is what I am looking for in a tyre as the roads only get dry and sticky for one weekend a year, so there is little point going for tyres that perform the best on a dry track. Besides, even with a tyre designed for the wet I am probably going to bottle it before the tyre does.

I've just landed a new job, and the commute is an hour on potholed b-roads in the middle of nowhere, so if I got a puncture I would be knackered - especially since I haven't arranged breakdown cover yet (recommendations please). So I was considering getting run flat tyre, so if I were to get a puncture I should be able to continue my commute carefully.

Looking at a test on autotrader recommends the Bridgestone ER300 RFT, and it looks like I can get 4 fitted at Kwik Fit for £395 (if I have the size right).

Tyre Test (run-flat) | Products | Auto Express

Kwik Fit also offer extra services such as filling with Nitrogen and Wheel Alignment, is it worth doing?

Anyone used these tyres, or want to comment on Run Flats in general? I need to get them fitted this week so if they are ditchfinders please let me know asap. Thanks.

Do you not need special alloys that have been designed to work with runflats? I'm not 100% certain, but thought they had an extra lip on them, otherwise you may risk the tyre coming off the rim in the event of a puncture.

In either case, my Dad has those Bridgestones on his 3-Series and I didn't like them when I tried it. But then I have a loathing for runflats anyway, as you loose nearly all sidewall compliance from the tyre and the ride suffers accordingly.

Steve

Just been reading the Bridgestone website and it doesn't mention anything about needing special wheels, but they do say you should have a TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) if you use Run Flats because you might not notice if one is punctured.

I know this is an option on the car if you buy one new, but can a dealer fit the system to the car afterwards?

So there's now the option from Skoda to have runflats fitted from new then?

TPMS retrofitting - hmm, would depend on the exact spec of the system. I think the Skoda system (I had it on my Octy) uses wheel rotation speed to work out whether this has changed over a certain value and alerts the driver. I reckon this may well be quite tricky to retrofit. It certainly worked a few months ago when I had a puncture! But then I did what I consider the most sensible thing and fitted the spare. I don't see the benefit of driving round on unforgiving and expensive runflats for the slight possibility of you at some point perhaps having a puncture - seems a lot of pain in my book for precious little reward :confused:

Steve

I thought you needed taller side walls too, but perhaps not.

The few things I will say about run flats is, they are more expensive, weigh more (affect the cars handling) and are an absolute bugger to get on and of the wheels as they are very inflexible. If I could have had an option for standard tyres and a space saver I would have jumped at it.

Oh and at best you will think you are riding on a road made out of the Giants Causeway

only mho, but I am not a fan of the ones I have.

I'm getting proper tyres fitted to my Dad's next time and getting him a spare. He also doesn't benefit from their main selling point either actually, the fact that they can 'run flat'. He does quite a lot of Manchester>Glasgow journeys, so if he gets a puncture at Carlisle in a fully laden car, what exactly is he supposed to do if he's southbound for home late at night? The recommended distance for the car fully loaded is only 50 miles! What good is that?

I just think they're daft. Plus we got some T1-Rs for my friend's Mini Cooper S (Gen 2) and it's transformed the car with those on! General driving and limit handling is just in a different league....

Steve

I'm getting proper tyres fitted to my Dad's next time and getting him a spare. He also doesn't benefit from their main selling point either actually, the fact that they can 'run flat'. He does quite a lot of Manchester>Glasgow journeys, so if he gets a puncture at Carlisle in a fully laden car, what exactly is he supposed to do if he's southbound for home late at night? The recommended distance for the car fully loaded is only 50 miles! What good is that?

Steve

I do that run on occasion (got it coming up twice in the next couple of weeks. On my car however I am allowed 150 miles! Yippee I can get stuck anywhere but Glasgow or home then.

Amanda:D

His manual says 150 for him +light luggage IIRC, but the worst case is passengers and full luggage, in which case it drops to 50. There's a varying in scale in the handbook...

Steve

His manual says 150 for him +light luggage IIRC, but the worst case is passengers and full luggage, in which case it drops to 50. There's a varying in scale in the handbook...

Steve

I have no friends and travel light so I get the full 150, which is absolutely useless really

Amanda Amanda

He also complains about the ride and he should know really, in comparison terms, as this is his 9th BMW I think - and the only one which has had runflats. And guess what? The only one in which he's complained about the ride

And another thing (as if I need to go on!) - if they're that good, why don't BMW fit them to any M-Division cars? :rubchin:

(and why does everything at the moment seem to contain a BMW reference; weird!)

'Steve'

He also complains about the ride and he should know really, in comparison terms, as this is his 9th BMW I think - and the only one which has had runflats. And guess what? The only one in which he's complained about the ride

And another thing (as if I need to go on!) - if they're that good, why don't BMW fit them to any M-Division cars? :rubchin:

(and why does everything at the moment seem to contain a BMW reference; weird!)

'Steve'

BMW seem to be backtracking as they fit normal tyres to the lower and mid range spec X1s. Rumour has it BMW are either thinking of abandoning this technology or trying to drive the price of these tyres down by not using them as a default choice.

[Amanda] Amanda [/Amanda]

I've heard nothing but bad things about runflat tyres. We use them on our BMW 320d's at work and the guys that drive them hate them.

As for retrofitting, like others have already said, you'll need a tyre pressure monitoring system, i.e. a proper job one with independant pressure sensors inside the wheels, not the Fisher Price Skoda system found on the Octy. TBH, it's just not worth all the hassle.

Think that is a pretty resounding NO to getting the run-flats!

I've got the Toyos on mine and think they are fine for the money, good in both wet and dry unless really pushing on, although next time will be trying to get hold of the Vred's that everyone on here raves about.

Well, just called Kwik Fit and they say the car needs the TPMS or they won't do it. Also called a Skoda dealer and they say Skoda will only fit a TPMS in the factory (even though from what i can gather all I need is a few wires and a button for ****s sake) and my only option for run flat tyres would be to get some aftermarket piece of **** TPMS that will no doubt stick out like a sore thumb.

Oh well, I'll just get some normal tyres and save myself about £120 :P

all I need is a few wires and a button for ****s sake

I'm pretty certain there's a bit more to it than that (!!)

Gone for the Toyo Proxies.

Proxes are very good tyres

My last car had runflats and I wouldn't have them again unless it was unavoidable. Especially low profile ones.

They are expensive, give a rock hard ride, wear out quickly and can wear unevenly if the pressures are even slightly out.

Get a can of foam.

Got to say my runflats are at nearly 30K and still have a reasonable amount of tread on them. Poss 50/50 weight distribution helps a little?

Got to say my runflats are at nearly 30K and still have a reasonable amount of tread on them. Poss 50/50 weight distribution helps a little?

As I said earlier, we use them at work on our 320d cars with runflats (Goodyears to be precise) and although they are driven very hard, we are seeing massive issues with uneven tyre wear.

Have a brand new set of 335i coupe wheels in the shed, supposed to be flogging them for my bro in law .

Dunno about wear or ride but they are seriously heavy.

Have you STILL got those? :eek:

They on runflats as well I take it? I can get them moved for you if you wish, just let me know. I'll swap you a mat for them

Have you STILL got those? :eek:

They on runflats as well I take it? I can get them moved for you if you wish, just let me know. I'll swap you a mat for them

Yeah , good swop , our ricks 6ft 7 , not good to upset, not too much efforts gone into selling them , told him to keep em till he gets rid , our chris fancies an m3, so just hanging on

Could have put them on the BMW forum for him, but best putting the proper wheels back on it when he's selling anyway

Pity it's not the Touring otherwise that could have been a perfect next Pete car

Could have put them on the BMW forum for him, but best putting the proper wheels back on it when he's selling anyway

Pity it's not the Touring otherwise that could have been a perfect next Pete car

Yeah , also a pity its an 09 and a bit . no lot outside my price league, bloody quick car , i like it lots, wouldnt bother with an m3 personaly