I recently picked up a screw in one of the front tyres of my L&K. Fortunately the TPM system is fitted and there was an almost immediate alert on the maxidot display. I was able to react to it quickly and the tyre was repairable. Whilst I am nowhere near the need for new tyres at present, I was just wondering if anyone on this forum has actually fitted Run-flat tyres on their Yeti and how they find them. I note that MyTyres sell about half a dozen different makes of run-flats in the correct size for the car and although they are a little more expensive I thought they may be worthy of consideration. I am aware of the opinions of some people that they give an unacceptable ride, but I have run-flat tyres on my Cooper S and have struggled to notice any difference between an MCS fitted with standard tyres and one with run-flat tyres on the same rim size. So, has anyone got actual experience of run-flats on the Yeti? By the way, anyone wondering whether to specify the type pressure monitoring system on the Yeti - just do it!

Regards to all on this most helpful, informative and often amusing forum,

Dave

Never considered them, they're on my list of "things I'll never buy" such as PPI, GAP Insurance & own brand breakfast cereals

The Yeti is not designed to use run-flat tyres, even though it has a basic pressure monitoring system.

My experience with run flat tyres if even available for the Yeti is..forget it. The ride quality goes totally, and every match stick in the road can be felt

With the additional cost to buy etc.,  personally I would not even consider, unless of course there has been an improvement over the last year or two

Your tyre was repaired. Most repairers won't repair runflats, plus you are looking at more expensive tyres in the first place.

Have enough problems in getting 225/50/17 94W tyres off the shelf as it is.....Generally have to wait a

day or so for them to be ordered in so wouldn't want the hassle of an even 'rarer' tyre.

Also tyre centre adviced they are not repairable (or can't be bothered to repair, more likely).

 

Rang Skoda UK Customer Care and they couldn't tell me if you could fit run flats ("they don't come like that from the factory" was all I got.

Edited 20 September, 201312 yr by kibby

Correct, they don't come from the factory to any market place, therefore I suspect the Yeti is not Type Approved for Run Flat tyres.

Fit them and risk a row with your insurance company.

Due to being able to be 'run whilst flat', it's impossible to determine how much damage has potentially occurred so the tyre fitters are right in not wanting to repair them. As has been found out to my cost with the BMW!

I have runflats fitted to my BMW - by choice as the alternative was a can of goo and a pump (no good for a blow out and pretty dubious anyway I feel). Runflats allow you the option - e.g on a dark wet night/on the motorway - of continuing for up to 150 miles at a moderate speed. I have not noticed any real issue with harsh ride etc. I think that is likely to be the case with low profile tyres.

 

However runflats can't be fitted to ordinary wheels as they need special rims to hold the tyre in place once deflated, so you would have to pay for tyres and wheels - I suspect that might be the issue rather than type approval but I admit to no expertise there.

 

PS I have opted for a spare in my Yeti currently on order.

Hadn't thought of the wheels, Iolo, and of course you are correct.

Yeti rims are not suitable for run flat tyres, therefore you can't fit them.

 

And I still haven't bought my new tyres.

Indeed, special rims are required. You can fit normal tyres to run-flat rims, but not the other way around.

I have just replaced the run-flats on SWMBO's BMW 116i with normal tyres, with ride quality being the main consideration. The car has been transformed from an unjustifiably rough, hard-riding brick to a much more comfortable everyday car - and I'm not one to complain about hard suspension, my other car is a 2nd-generation MX-5. The BMW on run-flats was extremely rough exclusively due to the tyres, with the harshness not corresponding to a sporty suspension setup etc. At least now it is comfortable! :-)

An additional issue encountered -but not so much a problem in the UK I guess- was that due to the extremely stiff sidewalls all the stress from bumps and potholes was transferred directly to the rims, so all 4 rims had deformed and needed machining to be straightened. My tyre fitter mentioned that he has noticed this to be quite common with 1-series BMWs...

All in all I think that the price paid every single day in terms of inferior ride quality etc is not worth the one time that the tyres may actually prove helpful...

Thanks to all for your useful comments. I hadn't considered the fact that run-flat tyres may not be repairable, which puts them into the same category as the dreaded puncture repair kit gunge, which comes as standard. Good point also about the insurance which would no doubt be affected since they are not fitted to this model as an option and would therefore be classified as a modification. From the enquiries I have made, I have been advised that the rims are identical and that it would be perfectly possible to fit a run-flat to a standard rim, or vice versa. The older run-flat tyres (i.e the Dunlop Denovo system from the 1970's) did indeed have a different rim but apparently the tyre design has changed and they now fit a standard rim (or so I am told). This option would obviously require further research before a decision can be made, but I am tending to think it probably isn't worth it and I'll stick to calling out Skoda Assistance if I am less fortunate than this occasion when the puncture happened very close to home.

Thanks again

Dave 

Look into Continental "contiseal" tyres, although you'll never get them off the shelf if you ever have a total loss.

I'd just stick with standards myself

If you are that worried about a puncture, why not just buy a spare wheel kit?

Yes, Graham - that option had crossed my mind. Just want to consider all the options before making any decision. Thanks to Gadgetman for suggesting another option. I had never heard of the "contiseal" tyres before so checked it out on the Continental website. The concept looks interesting - might have a word with my local tyre supplier about those and see what experience they have of them, if any.

My father has a BMW series 1 with run flat tyres, and I've told him he's wasting his money if he replaces then with run flat tyres in the future.

 

FYI, the TMP alert comes up in the speedo display and not in the Maxidot display.  Unless they have amended the design since my 2010 Elegance.  :think:

My father has a BMW series 1 with run flat tyres, and I've told him he's wasting his money if he replaces then with run flat tyres in the future.

FYI, the TMP alert comes up in the speedo display and not in the Maxidot display. Unless they have amended the design since my 2010 Elegance. :think:

He'd need new alloys to change to normal tyres

As for the tpm, showed in maxi dot on my 2007 Octavia. Should show on most cars with full maxidot instead of the other lcd version

He'd need new alloys to change to normal tyres

Actually, this is not needed - see my previous post. I have already done the same on a 1-series, and normal tyres fit just fine on the factory wheels. I thought that the reverse was not possible (run-flat tyres on normal wheels) but as I understand from previous posts this is also no longer true.

A further very important point to add to my earlier post: you will need to have a tyre pressure monitor - alluded to by Mcdemon above - but the key thing is without one you are unlikely to know if the tyre is punctured and so run the risk of a dangerous failure once the runflats have run out of puff (so to speak).

 

Personally I have had no issues over 5 years, I guess the wheel deformation is due to low profile tyres and their reduced capacity to absorb shock.

I hadn't considered the fact that run-flat tyres may not be repairable, which puts them into the same category as the dreaded puncture repair kit gunge

 

Tyres patched with Slime or similar water-based sealant are repairable - assuming that the puncture itself is repairable.  It's just that a lot of places - eg the one that rhymes with "click bit" - often can't be bothered with the effort and time involved in washing it out of the tyre before they apply the permanent repair.

 

I believe that the AA now use Slime for roadside repairs if a spare isn't carried, and they state that the tyre can be repaired afterwards.

 

Of course it might not be entirely convenient if you have to wait a number of hours for a tyre to be washed out and dried before the repair can be made, but that's not the same as "can't be done".

Edited 23 September, 201312 yr by ejstubbs

Lidl france are currently doing a run flat repair tube for about 6 - 7€ would think it'll hit UK outlets in the next 2 -4 weeks!