Run Flat Tires Install Shop Recommendations?
 

Does anyone know of any shops that will sell and also change a run flat tire (besides the dealership)?

the tire is from factory, size is 18" off of a 335i

most higher end tire shops are equipped to deal with run flats...

kal tire, volco, ok tire... just make sure they're a reputable place, incase they damage something...

I can make a recommendation regarding run-flats... take them off. While a lot of modern cars don't come with spare tires, most of them come with roadside assistance or you have BCAA, etc. Not only are standard tires WAY cheaper, but they also drive much better since the sidewalls aren't nearly as painfully stiff. We replace all Bridgestone runflats on our BMWs with comparable Bridgestone standard tires.

Mark

i've heard about how regular tires are preferred over run flats as well..but my situation is that i have a single tire that is constantly losing air (needs to be pumped every ~2 days), but i have maybe 50-60% tread left on all 4 tires..

do you work at a shop? Also are run flats repairable? I couldnt SEE any damages to the tire, so i cant be sure what the problem is yet

I work at a car dealership where we sell a lot of late model BMW/Audi product. I'm not really sure about repairing runflats, I'd think if it was just on the tread, it should be fine, but a tire shop would know for sure.

Mark

run flats are repairable, provided the tire is removed from the rim, and the inside inspected... if the puncture is on the tread, then a conventional mushroom patch can be used from the INSIDE...

usually, run flat tire repairs are $50+

What you do with the RFT's then? Do you sell it back out?

Sorry, I misspoke. What I meant to say was when tires need replacing, we replace them with non-RFTs. We don't replace every tire on every car, just ones that should have new tires.

Mark

I've heard the dealers don't touch runflat tires for repairs, and is also the reason why you'll see lots of them brought into smaller tire shops (from my service manager at canadian tire). On a conventional tire machine, its a lot harder to put on/take off run flats, especially when a TPMS sensor is involved. Make sure wherever you bring it is properly equipped to work with run flat tires.

the reason dealers dont touch run flats is because
a) its painfully hard to dismount and mount
b) tell customers run flats arent repairable so they make the customers buy new tires from them at an insanely marked up price
c) profit

The one good thing about RFT's is that at the very least it won't leave you completely stranded if you don't have roadside assistance, especially when assholes do this:
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...76142658_n.jpg

Yes, some jackass hammered NAILS into this RFT. I had the pleasure of replacing the tire (Vehicle was a new Toyota Sienna, and was covered under extended warranty). They are a pain to dismount and mount, and cost 2-3 times as much as a standard tire, but at least you can limp your vehicle to a shop to have it replaced. Personally, I'd go with the regular tire for cost-effectiveness, and in the event requires a repair, it's possible.

^If I was going to try and ruin someones day, I don't think I would hit the nails down the sidewall. I would hit them straight in the sidewall, that looks like they just ran over a strip of nails and the clips came off..

Who knows, I wrote it off as vandalism. Nail placement looked a bit too random to be a strip of nails.

anyone know the price range i should expect for getting 1 tire repaired/replaced at a reputable shop that can handle installing RF tires?

looking for a shop that you guys or soemone you know has actually had run flats installed/repaired/replaced there before.. not just "try ____ shop, they might do it"

really dont want to go thru dealership if i dont have to

if they have a hunter or a corghi machine, it should be able to handle run flats. having stiffer sidewalls, they just need a machine that has more torque and stronger hook.

Go to any Kal Tire and they will repair your runflat at the lowest price .. I guarantee it (as long as the tire is repairable that is).

or costco, on average, anywhere from 25-80 per tire. repair part is minimal if repairable. its more of the mounting and balancing part that is taking the chunk of the cost