[webcoll]

Has anyone else in the UK had difficulty getting replacement runflats and finding someone that'll fit them?

I recently had to replace one of my Pirelli Euforia 225/45 R17 runflats due to a serious puncture but it wasn't easy to get hold of one.

I contacted all the large tyre fitting centres within 50 miles of where I live but no one stocked that particular tyre or any runflat in that size and in each case I was told it would take between 5 and 10 days to get one. What really surprised me was that none of the retailers I contacted were prepared to fit runflats either because they claimed they did not have the necessary equipment needed to remove or fit runflats or because they were worried that they might damage my alloy wheel!

After scouring the Web, I came across EventTyres who gave me a very reasonable online quote for the tyre I needed and followed up the quote with a phone call to me 10 minutes later to confirm my requirements. Their mobile fitter came to my place of work 2 days later and replaced the tyre in 20 minutes!

I was very impressed with their service but very unimpressed with the fact that the major tyre retailers in the UK haven't woken up to the fact that there are lots of BMWs with runflats out there!

Come on BMW..........give them a prod..............I can't be off the road waiting for a new tyre! :mad:

PS: I'm driving down to the French Grand Prix in July...........does anyone know if runflats are easier to get hold of in France (just in case I need to get a replacement over there)?

[climkt]

well in singapore, getting 18 inch RFTS is a bit tricky. there are not that common. when i was considering a change from my stock 16s to 18s, i was told i had to place an order and wait. i made the smart move and changed to non RFTS. a move that i never regretted because RFTs costs twice as much as non RFTs and i could trade in my almost new RFTS and rims to offset price of new rims and tyres.

[Paul330d]

I have often wondered what will actually happen if & when I get a puncture: ok, so I can drive 50 miles or so with the runflat, but how many garages within a 50-mile radius are going to stock 255 x 18" tyres?

Re. France, I think RFTs are as rare here as they are in the UK.

[webcoll]

I actually ended up doing 320 miles with the punctured runflat, simply because I had no choice but at a maximum of 50mph on a motorway I was upsetting more than a few truck drivers!

I'm sure many BMW drivers do more than 150 miles in a day or so, so the apparent non-availability of replacement runflats is quite frankly unacceptable.

Surely BMW must have researched this?? :mad:

[330m]

I'm glad you found Event Tyres! They are the best tyre fitter and suppliers I have ever come across.

I've been using them for several years and have sung their praises on other forums too.

They seems cheaper than anyone else, and can get any tyre in 1 or 2 days (they even stock the 255/35/18 & 225/45/18 RFTs for my 330i in 3 brands)

[SoYank]

Originally Posted by webcoll

I actually ended up doing 320 miles with the punctured runflat, simply because I had no choice but at a maximum of 50mph on a motorway I was upsetting more than a few truck drivers!

My heart bleeds purple Kool-Aid for them. Gives them a taste of their own medicine for when they blink once and pull into your lane just as you come up to their rear bumper 14+ mph faster than they. Prime example of use for Active Cruise.

After reading this thread I'm considering buying a spare RFT and storing it in the garage just so I don't fall into the trap you've encountered. All four of my tires are the same size so it wouldn't matter which got the puncture. My only concern would be deterioration of the tire in the garage.

[E90Fleet]

Did you try your BMW dealer ?
Ours can source and fit runflats pretty quickly

[vivekk]

Just for information- I took out 12months Barclaycard RAC tyre insurance: £50 for £1250 worth of tyre + fitment costs.

Hope I don't need it, but better safe than costly!

More info here.

Viv

[wright761359]

I had the same issues..had to replace both rears,B/stone Potenza's 255x35 18.Went to a local kwik-fot,they had never seen run-flats that big,although did find 2 after 5 days,still had to drive nearly 500 miles on two puncured tyres.have to say they performed really well.

[sysop]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Did you try your BMW dealer ?
Ours can source and fit runflats pretty quickly

at a pretty extravagent price too... !!

[MattOz]

I have a set of 4 x 18 inch RFT's for sale and nobody wants them! Shame on you all! LOL

Matt

[carl_d]

Just had two rear Bridgestones fitted by http://www.etyres.co.uk

Originally Posted by webcoll

Has anyone else in the UK had difficulty getting replacement runflats and finding someone that'll fit them?

I recently had to replace one of my Pirelli Euforia 225/45 R17 runflats due to a serious puncture but it wasn't easy to get hold of one.

I contacted all the large tyre fitting centres within 50 miles of where I live but no one stocked that particular tyre or any runflat in that size and in each case I was told it would take between 5 and 10 days to get one. What really surprised me was that none of the retailers I contacted were prepared to fit runflats either because they claimed they did not have the necessary equipment needed to remove or fit runflats or because they were worried that they might damage my alloy wheel!

After scouring the Web, I came across EventTyres who gave me a very reasonable online quote for the tyre I needed and followed up the quote with a phone call to me 10 minutes later to confirm my requirements. Their mobile fitter came to my place of work 2 days later and replaced the tyre in 20 minutes!

I was very impressed with their service but very unimpressed with the fact that the major tyre retailers in the UK haven't woken up to the fact that there are lots of BMWs with runflats out there!

Come on BMW..........give them a prod..............I can't be off the road waiting for a new tyre! :mad:

PS: I'm driving down to the French Grand Prix in July...........does anyone know if runflats are easier to get hold of in France (just in case I need to get a replacement over there)?