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 | |  | Typical: $150-$500 per Passenger Car Tire | |
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Also called zero-pressure tires, run-flat tires are designed to support the weight of the vehicle for a short distance (50-150 miles, typically at up to 50-55 mph) after losing air, giving the driver a chance to get off the highway and find a repair shop without having to pull over and fix the flat, install a spare tire or call for help.
Typical costs: | - Run-flat tires typically cost $150-$500 per tire for a passenger vehicle, or about 35%-200% more than standard tires. For example, for a 2010 BMW 328i sedan, Goodyear[1] offers standard tires for $111-$192 or run-flat tires for $247 or $327. For a 2010 Mini-Cooper S Hardtop with 17" wheels, Goodyear/Dunlop[2] has standard tires for $146-$174 or models with run-flat technology for $397 or $440 each.
- Tires typically must be replaced in pairs, and many experts recommend doing all four at once, bringing total costs to $300-$1,000 for two run-flat tires or $600-$2,000 for four.
Related articles: Tires, Snow Tires, Wheel Balancing, Wheel Alignment, Roadside Assistance Service, Towing a Car
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What should be included: | - The most common type of run-flat tires have extra-strong sidewalls to help support the vehicle if the air escapes from the tire. In addition to allowing the car to be driven to a repair shop without damage, these run-flat tires provide better handling after a blowout. However, stiff sidewalls provide a harder ride and run-flat tires typically weigh more than standard tires; the tread might not wear as long; and blowouts are still possible if the vehicle is driven farther than the maximum distances (50-150 miles, depending on the tire) or maximum speed (typically 50-55 mph) after a tire loses air. Some consumers also dislike the fact that cars that are factory-equipped with run-flat tires do not come with a spare tire and jack. Edmunds.com provides an overview of run-flat tires[3] , including the pros and cons.
- An alternative, the Michelin PAX run-flat tire[4] , has less-rigid sidewalls and relies on a semi-rigid "support ring" inside the tire. Special equipment is needed to mount and dismount PAX tires, making them difficult and expensive to repair (and it can be hard to find a shop that handles them). Michelin stopped development of these tires[5] in 2008. Cars that came equipped with PAX tires include the 2005-2009 Honday Odyssey Touring models, 2006-2008 Nissan Quest, 2006-2008 Acura RL and 2005-2009 Toyota Sienna.
- Although run-flat tires are less than 1% of the tire market, most BMWs[6] and Mini-Cooper S models[7] come factory-equipped with run-flat tires (and have no spare tire or jack).
Additional costs: | - It can be hard to tell when a run-flat tire has lost air, so they are required to a have a tire pressure monitoring system (now also mandatory standard equipment for new cars). If the vehicle has TPMS (there will be a dashboard light), each time a tire is taken off for service or replacement, the valve service kit (valve core, cap, nut, o-ring) must be replaced, at a typical cost of about $5-$10 per wheel. If the pressure sensors need replacing, that can cost $50-$250.
Shopping for a run-flat tire: | - While not as common as standard tires, run-flat tires are available at car dealerships; tire stores like Firestone[8] or Goodyear[9] ; and in automotive departments at retailers like Sears[10] .
- Run-flat tire manufacturers include Bridgestone[11] , Dunlop[12] , Firestone[13] , Goodyear[14] , Kumho[15] , Michelin[16] , Pirelli[17] and Yokohama[18] .
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Posted by: Elaine Chandler in Sterling, VA. | Posted: March 28th, 2016 01:03PM |
| Tire Brand: can't remember | Tire Model: can't remember |
| Tire Shop: Foreign Car Service |
Today, (it's been 2 years with my tires since purchase) I had two tires, both driver side tires punctured. A bolt was in the front one and a screw in the back one. They charged $105.00 for both |
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External Resources: | - www.goodyear.com/en-US/tires/search/2010_BMW_3-Series_328i-Sedan
- www.goodyear.com/en-US/tires/search/2010_Mini_Cooper-S_Hardtop-with-17~-inch-wheel
- www.edmunds.com/driving-tips/run-flat-tires-a-primer.html
- www.michelinman.com/tires-101/tire-basics/about-tires/run-flat-tires.page
- www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/automobiles/20TIRES.html
- www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/vehicles/2014/z4/Z4sDrive35i/ModelHighlights/Z4sDrive35...
- www.miniusa.com/feature-run-flat-tires.html#/learn/FACTS_FEATURES_SPECS/safety/Active_S...
- www.firestonecompleteautocare.com/tires/run-flat
- www.goodyear.com/en-US/tires/category/run-flat
- www.sears.com/search=run-flat%20tires
- www.bridgestone.com/sc/runflat-system/
- www.dunloptires.com/en-US/tires/category/run-flat
- www.firestonecompleteautocare.com/tires/run-flat
- www.goodyear.com/en-US/tires/category/run-flat
- www.kumhousa.com/tire/category/car/BD353BFF-F16B-47E5-926F-A6DAED9DD99F
- www.michelinman.com/tires-101/tire-basics/about-tires/run-flat-tires.page
- www.pirelli.com/tire/us/en/car/sheet/[email protected]
- www.yokohamatire.com/tires/detail/advan_sport_zps
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