Are Modern Runflat Tires Finally Good? Normal, RFT and SEAL Tires Compared!
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- čas přidán 22. 06. 2024
- Runflat [RFT] tires have a bad reputation for low levels of comfort, being noisy, and poor grip especially in the wet. But how much of this is down to the fact the tire is a run flat tyre, and how much of it is down to it just being a bad tire?
To find out I'm testing a normal regular car tire against a fourth generation runflat tire with exactly the same compound and tread pattern. This means the the only difference is that the runflat tire has the extra support in the sidewall.
Runflat tires are called different things by various manufacturers:
Hankook: Hankook Runflat System - HRS
Goodyear / Dunlop: RunOnFlat - RoF
Michelin: Zero Pressure - ZP
Bridgestone: DriveGuard
Continental: Self Sealing Reifen - SSR
Pirelli: Run Flat - R F
To make things even more interesting, I've included a sealant tire, which is a normal tire with a complicated sealant material bonded to the inside which seals any small punctures the tire might get in the tread pattern.
As always I'm testing the dry and wet grip of the three types of tires, and perhaps even more importantly, doing extensive noise and comfort testing to see if a modern run flat tyre is now more comfortable than the earlier versions.
I also test whether a sealant tire really can be punctured multiple times, and I test whether you really can run on a runflat tire for 80 kms at 80 km/h.
The tire used in this test is the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 all season tire - www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Hank...
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Chapters
0:00 What is a runflat and seal tire?
1:31 Puncturing the SEAL tire. Does it work?
2:37 Dry Handling and Braking Testing
6:21 Wet Handling and Braking Testing
7:55 Noise and Comfort of Runflat vs Normal vs Seal Tires
10:44 Running a runflat deflated
14:17 Why you can't repair a runflat
15:01 Hydroplaning, Rolling Resistance, Wear and Price Information
15:46 Safety and Conclusion
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Music by epidemicsound.com - Auta a dopravní prostředky
We gotta give this man a nobel prize for the kind of info he has put out on this planet!🤩
ABSOLUTELY!! 👍🏼👍🏼
You have to be a comedian!
Nobel prize for automotive safety
Lol a tire test on a shitty ugly car that have no chassis lol.
Whoever at Hankook supported this test deserves a bonus; THE best advert for both the brand and those products. Sack most of the marketing department, and do this kind of advertising, not the emotional nonsense. It was worth a bent wheel, a few sets of tyres, and the extra engineering to make the special set. I'm impressed.
I have the regular version of these tires. They've been great but wear quickly. Not gonna last 60k miles as advertised, maybe 45k miles.
Pity Hankook are shit tyres though.
@@phatgringo2.0 Yeah, they aren't up to the quality of the likes of Michelin and Continental. Personally, wouldn't waste my money on them.
props to hankook for both making a sealant tyre just for your test and inviting you to their testing facility.
I bloody love this channel. No one makes as informative and quality tyre vids as you :) Even just seeing the two tyre walls pushed together gives you an intuitive idea of what goes into the design of a runflat tyre (which I didn't fully understand until now). I'm becoming more of a tyre nerd each day 🤓 it's also fascinating that you can barely notice when they're flat.
My Dunlop Sportmaxx RT2 are 'Run on flat', but for some reason Dunlop never use the term 'Runflat' anywhere. Makes me wonder is there a difference, or is just terminology that Dunlop use?
I also just persuaded my gf to buy some Hankook Ventus Prime 4 for her car - I wasn't pleased to be given a lift anywhere in 4 mismatching tyres :D
RIP tyre bros 😂
I believe runflat is a bridgestone term, Goodyear use ROF, Michelin use ZP (zero pressure) but thanks to BMW and Bridgestone, everyone know's them as runflats
@@tyrereviews Ah great thanks, makes perfect sense :)
Hankook just got my respect for making a special tire for you to educate us! And that's what earn my money.. in the tyre world were the masses don't understand anything and we are pray to marketing without being able to verify their claim, you're our knight in rubber armour coming to our rescue..thank you
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My BMW came with 17 inch runflat tires from 2016. I mounted new runflat tires this january from the same brand (Bridgestone) , and the difference is night and day. The older runflats are far less comfortable than the new ones. If you don't do track days and don't have space for a spare, runflats are fine 🙂
Could you tell the model name of your tire? I currently run a Bridgestone Potenza runflat 225/50 r17 manufactured in the year 2020 in the front and I feel it's on the stiffer side.
@@georgesunnyt I run turanza's in 225/40/18. They're still stiff, don't get me wrong. But my previous set is muuuuch stiffer and are 17 inch...
All new tires are better
It's great to see manufacturers suportting you in these tests, I just hope that we don't lose you to the industry one day (although I would completely understand such decision).
Independent testing is what I love, I hope to do it as long as possible!
Now we need runflat seal tires
Hi Jonathan, I'm so happy your work gets the recognition it deserves and you have these amazing opportunities from the top brands. Great video.
Thank you :)
@@tyrereviews can I change a run flat tire on a 2006 bmw to a ordinary reliable
@@youtubedeletesmychannels2329 yes lots of people do
@@youtubedeletesmychannels2329 best to do all 4 or at least axle pairs. No singles
Run flats; I have them on my wife’s car. She’s driving around with my kids.
Good call
Sir, highly appreciate and admire the high quality and richly informative content you are creating through these episodes. Someone once said a quite long time ago that the best present ever to be purchased to any one's car wouldn't be anything better than an appropriate and high quality set of tyres. Thanks to this channel, now I am passionately sharing all these precious information with all automobile owning friends of mine. Pushing them to properly understand how these elements; tyres drastically affect the behaviour of their vehicles and might put the driving experience to an entirely different level.
It is a pleasure to see you being so happy with this test and amazed by such products.
I have genuinely been waiting for several years for this video, it’s arrived you did promise it! Lol
Both run-flat and sealed look like a big step up for me. Thank you for your hard work. I am worried about punctures because of where I go with my car
Absolutely awesome episode! I really didn't expect such results. Thanks for the work you put into making those videos.
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for such a comprehensive very fair test, I’ve had a few BMW’s over the years and always ditched the run flats when my tyres needed changing. Personally I feel the lack of a spare wheel is a retrograde step, having to purchase a new run flat because of a puncture is a real kicking especially if the run flat being replaced has had little wear. Like the look of the sealed tyres.
You have done and showed a great full experiment for the viewers. Love for all the hard work and sharing the knowledge. ❤
Thank you!
Really awesome & informative video. Answered a lot of questions. Thanks 🙏
Top quality content and production Mr Benson! That seal tyre (tire?) tech is impressive
Amazing - I'm surprized how well the runflat tire performed. I had a runflat set on my BMW years ago that was not so convincing, good to see they're making progress!
Had a BMW 335i when run flats were new and I hated them and removed them the first chance I got also had a warped alloy (had to fight with BMW to get the alloy replaced) and they were just a lot harsher to run, so completly put off. Great to know that these run flats have developed to a point where they are more than good.
I just removed a set of run flat Pirelli P Zeros from my M340i. It’s now running a set of Pilot Sport 4s, I wish I’d done it years ago.
@@LordStraightBanana glad you made this comment, had a 330d e92 years ago and swapped the runflats for PS4s and it was night and day. Just got a 335d f31 that has falken run flats on and it is awful, genuinely disturbingly bad... was wondering if it was just these particular tyres and if other better ones would be ok... but no, if your pirellis were awful too then I'm off for some eagle f1s or some PS4s again. Cheers
@@timbob1145 the ride was harsh and crashy with the P Zeros, you felt every bump. They may or may not have been better than your falkens, but it seems a common theme with run flats.
These cars should come fitted with the Michelins.
@@LordStraightBanana agreed. Thanks again for your input.
As everyone mentioned, you’re the most dedicated person I’ve ever heard of when it comes to tyre testing. Fair play man, always top quality content, always great testing with enough information for everyone. One of your best attributes is that you can put it all in simple words. It’s great nerding out on a subject with some likeminded people but being able to take all that complex info and put it down to simple formats such as distances and percentages for everyone to understand is great. Also the production has gone up a notch with that GoPro in the tyre, I bet that was a mission fitting the tyre with it in the way. Fair play Mr Benson, not only you’ve grown a channel to this size you’ll still take the time to reply and go through comments. All the best💪
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Ive got Bridgestone Potenza run flats on my BMW and have zero issues with them in either performance or comfort, yes they were very pricy but knowing that I wont get stranded somewhere and can get home outweighs that. Great video new subscriber now!
Extremely helpful video. Thanks for the testing and information!
Look forward to a run-flat comparison from Michelin, continental, and Goodyear
ME too!
@@codincoman9019 we’re see what the results say! So far I found a continental do a great set a run flats SSR, apart from the Michelin pilot SuperSport run flats from a good few years ago. I don’t even know if they still make them. Definitely improved over the years and generally with the wife and kids driving the car during the day I wouldn’t fit anything other than a runflat
What i can definitely say Pirreli run flat series is a crap .. on Spain heat they are pure rubbish
@@daddydanne27 Pirelli runflat has a lot of issues! Cannot withstand quick fluctuations of temperature. Loosing air easy and not lasting!! This is definitely a crap for me
tire4coin is best for tires
I truly love all your reviews!!!
Given the extra expense and decrease fuel economy I still would not use RFT. However I have been riding road and mountain bikes for many years with sealant and have not had a flat.
That new sealant tire is the way to go, especially since side wall punctures and so rare.
Thank you sir!!
Thank you for material you provide us!
That’s all very impressive info , thanks for doing the comparison 👍🏻
This was awesome! So much info, seeing my car doesn't have a spare and just a pump and sealant I've been thinking about run flat. The sealant tire is a solid option. Also to have a tire company just give you a bunch of tires and let you do your best, shows how much they believe in their product.
Finally. I have been waiting a long time for this. Maybe next time you could include other manufacturers also, like the Driveguard from Bridgestone. Great review. Thank you
I plan to at some point :)
FINALLY I understand the technology of both self sealing and run flat tires. Thank you!
I have to say this was the best video I've seen comparing regular tires to run flats!! Very nice!
The go gro inside the tyre was amazing.
Thanks!
I had runflat tires on my E89 Z4 for almost 8 year and over 80.000 kilometers. They were from Bridgestone and I loved them. No complaints regarding comfort.
This is amazing information, thank you so much! My next tyres (if I can find them in right size) are definitely either seal (really impressive that it's basically the same tyre just puncture-resistant) or run-flat!
Such a cool video! Loved this one!
It would be cool to have a sealed and runflat combo. I have runflats on my 7 series and the ride is ultra smooth as expected.
Brilliant review as always Mr B, as well as being a tyre geek too I am also bit of a run flat convert!
I bought a set of Bridgestone LM005 Driveguard tyres for my Volvo S90, I’ve ran them for two winters now and I can’t find any noticeable disadvantages to them. The fact they are remarkably similar to a normal tyre is incredible, especially with the added benefit of being able to drive for 50 miles at 50mph with a puncture. As you say the only real downside is the extra cost.
I think the extra outlay is worth it, especially on a winter tyre, who wants to end up stranded with a tyre repair kit on the side of the road on a dark foul winters night!
Kudos to Hankook for letting you use that facility, it looks seriously impressive. No wonder they are turning out award winning products with facilities like those 👍🏻👍🏻
Yes, Bridgestone Driveguard is their latest technology and works great!
was always curios about this,great video !
This is super cool! This video/explanation was needed.
My 2010 BMW came on runflats from the factory. Changed them after a month of driving. Too stiff. Glad to hear that there is almost no difference with normal tyres nowadays. Thanks for another great and such an informative test!
Yeah i remember the ones from 2010 being quite different!
Mine has rf too, but BMW and dealers refused to change them for normal ones for safety reasons, because the car suspension is tweaked to rf.
I replaced the Michelin Pilot with alll season Pirelli rf because of that.
AS always, an excellent review Jonathan. I ditched the RFT on my F22 the but who knows, after seeing that I might come back.
What did you swap to?
Your videos should be manadatory to anyone driving a car! Thank you for your hard work!👍💪
Glad you like them!
fantastic experiment. thanks for all your hard work. as for the tires, it was seriously impressive how the tire didn't fall off the wheel under load. thanks again
Wasn't it! I was sure I was going to be scraping alloy!
Huh! I remember a few years ago Continental had a similar system with their ContiSeal tyres. I'm glad someone else picked up on the self-sealing idea. Between the two systems, I like the self sealing more.
I'd be interested to see a test using higher aspect ratios. Rubber bands are going to be a lot easier to keep a similar feel since less sidewall means more work for the suspension.
After watching this video, I decided to go for a newer generation run flat tyre (Pirelli P7C2) and I’m amazed at how much better they are than the older version(s) we had in the past. Interestingly, I didn’t even pay more for them than the older models which are still on the market. Great CZcams channel!
Tu sei il migliore per recensire ruote !!!!!!!! Super video !
Without a doubt one of the most informative videos you've produced, and that's really saying something.
Thank you! I'm pleased with how the edit came out, it was nice to be a bit creative for a change!
I once punctured my Bridgestone turanza 005 runflat during the last 100 km of 400 km journey on the motorway. The car didnt show any sign of instability and I was able to complete the trip with no issues. I stopped just once when my infotainment system alarmed saying loss of tyre pressure, but on examination the Tyre looked ok.
I only noticed the puncture the morning after.
Great work,enjoyed your presentation and learned much. TY
I subscribed!!! thanks for the details and awesome testing. One wish is that you go through same test for the seal tires as you did with the runflat during the run of flat tire
I hope all tires in the future come with sealant. I know tire shops will lose money but to the consumer it's a win
Seal tyres are more expensive, which means more margin for tyre shops, so not necessarily. It really is the customer being unaware that such a product exist and just want a new cheap tyre.
If they made a run flat with the sealant that would be amazing!
And expensive
I wonder why no one has done this!
Could you just inject some sealant into the run flat like they frequently do on bicycle tires?
@@tyrereviews working for a car manufacturer it's very had to certify SST's and hit all attributes. Assume be even harder and more expensive to throw RF into it.
@@gilfolsom5980 The liquid sealant used in tubeless bikes is much different than what appears to be used in the seal tire in the video. On bikes, it's not really gonna seal big punctures, but rather help seal the bead and any small leaks. Also, tire guys will hate you if you use liquid sealant, since it makes such a mess when changing them.
Very nice and interesting test. Lots of new information. Thank you for your effort. I’ve just heard the sealed tyre and It’s also a great technology. Hope will be popular and cheaper soon.
amazing analysis. well done, and thank you!
Thank you for making this comprehensive comparison video on these three different types of tires. A true "Ultimate safety tire".... maybe a RunFlat Seal Tire for the future that has excellent rolling resistance?!😉I wonder how long those seal material lasts in real life though.
As far as I'm aware the seal material is good for the life of the tyre.
@@tyrereviews would that be 5 years or 10 years?
@@Jeo-What most manufacturers recommend 5 years for the tyre, I've not asked about the sealant working beyond that
@@tyrereviews thank you for the quick reply. In the past few years, you have tested this model of tires and it has been great except one area and that was the tread ware that cost lost of time between laps. I have also read some positive reviews that the customer was concerned about the treadwear life. What’s your experience, on this matter for this tire since the direct competitor CrossClimate2 will still performing well down to 2 mm?
@@Jeo-What I've not seen any data on the worn performance of these tyres, sorry
Well, that's surprising. I've previously heard bad things about run-flats' performance and avoided them. Also, I don't have a spare wheel, getting by on dumb luck and the occasional roadside sticky-rope fix. But this review is making me reconsider some of these choices. Funny what tens of years of development can do to a technology, and I might have missed it without your great video. Thanks a lot for that!
They're still un-repairable, expensive and cost more fuel to run.
To be fair, the majority of run-flat tires available in North America (the loudest continent on the Internet) are still based on tires introduced 10-15 years ago, most are only available in fitments that came with OE run-flats, and most are pretty crap. This new Kinergy 4S2 run-flat is a welcome development in the segment and I hope it sees broader distribution in more common sizes in North America.
That said, I like the idea of the self-sealing tire even more, and the penalty to fuel economy for the run-flat is not trivial.
@@EvoraGT430 they are excactly as repairable as normal tires, but Cost is indeed the biggest drawback
@@liev535 Depends many companys decline to repair them, they are repairable if they still have air in them like a nail sticking in, if they are flat and you drive them like 10km to the next tire shop they are not repairable.
I can easilie repair a small puncture with a tire repair kit on the road and air them up with a 12v compressor
That is defeating there purpose in my opinion, I can drive with normal tire without air but I damage the wheel, when the tire are already worn to about 50% I need to change both tires on the axle so I need 2 runflats or 2 normal tires and a rim, cost probaly the same.
I dont see the benefits of runflats, they dont safe money and arent conviniet because I have to drive to a tire shop anyway or repair them myself.
@@EvoraGT430 who cares about a few mpg loss when you consider the significant benefits of RFTs?
Good job, Jonathan! As always.
Thank you!
That sealant tire is super cool. Love it. That testing ground looks epic also,.
Thanks for this test, Jonathan. Exactly what I've been waiting for. I really hope in future there is much more choice in both sealant and runflat tyres right across the performance ranges, as so many new cars now are ditching spare wheels. At the moment runflat choice is pretty limited.
Great video
Had no idea the sealant tyre even existed until seeing this video.
If they ever make it to a high performance tyre like the Pilot Sport 4S etc I will definitely consider going for the sealant version (as I work a woodworking place and you have to be careful of screws in the car park)
This man needs more subscribers, should be millions, thanks for your work
The best tire channel in the world. Thank you so much for doing what automotive magazines should do.
The next must be a test of next generation runflat tires from different manufacturers. And thanks for the review. Informative and entertaining stuff. Thumbs up.
That's the plan at some point!
Yes please I’ve been searching (like many others I’m sure) for a long time for this kind of test to see where RFT tech is right now after a decade or so of development. Just too many negative feedback on the tech and we need a comprehensive test rather than people’s opinions. Thank you for all your effort, it’s really appreciated
@@hamwicbi1265 Ditto! 👍
@@tyrereviews Yes, please! And in time for when the Contiseals on our Alhambra wear out. Thanks.
I've been using Ultraseal in all my tyres for over 20 years .. and does what the Sealant tyre does. Been a life saver in my motorcycles and even used in my trailers as well as cars. My wife had a cut in her motorcycle sidewall and got 20 miles home as the Ultraseal slowed the deflation rather than stopped it.
Shame there are so few dealers.
@@EvoraGT430 can buy online or some tyre shops have it in bulk to pump in
Good point. Will put it on my trailers. I do add the sealant to my ebike tires. I also carry a can of the sealant tire inflator for emergencies.
Thanks for your information.
Been trying to read up on this online for more information.
It appears there are numerous names and ultraseal "may" be branded differently now??
Is it straightforward to put in, I assume via the valve, any issues with tpms, and any particular tyre fitters who supply and or add it that you know of? I'm in the uk.
Many thanks.
@@James-RJM Yes they seem to have changed franchise names over the years ... but the core product is the same. You let the air out, remove valve core and pump the set amount in. Then re-pressure and drive about to distribute evenly. Never had an issue with TPMS or repairs (unlike some tyre sealants). Some trye shops have it in bulk to pump in - you'd have to ask around, but I put my own in. It squirts a little pink blob as it seals .. so your wheelarch/mudguard show it has happened, which I find useful to know. I saw it demonstrated in person over a plank with dozens of nails - repeatedly driven back and forth with no appreciable loss of pressure. A godsend when touring Europe on motorcycles ... or towing trailers. I have no connection with them ..just passing on what I found to be a good product.
Wow, one of the most interesting and technical video's on your channel! Excellent explanation. Also thanks to Hankook to invite you to their facility and put their product to the test in a professional detailed way!
Now I feel a new trend coming, not only compare summer, winter and allseason tyred, but also comparing runflat tyres of all different brands :D
Fantastic video.
Very well done.
I owned a C5 Corvette back in the early 2000s, and it had stock runflats, and in the rain the car was nearly undriveable it would slip and slide around so much. Being in Florida, that meant nearly every day in the summer, the car tried to kill you. I had, at that time, heard that's just how Corvette's are, they easily break free, they're wild, etc. Well I went out and bought the best wet performance tires you could get at the time, the lengedary and awesome looking Goodyear GSD3, and holy s---, it was basically like getting a new car. Not only was the dry handling much improved, the car, in the rain handled better than the runflats did in the dry. It was remarkable the difference. No longer did the car constantly break free, no longer did it slip and slide all over in the rain and try to kill you. The runflats, when I replaced them still looked brand new, only had about 22k miles on them, were, I believe, 3 years old - they weren't bald, were not abused, but instead I think they were rock hard, which is why they had no grip.
The GSD3s were awesome in the early 2000s. Ran them myself and every other tyre was pretty poor in comparison. The tyre game has certainly moved on. Can't believe how we survived the 90s on plastic tyres 😂
GSD3, what a tyre!!
@@tyrereviews best looking tire ever made.
@@kenzohkw they were the first performance tire I bought, and I was shocked at the difference . They were the first tire I ever felt that would 'bite' in corners. I had heard people talk about that before, but had never experienced it myself. It just completely changed the car, turned the Vette from a muscle car into one that you could take around a corner without the fear of death.
Gsd3 was likely the best tyre I've used in the wet, end of!
Aquaplaning was non existent!
I appreciate that wheels get bigger and technology moves on, hence the asymmetric, but I miss them 😪
Sidewalls were possibly their weakness vs the asymmetric.
The increased rolling resistance is definitely a dealbreaker for me, but will be looking into sealant tires for my next tire purchase. Thanks for this video!
Been waiting for this topic
Brilliant video. Real information, really well presented. 10 out of 10!
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Can’t escape that the lack of a spare wheel is a convenience only for the manufacturer and an inconvenience for the consumer, particularly as run-flats once punctured and run on have to be discarded and typically it takes a day or two to obtain a matching replacement.
Julian nowadays it seems that most car companies are run by accountants, so they are constantly looking at ways they can maximise the profits from each car sold.
Some neighbours of mine have actually lost their cars due to mice or rats actually eating the plastic coating on the wiring loom
Not to mention, the runflat does zero good when the tread separates and the tire disintegrates. Add in no spare, and the inconvenience now turns into a real PITA… especially if you’re in the middle of nowhere.
that sealed tire is nuts. would absolutely buy if available like tomorrow.
They're starting to become more common in the market, especially in VW sizes.
Pirelli had them for years (Seal Inside).
Such a good looking specimen 😍 Video was good too!
Hello Jonathan, very nice video (as always !) that jeopardize all a priori based on tests done decade ago (uncomfortable tyres with les performance that require special wheels). I would love to see more videos on run flats now. 🙂
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Thank you so much for this test. I have suggestion, if I may: you've used Hankook tires because they have the same compound. And that helps with control in the test. But I think this result justifies a test where you compare multiple tires that offer RFT options. I'd love to know if I could swap my set of PS4 for the RFT version (PS4 ZP, I think it's called) with no drawbacks. My car didn't come with a spare, so that would be a plus for me. I know there are other manufacturers that offer RFT variants of the same tire (Pirelli is one of them) and it would be nice to know which ones are to avoid and which are actually a good idea.
I do need to do a runflat tyre test at some point!
@@tyrereviews Please do a RFT test! I drive BMWs that usually come with RFTs and always have the dilemma which RFT to choose :) The difference between Bridgestone Potenza SP001 RFT and Michelin PS4 ZP is night and day in grip and comfort!
@@zlatko.
which one is good of the 2
@@cayman9815 Michelin PS4 ZP is in a different league compared to Potenza AP SP001 RFT! Especially on the wet and as comfort. SP001 behaves like on ice when it's raining.
I had literally never even heard of the sealant tyres. I wonder how well the sealant would work with a screw that remains embedded in the tread. Out of all the punctures I've had, I'd wager over 50% were screws, not nails. One happened just last week.
Once again - Great test and review! You just proved that a tire’s performance is all in the tread compound not the construction... 😉 😂
I have had a love/hate relationship for 16 yrs with the RFTs that came on my MINI Coopers. Unfortunately, those earlier and lesser quality OEM tires were crap, including the Hankook RFTs that came on my 2019 MINI. Extremely poor ride and handling in all accounts. With those it is no wonder people with MINIs discarded them as soon as they got home. However, that said, I did put RFT snow tires on one MINI and that turned out to be a blessing. On a 3 day ski trip, on the morning of day 1, 10 deg F outside, yup, a “flat” tire with a nail hole. No worries. Pumped up the tire and drove like nothing happened. It was a slow leak so I was even able to make the 3 hr home without loosing too much pressure (tire pressure remained acceptable). I did have to re-inflate the tire each morning.
A couple of notes - The Bridgestone RFT snow tire was repairable, per Bridgestone, as long as it was driven with air pressure in it. A plug and an inside patch.
Ride quality with a RFT is hugely affected by the quality of the shocks. Replacing the OEM MINI shocks with Bilsteins (B8s) was a huge improvement in ride quality.
Here is a guess why the BMW M cars don’t come with RFTs. They overheat when pushed, like on the track. My cousin ran his 3 series (non-M), with RFTs, on the track and the pressure rise from heat raised the pressure to something higher than would be optimal. This was with a reasonably low cold tire pressure. Interestingly the tires themselves held up to the abuse.
Looking for to a review of performance RFTs. They might be worth a look given what you showed in this video. Keep up the good work...
Great test , a real eye opener
Would of been nice to test screws/bolts as the punctures i have gotten have been from those and never from a nail
I’ve been driving runflats for the last couple of years and I love them because they saved me in some critical situations.
The harder sidewall is really strong in deep pothole situations, but the problem is the rim is easily bended because of this.
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That’s interesting about the rim being more easily bent. I have hankook run flats and not had a puncture over 3 years but the alloy has flattened in one area I went over a deep pothole in Manchester. Cost £75 to have repaired
Great review. Well worth watching.
Thank you very much. Hankook facility is amazing. Will consider using Hankook again after my Hankook V12 Evo2 of 3 year-problem-free.
I really don't get why people complain about run flat tyres. Picture this, I was driving a 2011 530d and overtaking at about 160kph and the right rear burst, what would have happened if it where a normal tyre? The car didn't move around or skid, but continue straight on as if everything was normal. I love run flats, I just hope pricing would be more affordable.
Glad the technology worked :)
I wonder how well the runflat can resist sidewall bruising. I live in an area plagued by potholes, and have a bent rim and a dead snow tire to prove it.
Awesome info as usual. Amazing results/
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Great video, great in-depth view.
Ps: got my Oak&Iron today after the kickstarted, gonna keep my Swift Sport tyres at good kPa from now on👌
The biggest thing for me with older runflats is that the car becomes unstable on older roads that has noticeable tracks. Pretty common in Latvia.
@@codincoman9019 that’s really good if that’s the case. I have BMW 1 series and having at least a possibility to get somewhere in case of a puncture gives a feeling of reassurance
We call it tram lining in the UK. I found it was made worse on wide low profile tyres.
@@geoffcrisp7225 the worst I have felt it was on my monthers in law F25 X3. On run flats the thing was plain scary on tracks
Hankook? At the beginning I thought they were the Michelin CrossClimate! Someone has been cheating in the exam!! 😂😂
Finally !!
I suggest that you include in every test (when possible) some RFT tires, siblings of the normal ones in the test
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Excelent video mate. Saludos desde México.
Hit me up 👆👆👆.
From my experience these runflats really start to degrade and tear apart when used with high loads and long distances. My BMW G31 540d comes with, and reccomends, runflats as default - having no spare tire. After using the runflats for a couple of years, swapping between summer and winter tires, I always find at least one tire that has the internal circumference of the sidewall damaged - might also be caused by random pot holes.
Issue is that, as others pointed out, these tires are designed in a way that make them more prone to failure and also unrepairable. So, since I have the toe truck service bundled with my insurance, I personally much rather use normal sligthly cheaper tires and, in the eventuality of a catastrophic puncture/failure, pull off the road and wait for the toe truck.
This review was missing a key complaint about run flats that you mentioned - if you hit a big pothole, or drive on rough roads, not only will the RF tire get damaged, your rims will also suffer because the sidewall is not absorbing as much of the rough road hit as a standard tyre.
Is it advised/allowed to run a sealed tire indefinitely after a puncture? I guess so, because how will I even know that it was punctured?
Yep!
One of your best tyre tests, Mr Benson. And to think that I nearly passed over it. Excellent content as always. I really don't know why the sealant tyres aren't already more prevalent. They seem like the best of both worlds (although RF's also look like a decent bet right now if the compound is a match).
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Very great test, Hy from România 👏👏👏
Time for a runflat with seal inside it as well then! Puncture proof tyre, just don't damage the side wall and you should be unstoppable!
Harry, or just a normal tyre with a sealant which is what I do for a business.
Customer wins by not getting punctures, also wins due to a longer lasting tyre mileage as the sealant actually makes the tyre run slightly cooler.
What's the lifespan of the seal material in the tyres? Is it comparable with the life expectancy of the tyre itself, or will it start to dry out over time and lose efficacy?
Yep, this was my fist thought too. Especially with heat cycles, cold weather, etc etc. but on the surface looks like a great option that (as Jon) I’m surprised isn’t more widely implemented.
They last the life of the tyre. You are not supposed to drive on a 6+ year old tyres anyway...
@@DashCamSerbia If you drive very limited miles and have a very conservative driving pattern, some treads will last until the tire fails from age or sun rot. I've had tires last 20 years.
@@kingduckford Thread depth does not matter. The tyre compound will deteriorate after about 6 years.
Did they have a camera inside that tyre .. well give him the praise this guy is the best.
Thank you sir 😊
It's amazing how you drive while looking at the camera with ease 😂💪