Tarmac_Terrorist Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 The light came on advising me of a puncture Saturday morning (BMW 318). Upon checking, my rear o/s had a screw in it and little pressure, although it looked fully inflated. It's a company car sourced through Leaseplan. I called the driver helpline who put me on to Kwik Fit mobile service. They advised me that their mobile service ends on a Saturday at 2pm and resumes on Monday (wtf?). Anyway, they couldn't turn out until Monday. I therefore checked stock at my local branches and was advised that they both had stock. I went to get a replacement first thing Sunday morning. The store opened late and then advised me that the computer wasn't working and so couldn't process leaseplan work. I therefore drove 5 miles to the other Kwik Fit branch which advised me upon checking their records that in fact no branches in my area had that tyre size / type! I decided to call the mobile service on Monday morning as I was working from home. I called 8am on Monday to be told that there depot had also run out of this tyre size and would need to order from the manufacturer - the earliest they could fit would be Tuesday late afternoon! I went back to Leaseplan and suggested they allow me to make alternative plans. They said I could use ATS 'as a one off'. So I called ATS..... ATS said they also didn't have the correct tyre size in stock but could get one by 4pm that day.... It didn't arrive. I had to therefore cancel my meeting in Devizes on Tuesday and again work from home. ATS promised me that the tyre would be in by 10am Tuesday. I went there for 10am and had the pleasure of waiting an hour and 20 minutes as they were short staffed and only had 1 fitter and a queue of customers. The job was completed - not without a little damage to the wheel from the windy gun socket. I thought run flats were a good idea but it seems that a trusty space saver is a much better option. Is there a general supply / demand issue for these tyres? :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 Its a common story, very little stock across the country at ANY time, plus if you were paying yourself they are a lot more expensive than a normal tyre. I was in kwik fit last week with my other halfs motor getting an MOT, I asked about runflats and switching and their advice was get rid and put normal tyres on. Gizze has said the same as have others, you can also get benefits with a slightly better ride and more consistant response to mid corner bumps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oli Posted May 17, 2008 Report Share Posted May 17, 2008 The morale of the story is both Kwik Fit and ATS are useless w@nkers, as I have stated many times, and that RFT's are too expensive, ruin the ride and are in short supply - Something else I have mentioned many times before..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarmac_Terrorist Posted May 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2008 I totally agree Oli. If it was my car I would definitely change them. I suspect the tyre manufacturers supply them to car manufacturers for a nominal price to make it attractive. The car manufacturer then also saves money not having to include a spare wheel. The tyre manufacturers know that most owners will replace like for like when they wear out and pay the high price for a replacement. I have always personally avoided the tyre giants like Kwik Fit and ATS when replacing tyres for my own cars. I manage to get a much better deal from places like Micheldever Tyres who I believe buy tyres by the container load and can therefore pass down some of the savings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveP Posted May 17, 2008 Report Share Posted May 17, 2008 I can't see the attraction of run flats. We go to the alps and travel through the night, 50miles whilst punctured is going to be useless then! I am glad Gizze (who I bought the car off) had normal tyres put on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterS Posted May 18, 2008 Report Share Posted May 18, 2008 I've went off run-flats (or, to be more accurate I guess, the idea of no spare tyre...) back in '05 when I had to wait a week for a replacement Michelin run flat. I had a then new E90 330i on optional 18" wheels, and it took a week for BMW to come up with a replacement run-flat following a puncture. There were none in the country, as it was a new model... It caused a bit of concern at the time on the BMW furum :http://www.bmwland.co.uk/talker/viewtopic.php?t=19092&highlight= To have a car imobilised for a week (fortunately mine wasn't, but had the tyre been trashed it would have been) just to save a bit of weight, or, more likely cash, seems very short sighted to me Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alera Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 This has been raised loads of times before. I had run flats on a z4 and they had easily the worst ride of any tires I have ever used. Add in they they are expensive to replace and can be hard to source. Personally I would never buy another car with run flats fitted. Or if I did I would take off the cost of a new set of tyres... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biscuits Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 Fotunalty I don't have run-flats on the 5er as I have the optional 19's... however the 1er has them and I intend to get rid asap. The ride is appalling. Actually, the plan is to keep the run-flats for Mrs B and when I use the car for more exciting trips like July's 'Ring trip for example, then I have (almost) a set of ACS TypeIII's with normal Bridgestones on. I suspect when Mrs B seems the ACS on the car though, she'll be happy with a tin of TyreWeld ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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