anyone use run-flat tires

And the main problem here is: not having a spare. Maybe just deal with that?

 

i don't recall anyone ever using them on a prius. whenever it comes up, they get shot down. maybe you'll be our beta tester? who knows, they might be better than we think.

 

I actually did an inquiry to Nokian engineering who makes LRR and Run-Flat tires. They confirmed that their run-flat tires significantly reduce MPG. I don't need to waste $600 to find out that run-flats are a bad choice.

"It is said that you learn from your mistakes.
It's better to learn from the mistakes of others.
More quantity - Less pain" - Jeffrey N. Denenberg, 1995

JeffD

 

that's exactly what i'm hoping for.

 

I have driven on the Driveguard tires, on a Mazda not on a Prius. The Driveguard is different from other run flats. I can't comment on gas mileage but I can say that while typical run flat tires you'd find on a BMW for example are very stiff, the Driveguard rides like a standard touring tire. Even at zero air pressure you wouldn't know it was except for the TPMS light. It's also priced about the same as a regular premium touring tire. The Driveguard can be repaired as long as the puncture is in the tread area and not over 1/4 inch in diameter.

The Driveguard is thicker than a standard tire, but not to the degree that other run flats are. The tire has cooling fins on the side to help dissipate heat at zero air pressure.

 

OP did state that his motivation for run flats is to avoid being stranded. Using that as the criteria run flats are ..... still a bad idea as you're still susceptible to sidewall damage and blowouts. A can of fixaflat and a 12v pump can do nearly the same thing as a run flat at a fraction of the cost. You just have to stop first.

 

do u need tpms in run flats?

 

Yes, absolutely. Otherwise you won't know it's lost air pressure.

 

Some customers have extremely strong reasons to not stop until a time and place of their own choosing. Think in terms of customers of Secret Service or executive protection services.

Most of us are far less likely to face those reasons.

Yes. These tires have a very limited distance when flat, but don't feel flat to the driver.

 

do they need to be replaced after a flat, or can you drive x number of miles and then plug them?

 

Speaking of plugs, in the OP's shoes, I would just carry on with the OEM tires, and take along a plug repair kit. And a aftermarket 12 volt compressor, or a bicycle pump.

Run-flats are cargo cult in the extreme.

 

I joined this forum just to answer your question on run flats. I had them on my Mini and BMW. The best thing I ever did was get rid of them. They are horrible, horrible, things. I actually bought a few sets for my Mini before I changed to standard tyres. I didn't think they were as bad as everyone said. I found out they were.

Most tyre places won't plug a run flat, and in some cases it's dangerous to, so if you get a flat then you need a new tyre. They are noisy, uncomfortable, pricey and don't grip as well as normal tyres. Also the strong side wall sends sharp jolts up through the car which shakes the interior to pieces. My mini kept getting new rattles while I had run flats, it hasn't gotten any more with regular tyres.

On another note I test drove a mk4 prius for a few days. Really liked it.

 

I have no experience with run flats on my Prius as mine came with a spare but I do have experience with run flats on my previous car. I have had Minis for the past 10 years, the last one being a countryman before a deer decided to end my relationship with my car. The countryman was the only Mini out of the 4 that I had that came with run flats and also the only one out of the 4 that I ever had problems with the tires with. Never had a flat on the others.

Run flats ride rough, they don't get as many miles out of them as one would expect, at least not in my experience with them and almost anywhere you take your car to fix a hole in the tire won't repair it for... reasons. I did have one incident where I ran over a bolt in the middle of a main thoroughfare that punctured one of my tires in the tread (it still puzzles me as to how a blunt end bolt (it had to be at least 1" wide at the thread) impaled my tire). It was a particularly hard time for me financial wise and I didn't have the money to spend on a new tire. I practically begged and pleaded with the dealership to do something and they ended up plugging the tire for me after I signed a waiver saying that I would not hold them responsible for anything that happened from them plugging the tire. They refused until I turned on the waterworks and told them what I had going on that prevented me from being able to drop $200~ish (can't remember the exact amount) on a single tire.

About 6 months later, things had gotten better for me but I still had good tread on the tires. I wasn't having any issues with the repair the dealership did but I had a spot on one of the sidewalls get weak and start to bulge on me (not the tire that they plugged) and it finally blew. I was able to get it to the tire shop (non dealer) and I ended up getting 4 new non run flat tires on the car. The ride was better, the wear was way better and the mileage on the tread was way better than the run flats.

I knew that I was taking a risk with going with non run flats but after all of my experiences with the run flats with how rough they were, or stiff rather and the issues with getting repairs etc, I figured I would take that chance and if anything happened, I would call a family member who had AAA to help me out with a tow or whatever.

Run flats I guess are good for some people, but definitely not for everyone. I will never go with run flats again.

 

I own a 1999 Plymouth Prowler that came standard with run flat tires. The rears were 20 inch wheels and the front were 17 inch wheels.
Unlike the Prius you had not choice to carry a spare with two different size wheels and a 6 inch deep trunk.
They were heavy and rode rough. I removed them because they were very old and anyone I know that removed them never went back to run flats. I would never consider it an option for a Prius. I carry a portable compressor and a plug kit in the Prowler, if that doesn't fix it I would call a roll back wrecker.

Here is an example of the sidewall of a run flat tire.