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Riding on a 'flat' run-flat tire cause wheel damage?

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Old 01-27-2012, 04:44 PM
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Anyone know if riding on a 'flat' run-flat tire could cause wheel damage (cracks)?
Old 01-27-2012, 04:56 PM
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probably only if you hit a pothole
Old 01-27-2012, 04:58 PM
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Even self-supporting run-flat tires have limitations when at "0" inflation - read the manufacturer's recommendations for the RFT you are inquiring about.
Old 01-28-2012, 05:22 AM
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Originally Posted by jgbmw
Anyone know if riding on a 'flat' run-flat tire could cause wheel damage (cracks)?

Originally Posted by turboawd
probably only if you hit a pothole

Yes it can, run flats are designed to get you to a garage or tyre place at slow speed and although they go down slowly once flat your running on rubber that will split due to the weight of the car, so any bumps, pot holes, might cause damage to the wheel.

Get a spare wheel kit, and put it in the spare wheel well
Old 01-28-2012, 06:12 AM
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It certainly can, with no air in the tyre there is less shock absorption, so it goes straight to the rim.
Old 01-28-2012, 08:04 AM
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Well as you can damage a wheel with the tire fully inflated, the answer would HAVE to be yes, you CAN cause wheel damage riding on a deflated RFT!
Old 01-28-2012, 04:22 PM
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thanks everyone. i got a quote to have it repaired but i thought it was worth it to just replace it with a new wheel.
Old 01-29-2012, 08:24 AM
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If your wheel has cracked then I would definitely replace rather then repair.

As for run flats cracking alloy wheels it has been a big problem here in the UK (with our third world maintained roads) and BMW have had a shed load of criticism and bad publicity from a BBC consumer programme over the issue. The very hard and stiff run flat tyre wall means the wheel will take the full hard impact of any pot hole or bump. Result a cracked or broken wheel.
Old 01-29-2012, 08:53 AM
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Originally Posted by markrl
If your wheel has cracked then I would definitely replace rather then repair.

As for run flats cracking alloy wheels it has been a big problem here in the UK (with our third world maintained roads) and BMW have had a shed load of criticism and bad publicity from a BBC consumer programme over the issue. The very hard and stiff run flat tyre wall means the wheel will take the full hard impact of any pot hole or bump. Result a cracked or broken wheel.
I agree. The rim had 3 areas that were damaged (almost exact distance from each other; symmetrical) and I felt like it was just too much to repair. Apparently, the original rims for my model have actually gone down in price as well.
Old 01-29-2012, 10:46 AM
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According to my dealer here in Toronto, cracks in rims are a fairly common problem . I just have stock 17" rims without runflats and had to have a wheel replaced recently. Personally I think this is pretty pathetic for a $50K car.


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