So the time has come to replace the tires on my 2015 Mini Roaster S (195/55 R16) So I am looking for run flats (since it came factory with run flats and thus no spare tire) I am comparing tires on Discount Tire (I'd rather go them then Mini as I can get a warranty form them that's nation wide and there is one right in the parking lot of work, instead of almost 2 hours away like Mini) So I am looking two tires rated as best by Discount Tire the Pirelli Cinturato P1 (195/55 R16 87V SL BSW BM) which is only $119.00 each which would be good as I need to replace my front tires but the rears are pretty much right behind them, and I would get a $75 manufacute gift card (per paid master card) for buying 4 of them so with tax the tires them selves would be 5180.08 The next are the Pirelli Cinturato P1 (195/55 R16 87V SL BSW) at &182.00 again this comes with a $75 gift card from the manufacture for buying 4 tires, but this one would be $790.24 for the tires. then thereare the Micheline Prmacy HP (195/55 R16 87V SL BSW) for $198.00 it comes with no rebates/gift cards, it would cost $859.63 for 4 tires. Non of this would included mounting etc, I am inclined to go with the first option is it fits better into my budget and allows me to comfortably buy 4 new tires and it is still rated as a best tire by Discount Tire, I would get the gift card which would be a nice thing.
I'm a fan of Michelin and Dunlop and have had great luck with both brands over the years. I made the switch to non run rocks and keep can of Fix-A-Flat in the boot. Have only had to use it once due to a screw puncture and it worked like a charm. Out of your choices I'd go for Michelin's over Pirelli any day. Shop around, chances are Discount Tire will honor any competitors prices.
My wife convertible has continental run flats on it and they seem like good tires. Pirelli is a good tire but the Michelin I use to get for our sequoia were very quiet tires. Before I buy a new set of tires I always go to tire rack and read the reviews. I think Detroit Tuned still sales a small spare tire if you want to go the non run flats. My R53 and R58 have non run flats. I carry a kit with a air pump and slime in it, you can get it from any parts store. I have had regular tires my R58 sense a few months after I got it in 04. I have never had to use the air pump. I have had couple nails and screws along the way but they always held air.
All run flats / run rocks suck. You can get 4 quality tires for the price of 2 RF’s. I would switch to normal tires and carry a can of fix a flat or a compressor. You can also get tire warranty with regular tires.
I prefer a plug kit (Dynaplug) and a pump rather than fix-a-flat, because it doesn't leave a mess inside the tire and wheel, or gum up the TPMS valves for the later cars that use them.
There's a TPMS safe version of fix-a-flat. As far as the mess in the wheel, my tire shop cleaned it up with 0 complaints. Also, if you had them installed at a decent shop they'll clean and plug the tire for free. That's my experience. With Fix-A-Flat you don't even need to remove the tire. Squirt it, inlfate it, go.
Have to admit.. I’m a fan of plugs compared to sludge. In the RZR’s with good plugs, I’ve used 16 plugs in one hole (cut down the sidewall).. held rest of the weekend plus no mess to clean up. However for road tires (and on the side of the road).. sludge (fix a flat) works well. But you have to clean that out (I.e. find a shop that does it well).. That said, I will have both kits in the trunk of the GP2. I’ll start with a plug, not hard to do.. then go to sludge.
I buy most "big" purchases with 6 months same as cash if I can, and the Ford dealership obliged me . Just how I roll.
I carry both plugs and a compressor with Slime, so I'll try to use the plugs and, if that doesn't work, the slime is my backup. Any car that my wife would drive, however, would get runflats if it didn't have a spare. There's a certain amount of willingness to get out and fix it that slime requires (though I'm not sure if she would get out and put the spare on or just sit there until I came to help anyway)
Your wife is a candidate for AAA. Our insurance provides the same services. You might want to check your policy to see if it is included with yours.
Yup - I have AAA also.. for the same reasons. Wife, and frankly with some of my project cars, its nice to have the flatbed towing. Coming back from Sebring one year the suburban (204K Miles) died and I couldn’t get it running. Has the unlimited tow option.. they towed it from below Macon back to ATL on flatbed. Needless to say they don’t offer that anymore. Think the limit is like 150 miles now.
Yes AAA does have a 150 mile limit & I believe they limit the number of tows one can have in a year. With our insurance roadside we can have AAA tow us the first 150 miles & have our insurance pay us for the balance. I've used the towing a few times with the MINI, but the bread van has only seen it once.