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Runflat Tyres Gone Wrong-A look at the “Runflat Safety Tyres” and how they can go wrong

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Runflat Tyres Gone Wrong

Runflat Tyres Gone Wrong

Not many things surprise us but when a BMW  1 series pulled in the other day then we could not believe our eyes?

On a normal busy Thursday morning a customer pulled in to us with a problem(they usually do). His BMW car was making a nasty sounding noise. In fact the guy thought his engine was about to blow up.

The first thing we did was to check the cars levels. Including the water and the engine oil. To our surprise every thing looked fine. We were treading cautiously. So, just in case the engine was about to fail.

In fact everything looked fine so we decided to run the engine. Ryan listened and everything was in order. No warning lights or burning smells coming from the engine. In fact the engine was in good condition.

The next step was a road test.

Ryan took the car on our normal testing run and indeed he could hear a loudish noise. As a result he brought the BMW back to the garage and lifted it up on one of our ramps. He checked the obvious things that could make a noise. Such as the suspension and exhaust parts, everything was in order.

However to his surprise he noticed a massive piece of the tyre missing on the near side tyre on the inside. Where the sidewall meets the tyre tread. Was this the culprit?

As you can see in the image, the damage was substantial. The car was fitted with the original runflat tyre system. With a runflat tyre fitted to each wheel. The job of the runflat is to get you safely home or to the nearest tyre dealer to get the problem fixed. Consequently, runflat tyres have extra layers of rubber coated belt to give extra strength. For this reason the tyre is able to be driven on albeit at 50 MPH.

This eliminates the need for a spare and saves on the overall weight of the car. Thus helping to reduce the cars emissions. The frightening part of this story is the guy had been driving about Yorkshire for at least two days. So as the tyre slowly deteriorated, then the noise became louder from the flapping tread and the guy thought it was the engine.

When we told him we all had a laugh about it. However he was relieved because he only had to buy a new runflat tyre and not a new engine.

Heat Causes More Tyre blowouts puncture repairs

Flat Tyre-A Woman’s Guide to Changing their own Wheel?

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 Women Drivers do often change their flat tyre

Sometimes it may be great to play a damsel in distress. So, having a strong and well-toned man fix your flat tyre. Importantly,  I think every woman ought to know how to change to the spare wheel. After all, having your tyre blow is never something anyone plans. Of course, you may not have any ready eager boy scout waiting around to rescue you. There is no need to keep the wheel changing in a man’s domain. Times are changing and you should too. Time to empower yourself and get ready to tackle that flat tyre !

 1. First of all, if there is a place for you to move your car out of the way !

So, if there is a place to where you can get out of the way, then move your car there. Make sure oncoming traffic will be able to see you. Turn on your hazards and if you have an warning triangle. Then place where it will be clearly visible. Also make sure the place you move your vehicle to as flat and even as possible. Avoid soft ground and inclines. Whenever possible place some bricks, blocks or large rocks . Naturally, under your car to prevent your car from rolling backwards.

 2. If you have hubcaps, remove them.

These are the covers of your wheels. Check you manual on how to remove them. I highly suggest you look at this beforehand and not when you have already blown a tyre.

 3. Next you need to remove the wheel nuts.

These are the nuts or bolts that hold your wheel in place. You will need a wheel brace to do this. Of course the wheel brace comes in different shapes and sizes . Commonly known as a “Spider” . So, the spider wrench is the T shaped wrench. Of course, that should be together with all your other tools. The shape of the wrench makes for easy leverage. However, if your upper body strength is lacking the heft or muscle needed to loosen the lug nuts. Importantly, you may have to resort to step on the T-arm to obtain better leverage. Always remember, left to loosen and right to tighten.

 4. Now you need your car jack to raise your car.

Most cars have a flat plate behind the front wheels and just in front of the back ones for this purpose. Place the jack under the “jacking point” nearest to the tyre to be changed ! Raising the jack with the jack handle to meet the jacking point plate. Double check and make sure your car will be steady once it is raised. Safety is crucial whenever you are working with your car. Now raise your car about 15 cm of the ground. Don’t forget that when you re-fit an inflated spare wheel.Thus, will need room so make sure there is enough space for the spare to be placed on.

 5. by grabbing it with both hands, one on each side.

So after removing the wheel nuts!  Pull the flat wheel straight and off. Quickly,line up your spare with the bolts and slide it on. Replace the lug nuts but do not tighten them completely. When you have lowered your car, use the lug wrench to tighten the lug nuts in opposite pairs. Make sure these are as tight as possible ! Because you absolutely do not want your tyre to come off when you start driving away.

 6. It’s time to clean up and put things back in place.

Put all your tools together and place them back where they were stored. Always put them back in the same place so you know right where to find them in case of emergencies. Knowing where all of the tools are before you get into an emergency situation is suggested. Put your flat tyre where you spare one was and make sure to have it fixed right away.

7. Of course many cars dont have spares now !

many cars now run on run-flat tyres and do not have a spare wheel. In my opinion this is a great idea ! So when a puncture occurs then the driver can carry on driving the car. Albeit at a steady 50 mph ! Cars with runflats can then make their way to a tyre centre and have the problem attended to. Some cars only carry a can of air sealant and no spare wheel. This idea is save on the weight of the car and reduce emissions.

8.I would advise most ladies to join a motoring organisation

Although that you now know how to change your flat tyre ! I would strongly recommend that any motorists and not just ladies should join one of the road side assistance companies. So we all must have noticed how busy our roads are now getting. Especially, on the motorways. Recently, I had the dis-pleasure of having a tyre blowout on the M1 motorway.

Of course, it was dark and raining and was a very frightening experience. However it is a job that I have done all my life and quickly changed the wheel at the roadside. However it did open my mind to the thought that this would have been horrific for a lady driver to attempt this task. Simply it would be far better to join the “AA” “Green Flag” or the “RAC“. Naturally putting your mind at rest !

 A woman alone with her car and a flat tyre could be a signal for the less than honourable to take advantage of the situation. If you have no recourse but to change the tyre yourself, make sure you have some form of protection nearby like pepper spray. Also make sure to call a friend or relative to let them know what happened when your tyre blows so someone is aware of where you are and the situation you are in. This will at least give people you know the information of your whereabouts.

9, Having your tyres in good condition is one way to avoid a flat tyre.

While some causes like a puncture from a nail or other sharp object cannot be avoided. So, keeping your tyres well inflated. Along with careful driving will lessen the chances of your having to change a flat in the future.

And if you need new tyres ! Contact us on www.pellontyres.co.uk as we are independently owned tyre centres across the UK . Consequently, to help you find the right tyre for your need. Its knowledgeable and professional staff will be able to give you brand neutral car safety advice to help you make the right decision for your tyre needs. And if your car needs other types of auto service, they offer than as well.

• An open and honest approach with the customers

• A high standard of work and excellent value for money

• 12 month guarantee on parts and labour

• An open invitation to inspect, review and rate the garages of your choice to make the best informed decision for your needs

 Stay safe on the road ladies!

 

Heat Causes More Tyre blowouts puncture repairs

Runflat Tyres Are-Safer-When a rapid tyre de-flation happens on your car

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Runflat Tyres Are-Safer

6 reasons to use run flat tyres

  1. You can continue driving even if you get a flat tyre. Run-flat tyres have reinforced sidewalls that allow you to drive for a short distance (usually 50-80 miles) even if the tyre is completely flat. This can be particularly useful if you are driving in an area where you cannot easily change a tyre, such as on a highway or in a remote location.
  2. You won’t have to carry a spare tyre. Because run-flat tyres can be driven on even when they are flat, you don’t need to carry a spare tyre in your trunk. This can save you space and weight, and make it easier to pack your car for a trip.
  3. You won’t have to change a tyre in bad weather or a dangerous location. If you get a flat tyre in bad weather or on the side of the road in a dangerous location, you may be hesitant to change the tyre yourself. With run-flat tyres, you can simply drive to a safer location to get the tyre repaired or replaced.
  4. You won’t have to worry about getting stranded. If you get a flat tyre and don’t have a spare or the tools to change it, you could be stranded on the side of the road waiting for help to arrive. With run-flat tyres, you can at least drive to a nearby service station or garage to get the tyre repaired or replaced.
  5. You can still drive at high speeds. Some run-flat tyres are designed to be driven at high speeds even when they are flat, so you won’t have to slow down if you get a flat tyre on the highway.
  6. They can improve vehicle handling. Run-flat tyres are designed to maintain their shape even when they are flat, which can help to improve vehicle handling and stability. This can be particularly useful if you are driving in emergency situations or in challenging road conditions.

So what do run flat tyres actually do ?

In general, many of my customers complain. Especially, when they have to buy their first replacement runflat tyres. Customers simply do not understand how these tyres have evolved during the past 10 years of car design. Consequently, its all linked with green house gasses and your cars emissions.

Runflat tyres are safer and also help to reduce the overall weight of your car. Of course, this is done by not having a spare wheel, jack, or wheel brace. So, this reduces the overall weight of the car, thus making it more fuel efficient.

No spare wheel reduces weight

Also, the fact that you do not have a spare wheel gives you more space in the boot and, as stated, a lighter load. Runflat tyres are also made with fewer materials than standard tyres. which also makes them more environmentally friendly.

As far as tyre performance is concerned the BMW Run Flat Tyres are just the same as the conventional tyres. Providing all of the advantages of modern performance tyres. Predominantly, the main difference is that your car has a puncture while you are out driving.

Then the runflat tyre will not deflate, giving your car normal handling and cornering. therefore reducing the risk of an accident with other road users. So, in other words, run-flat tyres are safer. This is especially important if you were in the fast lane of the highway when the puncture occurred.

Your normal tyre would instantly deflate, making your car very unstable and possibly causing a bad accident. In fact, figures show that tyres cause a large percentage of motor related accidents, and the run flat tyres are a big improvement on the accident figures, enabling the driver to keep a straight line when a puncture occurs in one of the run-flats.

These new runflat tyres systems were originally created to keep drivers safe

because punctures and blowouts can be dangerous. The vast majority of fatal road accidents are caused by drunk drivers. Apart from safety, a flat tyre can be a real inconvenience. adding time, cost, and sometimes embarrassment to your journey. Changing a tyre is fairly straightforward.

But it often occurs at the most inopportune moment. Frighteningly, getting stuck on the side of a motorway. Especially in the pouring rain with noisy kids in the back seat, this is really no fun at all! And trying to change a tyre on the hard shoulder can be dangerous in itself, or even impossible if you are disabled or elderly, in fact many drivers have to call out the rescue services to change the wheel for them,

But the drivers with runflat tyres and tpms systems do not have to put up with this

Of course, once the tyre warning light comes on in the cab, they can safely tootle home or carry on with their journey (all be it at 50 mph, which is the recommended speed once you have a flat on your runflat tyres).

Runflat Tyres Are-Safer; Any vehicle fitted with runflat tyres

should also include a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) this will show you whether you tyre pressure has been lost, this is because without this the loss of pressure in your tyres will not be noticed

Of course, runflat tyres are designed to maintain driving speed, handling, and smoothness. particularly when a puncture occurs. Indeed, even when driving on a motorway. A TPMS is essential to alert the driver to a loss in tyre pressure. To be sure, it will indeed become part of the MOT test in the near future. Your TPMS works from either a sensor in your wheel, which is usually a special valve, or from the car’s ABS braking system.

Almost all of the world’s leading tyre companies Continental and Goodyear, among others, manufacture runflat tyres, including Bridgestone Run Flat Tyres. Cheap tyres can be bought online, but I recommend that you stick with the brand that you have on your car at the moment, or, as a good, cheaper alternative, we recommend General  tyres.

Since first writing this post, the the runflat tyre has increased in the popularity

However, the public still begrudgingly pays for them. As a result, these tyres are now standard equipment on smaller car models. So, the problem starts when the cars become second-hand and start to need new tyres.

Fortunately,  runflat tyres are now available in “budget tyre” brands. One of the most popular tyre sizes is 205/55R16. Of course, this is also a runflat tyre size as well as a conventional radial tyre size. Significantly, this size is available in several brands. including the 205/55R16 WINMAX EURUS63 91V RFT at £67 fitted. Chinese tyre manufacturer Jinyu also make the Jinyu YU63 economy runflat tyre range.

So these advancements have helped with the motoring expenses of the less well-off drivers with smaller cars.

There is no doubt in my mind now, that these runflat tyres are safer. especially when driving on our overcrowded highway system. A poor motorist had a tyre blowout on the M6 just a few weeks ago. I know because I was caught up in the massive tailback.

As a result, a lady driver with a very flat tyre was caught in the fast lane with a tyre blowout. She looked terrified as the traffic began to back up and during the vehicles’ recovery. So I couldn’t help but think that if she had runflat tyres, she might have been able to limp the car off the highway and home. at 50 MPH. To put it simply, these Runflat Tyres Are-Safer and get drivers home safely.

Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems

BMW Minis Run Flat Tyres-Many drivers with older BMW Minis find the tyres Expensive?

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BMW Minis Run Flat Tyres

BMW Minis Run Flat Tyres-Many owners of BMW Minis are are just coming to terms with run flat tyres. Here in Halifax, we pride ourselves on our excellent client base, from mini drivers who trust us to carry out servicing on their cars. Trust is essential when it comes to advice about your car.

BMW Minis Run Flat Tyres-Price is important when selecting the correct run flat tyres

 A few years ago I could see the writing on the wall. Of course, regarding a popular car. BMW mini and the high cost of parts including BMW Minis Run Flat Tyres. Hence, when the cars were becoming second and third hand. This time has now arrived. Therefore, with drivers looking for Cheap Run Flat Tyres.

The original Minis (British Leyland) were build, for the main masses of the population. Thus, to enable working class motorists to afford a good reliable little car. I myself have owned five minis (old type) in my time and loved them all. You could get the up-market minis. Such as the mini cooper.

But you would expect to pay a higher price for such things as new tyres. The normal tyres for Mini Cars were 145×10 and they would cost the same price for years on end (except for inflation). You knew that if you went on to a mini cooper you would have to pay more, because the tyre size was 16570×10, Get what I am on about ?.

Run Flat Tyres

Then bringing us back to the present. Hence, came the BMW mini. Naturally, a completely different animal. This car has all the modern gadgets on board. Hence, to help in the battle against greenhouse gases. Therefore, is fitted with many things that were not dreamed of when the old minis were around.

Cars must now be made much lighter, and one of the first things they did was experiment with spare wheels and no spare tyre in the boot. In my opinion, this had a dual effect: it reduced the weight of the car while also lowering the cost of the tyre and wheel, which adds up to significant savings when multiplied by millions. Most BMW minis started to come out on what we now know as “run flat” tyres. This simply means that if you have a puncture, the tyres will remain strong enough to get you to safety, provided you only drive at 50 mph.

Run Flat Safety Tyres

In my opinion, the theory behind this idea is a good safety feature: the strength of the tyre does not allow the car to move, thus keeping the car in a straight line and avoiding other traffic. The problem occurs when the driver shows up at the local tyre centre.
most run-flat tyres will not repair once they have had a puncture

The people that buy second and third hand BMW minis are usually young people, and mostly females and when they realise the cost of new BMW Minis Run Flat Tyres they freak out, some of the sizes now cost £180 each, that’s buying them online at cheap tyre prices.

Cheap BMW Minis Run Flat Tyres may be bought in budget brands but do not go for part worn  run flat tyres as it is more important to know where they have been and used for (the history) than normal tyres.