Thread: Run Flat limits
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Old 07-17-2016, 09:58 AM
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Tomaz Tomaz is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by motordavid View Post
No experience driving on a 'de aired' RFT, but my guess is: the '50/50 limit' is the tire mfgers being overly cautious and figuring 'everyone' lives in the 'Burbs and can get to their local tire store for a new ~ $250+ tire, combined with barrister buzz words and liability limits...

Otoh, a cursory glance at RFTs on the net did not elicit much info or success in driving well past the '50/50' limit.

Fwiw, I have one car that came with RFTs, (our '02 VetteVert), but the OE tires were replaced by non-RFTs after the original tires wore out. 8 yrs and 35,000 miles later I have never had a prob with the non-RFTs, though I do pack a plug kit and compressor in the large trunk well, in that car.

All anecdotal, but I have had my share of tires going flat, but in the past decade and a half those low air situs have all come to my attention 'in the driveway/garage' and an easy patch/plug job has taken care of the situ. When was the last time one had a 'blow out' or flat on a trip? Happens, but so does getting a hole in one.

RFTs have some slight benefits, (mostly emotional), but are really designed for Buffy's piece of mind, imo.
GL, mD

PS: My non tech opin is to not drive an AWD X on a de aired RFT for very far or very fast...
True enough MD. Though I've had my share of flats I have never been on the side of the road with one. I always look at my tires when I approach the car and if I see one getting soft I'll inspect it closely and usually find a nail or other slow leak. I once won a bet that I could see a 3 pound differential in air pressure in my tires.

The real object of my question is because on the freeways I travel on the actual speed limit is around 80 mph. Driving home at 50 would be unsafe with a 30 mph difference in speed. I wouldn't care about shredding a tire but would not want to sacrifice a differential.

As a final thought I believe that run flats will continue to become more popular and non run flat tires will go the way of tires with tubes. Buffy's everywhere rejoice.
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