Problem replacing run flats with standard tires

[isellpower]

Thanks for the assistance gentlemen. I called a small tire shop in North Indy and spoke to the owner. He laughed at my story and said to bring it in this morning. It's been there an hour so I'll let you guys know how it goes.

[Mackskibum]

Originally Posted by JCL

Vehicles originally equipped with RFT will have the EH2 rim design. This is a different profile on the rim, with a second ridge that retains the RFT bead in the event of deflation. EH stands for extended hump, EH2 means on both inner and outer edges of the rim.

I suspect that by pins they mean these ridges.

I can certainly understand that these additional ridges would make new tires harder to seat. That said, they should be able to do it, standard tires fit on EH2 rims.

[Mackskibum]

I would love to see the mysterious pins that are a problem with anything but a run flat. Maybe I can learn something

[isellpower]

My brother is a BMW tech in Boston and he said the same thing.

[Mackskibum]

This is why 10 years ago I bought a rim clamp tire machine and spin balancer. Only way to guarantee no BS.

[Lubehead]

Dave/Macksibum, thanks for the response, those machines didn't exist when I did tires.

isellpower, you may want to contact Tire rack and ask about their list of "approved/authorized installers"

[Couper93]

Never heard such of a thing....I stalled tires through college at discount for 3 years...tires don't 'pop' off....if a tire wer to pop...it would explode off. There are no pins preventing anything...something's not right here...
I would run to another installer and then call corporate....

[Couper93]

Still sounds like a scam....
I had OEM run flats and have been ruining non run flats for2 sets now. No issues and no questions from installers....

[M3Inline6]

Good information!

[isellpower]

Update for everyone.

As stated previously my wife took the tires to a small local indy shop where the owner still works on the cars. She said the tire machine looked older than her (she's 35). She said that after sitting in the waiting area for 1.5 hours the older gentleman that owned the place came out to speak with her. She said she just knew that he was going to say that it could not be done. However, he said he was all done but it needed an alignment and would she like that done also. 45 minutes later she drove out of there with 4 news tires mounted, balanced, and a fresh alignment.

Thanks for all of the advice and I hope that this helps someone else. She did mention that all 4 tires were coated in some "goop" so apparently Firestone and Discount Tire must have actually tried.