mikemargolis

my car has a DEF tank in the trunk, so no spare tire. Therefore it comes with 17" wheels and run flat tires, OEM are Bridgestone Turanzas. Size is 245/45R17

I am due for four new tires this spring (so within a month or two)

I actually like RFT so please don't recommend ditching them and keeping a can of goop and compressor in the trunk.

I am looking for recommendations for best RFT out there today (spring 2017) as far as ride, noise and tread life.

If you were me, what RFT would you buy today? I am a very conservative driver, not so concerned with cornering ability as I am with noise and tread life. I have almost 110,000 miles on my car and plan to keep it for a long time still.

There is a tirerack warehouse within a 15 minute drive, but I am open to suggestions on tires they don't sell.

ktr

Bridgestone Driveguard.

Diesel #2

+1

SEC1939

check out michelin RFT I hear they have a nice ride. My OEM RFT on my E tires are Good Year bit stiff but I really do not have a reference. Let us know what you do

chipmjohnson

I decided the best alternative was to lose the run flats and move to regular tires and add a flat repair kit (small compressor and green slime). This provided for many more tire choices which were significantly cheaper and they all provide better rides, handling and much longer tread life.

I have been driving for almost 40 years and have had a on the road flat twice. The benefits far outweigh the small risks

mikemargolis

You just couldn't resist?

Thanks for your opinion.

The G Man

+2, Bridgestone Driveguard.

chipmjohnson

Sorry didnt read your original post completely. It was early and was using my phone.

Anyway, if you are committed to the run flats, I suggest you go to e-bay and pick up slightly used examples. Due to most peoples dislike of run flats, almost new tires show up everywhere. Just found two of the previous post recommended Bridgestone Driveguards with 98% tread for less than you would pay for one new.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Used-Bridg...BYvrZ1&vxp=mtr

Another option is buy a temp spare and throw it in the trunk. The vast majority of time your trunk is empty anyway. I did that with my wife's Odyssey years ago after the abortion of a run flat tire experiment, Michelin PAX.

mikemargolis

Thanks for the idea.

Actually, tirerack sells them brand new for 168 and I can pick them up, $168 for two is interesting, and it seems shipping is free.

I have chronicled here that my first set of snow tires were non RFT's and I kept a spare wheel in the trunk, which I hated. I actually use my car a lot, and travel with a suitcase and passengers, and losing half the trunk for half the year was no bueno.

If i could find some used ones for really cheap I might, but the cost of mounting and balancing might outweigh the savings.

Anyway, good idea, one that I hadn't thought about.

chipmjohnson

Have purchased various tires this way in the past. A suggestion is if you find some you are interested in, just send a question to the seller asking for the min $$ they would need to sell. Many times they have very little $$ tied up in their inventory and if they can move it fast they can be flexible. Doesnt hurt to ask.

You will need to find a smaller independent tire shop to have them mounted. Most corporate tire firms wont mount used tires (they claim insurance liability issues). The indy is usually much cheaper to mount and balance as well.

Craig's list is also a good source to take a look as as well. Again the run flats are everywhere due to most opinions of them being negative. Even new car dealers have them due to many people swapping them out even before they take delivery.

The G Man

When I had runflats in my last car, I still carry a compressor in my trunk. If I get a flat, instead of driving with low air which will render the tire useless, I can pump it if its a slow leak and have the tire patch up later.

mikemargolis

Just a quick thank you to all for the advice here.

I ended up with four used Bridgestone Driveguard RFT, 245/45/R17 from bestusedtires.com, all in with shipping and all, it was $310 for the four. Tire Rack was $670 for the same four tires, and mine are pretty much brand new.

Even the installed couldn't believe how nice they were for what I paid.

Glad there was someone out there who hated his run-flats.

chipmjohnson

Once you get some miles on this replacement set and well before the time to replace, start trolling ebay to look for another replacement set. I have found that if you wait until you need them you cant find a used set that you will want. I then stash them in the garage for latter.

Chip