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I will be driving my sister's car with Run Flat Tires from San Diego to Raleigh NC via major interstates. The tires are relativley new (10K). If you get a punture you can drive 50 mph up to 50 miles then you need a new tire. When these tires first came out alot of retailers did not stock them. On the other end of the drive I have a flight to catch so I can't be delayed. Are Run Flat Tires (RFT) more available these days? A compact spare is $300 which I prefer not to buy.
You can't allow a longer cushion of time to ensure you make your flight? A lot of things besides a flat could delay you - engine trouble, accident, major road construction, etc. You need to consider EVERYTHING.
Run-fat tires (and the cars they are fitted on) are designed for soccer moms to drive to the nail salon. I would never drive on them beyond the suburbs. A lot of recent cars don't even have a well for a spare tire, you'd have to drill holes in the roof and bolt on a wheel with a spare tire, if you wanted to drive someplace like Nebraska, or else put it on the back seat...
OP didn't mention the car brand/tire size...some sizes are more difficult to source quickly than the more 'normal' standard sizes.
If car and tires are in good shape, (check cold psi all around before trip), I wouldn't sweat it.
In case of a tire losing pressure, (the TPMs in instruments should give a slight warning), it may require getting to a decent sized town vs an interstate exit gas station, and hoping local tire joint has tire, or can quickly source it.
In a pinch, a possibly more available non RFT tire could be substituted: TPMs system on car may not work properly, but it will get you down the road and can be dealt with later.
Having done several recent long road trips, I really don't wring hands over tires, other than they be in good condition/proper psi, and I give them an eyeball every day...
I would rec'd allowing a full extra day or two, for your ETA: stuff happens on that kind of trip, and OP give no indication of the time frame they are jamming the trip into.
GL, mD
OP checking in. Looks like I will get a used RFT on EBay for $50 as cheap insurance and put in trunk. That way I won't be delayed at the tire shop for a replacement. Scrapyard suggestion possible but a wheel for a 2006 BMW 325 is pricey.
The machinery to install a RFT is different than normal tires. Please continue with tips on changing RFT in small towns between SAN-RDU along I20 and I40.
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