Run Flats or just Regular Tires?

[Kennadian]

Time for new rubber. I have seen several comments about replacing the run flat tires with regular high performance tires. this seems to provide better performance and a reduced cost. Can anyone offer an opinion or comment about this question?

 

[XLRJIM]

Run flats

Time for new rubber. I have seen several comments about replacing the run flat tires with regular high performance tires. this seems to provide better performance and a reduced cost. Can anyone offer an opinion or comment about this question?

There are good arguments for run flats and non runflats for the XLR. Here is my 2 cents worth.

I have driven the car for amost 10 years now and have had three flats. One occurred when I picked up a 3/8 bolt on I 5 at 75 miles an hour. Didn't know it till the DIC lit up. Pulled over and saw bolt sticking out of junction of sidewall and bottom of tire. Concerned it might fly out and cause more damage I pulled it out. Drove about 30 miles from flat location at less than 50. Dealer said tire ruined and replaced it.
Slime and a pump would have never fixed.

Next two flats were non eventful.

The owner of the tire shop I use owned an XLR. His quote." The car was designed for run flats. Keep them on it, even though I can sell you cheaper non run flats". I replaced the original Michelins at 28,000 and have put about 20 on the replacement ones.

Talking to other XLR owners most do seem to think non run flats give you a more comfortable ride and better handling but for my money I prefer the safety of the run flats.

Good Luck

JIM

 

[pure zen]

Opinion or comment.....

IF your XLR is a garage queen or just an occasional, short distance driver....I'd say go non-run-flats.

If its a driver car or used for long distance trips,,,I'll agree with XLR Jim.

At 6000 feet elevation,,out of cell phone range in the mountains,,our friend's Vette caught a flying rock splinter chunk on the
right front tire. The decision came down to testing the run-flat claims. We followed while they drove 45 to 65 mph, and the tire went 125 miles without coming off the rim or tearing apart. It made a believer out of us!

I'll try to get the pictures up? [rookie poster]:

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Now tell me your non-run flats can go 125 miles @ 60mph,,,in this condition...... Never!

 

[pure zen]

To error is human,,,,

Adding pictures:

 

[Phrede]

I run non-run flats and am not a garage queen. Better performance, better ride and better availability. I have not had a flat of any kind on any vehicle for 15 years and then it was a picked up nail that caused a slow leak. Run-flats are NOT invincible. I certainly do not buy into the that is what was on it, so use that kind of thinking. Are the OEM tires for a base still made?

It will take a major change in design for me to even consider run flat tires again. They are too heavy, too stiff and cost too much for the limited sizes available.

 

[Crimson Pearl]

Can anyone offer an opinion or comment about this question?

Just one man's opinion.

It seems that the answer to this question is often shaped by ones approach to their XLR ownership.

If you are one that likes to modify their car or perform your own upgrades such as cold air intakes, brake modifications, engine tuning or other like-type activities, you might tend to switch to non run flats for what you believe will provide better handling or a better ride.

On the other hand, if you like the car the way it came from GM and are happy with the ride and handling, you might tend to stick with run flats.



I have made no modifications to my Crimson Pearl, with the exception of the addition of the anti-sway bar, which came standard on the V models.

I have decided to stick with the run flats for Crimson Pearl.

I am quite satisfied with the ride and handling and enjoy the added peace of mind of having the run flats. I know that the run flats are not perfect, so I upgraded my AAA membership to a higher level that provides for towing for a greater distance. Between the run flats, AAA, OnStar and 2 cellphones, we travel pretty confidently!


Others opinions may vary!

 

[airmike]

Every thing from the factory can be improved. The factory parts are always a compromise. They can't build a car that has, the softest ride, the greatest cornering, the quietest tires and the longest lasting, all in one tire. No doubt I would like a softer, quieter ride at times, than what the runflats provide, but to me they are a nice all around tire. I drove it home from NY in the snow and had no real problems. I do like to challenge the guy next to me at times, they are great.

You probably need to decide what aspect is important in your ride/performance and decide from that. Maybe they are expensive. I know my buddy tried to save a dollar on his vette and hates the tires he got. My first (rear) set lasted between 25,000 and 30,000 miles but were getting noisy.

Another mans opinion

 

[graytoad]

The primary reason our cars were equipped with Run Flats is the fact that there is NO PLACE to put a spare, NOT because that is a better tire for our car. Having said that the run flats tires perform reasonably well or they would not have used them.

Personally I switched to non-run flats. My son is in the tire business and is 'very knowledgeable but also strong minded' and said he that 'if you like to drive' he would not recommend run flats on anything and advised I go with regular tires and carry a small plug kit and compressor: which I now do as well as auto club. I do feel the ride is softer and holds better in the corners. I have only had two situations involving tire puncture in all my 40+ years of driving of any vehicles, both manageable enough to 'refill and get them to a shop'.

I guess all us non-run-flat people will all swear by our choices unless we get a huge slash and are stranded on the side of the road: then we will swear at them!

 

[jimkroeker]

Run-flats vs non run-flats

I'm currently running Michelin Sport somethings. They're non run-flat and so far are serving quite well. l haven't had the dubious pleasure of a flat with this car yet and if l'm lucky l never will. As l understand it Bridgestone has come out with a run-flat that is suitable for this car and costs about $200.00. lt sounds like a pretty good price compared to other prices l've seen. l saw the tires on the Bridgestone website, but when l asked my tire guys about them they didn't know anything. Good luck deciding. Looks like opinions are about 50/50.

 

[XLRATING]

We have non-run flats on the base, run flats on the V. To me, the ride difference isn't enough to justify the non-run flats. I've been convinced by an argument that since these cars are so low, you're more likely to damage them with a flat. Of course, anything can happen & there's no guarantee you won't tear something up with bad run-flat damage, but I'll probably go run flat the next time around if they're available.

My feel about the ride is probably affected by my recent switch to a daily driver with a much stiffer ride (from one that rode like an armchair). The base XLR feels flat out squishy next to that!

 

[Harley03joe]

Has Any One Look At This Spare For The XLR On E-Bay
2004-2009 Cadillac XLR – All Trims – Complete Spare Tire Kit - Modern Spare | eBay
Harley03joe

 

[pure zen]

Joe,,, I guess that will work and fit in the trunk, but if you want to drive with the 'top down'....where are you going to store it?