mfjj Posted June 30, 2013 Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 Hi folks, given the lack of a spare tire, has anyone considered putting run-flat tires on the C-Max? The fuel efficiency might suffer a bit, still... I'm thinking something like the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Run Flat found on some BMW and Mini Cooper models. They are LRR tires but probably not as fuel efficient as the Michelin Energy Saver A/S (the OE tires on the C-Max), and they are 5 lbs heavier. When on sale, they can be cheaper than the OE tires -- currently $516 vs. $716 on TireRack. I'm still waiting for my C-Max to be built. I'm considering having the dealer swap the tires before I pick up the car. Has anyone done this? I wonder how much credit I should expect for the OE tires that are practically brand new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoBro2 Posted June 30, 2013 Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 I had run flats on my previous car. I never had to use the run flat feature, but I did some research about the subject when I had the car. One thing to keep in mind is that once you've driven on a run flat tire that has gone flat, repairing it is not an option- it must be replaced. I learned that one of the first "mods" people driving on run flats often look for is ditching the run flats and going with regular tires with either a spare in the trunk or an inflator kit like the one that comes standard with every C-Max. Overall, run flats tend to be heavier and more expensive than standard tires with similar ratings. I'm not certain if the wheel itself has to be of a special design to allow run flats to be used. There might be an issue with the shape of the rim at the tire bead and whether the bead will remain seated when the tire is deflated. Since the suspension of the C-Max wasn't designed around the stiffer sidewall of a run flat tire, you may find the ride to be pretty rough. If you live in an area with smooth, well maintained roads, that may not be an issue for you. mfjj 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Posted June 30, 2013 Report Share Posted June 30, 2013 Before I bought my C-Max, I was looking at the Cadillac ATS which has run flats. I checked with the local tire dealer I do business with and was told by two of their technicians that run flats are s _ _ t. I pass this experience along for consideration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArizonaEnergi Posted July 1, 2013 Report Share Posted July 1, 2013 As I recall on the Honda Odyssey forum, people who got run-flat tires as an option or feature couldn't wait to replace them. They almost universally hated them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe Posted July 1, 2013 Report Share Posted July 1, 2013 I got a flat tire a month or so ago. Called Ford and they had me towed to the dealer where I got a new tire (a big metal spike punctured the tire). As much as I would like to have a spare, I need the room for other things. So, I carry a tire wrench and jack so I can at least remove the tire and find a ride to the nearest tire dealer for repair or replacement. If its late at night, I'll probably use the pump and patch foam or call Ford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfjj Posted July 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2013 Thanks for all the great advice! I think I will stay with the OE tires and carry a spare on road trips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrelld Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 Considered run-flats but a coworker and every forum I have read says they are not a good option. Ride, handling, and braking are all compromised with run-flats. Obtaining a usable spare from a salvage yard or some other source is the current consensus. Where to stow the spare on road trips has some interesting ideas presented both here and the fusion hybrid forums. My plan is to obtain a spare and carry a cordless impact wrench so if I have a flat on the front tire it can be swapped for a good rear tire and the spare mounted there. Mounting on the rear will not introduce drive axle rotational differences affecting the transaxle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotomoto Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 Due to a planned long roadtrip later this summer where we'll be out in the middle of no where with little to no cell service, I've decided to get a mini-spare for the trip but will store it in the garage for daily driving. I also have no qualms about using a plug repair kit as a first line of defense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PapaJ Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 I bought a Slime SPAIR kit, they work great. You can also use the little compressor to check tire pressure and air up your tires. I hate runflats, we had them on a MINI Cooper "S" and they were noisy and rough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zhackwyatt Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 I bought a Slime SPAIR kit, they work great. You can also use the little compressor to check tire pressure and air up your tires. I hate runflats, we had them on a MINI Cooper "S" and they were noisy and rough.I'm curious as to why you did that because Ford includes one with the car. Was it because of the plugs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PapaJ Posted July 24, 2013 Report Share Posted July 24, 2013 Just an extra layer of protection. Always carried a SLIME kit on the motorcycle. zhackwyatt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pianewman Posted August 17, 2018 Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 Hmm...5 years since this discussion started and stopped. Surely there are better run flat tire options available today? I've used the "tire mobility kit" on a small puncture on my 2015 Leaf. Worked exactly as designed, the goop held PSI for 2+ weeks, finally had the tire removed, cleaned (with water...), traditional T plug from inside. No followup issues, even the pressure monitor remained unaffected. Of course, we all know a blowout can't be fixed by any mobility kit. The thought of a failure on a run flat with 20k miles on it isn't a good one: 2 tires would need to be replaced (to keep evenly worn tires L/R), not one, so the expense is doubled. I'm tempted to try the latest, but thought I'd fire up this discussion again. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plus 3 golfer Posted August 18, 2018 Report Share Posted August 18, 2018 On run flats, I look at the likelihood of ever needing them (having a blowout) vs the benefits (likely just less inconvenience). I'm assuming no differences in tire performance. I've had one blowout (1979 Accord) in about 1.5 million miles on all cars owned. I had a spare and simply changed it. Now with no spare, I'd simply call Insurance to dispatch tow. It would be less inconvenient if I had run flats. But, the likelihood of having a blowout is very low. With respect to screws / nails causing slow leaks, there's no difference in inconvenience for me. I monitor tire pressure while driving and carry a quality tire plug kit. I've had 2 screws in 102k miles. After finding the screws, I drove one to a tire shop (5 miles) and the other home (11miles) and plugged it. Bottom line for me: run flats would have to have same performance or better and similar costs before I would buy them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferd Berfel Posted March 28, 2023 Report Share Posted March 28, 2023 It's time for new tires for my 2014 C-Max Hybrid SE with 144k miles. Thinking about ditching the run-flats and have two questions: -- Would switching to conventional tires affect the tire-pressure sensors? -- How long does the tire mobility kit last? I've never used mine. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jzchen Posted March 28, 2023 Report Share Posted March 28, 2023 (edited) I don’t recall the original tires being RunFlat. Did the car at some point get RunFlat replacement tires? The tire goo usually expires after 4 yrs or so… Edited March 28, 2023 by jzchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill-N Posted March 29, 2023 Report Share Posted March 29, 2023 Also, there's a nag that will display about checking/replacing the tire mobility kit. Search the forum for more info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferd Berfel Posted March 29, 2023 Report Share Posted March 29, 2023 Car came with run-flats. I needed to replace them at about 75k and couldn't find the original-equipment tires, so I went with a set of non-run-flat Michelins. MPG dropped more than 10 percent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cr08 Posted March 30, 2023 Report Share Posted March 30, 2023 Yeah, the C-Max never came with runflats from the factory that I'm aware of. The factory tires are Michelin Energy Savers. Personally I recommend avoiding them like the plague unless you live in a 100% dry climate. They'll bite you in the ass if you live where there's winter precip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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