Changing Run Flat Tyres

[parky1968]

Why do Rft's have to be changed by Toyota as suppose to any tyre supplier?? What is the 'special' piece of equipment needed??

I know rft's are a common query on here...apologies if my question has been covered before but I appreciate your input folks

Many thanks

[MarsKy]

Why do Rft's have to be changed by Toyota as suppose to any tyre supplier?? What is the 'special' piece of equipment needed??

I know rft's are a common query on here...apologies if my question has been covered before but I appreciate your input folks

Many thanks

There is a video of the machine in operation somewhere on the forum (looked, but couldn't find it).

I still don't know what the "special machine" does differently though. After all, others have had normal tyres re-fitted to their OEM alloys using normal machinery.

It may be to do with the non-destructive removal of the support ring (in which case, they can leave it off mine when it comes to it).

I don't think it's the TPMS as you can work around the tyre pressure sensor and valve.

I recently spoke to a Toyota Service Manager who was mighty peeved off with the cost and hassle of the "special machine". And he now offers removal of the support ring and the fitting of normal tyres.

[Parts-King]

They don't have to be changed at a dealer, but try and find somebody who was willing to Shell out the many many thousands of pounds the machinary costs they are very few and far between. The support ring is the killer, it should NOT be removed and ordinary **tyres fitted**

Kingo

[Big Kev]

Would normally bow to the experience / advice of Our King of Parts, but when my Flun Rats are done, I will sell my wife into slavery to afford normal tyres, and will openly admit my major annoyance is the Cartellification of the whole experience between Toyota and Goodyear which hacks me off the most.

Big Moan :shutit:

[Parts-King]

Would normally bow to the experience / advice of Our King of Parts, but when my Flun Rats are done, I will sell my wife into slavery to afford normal tyres, and will openly admit my major annoyance is the Cartellification of the whole experience between Toyota and Goodyear which hacks me off the most.

Big Moan :!Removed!:

Or Bridgestone for that matter :o

[Big Kev]

oops.....that'll be me in court again.....that's the manufacturer of rubber circles I plan to use.

Big Eejit

[Roadwrangler]

Why do Rft's have to be changed by Toyota as suppose to any tyre supplier?? What is the 'special' piece of equipment needed??

I know rft's are a common query on here...apologies if my question has been covered before but I appreciate your input folks

Many thanks

Sorry if this is old ground, but only had my car a week, I'd appreciate more info on Run Flats please. I was told they just had thicker side walls so as not to collapse when punctured, and that they could be repaired like a conventional tyre? The tyres on my car are Bridgestone Duellers, but there is nothing I can see that identifies them as run flats, and I can press my thumbs into the side wall slightly which I was'nt expecting to be able to do if the side walls are reinforced.

Regards Austin..

[Davrav]

Why do Rft's have to be changed by Toyota as suppose to any tyre supplier?? What is the 'special' piece of equipment needed??

I know rft's are a common query on here...apologies if my question has been covered before but I appreciate your input folks

Many thanks

Sorry if this is old ground, but only had my car a week, I'd appreciate more info on Run Flats please. I was told they just had thicker side walls so as not to collapse when punctured, and that they could be repaired like a conventional tyre? The tyres on my car are Bridgestone Duellers, but there is nothing I can see that identifies them as run flats, and I can press my thumbs into the side wall slightly which I was'nt expecting to be able to do if the side walls are reinforced.

Regards Austin..

Hello Austin,

Whoever told you the tyres on your T180 have reinforced sidewalls was wrong. The 'Run flat' system used by Toyota for the T180 RAV utilises a support ring [bit like a doughnut] around the wheel inside the tyre LINK The tyre will have a small symbol [can't find an image] that will indicate it is suitable for use with the support ring system.

There are several threads about RFTs on the forum. Here's one to be going on with LINK

You'll grow to either love 'em or hate 'em............................

[bothwell_buyer]

Would normally bow to the experience / advice of Our King of Parts, but when my Flun Rats are done, I will sell my wife into slavery to afford normal tyres, and will openly admit my major annoyance is the Cartellification of the whole experience between Toyota and Goodyear which hacks me off the most.

Big Moan :shutit:

Bridgestone ma man!!!

Goodyear went bust in Linwood years ago... or did they just move?

Can you post up pics of your wife as I might be interested.

[MarsKy]

I was told they just had thicker side walls so as not to collapse when punctured, and that they could be repaired like a conventional tyre?

I was told by a Toyota Service Manager that, as long as it isn't a sidewall puncture, a tyre can be repaired - for £40. I suspect the £40 is for the use of the "special machine" (c'mon - it must have a name) to refit the tyre.

Someone has suggested that there is nothing special about the tyres - it is a Run Flat System because of the support ring, and that they are not Run Flat Tyres. But then, why can't we have other choices of tyre? Maybe we can, and we are all fixated on the Bridgestone Duelers? Is the support ring only designed to work with Bridgestone Duelers?

I wish Toyota would come clean with the options available to their customers. You can't run a car for 10 to 15 years and expect to be tied to one setup of tyres and wheels for that period. It doesn't even make business sense - the infrastructure to maintain that setup must become obsolescent after a few years, or dwindling supply and demand means it will become very expensive for the consumer mugs who try to stick with it.

[bluevortex]

Hi All,

Clearly loads of people on the forum still posting about RFT's (me included)- Could this not be made into a sticky and pinned to the start of the forum? There's loads of interesting threads/posts on RFTs that would be great tied into a sticky?

I plan to replace my Bridgestone RFTs after the winter and carry a spare wheel. Just don't like the thought of being restricted to Toyota only. One question I have, could the existing RFT's be replaced with a normal RFT from another manufacturer (without using a support ring) there by still getting the bennefits of run flat system but allowing other garages to change them and more flexibility on tyre choice?

Blue

[Roadwrangler]

Why do Rft's have to be changed by Toyota as suppose to any tyre supplier?? What is the 'special' piece of equipment needed??

I know rft's are a common query on here...apologies if my question has been covered before but I appreciate your input folks

Many thanks

Sorry if this is old ground, but only had my car a week, I'd appreciate more info on Run Flats please. I was told they just had thicker side walls so as not to collapse when punctured, and that they could be repaired like a conventional tyre? The tyres on my car are Bridgestone Duellers, but there is nothing I can see that identifies them as run flats, and I can press my thumbs into the side wall slightly which I was'nt expecting to be able to do if the side walls are reinforced.

Regards Austin..

Hello Austin,

Whoever told you the tyres on your T180 have reinforced sidewalls was wrong. The 'Run flat' system used by Toyota for the T180 RAV utilises a support ring [bit like a doughnut] around the wheel inside the tyre LINK The tyre will have a small symbol [can't find an image] that will indicate it is suitable for use with the support ring system.

There are several threads about RFTs on the forum. Here's one to be going on with LINK

You'll grow to either love 'em or hate 'em............................

Hi Davrav,

To be honest I was enquiring about them when I had an MOT done last week, just before picking up my Rav, the Tyre fitter at the Garage said (not specifically to the Rav) that they start from about 18" wheels and are low profile tyres, and that they had much thicker side walls than conventional tyres, to support the weight of the car if punctured, he said you would just drive to your nearest tyre place and have the tyre vulcanised as normal.

I generally carry a puncture repair kit in the car, based on those sticky strings, you find the puncture, ream the hole slightly with the tool provided and punch one of the stick strings through the hole, twist the tool 90 degrees and pull the tool out, it leaves the sticky string jammed in the hole and bunched up on the inside, inflate the tyre, trim any excess string off from the outside and drive off, it works a treat, never had a problem or one fail, even did an emergency repair on a side wall once while off roading in my Pajero, too muddy to jack up where I was, inflated it with a 12v booster pack with a compressor built in and carried on off roading the rest of the weekend.

I'll enquire at Costco next time I'm there, they sell the full range of Mitchelin tyres.

Regards Austin.

[bothwell_buyer]

Why do Rft's have to be changed by Toyota as suppose to any tyre supplier?? What is the 'special' piece of equipment needed??

I know rft's are a common query on here...apologies if my question has been covered before but I appreciate your input folks

Many thanks

Sorry if this is old ground, but only had my car a week, I'd appreciate more info on Run Flats please. I was told they just had thicker side walls so as not to collapse when punctured, and that they could be repaired like a conventional tyre? The tyres on my car are Bridgestone Duellers, but there is nothing I can see that identifies them as run flats, and I can press my thumbs into the side wall slightly which I was'nt expecting to be able to do if the side walls are reinforced.

Regards Austin..

Hello Austin,

Whoever told you the tyres on your T180 have reinforced sidewalls was wrong. The 'Run flat' system used by Toyota for the T180 RAV utilises a support ring [bit like a doughnut] around the wheel inside the tyre LINK The tyre will have a small symbol [can't find an image] that will indicate it is suitable for use with the support ring system.

There are several threads about RFTs on the forum. Here's one to be going on with LINK

You'll grow to either love 'em or hate 'em............................

Hi Davrav,

To be honest I was enquiring about them when I had an MOT done last week, just before picking up my Rav, the Tyre fitter at the Garage said (not specifically to the Rav) that they start from about 18" wheels and are low profile tyres, and that they had much thicker side walls than conventional tyres, to support the weight of the car if punctured, he said you would just drive to your nearest tyre place and have the tyre vulcanised as normal.

I generally carry a puncture repair kit in the car, based on those sticky strings, you find the puncture, ream the hole slightly with the tool provided and punch one of the stick strings through the hole, twist the tool 90 degrees and pull the tool out, it leaves the sticky string jammed in the hole and bunched up on the inside, inflate the tyre, trim any excess string off from the outside and drive off, it works a treat, never had a problem or one fail, even did an emergency repair on a side wall once while off roading in my Pajero, too muddy to jack up where I was, inflated it with a 12v booster pack with a compressor built in and carried on off roading the rest of the weekend.

I'll enquire at Costco next time I'm there, they sell the full range of Mitchelin tyres.

Regards Austin.

Whats the name or source of the sticky string kits as we need a kit for our JCB 515? Each puncture costs us £40+.

[Roadwrangler]

Whats the name or source of the sticky string kits as we need a kit for our JCB 515? Each puncture costs us £40+.

I got my kit from one of the tool vans that calls at work, just had a look on a certain auction site (don't know if we are allowed to say its name) if you went there and searched for this listing "230542362160" this is the same kit as mine, though it normally comes with 2 packs of strings (enough for approx 50 punctures) this looks to only have one pack of strings. CPC (combined precision components, part of Farnell) in Preston sell the full kit for around £35 + vat.

[Ravi Shankar]

I didn't know such a thing exsisted very interesting thank you.

[Roadwrangler]

I didn't know such a thing exsisted very interesting thank you.

I've probably had the kit 2 or 3 years now, must have fixed half dozen punctures in that time, once the wheel is off the car (not always necessary to remove it) it takes literally a couple of mins to repair. Never had one fail, and used on a few different vehicles.

Regards Austin..

[wardude]

heres my plan for replacing the run flats.

1. deflate tyres.

2. cut the tyre off thus leaving the valve in place.

3. cut off the band/ring with a grinder

4. fit normal tyre

5. carry spare in boot. I already have my spare. I slid the back seat forward and strapped the tyre to the back of the seat. this way I dont lose any boot space for my dogs. If anyone wants photos of the tyre rings being cut off just pm me. Spoke to a local mobile tyre lad and he said he will happily remove the rings and fit new tyres

[harleymlb]

Why do Rft's have to be changed by Toyota as suppose to any tyre supplier?? What is the 'special' piece of equipment needed??

I know rft's are a common query on here...apologies if my question has been covered before but I appreciate your input folks

Many thanks

Hi, I have just changed all 4 Tyres on my Rav4 T180.

After much deliberation with all that is posted on this forum i decided that i would remove all 4 BSR from the wheels.

This was done professionaly so that they can be used again should i sell the car. I had already purchased a "spare " off eBay for £50 which had a puncture. This was repaired very reasonably by my local Toyota Dealer. I asked the fitter not to put the ring back in which he agreed too.

I have purchased 4 x Toyo Open Highway 235/55/18 from www.tyreandgo.co.uk/ . They have improved the ride of the car really well, they are very quiet and so far [no snow] offered excellent grip in all weather.

Total price for the 4 was £460 delivered.

Toyota wanted £180 each for Bridgestones!

This was my previous post above. These tyres have been on for over a month now and i can honestly say that my T180 rides alot quieter and smoother since the tyre change. There still seems to be a lot of confusion over swapping the tyres to an alternative brand. "I cant say too much" but i have a contact at a main Toyota dealer. I was with this person when they removed the old tyres and support rings which took some time about 30 minutes each from removal to balanced and refitted. The TPMS is not affected and so long as the tyres go back on the same wheel they don't need recoding! I was fortunate to buy a spare wheel so this is carried in the back of the car it just lays on the floor behind the rear seats and is not too obtrusive. I now have a nice stack of 4 Bridgestone Support Rings wrapped in Toyota service car covers as they are covered in this horrible sticky grease. So if and when i sell the vehicle the new owner can have them in case of the unlikely event they will want to put them back inside! They would have to be mad! I can now get any punctures or tyres issues dealt with at any tyre dealer, which is good as i go on the continent towing my caravan

[vikkij]

Wow, this post has just cheered me up, can't stop laughing. I'm now going to consider who I can sell to pay for my run flats when they need replacing. In the meantime I'm making friends with my gas cooker over the issue of a shorting radio head which has killed my center console.

[mandienstu]

heres my plan for replacing the run flats.

1. deflate tyres.

2. cut the tyre off thus leaving the valve in place.

3. cut off the band/ring with a grinder

4. fit normal tyre

5. carry spare in boot. I already have my spare. I slid the back seat forward and strapped the tyre to the back of the seat. this way I dont lose any boot space for my dogs. If anyone wants photos of the tyre rings being cut off just pm me. Spoke to a local mobile tyre lad and he said he will happily remove the rings and fit new tyres

My other half did that exact same thing with 2 of ours after getting a puncture in one tyre one sat night and nowhere to fix/ replace the run flat the sunday :D he did damage one of the valave though :0

[Taylor6971]

Just to add a slightly different angle to this thread....

I had my three of my RFTs replaced last month at a cost of £160 each, this compares to the £230 charged by Mr T six months before when my wife got a puncture. The quotes I got varied quite dramatically as did the confidence of the fitters to do the work without destroying the bands. (Which would incur an additional cost of £100 each). The two cheapest places that I found were an independant Garage in Horncastle, Lincolnshire and Stapletons Garage in Great Yarmouth. Stapletons in Yarmouth were excellent. The original tyres have lasted 40, 000 miles of mainly local driving.

I am now quite happy in the knowledge that I can get this done for a sensible price by a garage who know what they are doing. It also allows me to continue with the RFTs fitted which I do believe offer a good system in the event of a blowout or puncture in a dangerous place on the road. I do have a spare wheel which I bought off eBay and keep this at home.

I can understand the frustration with these as for those that remember I have had my fair share of problems with the T180, but as i said I am now happy knowing I have sensibly priced support locally.

Just for a further bit of clarification, the tyres are normal tyres but they do have a small round spinning tyre like symbol on the side to denote to fitters that there is a support ring within. When they get supplied they arrive in boxes with a tube of the grease within so that the BSR can be re-greased.

For those that have read this before I apologise, I just thought it would be handy to have within this pinned post.

[Roadwrangler]

I asked in Costco Wholesale earler, they sell the Mitchelin tyre range, they stock a Primacy 235/55-18 for the Rav4's (around £160ea + vat) however they are not what he called "ZP Rated" (Zero Pressure) so can not be used as a 'Run Flat' tyre, and he said he would'nt advise fitting them to a car designed for Run Flats, saying that the suspension and brakes etc are all tuned for use with Run Flat tyres. Another angle to the saga..

Regards Austin.

[footyfan]

Folks, new member here. have had my '07 T180 for year and half love it! HOWEVER now I have to get two front tyres as they have worn out on the outside edge. My saga is this. When we bought the car we were told the typres were RFTs, we were not told about the Bridgestone cage system. Now we need tyres changed so go to our local Mr.T dealer who tells us that its going to cost £260 per tyre, + £90ea. for the cage cause 9 times out of ten the cage is damaged when changing the tyres over, + £60 for fitting the tyres. Wait the best bit is still to come..... Their fancy machine for changing Bridgestone tyres has been out of commission for 7 weeks (waiting for a part), the other garage that can do it in our area does not have anyone qualified on the machine to fit the tyres, so dundee would be the next option, they dont have any tyres in stock, so I have delivered my RAV4 this morning to local Mr.T garage who is sending my wheels off to GLASGOW to get two new tyres! All credit to the garage they have given me a courtesy car (yaris) for a week and a half cause the weather is soooo bad in Aberdeen. Am I disgruntled, you had better believe it!

What if I were driving somewhere remote like west coast of scotland (Mull or Islay) where the chances of getting RFTs or even a toyota garage are limited! This system is a joke.

Yes we deliberated and cojitated, should we put on normal tyres, should get other alloys and tyres. We decided to go with the glasgow option, why probably cause I was too scared of what taking the other options would throw at us. Let just hope once I get my new tyres and I dont have a puncture any time soon.

[MarsKy]

£410 per tyre x 2? You're being ripped off. And wait until they break and charge you for tyre pressure sensor as well.

Is it Arnie in Aberdeen? Because if they are sending the tyres to Arnie in Bishopbriggs, then I was being quoted about £200 per tyre there (and if you read this thread, you can get the tyres cheaper).

You could get 4 new alloys and normal tyres for about £820.

[phil9843]

They don't have to be changed at a dealer, but try and find somebody who was willing to shell out the many many thousands of pounds the machinary costs they are very few and far between. The support ring is the killer, it should NOT be removed and ordinary **tyres fitted**

Kingo

I lately removed the two front Run Flats from my T180 and fitted two 'normal'tyres - no probems the sensors are working a treat too - the difficult part was just cutting the rings off with an an angle grinder - just have to be careful you do not damage the alloys or the valve sensors.

I have difficuty getting a spacesaver wheel to fit - anyone any knowledge of where to pick one up

Hope this helps someone