Bridgestone Runflats (Rav 4 Sr 180)

[peterg]

just found alternative tyre fitter to mr t if you are within a resonable distance from them . bush tyres 20 depots some have equipment in lincolnshire area are cheaper than mr t . have a look on there website

hope this helps

[Big Kev]

Many welcomations t'Forum mate, and stonking first helpful post. If you can help any members who (quite rightly....it's a free world) have decided to retain the world's most expensive tyre system, good on ya....

See PM sent.

Big Kev

[ravman180]

Hi, just bought a 2008 T180 with 43k (on impulse!) so interested to read others thoughts on the RFT's. I knew a bit about the problem of repairing punctures, hard ride etc and the T dealer said they would remove the steel rings. However, when I tried to book it in the service dept refused to do it as it was non-standard T procedure.

Rather than have a big battle with the dealer (cos I really like the car!) I eventually found a tyre fitter in Guildford with the right equipment to remove the steel rings and refit the Bridgestone tyres which were almost new. They did a great job at a cost of £200 and at least I have normal tyres now.

Done 500 miles - no regrets, although not impressed with Watford d'ship.

[Davrav]

Hi, just bought a 2008 T180 with 43k (on impulse!) so interested to read others thoughts on the RFT's. I knew a bit about the problem of repairing punctures, hard ride etc and the T dealer said they would remove the steel rings. However, when I tried to book it in the service dept refused to do it as it was non-standard T procedure.

Rather than have a big battle with the dealer (cos I really like the car!) I eventually found a tyre fitter in Guildford with the right equipment to remove the steel rings and refit the Bridgestone tyres which were almost new. They did a great job at a cost of £200 and at least I have normal tyres now.

Done 500 miles - no regrets, although not impressed with Watford d'ship.

Don't want to rain on your parade but I'm thinking that if you have removed the rings and simply put the tyres back on [the ones with the support ring symbol moulded on], you may well have some serious problems in the event of an insurance claim.................

[Big Kev]

Hi, just bought a 2008 T180 with 43k (on impulse!) so interested to read others thoughts on the RFT's. I knew a bit about the problem of repairing punctures, hard ride etc and the T dealer said they would remove the steel rings. However, when I tried to book it in the service dept refused to do it as it was non-standard T procedure.

Rather than have a big battle with the dealer (cos I really like the car!) I eventually found a tyre fitter in Guildford with the right equipment to remove the steel rings and refit the Bridgestone tyres which were almost new. They did a great job at a cost of £200 and at least I have normal tyres now.

Done 500 miles - no regrets, although not impressed with Watford d'ship.

Absolute result mon ami Anglaise......but you were charged 50gbp per corner.....? He had done his homework, que....? Now contact Kingo and get yer bhp up from 178 to 218 and enjoy....and I get 3 golf balls for referrallising......but you better read Davrav post above also too.....

Big Kev

[Hoovie]

To fit and balance a tyre costs 15 pound a corner, so an extra 35 to get that ring off is not so unreasonable I think - especially as the tyre place will have had to invest in the stupid "special" machine to do it to start with and will be in use less and less.

Personally I would be out there with a sharp blade and slicing off the BSR symbol and with those gone, the tyres magically become identical to the Bridgestone duellers fitted to the SR150 (non-BSR fitted) wheels.

[CharlieFarlie]

Removing or grinding off the symbols is not a good idea........................

The cost or removing and re fitting of the four tyres is not unreasonable given the horrendous cost of the machinery involved in the change. This is no ordinary tyre fitting equipment.

The removal of the BSR ring and re fitting of the Bridgestone run flat tyres has major insurance implications and you must advise the insurance of what has been done as the vehicle is now non standard and the safety element has been removed..

If you tell them you have removed the BSR kit and put the original tyres back on they will refuse insurance.. Removing said symbols is in the event (OK unlikely but do you want to take the chance ) accident a major issue because in the eyes of the law and the insurance company you have seen fit to deceive.

I spent hours getting to the bottom of this !Removed! minefield as Kev will I think confirm..

Some insurers seem unclear but be assured if the brown hits the fan blades clarification would surely follow !

[ravman180]

Wow that was a quick response! Thanks for the panic you guys caused. I think £200 was good price. The only other place I could find anywhere near (within 50m) that had the specialist equipment to remove the BSR's is in Letchworth & they wanted £300!

Checked with my insurer, LV, this morning & they have recorded the change without extra premium. The very nice lady hadn't a clue what i was talking about so checked with her supervisor who said they consider it to be an "unmodification".

I'll put a note in the service & handbooks advising the change. Thanks to Davrav for the insurance advice.

Sorry, if this needs a new thread. Does the T180 have a different handbook? Theres no mention of the D-4D engine in it.

[CharlieFarlie]

It is because .....

" The very nice lady hadn't a clue what i was talking about"

You should get the change acknowledged in writing !! Having the tyres with the run flat symbol on it indicates to the users of the car that it is equipped with run flat equipment when in reality it no longer does.......So in the event of an accident where the driver was assuming the car was safe to drive when of course it wasent is going to cause a major issue for the driver/owner of the car...

Even putting the unlikely event above aside your car is now indicating it has run flat equipment in the form of the BSR rings in place when of course it does not....

Please do not rely on the word of a person sat on an answer desk at the insurance as this could leave you at risk....

I would write a letter explaining exactly what you have done and request confirmation of the acceptance of change from your insurance company... That way you are clear... Bet it wont happen though...

I spent as said above a very considerable time asking the main questions on this subject and wrote this guide ..

http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=133751

May be worth a read through as it gives most of the answers on this often to arise subject...

[Offroadster]

Charlie is absolutely correct, get everything in writing.if you can!! I looked at removing the runflats from my T180 but after weighing up all the ins and outs I left them fitted. The problem I had was trying to explain to my insurance exactly what I was doing. To them removing the runflat tyres and support ring was no more different than say fitting winter tyres. They initially called it "alternative tyres". But more phone calls and speaking to more in authority they finally came round to agreeing it was a modification but wouldn't change my insurance premium. When I asked for it in writing they were reluctant saying it was not nescessary, thats when I did a bit more research. I got in contact with someone who has worked in insurance for many years ( introduced to him from a friend) and explained to him what I was asking. He said insurance companies would not sanction any modification or alterations to a car standard fitted safety system where it involved the removal of that safety system. So changing the tyres would not be a problem , if they were still marked as having a runflat system fitted, still seen as an alternative tyre. But removal of the support ring and for that matter the tpms would be a big no. So I decided not to, for as Charlie said not to put myself at risk as insurance companies will try everything not to pay out. It probably depends on your insurance company but defo get it all in writing.

[ravman180]

Charlie, thanks for the info. If I'd known before I bought the car what I now know about the runflats I probably wouldn't have got it and I'd be driving a new Kia Sportage and blown another 8k to boot! So in my case ignorance really is bliss.

On the insurance side, I had to renew today as it happens and so advised the removal of the BSR's. They say they will issue the papers with the "unmodification" confirmed. Also, calls are recorded & I noted the name & time etc. In any event the additional cost is only £21 for the modification (which they agreed to waive). My insurer, LV, have always been helpful.

[ravman180]

Offroadster, as i type very slowly I posted above before I saw yours. Thanks for advice. I'll let you know when the insurance papers arrive & what it says. I agree that most insurers will look for a loophole to avoid paying.

[Big Kev]

Good for you and obviously your best mate, Percy Verance.....that is a bloomin' good result....!!!!!

Big Kev

[CharlieFarlie]

Good for you and obviously your best mate, Percy Verance.....that is a bloomin' good result....!!!!!

Big Kev

Its a result I and many of us were unable to achieve..

I tried very hard indeed to get my insurance to accept that with the BSR rings removed the tyre would act as just a normal tyre.

They refused saying the run flat logo could give a driver perhaps a new owner the idea that the car still had the kit in place. Also one knowledgeable person insisted the construction of the tyre had to be different as they are stretched into place over the BSR kit when its fitted.....

[ravman180]

Following my post 10 Dec I awaited arrival of the revised insurance schedule following long discussions with desk and above.

Documents arrived and heyho .... wheels & tyres totally ignored. So phoned again, long conversation- this time insisted they took the £21 to show the modification.

revised schedule arrived today stating "Wheel /Tyre modifications"

It looks like I've cracked the BSR nonsense and it only took a month so I'm happy

Thanks to all who posted replies to mine & other queries on this.