T180 Run Flats Again

[Bernie H]

Well, its happened again. After the saga I had to deal with before over my T180's run flat tyres after conceding a puncture is farcical.

To cut a long story short, my local dealer eventually replaced 3 tyres and rims to get me back on the road, whilst purchasing the specialist equipment to deal with run flats.

The equipment was delivered ..... but installed incorrectly....... delays again. In the meantime, the 1 of the 3 new wheels wouldn't code up correctly, so had warning light on flashing for nigh on 3 weeks.

Equipment corrected, mechanic trained up,....... car taken in, original rims replaced, and tyres sorted. NO warning light ..... 3 days later, warning light came on, and stayed on permanently.

2 weeks later all sorted, and after a saga spanning 3 months .... seemed like 6, probably was 6, I lost the plot.

This was at least 6 months ago. Move on to now.

2 weeks ago, I needed a new tyre.

Rang local dealer.

Ah, yes, a new tyre. Hmmmmm. We have a problem Houston. The mechanic who was trained to use the equipment HAS left, and there is no one been trained up to use the equipment, BUT, we have a (cunning) plan.

2 weeks later, I get a phone call, to say that I need to drive down to Weston-super-mare where there is a dealer who has the equipment to replace my tyre.

SO, in order for me to get a tyre replacement, I have to drive something like 150 miles round trip, for the pleasure of replacing my tyre..........................................

Yes, well, yesterday I called in at the local dealer and told them that there was no way I was going to drive down there in my time, wasting my precious fuel, to cover their short sight. The eventual outcome, is that they then decided to swop the tyre and rim, and take mine down to Weston themselves and sort it.

Guess what. Correct, the only spare one they had, had a faulty valve.

So, I am now back home, awaiting their next move, in this saga.

It's a good job, that the local FORD dealer has not got a FORD Kuga locally, as it's becoming VERY VEY attractive. Don't get me wrong, I love my T180, but its starting to leave a very bad taste in my mouth. I have spent over £28,000 on a car, and this is kind of treatment I get.

I can only say, that I intent to vote with my feet.

[Remoh1]

thats appalling, how can a dealer supply a vehicle its not capable of maintaining, the resale values of the T180 is going to be non existant at this rate

[chatman]

OMG.......... :eek: :eek:

The dealer should be shamed........ Toyota have got a lemon car here with the Run Flats...

This should be on watch dog.. then see Toyota sort it out...

[bothwell_buyer]

Raise a small courts Compensation claim / talk to trading standards as they have a network across the UK. And everyone on this forum should write individually to the BBC and to various complaints pages of the national papers.

They have a duty of care to provide and support what they sell, and if the back-up is not fit for purpose it is not your fault but Toyota. The dealer is just an agent front for Toyota. Trading Standards would keep you right and might even take up the case.

[Bernie H]

Thanks for replies guys.

Just to round the story off, I did a bit of research myself, and Inchcape in Oxford have the equipment, so I drove over there this morning, and now all sorted (for the time being anyway).

BTW thanks Inchcape for quick service.

HOWEVER.

I still feel that we as T180 owners are being mugged.

I never questioned the price of the tyres before as I genuinly thought that the price of the tyres were +- £280.00, and it was only when the lady at Inchcape mentioned that labour charge was £90.00 an hour! Obviously in the wrong job again

Turns out that the tire is +-£150.00, and the rest is labour ...........

Old Mr T must be laughing all the way to the bank ......

Bet Kwikfit don't charge £90.00 an hour.

KJust another nail in the coffin

AND I bet that the new S180 has normal run flats, as fitted on the XTR

[RaverT180]

Thanks for replies guys.

Just to round the story off, I did a bit of research myself, and Inchcape in Oxford have the equipment, so I drove over there this morning, and now all sorted (for the time being anyway).

BTW thanks Inchcape for quick service.

HOWEVER.

I still feel that we as T180 owners are being mugged.

I never questioned the price of the tyres before as I genuinly thought that the price of the tyres were +- £280.00, and it was only when the lady at Inchcape mentioned that labour charge was £90.00 an hour! Obviously in the wrong job again

Turns out that the tire is +-£150.00, and the rest is labour ...........

Old Mr T must be laughing all the way to the bank ......

Bet Kwikfit don't charge £90.00 an hour.

KJust another nail in the coffin

AND I bet that the new S180 has normal run flats, as fitted on the XTR

[RaverT180]

Hi Guys

Had a screw through one of the tyres, just 18k miles. After visit to my local Toyota dealer at Colchester, was relieved of £356 to replace just one bl**dy tyre although they did give me a courtesy car overnight whilst they were doing the job!!! After enquiring whether I could change over to normal tyres, they said they "don't know" but evidently they have had previous enquiries about this.

It's not just labour that bumps the price up, but the fact that on a tyre which had not deflated, they also replace the safety ring!! (£90 + vat). OK, I admit it, I've been a caravaner for many years and I assume that the run flat ring works on the same principal as tyron bands which fill in the well in the wheel and you use over and over again when changing tyres.......

What's going on? Just feel this is highway robbery. Only bought this particular Rav because I wanted the T180 engine but if I'd known it was going to be nearly £1500 to replace 4 tyres I wouldn't have even considered it.

If anyone knows whether conventional tyres can be fitted, please post a message :(

Interesting how Club Toyota or Toyota UK don't have an email contact address, wonder why :)

Best Regards

John.

PS Now gonna search for this S180 - see what all this is about!! (the XTR was a slap in the face for us geezers that had spent serious money on the T180)

[rav man]

Now you are experiencing the Toyota customer service experience. I got several unsatisfactory replies from Mr T when i pointed out that the air bags deploying late actually concerned me somewhat.

Customer services do appear on here so keep going and someday someone must pay attention. (They did a bit over the flywheels)

R

[cfc1]

I assume that the run flat ring works on the same principal as tyron bands which fill in the well in the wheel and you use over and over again when changing tyres.......

It's not the same thing... the tyron bands to which you are referring to, or at least what I think you are refering to.....

... is there to prevent the tyre coming off the rim completely when driven flat, it works because it fills the wheel well preventing the bead of the tyre getting in, to get a tyre off a rim the tyre bead needs to go into the well so that it has room to get over the edge of the rim.

The Bridgestone support ring system is designed to carry the weight of the car without the tyre deforming allowing the car to be safely driven to the nearest garage.

[rav man]

"The Bridgestone support ring system is designed to carry the weight of the car without the tyre deforming allowing the car to be safely driven to the nearest garage."

The nearest Toyota garage where you then get charged £280, Whoooaaaahh. :angry: :angry:

[cfc1]

Yes.. I should have said Toyota garage.. or, to be even more accurate.. Bridgestone Approved Toyota garage as no other garages are authorised to fit them.

[Bernie H]

Hi Guys,

I spoke to one of the Service Managers who mentioned that one of the T180 owners had had all the dougnuts removed from his run flats, purchased a rim and tyre, and carried it in his boot. This enabled him to have what ever tyres he chose on his vehicle.

I have given this some thought, and it may well be a path I follow, and take my chances.

Apart from the puncture I suffered, which was my fault as I hit the kerb, my only times I needed new tyres was when they were due for replacement from wear, so, maybe .......

[rav man]

Ah Bridgestone run flat tyres , i do believe they are a great invention.

Im just going to watch a film on my Betamax video.

Nurse , nurse.

[sywy]

Ah, runflats again!!

Didn't someone (duncs?) have something going with Toyota?

Re: removing the support rings. I think it has been discussed before, and the consensus was it may invalidate your warranty and possibly your insurance? There's also the problem of re-coding yout TPMS when you change tyres, which only Toyota can do?

[chatman]

Ah, runflats again!!

Didn't someone (duncs?) have something going with Toyota?

Re: removing the support rings. I think it has been discussed before, and the consensus was it may invalidate your warranty and possibly your insurance? There's also the problem of re-coding yout TPMS when you change tyres, which only Toyota can do?

They where talking about buying different tyres and disabling the TPMS system. The run flats on the T180 have just IMO made the car useless and second hand value nil to me.... Love to have the engine... but at what cost incase you get a puncture....Better off buying the XT5 then get the chip on the Diesel engine, and hey almost identical bhp but no nasty run flats...

[Hoovie]

I think if I had a T180, I would buy myself a set of wheels/tyres from the XT5 and then sell the original 4 wheels to those poor souls who are stuck with Run Flats.

Concept is fine, but the execution seems to be appauling !

[Remoh1]

its one thing having a £27k car and spending £400 on a tyre but in 3 years time when someone is looking at buying a £10k car will they want to pay £400 a tyre and in 6 years time when its a £4k car no one is going to buy a car that has tyres that cost 10% of the value of the car each, one set of 5 tyres is half the price of another car. After 6 years time they will be scrap vehicles.

[Fujisan]

I think this is a problem a lot of people, buying many different types of cars, from now on, should really consider before handing over their hard earned cash.

Granted the T180 with it's run flat system is at the top end of silly ideas but more and more, new cars routinely do not come with full size spare wheels or even skinny space saver spares, only a can of gunk and tiny compressor.

I think it would be wise for anybody buying a car (new or used) to ask searching questions about this provision for emergencies before buying.

Unfortunately, many people will only look at such things as power, economy, space......even colour when purchasing a car and only think about what happens when they get a flat, when they are sitting stranded by the side of the road.

All T180 owners have my sincere and deepest sympathies with regard to this problem.

[Hoovie]

and apart from that, the rear end looks silly without a spare mounted on it!

[chatman]

I think this is a problem a lot of people, buying many different types of cars, from now on, should really consider before handing over their hard earned cash.

Granted the T180 with it's run flat system is at the top end of silly ideas but more and more, new cars routinely do not come with full size spare wheels or even skinny space saver spares, only a can of gunk and tiny compressor.

I think it would be wise for anybody buying a car (new or used) to ask searching questions about this provision for emergencies before buying.

Unfortunately, many people will only look at such things as power, economy, space......even colour when purchasing a car and only think about what happens when they get a flat, when they are sitting stranded by the side of the road.

All T180 owners have my sincere and deepest sympathies with regard to this problem.

here here :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Toyota PR if your reading this.... Oi SORT IT OUT !!!!!

[duncerduncs]

Didn't someone (duncs?) have something going with Toyota?

Can I answer this tomorrow? I have to go to bed to get up today to go to work tomorrow!

[wulliebuzz]

I called my local Mr T whos service manager had just been on the run flat fitting course, even though they dont have the fitting machine yet. When i enquired about the price a new runflat tyre he advised me to replace them with normal tyres and a can of gunk in case of a puncture.

When i asked him about the Tps system he stated that as the sensor is in the valve it would still calibrate. He also confirmed that doing this would have no effect on the warranty.

[anchorman]

I had a V6 RAV on hols that went like a rat up a pipe and it had standard tyres.

Told you what I would do...............

Rid the blasted things.

[shcm]

When i enquired about the price a new runflat tyre he advised me to replace them with normal tyres and a can of gunk in case of a puncture.

When i asked him about the Tps system he stated that as the sensor is in the valve it would still calibrate. He also confirmed that doing this would have no effect on the warranty.

How about getting that in writing from him? I may be wrong and it may depend on the system, but I'm fairly certain that the gunk has a good chance of killing the pressure sensor in the valve. However, I will check again with an ex TPMS design engineer at work.

Cheers

[RaverT180]

Hey Guys, thanks to all of you for your responses. Certainly had a chuckle from some of them and agree, Ravs look better with a spare wheel on the back, but hey, ain't it nice to be able to open the back door up fully!!!! :D Got to admit, it's only now, as one of you kindly mentioned, that unless something is done, no one is going to want to buy a second hand T180, where you are paying out, by then, in excess of £1500 for a set of tyres. Will get in touch with Mr T direct, not one of his garage monkeys B). It maybe that we all need to start banging on the corporate HQ door, after all, Toyota generally are more atuned to their customers concerns, than other manufacturers, but just don't get me on the subject of Land Rover-Freelander/Discovery (total crock of s**t).

Will keep you posted as to any developments (like the idea of swapping over to normal tyres and carrying a spare in the boot, but they big 'ole wheels and come the weekend, boot gets full already!!!)

Best regards to all

John