My Rft Tire Story - Believe It Or Not

[toytrain]

I see lots of discussions about getting rid of RFT tires - listen to my story ----

Like most everyone I had had it with the ride, handling, and low mileage wear of my Bridgestone RFTs. Time for new tires and I was convinced to get "regular" tires and carry the old Green Slime tire repair -- already carried a compressor so no big deal. Well, when the time came for new tires I broke down and got another set of Bridgestones - couldn't pass up the Lexus 4 for the price of 3 sale - thought maybe next time I'll get the "real tires".

Jump ahead 3 months - wife and I go to a remote Indian Casino in NorCal, I do mean remote. We leave for home about midnight Sunday - a 1.5 hour drive, we love taking the backroads as no traffic. Flying down some country road at about 50 I hit a large pothole - I mean I REALLY COLLIDED WITH/HIT A LARGE POTHOLE - more like a crater. It stopped my vehicle in its tracks - every alarm on the dash was sounding/blinking. We are in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by flat fields of alfalfa and sun flowers with no lights or buildings anywhere. A quick walk around the car and I see that a 3 inch piece of the right front tire has been blown out right at the rim - it's just hanging there flapping in the breeze. My wife is panicky - we didn't bring a cell phone and no one is likely to pass by for the next 8 hours or so.

So what to do? Well, I got back in the car, calmed my wife as best I could, and drove home at 35 mph - it took more than 2.5 hours and I had to stay off the interstate - but we did it. Could hardly tell the tire was flat and torn. Next day I drove to the dealer where he installed a new tire free under their "road hazard" warranty. Of course I now have to deal with a slightly bent rim from hitting the pothole so hard.

Bottom line: I've rethought my plans for tires - don't get non-RFTs unless you get the kit to carry a spare - flat tire repair kits aint enough in my book. I've decide to keep RFTs but to switch over to Michelin Pilot Sport AS Plus ZP - getting alot of good press from what I read.

The scenario that played out for me never crossed my imagination. I pass this on as Food for thought!!!!

P.S. No, I'm not a Lexus dealer or employee.

[gcnmah1]

That's what run flats are all about, I guess. I have a 2002 SC430 and got rid of my RFT's at 40,000 miles. I am now at 125,000 miles and have never had a tire incident. I run without a spare, but with a can of fix-a-flat and a lightweight portable air compressor. So far, so good.