Wheel Installation Recommendation

[Max Headroom]

Just got my set of black Sport Max 941 wheels in last Tuesday. Can anyone recommend a tire shop or auto garage in the Reidsville/Eden/Greensboro area that can do a good damage free job of pulling the Dunlop run flats off my original Mini wheels and put them on the new wheels? Also what's the ballpark cost of having this done along with balancing?

Gary

[MINI Rog]

Special equipment is needed to remount the runflats. The Goodyear dealer at Friendly Center can do it, not sure of the cost but my friend thinks about $30 per tire. Also Braxton Tire in Hillsboro can do it.

[TWISTER]

ditch the runflats ASAP and get some KUMHO SPT's & a 30 inflator at Harbour Freight

[Vango]

I would not pay to have runflats put back on get new non-run flats

[jbroughton]

Somebody in the Corvette club told me one time that they were out of town somewhere and had to replace a run flat, and were able to get it done at Walmart! Don't know if all the stores have the necessary equipment, or if I'd trust them to do it, just passing it along for what it's worth...

[Max Headroom]

The dealership I bought the car from just put a new pair of Dunlop run flats on it to replace a worn pair that was on there, so I'd like to run with them a bit just to get some use out of them. I wouldn't be able to go for a set of Kumhos until sometime in January or a little after. Any recommendation on a local Kumho dealer? Also what's the other item you mentioned Twister?

[TWISTER]

Kumho SPT's are the model of tire. leave the runflats on the stock wheels and sell them all. It will be the best decision you ever make under my advice!

[MidnightDave]

I took my runflats off at 10K, and never looked back. They're in the garage b/c I literally can't give them away. ;-) They are a pain to take off and the guy broke his machine doing so and had to keep the car overnight and get a new part in the a.m. to finish the job...the other thing Mark mentioned is a tire inflator kit, I bought the Contikit and paid twice what you have to. ;-0

[09mcs]

i got the spt's on my car. love em, cheap and do great. i have my stock runflats for when i trade the car in

[imapepper]

Find a good shop - ask lots of questions - those run flats are hard to work with and I would hate for your new rims to get damaged. Take it from experience;)

[wscruiser]

I have to agree with the "ditch the run flat" theory, even if I had to wait another month or so to put my new wheels on. Leave them mounted on your stock wheels and store them in case you need them for emergency use in the future.

As far as tire go, I went with the General Exclaim UHP tires. They are quite, stick to the road well, and ride smooth. Nothing against the Kumho tire, I just opted to go with General. Either tire is a great choice.

One thing to be noted about the General Exclaim, is that they do not come in the stock MINI size of 205. You would have to go with a 215/45 which is just a tad taller on the side wall, but that does have an advantage. The taller side wall fills the wheel opening a little more, and provides a little more cushion on the road. I have had no rubbing problems at all with the taller tire.

As far as a good dealer in your area, I'd recommend Discount Tire if there is one. I know the one that I deal with here in Winston has up to date modern equipment that should not do any damage to your wheels and they will beat ANYONE'S tire prices.

[Max Headroom]

I'll wait and get Kumhos put on the new wheels in January and save the originals for trade in purposes. I'll start shopping around for the tires and also inflator options.

Gary

[minianni]

Go to TireRack get their price and take that to Discount Tire. they will match or a least get real close. They matched for me.

[MINI Rog]

Burlington Tire will beat Tire Rack.

[wildcrazy442000]

Dave if you want to give those runflats away! I am a cheap bastard:D.
Off tread are you going to the Christmas party as Austin Powers? If so Wyatt Earp could possibly make an appearance.

[MidnightDave]

1) The tires are yours, we'll do an exchange some time.

2) Not sure I can make the party, may be back in SC, have a bro-in-law in the hospital, with hip surgery, and if they release him, I'll have to help with "transportation", he's a big guy and his wife is tiny...

3) Wyatt should definitely show up and somebody should definitely take pics and post them!

[onefastmini]

It did not dawn on me when we spoke about thias the other day at the shop, but the runflat tire needs a special rim to work propely. The factory rim design is call "EH" for "extended hump". basically, it has an extra ridge on the inside, almost an inner lip to keep the bead of the tire from collapsing to the center of the wheel when it is flat. None of the aftermarket wheels I am aware of have this feature.
Ok, so you decided to go with a regular tire... just read that. Kuhmo's are a good choice.
--Dan