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You must have the optional tyre pressure monitoring system which on the SMax automatically specs runflat tyres.
I sympathise to an extent, but surely part of a car purchase is researching tyre cost and projected life? The Smax is a big, heavy diesel MPV and is going to wear tyres especially front ones quickly. FWIW I have the 2.2 diesel with 18" rims. Michellin Primacy HP lasted 17k miles on the front (about 1.5k towing a caravan). Tyres for these are also over £200 (non runflat). I think before you fit non-runflats you need to check how this will affect the tyre pressure monitoring system. If it can be disabled, just get a set of 16" steel rims or 16" standard Zetec alloys and fit the appropriate non-runflats which will be much cheaper and give an improved ride also.
I am getting a set of 16" steel rims for mine with Vredestein WIntrac Extremes for the winter, cost £600 all in for 4xtyres on rims.
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Thanks. I guess I did not research properly, and I suppose I have less problem with them lasting 15K miles than with the fact that run flats are so expensive (and no doubt use significantly more rubber with no regard to the environment!). Will have a look at 16s, thanks. And then I guess you're just relying on the can of foam in the event of a puncture?
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thanks
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Hi fudde. For your information ,my work colleagues 09 reg S MAX has Michelin HP fitted as standard. They are non run flat and the fronts were worn out after 16000 miles.
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I would check firstly, that you don't contravene (or nullify) your insurance - if the RFs were fitted as 'standard' spec, you're technically altering that & insurance might be compromised if you don't tell them. Also check your rims are capable - some RFs have different shaped rims (internally) - non-RF might be compromised in some way.
Also, do you have space for a spare or spacesaver? You'll have to factor in that cost overall, too.
225x50x17 aren't cheap whatever you buy, i.e. RF or non-RF - would there be that great a saving by changing? So, maybe investigate a different brand before changing?
Personally, I think RF tyres are an abomination - despite 'improvements' (as they keep saying) in design etc, they still ruin the ride - no way can you square the circle: you must have very stiff sidewalls for them to work, and that lessens your primary bump absorption through the tyre.
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you must have very stiff sidewalls for them to work, and that lessens your primary bump absorption through the tyre.
Quite. Low profiles in general suffer from the same trait. I suspect that most of the M3's suspension problems come from the trendy spray on tyres. Pneumatic tyres are one of the great inventions and why people try to disinvent them for a sporty look or a virtually non existent puncture problem is beyond me.
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In general though what is a Ford S-Max like? I only ask as a friend of mine is considering one as part of his business, ferrying customers and colleages around to various sites and wanted something roomy.
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Run flats will be fitted as a replacement for a spare. You can fit non run flats of the same size, speed and loading ratings, but if you do get a low pressure warning you will need to stop immediately and possibly get it swapped, rather than drive on a deflating tyre.
My B class has a tyre pressure warning system, but no runflats as it has a spare. It has warned me once, but seeing it was a screw in the tyre I was happy to drive it the couple of miles to the local fitter.
15k from quite a low profile tyre is about average - the best I have managed on a 225-45-17 is 18,000 (Pirelli), the worst just 8,000 (Goodyear).
If possible check the tyre tread wear figure before choosing a tyre and go for a high number - in excess of 300 if they are available.
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Don't know what I'm doing but the Bridgestone RE050 run-flats on the rear of my 335d are fast approaching 30k on them - they'll probably need replacing in a few months but I'm impressed with how long they've lasted considering what they're asked to cope with.
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Run flats will be fitted as a replacement for a spare. You can fit non run flats of the same size, speed and loading ratings, but if you do get a low pressure warning you will need to stop immediately and possibly get it swapped, rather than drive on a deflating tyre.
My B class has a tyre pressure warning system, but no runflats as it has a spare. It has warned me once, but seeing it was a screw in the tyre I was happy to drive it the couple of miles to the local fitter.
15k from quite a low profile tyre is about average - the best I have managed on a 225-45-17 is 18,000 (Pirelli), the worst just 8,000 (Goodyear).
If possible check the tyre tread wear figure before choosing a tyre and go for a high number - in excess of 300 if they are available.
THANKS
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In general though what is a Ford S-Max like? I only ask as a friend of mine is considering one as part of his business, ferrying customers and colleages around to various sites and wanted something roomy.
I THINK ITS A FANTASTIC CAR....VERY ROOMY, GOOD ENGINE, GREAT FOR CARRYING UP TO 5 KIDS (EVEN 5 ADULTS FOR SHORT TRIPS)...LIKE MANY FORDS, A BIT PLASTIC AND CHEAP IN SOME PARTS, AND OBVIOUSLY s*** WHEELS!!!!! I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH 3 YEARS AGO OF THE MPVS AND CAME TO CONCLUSION S-MAX BEST...DON'T KNOW IF THAT CONCLUSION STILL RIGHT (AND AT THE TIME NEARLY SWAYED BY THE VW SHARAN, BUT V HAPPY WITH S-MAX NOW (AGAIN APART FROM THE STUPID RN FLAT TYRES))
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I would check firstly, that you don't contravene (or nullify) your insurance - if the RFs were fitted as 'standard' spec, you're technically altering that & insurance might be compromised if you don't tell them. Also check your rims are capable - some RFs have different shaped rims (internally) - non-RF might be compromised in some way.
Also, do you have space for a spare or spacesaver? You'll have to factor in that cost overall, too.
225x50x17 aren't cheap whatever you buy, i.e. RF or non-RF - would there be that great a saving by changing? So, maybe investigate a different brand before changing?
Personally, I think RF tyres are an abomination - despite 'improvements' (as they keep saying) in design etc, they still ruin the ride - no way can you square the circle: you must have very stiff sidewalls for them to work, and that lessens your primary bump absorption through the tyre.
THANKS. MUCH APPRECIATED. SOMEONE ELSE HERE HAS RECOMMENDED 16 WHEELS - I'M TEMPTED TO GO WITH THAT. BUT ON THE SPARE - I THOUGHT FORD - IF THEY DID NOT FIT RUN FLATS - JUST GAVE YOU A CAN OF GUNK. WILL CHECK WITH MY LOCAL FORD DEALER TOMORROW.
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Insurance companies can't 'nullify' the 3rd party aspect of your insurance and changing the tyres hardly counts as performance modification.
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No, but the wording is often along the lines of "changes to the manufacturer's original specification", and if that says RFTs are what it comes with and you change them to non-RFTs, then that falls under that clause.
Most people I know who've done it have told their insurance co, just to be on the safe side, and in all cases they just made a note of it and there was no change to the premium.
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In the event of an accident your insurance company may fail to cough up if you've changed the car in any way and not notified them.....I had a friend who put stupid fat alloys on his Mondeo ST220, smashed it to pieces on the motorway and got nowt off his insurer because he hadn't told them about the wheels.
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If anything the OP case is the opposite here.
Original car a ZETEC with some big alloys spec'd as an extra. I'll bet you all the tea in China that when renewing insurance each year the OP would just just 2.0 SMAX Zetec and nothing else. What he has now is the modified car from original spec.
Replace with standard 16" and no issue.
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