The short story is that I punctured one of the run flat tires that came with my 06 GS 300 AWD. This was on a Sunday 40 miles from home. Called both Big 10 tires and NTB and both said they 'don't have the equipment' to change run flats. Both doubted anyone in town could change them. (I later learned that they were both full of BS and that several places could do the work but I think more of them would say 'no' than 'yes'.)

Given that information I drove the car home and when I left to take it to the dealer the next day the sidewalls had sagged so that it was too dangerous to drive. Dealer tells me I need 4 new tires for a total install price of $1800. As if that isn't bad enough he says they don't stock them and it will be four days.

Soooo, I had to have a car with a flat tire towed to the dealership and was told to wait four days to get it back - for a FLAT TIRE!

Enough whining. Got to solve the problem.

1. I'm done with run flat tires. Is there any reason why I can't put traditional tires on the car?
2. Any recommendations on good replacement tires that will get decent (30k miles +) mileage on them?
2. The car came without a spare even though there is an empty wheel well waiting to accept a temporary spare (aka 'donut').
A. Do ANY GS AWDs come with spares?
b. Is there any reason why I can't get the donut intended for a RWD and use it for my car?
c. Local dealer is giving me bad vibes about using regular tires and/or a donut spare. Said for legal reasons they wouldn't install regular tires without insisting that I had a full sized spare in the trunk. Any reaction to this? (He seems to be learning about all of this run flat stuff as we are going along.)
d. Dealer says to buy a donut I would have to buy from them the tire and the wheel separately and they would have to mount it...total cost....$395. (In fact, the dealer in the closest city said he could only order a wheel and that no tires were even available!) I am guessing I'll have to find one at a salvage yard. Any suggestions as to how I can go about finding this?

Any advice on this matter will be GREATLY appreciated.

 

There should be no problem getting a spare and using it temporarily if needed (tem use spare) , just get 4 new tires , many good ones to choose from, do a search for tires in this forum, I have some inexpensive general exxclaim UHPs, I wanted the most quiet tire I could find and these are super quiet. Just get rid of the runflats, that is the consensus here

 

As I said in my E-mail.

1.) No lots of us have regular tires
2.) I use Michelin Energy MXV4 S8's - should get around 40-50K
3.) Yes my 07 Gs350 came with a spare.

Call Tire Rack!

Also - Think about this - My 99 GS300 came with a full size spare and Alloy wheel that was never mounted on the car in 8 years. Spares are for emergency use only - Not for the race track.

Tell your dealer to shove it!

 

LOL, I agree 100%.

Quoting the installation of four new tires for $1800 is a slap in the face.

 

Hi,

AWD GS350 here and I just checked and it seems to have a donut spare even though it came with run flats.

 

Michelin Energy MXV4 S8's for me. My car didn't come w/a donut, but I refused to buy the car without one for the exact reason you state, dtbm. I didn't want a tow to the dealership to be my only option.

 

My AWD originally came with run flats on 17"s, but I got a set of 18" with summer tires.

It did have a spare in it originally though.

 

With a little over 300 miles on my car I picked up a nail and had zero air pressure in one of my runflats. I too noticed a sag in the sidewall. I drove it 20 miles to the dealer at 45 to 50 mph, they patched it, and all is good at a little over 5000 miles.

 

My 2006 came with runflats and the temporary spare, jack, etc...so I think the temp spare is fine. I don't know why the dealer would say you need a fullsize spare -- I don't think that will even fit in the recessed area in the trunk.

 

My 2007 AWD GS350 came with spare tire as well.

 

Do you notice much of a difference with the ride? Man I hate my 17's..but the wife wouldnt let me get them. Going to definetly get 18's or 19's whenever she lets me. I dont get why this car even comes with 17's... the wheel well gap looks retarded. Paid all this money and they stick me with 17's =(

 

i might have missed something, but why do you need 4 new tires when you only got ONE flat? sounds like the dealership was trying hard to rip you

 

The wheel well gap issue is because of the AWD, not because of the 17s. The overall tire/wheel assembly diameter is basically the same for the factory 17" and 18" setups.

 

Sorry, I never drove my 3GS with the 17"s. They were changed out before I took delivery.

 

My ride with the 18s is much better than with the 17s. Basically, the fact that the 18s have a lower profile (which would normally result in a harsher ride) is more than offset by the fact that the 18s are not runflats. The ride is softer and quieter. I got the Bridgestone re960as pole positions on factory 5-spoke 18s.