KEY POINTS:
"Run-flat" tyres used by some European car makers including BMW have copped criticism in car buyers' publication the Dog & Lemon Guide.
Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson said the strengthened run-flat tyres could drive up to 200km after being punctured and had become popular in European countries.
But he said driving on them also ruined them and meant they needed to be replaced immediately and at great expense, as there were no spares carried in some models.
"If you have a flat tyre on a new Ford Falcon - which comes with a proper spare tyre - it will probably cost around $30 to fix. If you have a flat tyre on a BMW 1-series, it will cost up to $800 to fix. That is a complete rip-off," Mr Matthew-Wilson said.
While the tyres could be purchased for significantly less than $800, finding a tyre shop that sold them and was open for business when needed could present problems outside the main centres.
Small "space-saver" spare tyres were also criticised for their poor handling performance.
"There's no valid reason for car manufacturers to supply cars with space-saver spares - it's simply a cost-saving exercise at your expense," Mr Matthew-Wilson said.
BMW group product manager Neil Ready said smaller BMW models such as the 3-series used "run-flat" tyres with no spares while the larger ones had either space-savers or standard spare tyres.
He said run-flats were designed so they could be driven after being punctured for up to 200km at 80km/h or 150km at 100km/h.
There was no space for spares in the new models and the run-flat technology was seen as a convenience by eliminating the need to pull over and change a flat tyre or wait for roadside assistance.
However, Mr Ready said some customers had not accepted the use of run-flats and dealers have had to work around the issue.
The issues of the higher cost of run-flats and their accessibility in towns and cities around New Zealand was constantly being improved.
A Mercedes-Benz spokesman said run-flats were an option for cars sold in Europe, but the New Zealand arm had chosen to stick with standard tyres.
He said the smaller models were sold with space-savers and the bigger models had full-size spares.
Mr Matthew-Wilson suggested people get around tyre issues by simply not buying new cars without full-sized spare tyres, or insisting dealers fit one.
- NZPA
