paul07834

I am considering the purchase of the new 2017 Q7 and while I am waiting for my dealer to get a demo that I can test drive I am concerned about the fact that the car only comes with run flat tires, which I have never had before. More importantly, unlike the BMW X5, there is apparently no option (and no room under the cargo area floor) for a spare tire.

I have done some research on the internet and I think I can deal with the need to replace run flats more frequently than regular tires, their greater cost and their impact on ride quality. What I would appreciate knowing from those who have used run flats is whether they really work as advertised (especially when used together with the goo and compressor supplied by Audi) when there is an air loss. Can you really drive up to 50 miles to get a replacement or have there been a number of times when you were stranded due to a lack of a spare and needed a tow? I understand nothing will help if you run over debris and shred the tire but will run flats allow you to drive even with a nail in the sidewall?

Thanks in advance for any insight you might be able to provide.

Paul

Gary@Tirerack.com

Even with a hole drilled into the sidewall, run flat tires allow you to drive 50 miles at 50MPH. Also, they do not sudden fail at mile number 51, but they are only guaranteed to do 50 miles with zero air pressure. Yes, they work as advertised.

paul07834

Thats reassuring Gary. Thanks so much for the knowledgeable reply.

Paul

GavlTronVT

o i just talk to a Audi trainer, and the spring rates are all set to work with a run flat and the new Q7 so the ride is just fine and the car over all is better of with the run flats. they over came the tire noise problems and the tires last twice as long.
over all the new Q7 is a beast 3.0T is 80% new with a huge new intake and sits 7 inches lower in the car. also the anti dive suspension geometry was increased and the car is alot better handling then the old car.

TSHong

Like Gary has stated, you can drive on the tires for long period of times. Once we got a Corvette in the shop with one rear tire bald on the left rear @ about 6K miles. The other three tires had more than 1/2 the tread life, why only one tire? After checking out the car, the left rear had zero air pressure. The TPMS was defective on that wheel so no light for the customer. We have no idea how long he drove the vehicle that way.

Audi Junkie

Once you drive on it flat, it MUST be replaced, not repaired.