Winter run flat tires - worth it?

[LamyVista]

I have the Rogue SV with Family Tech Package, which does not have a spare, but comes with run flat tires. I want to purchase a set of winter tires, but I am deciding whether I should get the run flats as well, which are however twice as expensive as regular ones. During winter I will mostly be using my car around the city, with maybe 1-2 short road trips every couple of months outside the city, usually 50-150 km. I am located in Calgary, Canada and we usually go for a road trip to the park/mountains, but not very often.
I was wondering if I should just get regular winter tires or should I invest in run flats, since I don't carry a spare? What are your guy's suggestions?

[RyleyinSTL]

I guess the question you need to ask yourself is...how would you feel about being stranded with a flat tire on the Deerfoot in January? Does fix-a-flat work at -30c?

[memyself]

I’ve got same model as yours. I ain’t spending $150-$200 extra par tire. Think about it, how many flat tires did you get in past with all your cars you've owned (unless this is your first one). Plus you’ve got free road assistance for another three years. BTW I’m in Quebec and winter temperatures ain’t comfortable here either.

[tsumeone]

Not sure why they didn't just go the same route as the Hyundai Veloster and include an emergency tire repair / inflation kit instead of a spare or run flats. The emergency kit in that car works at temps down to -22F.

[elmo14226]

I would carry one of my summer tires in the back cargo area during the winter. Maybe get a tire cover from Tire Rack to keep it clean. Road service won't do you much good if you don't have a spare for them to put on. If you have AWD, you should make sure the summer and winter tires have the circumference.

What do they put in the spare tire compartment? Can you move or remove it for the winter and put a spare in there?

[LamyVista]

Thanks for the tips. I was wondering if the road service will do anything if you don't have a spare. I never needed to call them. Yeah, I was thinking of carrying a spare wheel with me, that could be one of my options. Not sure what the spare compartment contains, probably the 3rd row seats? Is the spare located on the bottom of the vehicle on regular Rogue models?

[memyself]

Half a space is taken by 3rd row, and that's where spare tire is on other models. I'm considering getting rid of that 3rd row next spring.

[RyleyinSTL]

The emergency kit in that car works at temps down to -22F.

This would literally make it completely useless for months for the guy from Alberta.

[tsumeone]

The emergency kit in that car works at temps down to -22F.

This would literally make it completely useless for months for the guy from Alberta.

That's an exaggeration although I am sure it does get colder than that on some days. https://weatherspark.com/averages/28433 ... rta-Canada

[memyself]

You people really got me going about that spare tire, and i think I have a solution.

Raise lift gate and pull up a piece of that divide and hide floor:



Pull the two strings on both sides:



And the 3rd row seats will rise:



Remove that plastic cover, unscrew styrofoam piece and replace it with spare tire (I'll find the price for it tomorrow from the dealer):

[aborres]

I was doing the research on this last week because I bought my non-run flat winter tires and wheels. The Nissan dealer was asking $400plus for the OEM compact (donut) spare tire (T155/90 D17)and about $140+ for the OEM jack and tools. I will just check out the local wreckers or kijiji. If I don't find one, I take one of the regular wheels in the trunk if I have to travel far.

[LamyVista]

I was doing the research on this last week because I bought my non-run flat winter tires and wheels. The Nissan dealer was asking $400plus for the OEM compact (donut) spare tire (T155/90 D17)and about $140+ for the OEM jack and tools. I will just check out the local wreckers or kijiji. If I don't find one, I take one of the regular wheels in the trunk if I have to travel far.

$400 For a spare is crazy. Couldn't we just buy a non-OEM tire and wheel from TireRack or something? I have yet to check out that spare compartment. Any ideas if the 3rd row will return back into place with the spare tire in?

[memyself]

LamyVista, sure will return back into place, spare tire it's same size as that styrofoam piece if not thinner.

[LamyVista]

Curious why nissan decided to omit the spare tire in the Family Tech Package then?

[tsumeone]

That's a good question. The 7-seat X-Trail (Aussie Rogue) does appear to have a spare. Not sure why we couldn't have one.

[memyself]

Maybe costs or weight of that 3rd row.

[RyleyinSTL]

Curious why nissan decided to omit the spare tire in the Family Tech Package then?

CAFE

[andygold]

Just taking a wild guess here, but the third row I believe is the rear "crumple zone" of the vehicle. I wonder if a spare tire at that location might cause the seat to rise upwards in a rear-ender and crush heads against the roof...

[memyself]

andygold: i dont see how the seats would rise up??????