I have a 545. I really enjoy the nice and silent engine. However I feel thet the wheels I have (Rims 122 with 245/45 Bridgestone run flat tyres) are quite noisy. Does anybody here know of published mesurements of the noise levels with different tyres?

Do I get a more silent car if I change to she "standard" wheels 225/50?

 

I don't know about noise, but there certainly seems to be a difference in ride quality. My first E60 had 122s with 245/45 Bridgestones and the ride was fine. My current car has 116 225/50s on Dunlops and the ride feels a lot firmer, bordering on harsh.

 

generally speaking.. the larger the rims or more low -profile the tires.. the more the road noise.. due to less rubber going round them... so you hear it....and feel it..

 

Keep the 18s and just switch out to regular non runflat tires.

 

I was told today by a BMW tech that if you switch your run flats to non-runflats then your non-runflats will wear VERY quickly due to the fact that the E60's suspension is setup for runflats with certain wheel size/tyre combinations.

has anyone else heard this also?

my 2 cents is that as the market for run-flats increases there will be improvements in performance of these new tyres and also more manufacturers supplying them should mean prices will fall. i'm going to stick with runflats.

 

northernmonkey, I can't believe that statement. BMW sells the car without runflats and as I recall, it is an option in some places. Also, what about winter? are there runflat winter tires? The runflats are not snow tires AFAIK.
What I was told by my dealer was the Portenzas I got have 20K mi lifetime. Standard tires are 40K miles. The runflats cost about twice the standard tires. I think your guy wants you buy runflats for ever.

 

i have no idea if i have run flats.. i have a 525i and i have continental tires.... (i believe that is what they are called)

i THINK they are NOT run falts though....

 

i don't think you have run flats .

 

For the very reason of road noise at low speeds, I am changing out Dunlops for michelin Pilot sport ps2. I'll let you know if these non run flats will be quieter. Seems as though some have reported this to be true. I hope I don't hear the tire growl at low speeds once I change to the ps2.

 

SG530

not sure about that......why would he be lying, hes not a salesman LOL ? my tires have a LOT of life left in them so I won't be buying anytime soon and even if I was I would not buy them from a BMW dealer.

He was simply recalling that some owners had fitted non-runflats and only had about 8,000 miles out of the tires before they needed replacing. that sounds like heavy wear to me.

hopefully by the time i need new tires the markets will be flooded with lots of choice so the prices will have come down