It is alleged that the car will perform better with RFT since BMW did all their testing with RFT on.

But since I won't be taking mine to the 'Ring or doing 150mph on the autobahn, I only care that I'm not paying through the nose for something that doesn't add any value to my driving experience.

 

Agree with Russ that one should always get good tyres as so much is riding on these rubbers. For those with run flats wanting to switch to normal tyres, remember to get a spare wheel and jack.

 

Thanks for all the advice - still undecided though :-(

FYI - In the UK it is not illegal to have no spare tyre - if you have one it has to be legal (tread wise etc.).

 

I don't have a cheap tire dealer in the UK, but I do have a great resource for comparing tires, including reviews and ratings.

It's "Tire Rack", an on line tire retailer. I've mentioned it a few times in this forum, but I do not work for them or own stock in the company. I have used them quite a bit over the years to research tires for the various cars I've own. They have all the specs, reviews (articles), comparisons, and actual user feedback.

They do have good prices, but their technical and performance info is the best part.

As an earlier poster stated, never go "cheap" on tires. That's what's between you and the road; start, stop, turn, and ride. Don't forget to get the alignment checked too.


BTW, I replaced the RFTs on my Z4 with non-RFTs. Rides and handles better in this case. Tires have lasted longer too. Left RFT's on my wifes 530i.

Good luck.

 

+1!

Never ever mix Run Flats with non-RF's!

 

In london there about ?160-165 thats elite tyres who have a website too ?158 delivered

 

FWIW when I bought my 530d I was told it had Bridgestone Run Flats all round, and I never bothered to check - they all looked the same. Before I went on holiday with the family I was checking the car over and found that the rears were non RFT tyres! I had been driving the car like that for approx 15k miles without a spare or any other means to get home!!!

When I changed the rears recently I decided to put non RFT's on again, and I can't say i have noticed any mismatch in the car. I would say that so long as the axle pairs of tyres are matched, there should be no problem putting non RFT's on. The only thing I have noticed over the miles is that the rears are more compliant and quieter than the front.

If the tyres are in good order, I would just get them repaired - the issue about not repairing run flats is simply a case of not being able to guarantee their run-flat ability if they have been repaired.

Oh, and being a skin flint (and because I have used them on other cars), I fitted Falken FK452's on my 530d for a grand total of ?156 per tyre (275/35/18) rears. (Allegedly they dont grip quite as well as some in the wet, but dry performance is top notch - can't comment on mileage yet.) Tyrespot in the North East of England supplied and fitted, and they tend to be about the cheapest 'decent' supplier I have found over the years.

Good luck!!

ps - I must try and write shorter replies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

In the UK, I've recently used ETyres (http://www.etyres.co.uk/) when replacing tyres on the wife's Lexus. Mobile fitter - they come to you at home or work. Very impressed - excellent price and service, and if you buy tyres off them, you get voucher for a free tyre repair if you need it in future. I'm going to use them when I come to replace the tyres on my 530D shortly (probably with non-runflats).
ETyres sell runflats if you want them as well. I compared prices with local places and with blackcircles.com, and ETyres definitely came out best.

Andrew

Edit: Just checked on there - Goodyear NCT5 runflats in 245/40/18 are ?178.20 fitted, or Eagle F1 GSD3 non-runflat are ?141.90. I'm probably going with the latter myself, especially after the recent Evo Magazine tyre test where the Eagle F1s did very well.
PS - I've just had to download the English UK dictionary as Firefox was whinging at "tyre". Doh. And now it's whinging at "whinging". Damn yanks and their strange spelling
Edit2 (sorry) - if you enter code "1122" in the front page voucher code box, you get a tenner off if you buy 2+ tyres.

 

In the UK its worth checking out Event Mobile tyres (www.event-tyres.co.uk). I haven't got round to using them yet but they seem to be just a little cheaper than etyres and if you order four or more, they will knock another 5% off. Like etyres they come to you but the only drawback may be that their website asks for a postcode so they may not be available nationwide.

Alan

 

Does the UK have a Tire Rack....if so , try www.tirerack.com and there you will get ratings, sizes, prices, and qick shipment to anywhere you want.....check it out. Nothing to loose. There prices I find to be the cheapest, adn the best bang for the buck, or pound....