Runflats? Yes? No?
10-21-2008, 10:50 PM
#31
Contributors
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Idaho
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 07 550 i, mystic blue, black leather, cold weather package, nav, sport, shades, bags, rear heat, V1 hardwired.
05 F350 TD Crew Cab
04 Range Rover HSE
91 964 C4 Cabrio
07 997 Turbo Cabrio
It is my learned opinion that the run flat tires are a gimmick perpetrated against those whom find comfort in knowing that they may operate a car up to 50 miles with no air in them. If you lack the requisite skills to change your own tire, or find it to be an unpleasant task, then by all means, employ them on your vehicle. However, RFT?s provide a much harsher ride than normal tires, cannot be fixed without jeopardizing speed rating (per BMW & Dunlop), produce discernibly more roadway noise, and cost significantly more than normal tires. The only upside is to enroll in Sir Rudy?s Benevolent free tire replacement program and drive new tires gratis from Dunlop and BMW.
10-22-2008, 12:44 AM
#32
Members
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: South Africa
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
My Ride: 2005 BMW 525i A/T (E60)
2005 MBenz C200K Elegance
2004 BMW 320D A/T Exclusive (E46 F/L)
2003 MBenz C180K
2001 BMW 318i (E46)
I do wish BMW will phase out the whole RFT thing. Even they must realize that they are losing rather than gaining customers by it. The smart thing to do, would be to offer RFT as an option on a new BMW, for those guys that want to go the RFT route.
10-22-2008, 02:11 AM
#33
Contributors
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: April 2007 520D M Sport LCI. Automatic. Sunroof. BMW Bluetooth. Deep Sea Blue Metallic, Natural Brown Leather.
Just replaced 2 Factory Fitted Goodyear RFT's with Non RFT's (Goodyear Asymmetric) on the back axle.
Difference in noise and comfort is amazing. Front wheels run over Cat's Eyes and it feels like you hit a golf ball sized stone.... back axle goes over the same Cat's Eye and you barely feel it.
Amazing thing was, the factory fitted tyres lasted 55,000K! I have never had a tyre last that long before. Fronts still have plenty of meat and will go well beyond 65,000K!
Overall, didn't save any money doing this as Stealer charged a whack for the space saver spare.......
Difference in noise and comfort is amazing. Front wheels run over Cat's Eyes and it feels like you hit a golf ball sized stone.... back axle goes over the same Cat's Eye and you barely feel it.
Amazing thing was, the factory fitted tyres lasted 55,000K! I have never had a tyre last that long before. Fronts still have plenty of meat and will go well beyond 65,000K!
Overall, didn't save any money doing this as Stealer charged a whack for the space saver spare.......
10-22-2008, 03:14 AM
#34
Contributors
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: london england
Posts: 852
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by BigRevKev' post='698901' date='Oct 21 2008, 11:25 AM
Bridgestone were fitting RFTs to the Porsche 959 back in 1986...
, but that was in 1986, and performance tyres almost did not exsist nowadays no performance car would run as well on R/F'sthey are pants for handeling full stop.
just change them over and see for yourself, saves any arguments..its like night and day.
10-22-2008, 07:05 AM
#35
Contributors
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Posts: 7,790
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: My ex-ride: EU '08 LCI 520dA. Space Grey, Sport Seats in Black Leather/Fabric Anthracite, Sport Steering Wheel, A/C with Extended Features, Hi-Fi Speakers, Cup Holders, Cruise with Braking function, Folding Rear Seats, Xenons, Park Distance Control.
Originally Posted by benstone' post='698691' date='Oct 21 2008, 02:25 PM
The ride quality will improve with non runflats.
10-22-2008, 07:20 AM
#36
Contributors
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: St. Louis Burbs, USA
Posts: 8,998
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
My Ride: 2007 530i. Purchased 6/28/07. Titanium Silver Metallic, Black Dakota Leather, Dark Poplar Trim, Steptronic, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Bluetooth, Adaptive Control Xenons. 10/30/07 Added OEM 124s with 245/40/18 & 275/35/18 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires. Installed red Cal Covers� from BavAuto. 11/21/07 Added OEM all-weather floor mats (for winter, carpet in summer) and coat rack. 6/26/08 installed M5-style rear spoiler. 6/30/08 put on red reflectors. 8/22/08 Euro turn signal stickers applied. 3/20/09 Installed Shadowline Trim. 3/27/09 Added Matte Black Kidney Grilles from Trinity. 4/03/09 Installed Bimmian Shadow Matte Black 530i Badges. 4/04/09 Installed LED license plate lights from Trinity. 5/01/09 Installed Brabus Interior LED Kit and White Angel Eyes. 5/02/09 Put in Brabus 6K Fogs. 5/14/09 Removed charcoal filter. 5/15/09 Installed light smoke LED side marker lamps from Trinity. 5/21/09 Sprint Booster. 6/12/09 Painted exhaust tips flat black. 6/13/09 Pulled red Cal Covers and painted calipers low gloss black. 6/27/09 RPI Ram Air Scoop from Trinity. 8/15/09 Installed Brabus's silver invisibulbs front and rear. 9/24/09 Installed R-Dash license plate LEDs from Brabaus (John).
Originally Posted by qtrxist' post='699545' date='Oct 21 2008, 08:14 PM
im about to change tires too on my 04 530i. currently i have RFTs, if i switch to non-RFTs, will the FTM be affected?
and the bimmer is a daily car, 50mi a day and more on the weekends, purely highway roads, no tracks, which decent tires (all season) do you recommend?
and the bimmer is a daily car, 50mi a day and more on the weekends, purely highway roads, no tracks, which decent tires (all season) do you recommend?
10-22-2008, 03:46 PM
#37
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Newcastle Australia
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Out of curiosity I spoke to the local BMW dealer service people.
He said it is fine to switch to non run flats.
But in my case becasue I am looking to only replace the rear tyres I should stay with run flats so they are all the same.
Conversely, if I want to go to non run flats I should change all 4 tyres.
What do you guys think?
And Should I put my two new tyres to the front?
He said it is fine to switch to non run flats.
But in my case becasue I am looking to only replace the rear tyres I should stay with run flats so they are all the same.
Conversely, if I want to go to non run flats I should change all 4 tyres.
What do you guys think?
And Should I put my two new tyres to the front?
10-22-2008, 03:53 PM
#38
Contributors
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: St. Louis Burbs, USA
Posts: 8,998
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
My Ride: 2007 530i. Purchased 6/28/07. Titanium Silver Metallic, Black Dakota Leather, Dark Poplar Trim, Steptronic, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Bluetooth, Adaptive Control Xenons. 10/30/07 Added OEM 124s with 245/40/18 & 275/35/18 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires. Installed red Cal Covers� from BavAuto. 11/21/07 Added OEM all-weather floor mats (for winter, carpet in summer) and coat rack. 6/26/08 installed M5-style rear spoiler. 6/30/08 put on red reflectors. 8/22/08 Euro turn signal stickers applied. 3/20/09 Installed Shadowline Trim. 3/27/09 Added Matte Black Kidney Grilles from Trinity. 4/03/09 Installed Bimmian Shadow Matte Black 530i Badges. 4/04/09 Installed LED license plate lights from Trinity. 5/01/09 Installed Brabus Interior LED Kit and White Angel Eyes. 5/02/09 Put in Brabus 6K Fogs. 5/14/09 Removed charcoal filter. 5/15/09 Installed light smoke LED side marker lamps from Trinity. 5/21/09 Sprint Booster. 6/12/09 Painted exhaust tips flat black. 6/13/09 Pulled red Cal Covers and painted calipers low gloss black. 6/27/09 RPI Ram Air Scoop from Trinity. 8/15/09 Installed Brabus's silver invisibulbs front and rear. 9/24/09 Installed R-Dash license plate LEDs from Brabaus (John).
Originally Posted by diggydrdre' post='700445' date='Oct 22 2008, 06:46 PM
Out of curiosity I spoke to the local BMW dealer service people.
He said it is fine to switch to non run flats.
But in my case becasue I am looking to only replace the rear tyres I should stay with run flats so they are all the same.
Conversely, if I want to go to non run flats I should change all 4 tyres.
What do you guys think?
And Should I put my two new tyres to the front?
He said it is fine to switch to non run flats.
But in my case becasue I am looking to only replace the rear tyres I should stay with run flats so they are all the same.
Conversely, if I want to go to non run flats I should change all 4 tyres.
What do you guys think?
And Should I put my two new tyres to the front?
10-22-2008, 03:57 PM
#39
Senior Members
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 596
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 535i 6-speed
Model Year: 2008
I've said it before, and I'll say it again...I can't put into words how much I hate my runflats. If you've never had a 5-series with Michelin tires on it, then you can't know how bad runflats are. Simply put...my '95 525i with 250K miles and Michelins miles rode MUCH better than my current '08 535i with Dunlop runflats.
10-22-2008, 04:15 PM
#40
Members
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicago
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2004 Blacked out 530i, Carbon Fiber Pillars, Carbon Fiber Emblems (Wheels, Steering Wheel and Hood/Trunk). Blacked out kidney Grill, Smoked side marker lights, 15mm Rear Spacers, K&N Filter, Window Tint, Navigon Syst. Breyton Front Lip. Bilistein Coil Over Suspension Front & Rear Droped 1.5" Genuine M5 Pedal set. Mtechnik side skirts, RPI Exhaust.
I made the mistake of replacing one of my blown out run flats at a whopping $480.00 then when i had another blow out i just replaced them all with non-run flats and the quality of the ride is at least 50% smoother! Yeah its safe but not worth the extra $250.00 a tire.