Those runflats are becoming infamous!
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From: UK
Originally Posted by aybeesea' post='387959' date='Feb 6 2007, 10:02 AM
As always it's down to personal choice.
ABC
ABC
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From: Winter Park, FL
My Ride: 2005 545i (SMG)
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If you currently have runflats, and think they are fine.... just keep driving on them, and after 15,000 miles report back on your experience with road noise. This is just how they work. At first, they ride great. Not much road noise, and the ride is smooth. After 10,000 miles, the road noise begins to become more noticable. By 15,000 miles, the noise will drive you insane. I honestly think the road noise is bad enough to cause hearing damage when driving extended distances.
I just took a road trip to Palm Beach with some friends. We took my 325i with Bridgestone runflats. The car has 15,900 miles on it. Tire tread is still in excellent condition. Both friends complained about the road noise, and the poor ride quality. They couldn't believe a car with the reputation of BMW would ride so poorly.
All I have to do is drive the 325i and then switch to my 545i with Michelin PS2 tires, and that's all the convincing necessary.
Runflats are a great concept.... but not yet ready for primetime. :thumbsdown:
I just took a road trip to Palm Beach with some friends. We took my 325i with Bridgestone runflats. The car has 15,900 miles on it. Tire tread is still in excellent condition. Both friends complained about the road noise, and the poor ride quality. They couldn't believe a car with the reputation of BMW would ride so poorly.
All I have to do is drive the 325i and then switch to my 545i with Michelin PS2 tires, and that's all the convincing necessary.
Runflats are a great concept.... but not yet ready for primetime. :thumbsdown:
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Joined: Feb 2006
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From: UK
My Ride: Jan 2006 E63 650i Sport
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Options:
Sport version (includes: sport-seats, sport-suspension, M-Sport steering wheel, Anthracite headliner, Shaddow Line), Saphire Black, Black Dakota Leather, Anthracite Maple Wood trim, Steptronic Auto, Xenons, NAV-Professional with Voice Control, TV, CD-Changer, Bluetooth, Logic7, Head-up Display, Comfort Access, Seat Heating front, Auto Dimming & Folding Mirrors, Extended Auto Air Conditioning, PDC.
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Mods:
Spacers 5mm front & 15mm rear
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Wheels:
20" Alpina Softline (Classic) with Dunlop Sport Maxx non-RFT (255/35/20 & 285/30/20)
Don't forget, there are still instances where RFTs are simply not available, for example for the wheel set-ups I have:
- 19": I was told there was not an RFT tyre set up available
- 18": There is not an RFT winter-tyre that will run to 240km/h (instead of 210 km/h)
So either way, with my criteria BMW could have only offered non-RFTs. (Not complaining though!)
(Oh, and before anybody has a go, there is hardly ever snow where I drive, so cruising at very high speed on empty Autobahns during the "winter tyre season" is perfectly normal, e.g. this "winter" where it is often over 10 degrees and bone dry!)
- 19": I was told there was not an RFT tyre set up available
- 18": There is not an RFT winter-tyre that will run to 240km/h (instead of 210 km/h)
So either way, with my criteria BMW could have only offered non-RFTs. (Not complaining though!)
(Oh, and before anybody has a go, there is hardly ever snow where I drive, so cruising at very high speed on empty Autobahns during the "winter tyre season" is perfectly normal, e.g. this "winter" where it is often over 10 degrees and bone dry!)
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Originally Posted by subterFUSE' post='387976' date='Feb 6 2007, 12:10 PM
...After 10,000 miles, the road noise begins to become more noticable. By 15,000 miles, the noise will drive you insane. I honestly think the road noise is bad enough to cause hearing damage when driving extended distances....
Runflats are a great concept.... but not yet ready for primetime. :thumbsdown:
Runflats are a great concept.... but not yet ready for primetime. :thumbsdown:
No one is in denial that drivers have experienced issues with the technology, just that there are enough variables for generalisations to be inappropriate.
FWIW I have under 5,000 miles to go to reach 15,000 on my RFTs and for now I am living in my own version of denial. I'm happy. So far.
Would *I* be "happier" on conventional tyres? I have yet to make that comparison.
ABC
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Originally Posted by MidnightRider' post='387891' date='Feb 5 2007, 10:50 PM
Enough with the runflat bashing - let me paint a picture for you...
It is 5 am and I am late for the airport. I pull out of my garage and drive into an ice storm. It is dark, bitter cold and the roads are icy. I get a mile from my house and a light pops up on the screen and tells me I have a flat tire. The warning message goes on to say that it is safe to drive up to 50 mph. Rather than miss my flight, I made a quick decision to continue to drive to the airport - slowly - and worry about this when I get home. I made it to the airport without incident.
I flew back the next night and got to my car at 1 am (yes I know my job is crazy). I thought about calling BMW service but figured it would take a couple of hours to deal with this. I was tired and made a decision to drive home - slowly - and deal with it in the morning. I safely made it home and closed the garage door. After saluting my 550 for a job well done, I went to bed. The next day I found the nail that punctured my right front tire, replaced the tire and became a believer in runflat technology.
Keep wining about harsh ride, handling at the limit, noise, etc. Come back to the forum after you have a flat and share your thoughts about tradeoffs.
It is 5 am and I am late for the airport. I pull out of my garage and drive into an ice storm. It is dark, bitter cold and the roads are icy. I get a mile from my house and a light pops up on the screen and tells me I have a flat tire. The warning message goes on to say that it is safe to drive up to 50 mph. Rather than miss my flight, I made a quick decision to continue to drive to the airport - slowly - and worry about this when I get home. I made it to the airport without incident.
I flew back the next night and got to my car at 1 am (yes I know my job is crazy). I thought about calling BMW service but figured it would take a couple of hours to deal with this. I was tired and made a decision to drive home - slowly - and deal with it in the morning. I safely made it home and closed the garage door. After saluting my 550 for a job well done, I went to bed. The next day I found the nail that punctured my right front tire, replaced the tire and became a believer in runflat technology.
Keep wining about harsh ride, handling at the limit, noise, etc. Come back to the forum after you have a flat and share your thoughts about tradeoffs.
One Saturday morning, puncture in RFT. BMW service close at 14.00. They dont have a RFT my size. Local tyre dealer can get one by Monday afternoon. I'm more or less without car for 2 days. Plans ruined. I drive around 30 miles at recommended speed, feels awful. Feels like I'm driving a car on standard tyre with a puncture. Monday PM tyre changed, ?200+. A few more rattles around dash area due to the pounding taken driving on RFT. In my opinion run flats are less convenient than proper 'pneumatic' tyres. I dont buy into the perceived benefits.
I paid out for a spare & changed to non-Rft a few months ago. I like the car again, its so much better. I'll be changing car soon as out of waranty & will not consider anything with RFTs fitted. I expect later models are designed to be more compatable with RFTs, but my 2003 wasn't.
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From: Oxfordshire, UK
My Ride: E61 535d Apr 05. UK spec + Media Pack, Luxury Pack & Visibility Pack
Originally Posted by aybeesea' post='387982' date='Feb 6 2007, 12:24 PM
I'm happy. So far.
Would *I* be "happier" on conventional tyres? I have yet to make that comparison.
ABC
Would *I* be "happier" on conventional tyres? I have yet to make that comparison.
ABC
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Winter Park, FL
My Ride: 2005 545i (SMG)
Titanium Gray
Black Interior, Anthracite Trim
M-tech kit
Sport Package
Premium Sound
Satellite Radio
Active Cruise
Comfort Seats
Navigation
Folding rear seats
Originally Posted by aybeesea' post='387982' date='Feb 6 2007, 07:24 AM
As has been pointed out, there are so many variables to consider eg road surface (which varies greatly), manufacturer of tyre and tyre profile/sidewall height.
No one is in denial that drivers have experienced issues with the technology, just that there are enough variables for generalisations to be inappropriate.
FWIW I have under 5,000 miles to go to reach 15,000 on my RFTs and for now I am living in my own version of denial. I'm happy. So far.
Would *I* be "happier" on conventional tyres? I have yet to make that comparison.
ABC
No one is in denial that drivers have experienced issues with the technology, just that there are enough variables for generalisations to be inappropriate.
FWIW I have under 5,000 miles to go to reach 15,000 on my RFTs and for now I am living in my own version of denial. I'm happy. So far.
Would *I* be "happier" on conventional tyres? I have yet to make that comparison.
ABC
Please just report back honestly after 15,000 miles.
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My Ride: F11 535i M-Sport,, Silver, Black Leather, LED Adaptive headlights
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Originally Posted by the-oneil' post='387948' date='Feb 6 2007, 09:15 AM
BMW - Keep the RFT but for goodness sake let the customer choose if they want them.
Exactly - These are tyre godammit! BMW are happy to put on whatever ones they can get for the price, Dunlops, mich, Conti's etc.
There is no 'It must have these tyres or the world will end' issue.
So give us, the customers, the choice, that is all we ask.
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From: Helsinki, Finland
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 fraseman999' post='387782' date='Feb 6 2007, 12:29 AM
Remove the sports suspension and fit a set of regular tyres, and this car might be as comfortable as a night in with Scarlett Johansson, but right now, on our roads, its far from it"
Simply ununderstandable :thumbsdown: , why can't we choose, why must we be ginnypigs?
PS. All facelift E60's will come with RunFlats.
I really hope the chassi is now dimesioned for them and the tyres up to their task!