e91 Runflats or non runflats?
Discussion
I have an E91 325d Msport
I need some new tyres as when I changed to winters I realised my rear tyres were more shagged than I thought.
I also need 1 new front so I am considering ditching the runflats and putting 4 new (decent brand) normal tyres.
The pretty much 50% saving per tyre is tempting and I have heard that it will improve the ride.
Has anyone any experience of going down down this route? I do roughly 20k a year of mostly M-way driving of that makes any difference (I already have a can of goo for emergencies)
I need some new tyres as when I changed to winters I realised my rear tyres were more shagged than I thought.
I also need 1 new front so I am considering ditching the runflats and putting 4 new (decent brand) normal tyres.
The pretty much 50% saving per tyre is tempting and I have heard that it will improve the ride.
Has anyone any experience of going down down this route? I do roughly 20k a year of mostly M-way driving of that makes any difference (I already have a can of goo for emergencies)
I can't remember the last time I had a puncture.
I swapped the runflats for Michelin Pilot Sports about 2 months after getting my 335i when the weather turned colder. The runflats actually were pretty good, but not as good in the cold and gave a noticeably harsher ride over potholes and uneven road.
It's not a night and day difference, but the benefits outweigh the drawbacks IMO.
I swapped the runflats for Michelin Pilot Sports about 2 months after getting my 335i when the weather turned colder. The runflats actually were pretty good, but not as good in the cold and gave a noticeably harsher ride over potholes and uneven road.
It's not a night and day difference, but the benefits outweigh the drawbacks IMO.
I've had BMWs with both.
Had an E46 Compact for 3 years and got one puncture on a nice sunny day so stopped and put the Spacesaver on in Windsor Great Park - pretty painless!
Then got a 1 Series with RFTs - got a puncture in 2009 going to work in the snow - just drove to work!
1 Series then got a puncture in January 2011 coming home from work - just drove home! much better than trying to fit a Spacesaver in falling snow on slush at the side of a busy roundabout!
Both are limited to 100 miles at no more than 50 mph, so n advantage there - but if the OH uses it RFTs are a definite advantage (and for anyone else if the puncture is on the driver's side on a motorway)!
But no, the RFTs don't do the ride or steering any favours!
I think like most things you need to weigh up the pros and cons and see how they might work out with your intended use of the car.
At the end of the day it is your choice, so it needs to work for you rather than anyone else!
Had an E46 Compact for 3 years and got one puncture on a nice sunny day so stopped and put the Spacesaver on in Windsor Great Park - pretty painless!
Then got a 1 Series with RFTs - got a puncture in 2009 going to work in the snow - just drove to work!
1 Series then got a puncture in January 2011 coming home from work - just drove home! much better than trying to fit a Spacesaver in falling snow on slush at the side of a busy roundabout!
Both are limited to 100 miles at no more than 50 mph, so n advantage there - but if the OH uses it RFTs are a definite advantage (and for anyone else if the puncture is on the driver's side on a motorway)!
But no, the RFTs don't do the ride or steering any favours!
I think like most things you need to weigh up the pros and cons and see how they might work out with your intended use of the car.
At the end of the day it is your choice, so it needs to work for you rather than anyone else!
I can echo what's been said already. I had the same dilemma 5 years ago with my 330d and after swapping to non-runflats I didn't look back. Conti sport contact 6 on mine and they are really good, I just put a mobility kit in the boot, cost me £25. Tell the insurance. It won't cost a bean but they have been informed, make sure you go for extra load as well.
When I used to live in London, I'd get punctures at least about once every 6 months - people always having loft conversions done with skips on the road, meaning lots of nice nails and screws just waiting for a tyre to call home.
Since moving out over 3 years ago, not had a single one - I've therefore moved both my summer and winter set onto non-run flats.
It makes the car considerably more comfortable - before, the kids hated getting in the car as it made them both feel sick. They now love it!
Since moving out over 3 years ago, not had a single one - I've therefore moved both my summer and winter set onto non-run flats.
It makes the car considerably more comfortable - before, the kids hated getting in the car as it made them both feel sick. They now love it!
Monty Python said:
If you don't mind relying on a tin of goo if you get a puncture, go with normal tyres. I do a lot of motorway driving so for me the benefit of not having to stop is more important.
In 60 years of motoring I have never had to rely on a tin of goo: the thing to have is a real spare wheel (not a spacesaver) as, once fitted, you have a sound motorcar again. BMW don't give us a place to keep a spare so it has to live in the boot and take up space. Run-flat or spacesaver only work if you have your puncture within 50 km. of an open tyre shop and the well-known Law says that won't be the case.
I agree that runflat does give you the chance to drive to somewhere where a wheel change is safe, but that's it so far as I'm concerned.
Allan L said:
In 60 years of motoring I have never had to rely on a tin of goo: the thing to have is a real spare wheel (not a spacesaver) as, once fitted, you have a sound motorcar again. BMW don't give us a place to keep a spare so it has to live in the boot and take up space.
Run-flat or spacesaver only work if you have your puncture within 50 km. of an open tyre shop and the well-known Law says that won't be the case.
I agree that runflat does give you the chance to drive to somewhere where a wheel change is safe, but that's it so far as I'm concerned.
What's wrong with the mobile fitters? On one occasion I have a puncture in the morning and had the guy turn up later that same day to fit a new one.Run-flat or spacesaver only work if you have your puncture within 50 km. of an open tyre shop and the well-known Law says that won't be the case.
I agree that runflat does give you the chance to drive to somewhere where a wheel change is safe, but that's it so far as I'm concerned.
In an ideal world I'd much prefer a full-size space, but even then I don't fancy changing one on the hard shoulder of a motorway.
The argument manufacturers use that removing the spare saves fuel is just an excuse to put the spare as an option and charge you a couple of hundred quid extra.
Some people seem to be forgetting that runflats don't allow you to just carry on as normal if you get a puncture.
The only time I've had a puncture in the last 10 years was when we were in a company BMW in the Lake District on a Saturday afternoon.
Once the warning light came on the manual tells you to drive at reduced speed to a tyre fitter and get it replaced ASAP. We were extremely lucky to find a small tyre shop still open with a stock of that size of runflat. If it had happened a couple of hours later we would have had more of a problem.
A can of goo would probably have been just as good in those circumstances. Either way, you have a problem you have to deal with there and then.
I'm quite happy without runflats, but I do understand there will be some drivers who find them more convenient.
The only time I've had a puncture in the last 10 years was when we were in a company BMW in the Lake District on a Saturday afternoon.
Once the warning light came on the manual tells you to drive at reduced speed to a tyre fitter and get it replaced ASAP. We were extremely lucky to find a small tyre shop still open with a stock of that size of runflat. If it had happened a couple of hours later we would have had more of a problem.
A can of goo would probably have been just as good in those circumstances. Either way, you have a problem you have to deal with there and then.
I'm quite happy without runflats, but I do understand there will be some drivers who find them more convenient.
Monty Python said:
The argument manufacturers use that removing the spare saves fuel is just an excuse to put the spare as an option and charge you a couple of hundred quid extra.
I can live with that, but with BMW we have not got that option - and there is no spare wheel well, so the spare I bought off eBay takes up boot space leaving a lot of unconveniently-shaped space under the floor empty.Allan L said:
I can live with that, but with BMW we have not got that option - and there is no spare wheel well, so the spare I bought off eBay takes up boot space leaving a lot of unconveniently-shaped space under the floor empty.
I know - it's ridiculous. What I'd like to see is a normal tyre filled with a foam so that it's impossible to puncture it. You'd obviously need some form of split rim to fit them but I can't see that being an insurmountable problem.
To be honest this is probably the biggest issue I have with post 2000 BMs.
It's Spacesaver, Run-Flats or goo - I would rate them 2,1 then 3!
The last non-BMW I had was a 2000 Leon Cupra - full-sized spare (albeit on a steelie) but at least you could carry on as normal for as long as was convenient once you had fitted it.
Shame the EU couldn't do something useful and make a full-sized spare compulsory - but then we may not be in the EU too much longer (I hope)!
It's Spacesaver, Run-Flats or goo - I would rate them 2,1 then 3!
The last non-BMW I had was a 2000 Leon Cupra - full-sized spare (albeit on a steelie) but at least you could carry on as normal for as long as was convenient once you had fitted it.
Shame the EU couldn't do something useful and make a full-sized spare compulsory - but then we may not be in the EU too much longer (I hope)!
w1ntermut3 said:
Is there a real answer as to whether or not a can of Holt's will f
k your tyre and rim or not?
And how much extra petrol do you think you'd spend over the life of the car carrying a 19in spare with tyre everywhere you go. I swear it weighs more than my girlfriend.
My experience with sealants is that if they're not water-soluble then most tyre places won't repair them as they can't/won't clean the tyre out. Other than that it won't do any damage to the rim.k your tyre and rim or not?And how much extra petrol do you think you'd spend over the life of the car carrying a 19in spare with tyre everywhere you go. I swear it weighs more than my girlfriend.
w1ntermut3 said:
Is there a real answer as to whether or not a can of Holt's will fk your tyre and rim or not?
And how much extra petrol do you think you'd spend over the life of the car carrying a 19in spare with tyre everywhere you go. I swear it weighs more than my girlfriend.
Many years ago the National Tyre Distributors Association decided to endorse Holts Tyreweld, for commercial reasons and against the advice of its own Technical Committee. At that time one of that committee's members and a senior manager from one of the Country's biggest distributors carried out quite an extensive test of Tyreweld on a range of tyres and injuries, with not very good results.k your tyre and rim or not?And how much extra petrol do you think you'd spend over the life of the car carrying a 19in spare with tyre everywhere you go. I swear it weighs more than my girlfriend.
I've never known a repairer happy to repair tyres that have had this type of sealant used in it. It's technically possible but time consuming and mostly not worth the effort.
I'm not sure whether the NTDA still endorses the product but do note that Holts webpage only carries endorsements from one of their own 'engineers' and someone who sells the stuff.
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