BMW run flat tyres - what a joke!

[paintman]

Wasn't there a thread on here recently highlighting the cracked rims issue? Which of course BMW blamed on the drivers.
As for runflats & not having to supply a spare wheel or the silly narrow things, think of the money they save by not having to supply an extra wheel!

[Syndrome]

I used run like st on flat tyres once. They've got really thick side walls and the handling felt so "different" I binned them after one 200 mile run. I've been driving for donkeys years and only ever had one puncture, I just pulled over and changed the wheel, then nipped down to a tyre place and got the flat replaced the next day. i think the manufacturers just use scare tactics to big the ROF tyres up without good reason.

[Funk]

I'm on the latest Bridgestone Potenza RE050A run-flats and I have to say that their performance is astonishing in both wet and dry conditions. Turn-in is electric and the car feels really keyed-in to the road. They're firm, undoubtedly, but I've already had one screw through a front tyre and the run-flat was invaluable - saved me having to change a wheel in the pouring rain, and allowed me to get to work for the next couple of days until I could get to a tyre place. If you like the idea of run-flats but the Bridgestones are too firm, try the Dunlop Sport SP01 (which EVO recently put on their 135i). If I didn't know the Dunlops were run-flats, I'd have never guessed. Seriously, the new generation of RFTs are very, very good. FWIW, the Dunlops didn't offer as much outright grip as the Bridgestones in the wet, and for that reason I'll be sticking with the Bridgestones again.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the performance of the RFTs on my car. I know they're oft-derided, so I thought I should chip in with a positive experience. For the record, I was also running Michelin Pilot Sport 2s on my Focus ST, so I'm not unfamiliar with what a 'good' tyre can deliver.

[BMWBen]

Funk said:

I'm on the latest Bridgestone Potenza RE050A run-flats and I have to say that their performance is astonishing in both wet and dry conditions. Turn-in is electric and the car feels really keyed-in to the road. They're firm, undoubtedly, but I've already had one screw through a front tyre and the run-flat was invaluable - saved me having to change a wheel in the pouring rain, and allowed me to get to work for the next couple of days until I could get to a tyre place. If you like the idea of run-flats but the Bridgestones are too firm, try the Dunlop Sport SP01 (which EVO recently put on their 135i). If I didn't know the Dunlops were run-flats, I'd have never guessed. Seriously, the new generation of RFTs are very, very good. FWIW, the Dunlops didn't offer as much outright grip as the Bridgestones in the wet, and for that reason I'll be sticking with the Bridgestones again.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the performance of the RFTs on my car. I know they're oft-derided, so I thought I should chip in with a positive experience. For the record, I was also running Michelin Pilot Sport 2s on my Focus ST, so I'm not unfamiliar with what a 'good' tyre can deliver.

I had the dunlop sp01's on my e60 - can vouch for the fact that they were excellent. Only gripe would a slightly odd noise on the road surface of the M3, going northbound from Basingstoke.

[Urban Sports]

I'm not a fan of the run flats, mine wanders all over the place especially on the inside lane of the motorway, brake hard and get stuck in a road rut and it gets dragged everywhere!!

[Steve748]

Funk said:

They're firm, undoubtedly, but I've already had one screw through a front tyre and the run-flat was invaluable - saved me having to change a wheel in the pouring rain, and allowed me to get to work for the next couple of days until I could get to a tyre place.

I find that hard to believe, in that you were able to drive it for more than a few miles and that you found somewhere that had the tyres in stock

Funk said:

Overall, I'm very pleased with the performance of the RFTs

You are in a minority, do you work for a rft company?

[anonymous-user]

I had a 5 series in 2004, Dunlop runflats. Tyres were knackered at 10000 miles & sounded like truck tyres. I'm easy on tyres, usually get 25k from them. BMW USA admitted they were st & were replacing free there. BMW UK denied any knowlenge of a problem, even when presented with their USA fault ref. Shocking service, treated with utter contempt. Lost me as a customer for good..

[Fleckers]

my BMW 118d SE is 9 days old.

It now has 1475 miles on the clock

It has Run Flats

The ride is crap to be polite

so 10000 is the normal life well in that case then I look forward to February when I get the tyres replaced

[bazking69]

I've never bought into the whole runflat malarkey. A full size spare, my breaker bar and a 12v compressor have always worked for me. Plus I don't pay a premium for a narrow choice of tyres that are both noisy and that I don't really want.

Oh, and I can source and fit a conventional tyre within the hour on the rare occasion I need to.

[Funk]

BMWBen said:

I had the dunlop sp01's on my e60 - can vouch for the fact that they were excellent. Only gripe would a slightly odd noise on the road surface of the M3, going northbound from Basingstoke.

There are many sheep on here who will dogmatically stick to the 'run-flats are bad' mantra. Their loss. I did get a weird noise on the A24 between Hop Oast and Southwater roundabouts but nothing to worry about. The Dunlops really are great and I'd have them again no problem.

Steve748 said:

Funk said:

They're firm, undoubtedly, but I've already had one screw through a front tyre and the run-flat was invaluable - saved me having to change a wheel in the pouring rain, and allowed me to get to work for the next couple of days until I could get to a tyre place.

I find that hard to believe, in that you were able to drive it for more than a few miles and that you found somewhere that had the tyres in stock

You can do up to 50 miles at up to 50mph on a run-flat. As it was, I simply kept mine topped up with air. I probably did around 100 miles on it keeping it topped up. Obviously with no air in it I wouldn't have travelled that sort of distance. I wasn't running on it fully flat though. I had ordered in the Bridgestones and waited until I was working in the office one day so I could get them fitted.

Steve748 said:

Funk said:

Overall, I'm very pleased with the performance of the RFTs

You are in a minority, do you work for a rft company?

No, I work for a media company. I just happen to be in the 'pleased with my run-flats' camp - I don't have any vested interest in any run-flat company.

Edited by Funk on Sunday 22 November 04:07

[BeanCounter1980]

grand cherokee said:

my friends wife's new 3 series got a flat about 6 days ago and they still cannot get a replacement!!

so car is stuck on the drive and they have given her a hire car

bring back the days of the spare tyre imo!

as i said what would have happened if they had been abroad which they are frequently

apparently there are no tyres anywhere in the UK until the manufacturer makes some more!!

Edited by grand cherokee on Sunday 20th January 11:37

I have them on the Z4. Fukin horrible tyres.

Will wear em out and buy non runflats. Either verds or falkens.

[pits]

RFT have been around for years now, think they were first developed in 1900 or something and been offered on cars since the 70s, people didnt want them then, they dont want them now.

I see now advantage to them over a space saver, an idea that never really got off the ground per se decades ago, just another way of making money of the motorists that dont know their arse from their elbow.

Also IIRC, you get a puncture with a run flat you cant get it repaired, get a puncture with a normal tyre you can get it repaired (to a point) and keep using it for £10, instead of having to fork out 6 billion pounds for a run flat.

[Funk]

Are you saying I don't know my arse from my elbow?

[jamoor]

I would purchase a set of normal tyres for my car.

[Steve748]

pits said:

Also IIRC, you get a puncture with a run flat you cant get it repaired

You can get rft's repaired so long as the sidewalls have not sustained any damage. If you get a puncture and just maintain the pressure most independent tyre fitters will repair it.