Changed my RUN FLAT tyres for normal ones

[YankeeDoodle]

I have a new BMW X5 40d M Sport which is superb apart from the pig awful Run Flat tyres the car had from new - now that it's time to change I've opted for 'normal' tyres - and my god the car has transformed from a bone shaker to a limo like.

So the question is BMW.....why?

[Toaster]

YankeeDoodle said:

I have a new BMW X5 40d M Sport which is superb apart from the pig awful Run Flat tyres the car had from new - now that it's time to change I've opted for 'normal' tyres - and my god the car has transformed from a bone shaker to a limo like.

So the question is BMW.....why?

This will affect your handling the run flats have harder side walls, so if you have a spirited drive it will affect how the car handles.....be prepared

[sinizter]

YankeeDoodle said:

I have a new BMW X5 40d M Sport which is superb apart from the pig awful Run Flat tyres the car had from new - now that it's time to change I've opted for 'normal' tyres - and my god the car has transformed from a bone shaker to a limo like.

So the question is BMW.....why?

They probably save money, not having to offer a spare wheel and tyre of some sort.
Lower weight, so more efficient cars - to meet EU regs.
The average person doesn't give a crap - and is probably thankful that they don't have to change tyres by the roadside.
Because they can - people accept it and continue to buy loads more BMWs.

[YankeeDoodle]

Toaster said:

This will affect your handling the run flats have harder side walls, so if you have a spirited drive it will affect how the car handles.....be prepared

Handling is actually better! The car also doesn't tramline on the motorway anymore!

[YankeeDoodle]

sinizter said:

They probably save money, not having to offer a spare wheel and tyre of some sort.
Lower weight, so more efficient cars - to meet EU regs.
The average person doesn't give a crap - and is probably thankful that they don't have to change tyres by the roadside.
Because they can - people accept it and continue to buy loads more BMWs.

First BMW I've ever owned - and to date the only thing that spoilt it was the tyres....

[y2blade]

YankeeDoodle said:

Toaster said:

This will affect your handling the run flats have harder side walls, so if you have a spirited drive it will affect how the car handles.....be prepared

Handling is actually better! The car also doesn't tramline on the motorway anymore!

As soon as a tire needs replacing my friends with run-flats have done the same....changed all four for "Normal" tires.

All of them have commented that the cars are transformed (for the better) by it.

[sinizter]

YankeeDoodle said:

First BMW I've ever owned - and to date the only thing that spoilt it was the tyres....

I'm on my third one
- First one has run flats and I kept them
- 2nd one came with non RFTs as standard
- 3rd one was bought, used, from the dealership, without runflats (their check apparently missed it) - They were new-ish tyres on the rears and new ones on the front, so I wasn't particularly bothered

The run flat issue will not stop me from getting another (or more likely, many more) BMWs. I will get them changed if I find the ride too much take.

[Toaster]

y2blade said:

As soon as a tire needs replacing my friends with run-flats have done the same....changed all four for "Normal" tires.

All of them have commented that the cars are transformed (for the better) by it.

So the manufactures have it wrong, they don't tune the suspension and handling to the type of tyres recommended, I am not saying they can't tune the suspension to match your preferred handling /braking feel.

But just chucking on a pair of tyres may or may not make the handling better bit of a lottery really and if the suspension has been set for stiffer sidewalls and you say putting soft side wall tyres makes it handles better who am I to say anything different, enjoy your choice..all tyres are a compromise.

[YankeeDoodle]

Toaster said:

So the manufactures have it wrong, they don't tune the suspension and handling to the type of tyres recommended, I am not saying they can't tune the suspension to match your preferred handling /braking feel.

But just chucking on a pair of tyres may or may not make the handling better bit of a lottery really and if the suspension has been set for stiffer sidewalls and you say putting soft side wall tyres makes it handles better who am I to say anything different, enjoy your choice..all tyres are a compromise.

I'm not saying I know more than BMW - I know what's good for me though...

[T16OLE]

Part of the reason is safety, It means you wont get stuck somewhere and can always "get home".

I suppose it gives a bit of comfort to know your wife and kids wont be stuck in the middle of nowhere.

I hate runflat tyres too btw.

Not really sure weight comes into it...have you felt the weight of a runflat compared with a normal tyre? I imagine four would easily weigh more than a space saver.

[y2blade]

YankeeDoodle said:

Toaster said:

So the manufactures have it wrong, they don't tune the suspension and handling to the type of tyres recommended, I am not saying they can't tune the suspension to match your preferred handling /braking feel.

But just chucking on a pair of tyres may or may not make the handling better bit of a lottery really and if the suspension has been set for stiffer sidewalls and you say putting soft side wall tyres makes it handles better who am I to say anything different, enjoy your choice..all tyres are a compromise.

I'm not saying I know more than BMW - I know what's good for me though...

Yep, not everyone wants to set lap times around the Nurburglerring!!!

[anonymous-user]

My 1999 Corvette C5 came with Goodyear runflat tyres, a harsh ride and fidgety handling. When the runflats wore out I replaced them with Michelin Pilot Sport conventional tyres. There was absolutely definitely an improvement in both ride AND handling.

Many corvette owners have abandoned the runflats and so far as I can tell a very large number of BMW owners are following suit.

[hms]

There have also been cases where a wheel has been cracked due to the non compliance of the sidewall.
I think the first part of the suspension is the tyre, the way the wall gives on bumps.
Run flats, because of the stiffer sidewall, transfers all of the road shock directly to the wheel.
See this thread and the Watchdog link.
http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/forum/index.php?s...
Old but still relevant.
H

[Fitz666]

Changed the tyres on the better half Cooper S from the run flats to Falken ZE912's and chucked a couple of tins of Tyreweld in the boot.

What a difference in the handling and overall ride.

Sorted

[Captain Muppet]

sinizter said:

YankeeDoodle said:

I have a new BMW X5 40d M Sport which is superb apart from the pig awful Run Flat tyres the car had from new - now that it's time to change I've opted for 'normal' tyres - and my god the car has transformed from a bone shaker to a limo like.

So the question is BMW.....why?

They probably save money, not having to offer a spare wheel and tyre of some sort.
Lower weight, so more efficient cars - to meet EU regs.
The average person doesn't give a crap - and is probably thankful that they don't have to change tyres by the roadside.
Because they can - people accept it and continue to buy loads more BMWs.

You don't need run flat tyres to avoid supplying a car with a spare wheel. Manufacturers have never had to supply a spare wheel. Keep thinking it's because of the evil EU if you like, but it's more to do with marketing than anything else.

[RicksAlfas]

Toaster said:

So the manufactures have it wrong, they don't tune the suspension and handling to the type of tyres recommended, I am not saying they can't tune the suspension to match your preferred handling /braking feel.

But just chucking on a pair of tyres may or may not make the handling better bit of a lottery really and if the suspension has been set for stiffer sidewalls and you say putting soft side wall tyres makes it handles better who am I to say anything different, enjoy your choice..all tyres are a compromise.

ED versions don't have runflats as standard, but you can specify runflats as an option.
I'm sure BMW don't fit different suspension depending on which tyre choice you choose on the build sheet.

[Cheib]

sinizter said:

YankeeDoodle said:

I have a new BMW X5 40d M Sport which is superb apart from the pig awful Run Flat tyres the car had from new - now that it's time to change I've opted for 'normal' tyres - and my god the car has transformed from a bone shaker to a limo like.

So the question is BMW.....why?

They probably save money, not having to offer a spare wheel and tyre of some sort.
Lower weight, so more efficient cars - to meet EU regs.

Thi sis definitely part of it.....you sell 1,000,000 a year and don't have to spend say €50 on a sapre wheel,tyre and jack in every single car. That's a LOT of montey.

Aside from that RFT's are also hugely profitable for the tyre manufacturers. They increase replacement rates (can't be fixed guv bks ) and are also more expensive to buy.....win/win. I wouldn't be surprised if BMW get to buy the tyres at very,very preferential rates from the tyre manufacturers....unless they are OEM people won't put them on so they need a manufaturer to fit them as OEM.

And yes they are st....taken them off my last two cars.

[Jonnas]

When I bought my 330i it had run flats on the front and non run flats on the back. Even after having a laser alignment it still tramlines like nothing I have ever driven, totally awful. I've not changed the fronts for non run flats as there is plently of life left in them and I can't really justify the cost of binning them although I am looking forward to the day they need replacing.....

[GWMD]

Jonnas said:

When I bought my 330i it had run flats on the front and non run flats on the back. Even after having a laser alignment it still tramlines like nothing I have ever driven, totally awful. I've not changed the fronts for non run flats as there is plently of life left in them and I can't really justify the cost of binning them although I am looking forward to the day they need replacing.....

Not sure i'd be totally happy at running a mix of standard and runflat tyres. If you're going to ditch them, replace all of them.

[minifunclub]

Just changed cars.........z4 2.o to z4M. Both roadsters.

2 litre car had the rft's and was a very harsh, crashy ride, tramlined a lot. Having said that grip was fantastic and handled very well.

The new M has non run flats and the difference is noticeable. Ride much more compliant and no longer feel the need to avoid evry ripple in the road surface.