BMW 435d Get rid of the run-flats? Or Not?

[GlennT]

I know this a regular old chestnut these days, but my 15 plate 435 is in need of new tyres. So do I stay with run-flats or go for normal tyres. I've had quite a few beemers and a mini over the years, and have always ditched the run-flats and been happy with the results, but times change and I don't know if there will be benefit with switching on a current generation of BMW.

Thoughts and experiences please!

[Allan L]

Depends on your motoring pattern. With RFT you have to assume you will have any trouble within 50 miles/km of an open tyre shop unless you have a proper spare wheel - which BMW proudly tell us we have not got.as if that were an advantage.

My example of why I can't be happy with RFT and no spare is: most years I leave a rented holiday cottage in the south of France mid morning on a Saturday to come home, with a tunnel booking to make after 600-odd miles. The tyre shops in France are closed from Saturday midday until Monday morning . . .
Once you put up with carrying a spare wheel you may as well use normal tyres.

[GlennT]

Not having a spare is a risk I'm happy taking, neither my TVR or my R1200 GS motorbike have spares, getting a flat would be a major ball ache regardless of time of day. Its more a question of whether the ride and handling will improve with out run flats, which has been the result on my previous beemers.

[Monty Python]

Why not just carry tyre sealant, then if you have a puncture, even with a RFT, you can attempt to seal it then get it repaired.

[ratty6464]

I ditched the run flats on my 435d in favour of pilot super sports. Makes a big difference and I just carry a tyre kit for an mx5 from eBay that includes a compressor and some sealant.

Go for it if you want a better ride, better handling and a more responsive car that corners and stops better too.

[cerb4.5lee]

I ditched the run flats on the 640d and I really appreciate the improved ride and it's a more enjoyable driving experience, however I've had three punctures on the rear tyres since the change, and I do wonder if I'd stuck with the runflats this wouldn't have happened.

[paulwirral]

Allan L said:

Depends on your motoring pattern. With RFT you have to assume you will have any trouble within 50 miles/km of an open tyre shop unless you have a proper spare wheel - which BMW proudly tell us we have not got.as if that were an advantage.

My example of why I can't be happy with RFT and no spare is: most years I leave a rented holiday cottage in the south of France mid morning on a Saturday to come home, with a tunnel booking to make after 600-odd miles. The tyre shops in France are closed from Saturday midday until Monday morning . . .
Once you put up with carrying a spare wheel you may as well use normal tyres.

Run flats won't fall apart after 50 miles , as my wife proved when I was away for a while and she thought the warning light was a service indicator ! Scarily they are also ok up to at least 90mph apparently .

[rsv gone!]

cerb4.5lee said:

I ditched the run flats on the 640d and I really appreciate the improved ride and it's a more enjoyable driving experience, however I've had three punctures on the rear tyres since the change, and I do wonder if I'd stuck with the runflats this wouldn't have happened.

You'd have still had the punctures but nobody would have repaired them.

[cerb4.5lee]

rsv gone! said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I ditched the run flats on the 640d and I really appreciate the improved ride and it's a more enjoyable driving experience, however I've had three punctures on the rear tyres since the change, and I do wonder if I'd stuck with the runflats this wouldn't have happened.

You'd have still had the punctures but nobody would have repaired them.

Possibly but I've had runflats on the 330i for nearly 4 years without any punctures, so in my experience the runflats hold up better than normal tyres.

[Helicopter123]

rsv gone! said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I ditched the run flats on the 640d and I really appreciate the improved ride and it's a more enjoyable driving experience, however I've had three punctures on the rear tyres since the change, and I do wonder if I'd stuck with the runflats this wouldn't have happened.

You'd have still had the punctures but nobody would have repaired them.

Not sure I would really want to be running a heavy, powerful car like a 640d with a repaired tyre standing between me and disaster...

[anonymous-user]

Helicopter123 said:

rsv gone! said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I ditched the run flats on the 640d and I really appreciate the improved ride and it's a more enjoyable driving experience, however I've had three punctures on the rear tyres since the change, and I do wonder if I'd stuck with the runflats this wouldn't have happened.

You'd have still had the punctures but nobody would have repaired them.

Not sure I would really want to be running a heavy, powerful car like a 640d with a repaired tyre standing between me and disaster...

To be fair, that's just because you don't understand how tyres are built and repaired. There's a British Standard covering repairs and the scope of damage that is repairable would scare many stless. Yet repairs carried out to that standard don't fail.

Also, and I stand to be corrected, the 640d is less than 200kg heavier than say a 330d. Not that heavy really.

[Helicopter123]

REALIST123 said:

Helicopter123 said:

rsv gone! said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I ditched the run flats on the 640d and I really appreciate the improved ride and it's a more enjoyable driving experience, however I've had three punctures on the rear tyres since the change, and I do wonder if I'd stuck with the runflats this wouldn't have happened.

You'd have still had the punctures but nobody would have repaired them.

Not sure I would really want to be running a heavy, powerful car like a 640d with a repaired tyre standing between me and disaster...

To be fair, that's just because you don't understand how tyres are built and repaired. There's a British Standard covering repairs and the scope of damage that is repairable would scare many stless. Yet repairs carried out to that standard don't fail.

Also, and I stand to be corrected, the 640d is less than 200kg heavier than say a 330d. Not that heavy really.

640d is c. 1,810 kg before options so pushing 2 tonnes.

[apotts]

335d 1705 kg
435d 1700 kg
535d 1810 kg
640d 1800 kg
640d GC 1885 kg

640d only a fat driver away from a 3 series.