5 series - consequences of removing run flats?

[BMW A6]

Time has come to change all 4 tyres on my F11 2013 5 series Touring.

Tempted to change all 4 to standard tyres and ditch the run-flats.

MOT garage told me not to do, as the alloys were specifically designed for run-flats?

Any warnings or recommendations to doing this?

Tyre size is: 245/45 R18 96Y.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Ignore and carry on as you were.

They are designed to carry run flats, but you can also use non-RFT. You can't however, use RFT on a wheel not designed for RFT.

[BMW A6]

Thanks.

Going to order some Dunlops at £118 each; they seem to be quietest at 68 dB and good for fuel with their rolling resistance rating.

Unless someone recommends otherwise?

[g3org3y]

BMW A6 said:

Time has come to change all 4 tyres on my F11 2013 5 series Touring.

Tempted to change all 4 to standard tyres and ditch the run-flats.

MOT garage told me not to do, as the alloys were specifically designed for run-flats?

Any warnings or recommendations to doing this?

Tyre size is: 245/45 R18 96Y.

Will you carry a spare (full size or space saver)?

[BMW A6]

Tyre/ puncture repair kit, most likely.

[cossy400]

Just have a look on herehttps://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=72&t=1833577

Hes changed his and its made it horrible.

Id like to say its because its 4 wheel drive but you never know

[cseven]

i changed my f11 lci to goodyear f1's and no issues and just carried a tyre plugger and gunk (19 inch wheels). Just got a g31 540i with 20 inch run flats and fully intend to change to non run flats as the ride and handling are so much better (same with my wives m140i, now drives as it should and way better in the wet too).

Your tyre garage were talking crap, its just they make more on RFT tyres i suspect.

[smashy]

Just a heads up if you would actually prefer to keep runflats....I was in cornwall recently and thankfully I had them on re a puncture

I will cut a long story short,,,I went back to runflats after 3 years of Michelin PS3 normals. After a ton of research I went Goodyear Eagle F1 assymetric 3 Run Flats and they are so good I would not bother going back.In fact in some ways I prefer the ride and no crashing or howling on certain roads.

Sadly NEW BMWS come with usually Bridgestones and they are really awful.

[g3org3y]

smashy said:

Just a heads up if you would actually prefer to keep runflats....I was in cornwall recently and thankfully I had them on re a puncture

I will cut a long story short,,,I went back to runflats after 3 years of Michelin PS3 normals. After a ton of research I went Goodyear Eagle F1 assymetric 3 Run Flats and they are so good I would not bother going back.In fact in some ways I prefer the ride and no crashing or howling on certain roads.

Sadly NEW BMWS come with usually Bridgestones and they are really awful.

I put those (Eagle F1s) on the front on my wife's Touring (previously Bridgestone RE050A1), they seem decent.

Should be noted that Michelin also now do Pilot Sport 3s in run flat form, but they are quite expensive.

[Speed addicted]

I went to normal tyres on my previous 6 series, I found them to ride a lot better, far less crashy and quieter, They also gripped far better in the wet. As a bonus they were about 1/3 cheaper than run flats too.
I bought a BMW inflation kit for the 6 series, major tyre damage would require towing but that's the same with runflats.


I've just bought a 2015 4 series and it's not as crashy as the 6 series was on the runflats, possibly because the suspension is better tuned for the tyres or the runflats are now better.

I'll be replacing the tyres on the 4 series in the spring and will probably be going to non runflat for the benefits I got previously, there is certainly no issue with the swap.
As I understand it runflat wheels have an additional ridge on the inside to keep the tyre wall in place and prevent the tyre collapsing if deflated.

[Don Phil]

Switched to non run-flats (Nexen n-Fera, good mid budget tyre for bigger cars in my experience) on my 2012 f11 with 19" alloys and experienced no issues.

I carry compressor and foam round with me and have breakdown cover. Never in over 15 years have I had to use a spare wheel.

Also a good chance to see how many of your alloys are egg shaped as they seem to be made of chocolate...

Edited by Don Phil on Saturday 5th October 19:59

[Wilmslowboy]

Swapped the run flats on the wife's 2012 520d touring for MPS4

Absolutely transformed the ride....done 6k miles since, and no issues.

[Huskyman]

I’ve got a 535d M sport and I swapped out the run flats for Goodyear F1 in the original 245/45 ZR 19 and it massively improved the ride. What prompted the change was a tyre disintegrating on the rear at motorway speeds, slowed down to 40 and limped it less than two miles. The sidewall had separated from the tread on the inside edge... Recovery driver said he’d been out to a few that was down to the alloy when the driver carried on!!
I’ve binned the runflats off every BMW I’ve ever had.

[Mr Tidy]

Loads of people seem to find the ride and handling better on non-runflat tyres, especially on the Z4 but then they were supplied with the awful Bridgestone Potenzas, and mine are 18s!

I had 17" Pirelli RFTs on a 1 Series, 17" Pirelli RFTs on an E91 3 Series and currently have 17" Continental RFTs on my E90 3 Series and they are all OK - but I definitely won't be putting any more Bridgestones on my Z4!

I hope whatever you do fit are an improvement.

[74merc]

Last winter I bought a set of 17" wheels for winter tyres for my F11. In Spring, I put the original 18s back on with Goodyear F1 runflats. They lasted 1 week! Been running the winters ever since. The ride and NVH is so much better without the RFTs and the car is much more chuckable with 225 rubber.

[Mr Tidy]

That's an interesting comparison.

A few people have said they handle better on "square" sets than on "staggered" ones ("square" being the same width front and rear).

[callahan]

My 530e is due a tyre change soon and I was thinking of putting some Michelin Cross Climates on, any recommendations or experience of something similar?

I have run Goodyear Eagle f1s on a few cars before and always liked them, so that's another option, but I've heard good things about the cross Climates.

[Nerdherder]

callahan said:

My 530e is due a tyre change soon and I was thinking of putting some Michelin Cross Climates on, any recommendations or experience of something similar?

I have run Goodyear Eagle f1s on a few cars before and always liked them, so that's another option, but I've heard good things about the cross Climates.

I had Cross Climates on my 330e, did a very good job for me.
Had only positive experiences with Michelin and Vredestein so far I have to say..

[Speed addicted]

Nerdherder said:

callahan said:

My 530e is due a tyre change soon and I was thinking of putting some Michelin Cross Climates on, any recommendations or experience of something similar?

I have run Goodyear Eagle f1s on a few cars before and always liked them, so that's another option, but I've heard good things about the cross Climates.

I had Cross Climates on my 330e, did a very good job for me.
Had only positive experiences with Michelin and Vredestein so far I have to say..

I’d been intending to fit all seasons to the 4 series, but the rears are 255/40 r18 and I can’t get them!
Cross climates are good, I had them on a previous Subaru winter/tip/dog car with good results in snow and in the wet.
They are a slightly lower performing tyre compared to summers for dry and wet, and compared to winters for proper snow. This is going by tyre reviews, they felt just fine on the car.

I’d been looking at the Bridgestone A005 as they’re better in the dry and wet while giving away some pure snow performance.
Results come from tyre reviews and the auto Bild tyre test.
I won’t be driving much in -20 with deep snow so they made more sense for me.

Of course as I can’t get them I’m buying a set of winter wheels!

[Pica-Pica]

Speed addicted said:

Nerdherder said:

callahan said:

My 530e is due a tyre change soon and I was thinking of putting some Michelin Cross Climates on, any recommendations or experience of something similar?

I have run Goodyear Eagle f1s on a few cars before and always liked them, so that's another option, but I've heard good things about the cross Climates.

I had Cross Climates on my 330e, did a very good job for me.
Had only positive experiences with Michelin and Vredestein so far I have to say..

I’d been intending to fit all seasons to the 4 series, but the rears are 255/40 r18 and I can’t get them!
Cross climates are good, I had them on a previous Subaru winter/tip/dog car with good results in snow and in the wet.
They are a slightly lower performing tyre compared to summers for dry and wet, and compared to winters for proper snow. This is going by tyre reviews, they felt just fine on the car.

I’d been looking at the Bridgestone A005 as they’re better in the dry and wet while giving away some pure snow performance.
Results come from tyre reviews and the auto Bild tyre test.
I won’t be driving much in -20 with deep snow so they made more sense for me.

Of course as I can’t get them I’m buying a set of winter wheels!

I find you cannot get all-season in ‘wide rear wheel’ sizes. If you want all-seasons you need to go to a square set-up. Either that, or a summer set-up and a winter set-up.