Why is BMW moving away from runflats?

[Vroomer]

For years, BMW has extolled the virtues of runflats, but now appears to be moving away from them. Why is this?

[thebraketester]

Because they are st

[g3org3y]

Are they reverting to a proper full sized spare (or spacesaver) or just that tyre weld/air compressor combo malarkey?

[Wills2]

Vroomer said:

For years, BMW has extolled the virtues of runflats, but now appears to be moving away from them. Why is this?

Interesting which non M cars are offered without RFT?

[Vroomer]

1-Series, X3, possibly more

[Wills2]

Probably cheaper or there are supply issues or a bit of both.

[NeilDF]

I was looking at a 320 touring online. It seems the 18” standard wheels are non-runflat but if you spec the optional 19” wheels then they come with runflats. Seems odd to me,

[Alextodrive]

They're more expensive
Ride harder
More prone to bulging in my experience

And I've had a puncture with a RFT that I was able to get home on within the reduced speed and distance recommend. Except when the tyre fitter took the wheel off to change the tyre, it had almost completely shredded on the inside edge and they reckoned I was a few miles away from the tyre ripping off and doing a tonne of damage to the alloy and car.

I'm not a fan and I've yet to come across anyone who is. Anyone....?

[MikeM6]

Breakdown cover solves the issue for me. Free with my bank so i don't even need to pay anything.

I used to think a spare was essential, but my last 3 cars and my wife's car all don't have a spare, are not on runflats and I don't even have a can of gunk anymore. My wife likely wouldn't change a wheel at the side of the road anyway.

[hilly10]

I have bought 3 nearly new BMWs and every time it’s the first thing I do, is swap out the RFs, I just hate them. This is what I keep in my 5 Series boot. I like to be in charge of my ability to get to a tyre fitters should I need to

Edited by hilly10 on Sunday 24th January 16:41

[Court_S]

As above, they’re st.

I’d forgotten just how bad they are having not had the pleasure for nearly five years. We recently bought a 125i cab and the ride on run flats was utterly atrocious; it thudded through every pot hole, there was an awful shimmy on certain surfaces and they offered no confidence. I thought we’d bought an absolute lemon of a car. The outer edges had worn so last week, I had the tyres swapped to none run flats and the car is transformed. I know I’ve gone from worn to new, but still.

When we bought my other half’s F56 MINI in 2016, none fun flats were standard on that with run goats being a no cost option.

[B'stard Child]

Alextodrive said:

And I've had a puncture with a RFT that I was able to get home on within the reduced speed and distance recommend. Except when the tyre fitter took the wheel off to change the tyre, it had almost completely shredded on the inside edge and they reckoned I was a few miles away from the tyre ripping off and doing a tonne of damage to the alloy and car.

My neighbour had run flats on his X1 thing - he drove into the close in the summer when I was washing a car - there was an awful lot of tyre/scraping noise so I walked over to him as he parked up - run flat tyre totally destroyed and an alloy wheel with very chewed edges

He was completely unaware - He's since lost the privilege to drive due to Parkinsons (probably at least two years overdue)

[Alextodrive]

B'stard Child said:

My neighbour had run flats on his X1 thing - he drove into the close in the summer when I was washing a car - there was an awful lot of tyre/scraping noise so I walked over to him as he parked up - run flat tyre totally destroyed and an alloy wheel with very chewed edges

He was completely unaware - He's since lost the privilege to drive due to Parkinsons (probably at least two years overdue)

My tyre was ripping on an edge I couldn't see and there was no way for me to know it was close to ripping off the wheel. That was my point.

Sounds like your neighbours run flat issue was him, not the tyre...?

[Locknut]

hilly10 said:

... This is what I keep in my 5 Series boot. I like to be in charge of my ability to get to a tyre fitters should I need to

Is there a jack and a wheelbrace in there? Is the spare wheel secured to prevent it moving around?

[Mr Tidy]

I've currently got my 5th BMW with run-flats and really don't like them, although I have found some brands much worse than others - Bridgestone I'm talking about you!

If there was anywhere to store a spare (even a space-saver) I'd swap them for non run-flats - although last time I had a puncture it was dark and snowing, so being able to just drive home was better than trying to change a wheel at the road-side.
And luckily because it was only 5 or 6 miles from home and hadn't lost too much pressure I managed to get it repaired for £10.

But I've noticed that my Z4MC with non run-flats, even on 19" CSL Replicas and stiffer suspension, is much less "crashy" going over cats-eyes, etc. than my E90 330iSE on 17" run-flats.

[B'stard Child]

Alextodrive said:

B'stard Child said:

My neighbour had run flats on his X1 thing - he drove into the close in the summer when I was washing a car - there was an awful lot of tyre/scraping noise so I walked over to him as he parked up - run flat tyre totally destroyed and an alloy wheel with very chewed edges

He was completely unaware - He's since lost the privilege to drive due to Parkinsons (probably at least two years overdue)

My tyre was ripping on an edge I couldn't see and there was no way for me to know it was close to ripping off the wheel. That was my point.

Sounds like your neighbours run flat issue was him, not the tyre...?

As far as he was concerned he had run flats - so punctures were not an issue

[eliot]

No doubt I will jinx things but I’ve never had a puncture in 37 years of driving.
I do believe the longevity of anything mechanical depends on how you treat it.

[Mr Tidy]

To be fair punctures don't happen too often, especially if you don't let tyres run right down on tread.

I've had 4 in 44 years.

[B'stard Child]

Mr Tidy said:

To be fair punctures don't happen too often, especially if you don't let tyres run right down on tread.

I've had 4 in 44 years.

My last one was on a brand new tyre



I'm not sure a run flat would have coped any better

[LunarOne]

I've never knowingly driven a car with runflats, but I suppose they must be better than almost losing control due to a blow-out. I heard and felt a bang and the back end started sliding about at 70mph on a dual carriageway. I managed to get off the road and once I'd jacked up the car, I couldn't find anything that would have caused a flat tyre, until I got the wheel off!