Anyone changed the run-flats on a 130iM to 'normal' tyres?

[shoestring7]

The nice man from Stratstone just bought a 130i Sport for me to try.

A lovely drive & it ticks all the boxes for me. But the only flaw is the ride. On give & take A/B road surfaces (80% of my miles now), the ride is jiggly and choppy. How much of this is down to the 18" run-flats I don't know. I suspect a lot, but changing the tyres on a new or near-new car on the basis that you MAY end up with a decent ride is a bit rich. BTW I suspect that its not the first time the dealer's been asked this.

Anyone got any experience of this?

Thanks SS7

[z4monster]

I stuck with the runflats on my Z4 for about 6 months before I ditched them for MIch PS2's The ride was awful with the RFT and is now much better with normal tyres. Don't hesitate to do it. It transformed my car from crashy and hard riding o sporty but comfortable enough.

[AndyWoodall]

I've recently spent a bit of time in a 130i, and while I did fall in love with it, I was shocked by the b-road performance, it bounced and chopped about all the time. I've been quietly told by a BMW friend that ditching the run flats help, but dont completely solve it. I'd say its certainly worth a go though.

[doctorpepper]

SS7...

Just swapped my 120D to Falkens to match the 944&968 and it has made a world of difference to it..no longer crashes when you drive over anything bigger than ant-pooh! And you can fix the punctures or buy new tyres for a lot less than all the robbers want to chage you for Run-flats.

[shoestring7]

doctorpepper said:

SS7...

Just swapped my 120D to Falkens to match the 944&968 and it has made a world of difference to it..no longer crashes when you drive over anything bigger than ant-pooh! And you can fix the punctures or buy new tyres for a lot less than all the robbers want to chage you for Run-flats.

Thanks. Its just that I worry about spending £26,500 on a new car on the basis that by spending another £900 on new tyres I *might* make the ride acceptable.

I think this is a major design flaw. I can safely say that if the car's ride had been acceptable I would have bought one, but as it is, I'm not a buyer. BTW a decent ride with 18" wheels can be achieved. I just had a drive of a Porsche Cayman and it just flowed over broken B road tarmac, yet still had excellent body control. No stupid run-flats though.

SS7

[GregE240]

Guys, how can you tell if your car has run flats on it? Does it say on the tyre sidewall?

[kibosh]

As has been said previously.......RFT's are an innovation designed to pander to big fat lazy American's who don't want to get their hands dirty when they get a puncture. Unfortunately that means that we discerning and knowledgeable European car enthusiasts are getting the veritable 'shaft' on the handling stakes by the likes of BMW etc.

The RFT's on my wifes Mini Cooper (17's) make the car fidgitier than Freddie Fidgit from Twitchville.

[CatherineJ]

doctorpepper said:

SS7...

Just swapped my 120D to Falkens to match the 944&968 and it has made a world of difference to it..no longer crashes when you drive over anything bigger than ant-pooh! And you can fix the punctures or buy new tyres for a lot less than all the robbers want to chage you for Run-flats.

I found the ride of the 120D M Sport I had as a demo car to be awful too cross country. In the end we went for a 3 Series M Sport and the ride and handling even on Run Flats was much better.

[Raify]

GregE240 said:

Guys, how can you tell if your car has run flats on it? Does it say on the tyre sidewall?

I think it has something like 'RF' after the size + speed rating...

[shoestring7]

Raify said:

GregE240 said:

Guys, how can you tell if your car has run flats on it? Does it say on the tyre sidewall?

I think it has something like 'RF' after the size + speed rating...

And the car drives like they are made of wood.

While I suppose a 3-series would be an option, its quite a lot more money, more car than I really need, and really rather predictable. Around my way there are 'executive' housing developments with a 3 series parked outside each unit...

I'm afraid my money is either going the way of a Golf R32 or possibly the Cayman.

SS7

[panthro]

Is it not possible to specify non run flat tyres when you buy the car from new?

[Raify]

panthro said:

Is it not possible to specify non run flat tyres when you buy the car from new?

Should be, I know you can do this with the MINI's. You get proper tyres and the BMW 'mobility kit' (tyre gunk + compressor

[shoestring7]

You're right. It should be.

But it isn't, at least not in BMW world. The salesman warbled on about product liability, but it doesn't seem to worry their M-Sport division.

The Z4M coupe doesn't come with RF's because of the detrimental effect on its dynamics.

SS7

[doctorpepper]

RFT's are pretty good on track though... makes for a very sharp turn in..

Cant say that my 120 was every horrible to drive across country maybe the roads around here are flatter... but it does feel more communicative with the falkens.