Changing runflats - 3 series 2006

[Maxx-Waxx]

Hi

My wife has a 330i 06 with its original bridgestone runflats. The fronts need changing urgently and the rears will need doing within a few months.
After reading several threads it appears that changing to normal tyres would help the ride quality and looking at costs could save some money too.
The tyres are 225 40 18.

If she had a problem I was wondering how effective the tyre weld is and how easy would it be for her to use, also any other downsides or alternatives

Ive also got to consider that we use this car with our baby so i dont want to get her to change only to find it might give her more problems

If we do change can anyone recommend a good tyre

Ive seen some toyo T1R proxes for £80 each and some goodyear gsd3 eagles for about £93 each and wondered if anyone had tried either tyre

Thanks

[DSM2]

Maxx-Waxx said:

Hi

My wife has a 330i 06 with its original bridgestone runflats. The fronts need changing urgently and the rears will need doing within a few months.
After reading several threads it appears that changing to normal tyres would help the ride quality and looking at costs could save some money too.
The tyres are 225 40 18.

If she had a problem I was wondering how effective the tyre weld is and how easy would it be for her to use, also any other downsides or alternatives

Ive also got to consider that we use this car with our baby so i dont want to get her to change only to find it might give her more problems

If we do change can anyone recommend a good tyre

Ive seen some toyo T1R proxes for £80 each and some goodyear gsd3 eagles for about £93 each and wondered if anyone had tried either tyre

Thanks

The non RFts will certainyl improve the ride and will last better too. I changed my '55 320 off RFTs and never looked back. I carried a nailhole external repair kit, an aerosol and a 12V compressor, thoughI never had the need for them.

At the risk of being non PC, this might be out of your wife's range of expertise so she may be better keeping the RFTs.

Another option MAY be the Contiseal tyres as fitted to the Passat CC. These are are certainly available in a 235/40 18 size which should fit. A4mm increase in RR would not be an issue:

http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/uk/en/co...

Finally, now that BMW offer non RFTs on the 3 series, you might prefer to fit a standard tyre and buy a jack and spacesaver from BMW?

[Pugmitch]

I've been running Toyo T1R proxes for the last four years on a 320D Compact which now has 116K miles. On rails in the dry and fairly safe in the wet......unless you push too hard in the twisty bits! No problems with wear - I get about 25k out of them running on rear when new and switch when fronts wear out. Good value IMHO. I hear Falken 452s are better value for money though and will be trying them next time I need a change. If you plump for the Toyos they do need to be bedded in for the first 100 miles and they do require the right pressures......otherwise you'll feel the car is trying to kill you!