The great run flat tyre debate.
Discussion
I know this has been done a million times, but I find myself thrust into the "should I shouldn't I" debate due to a nail in my rear tyre.
I'm 14 months into ownership of a 335d Touring and I love it except for 2 things.
1. Trying to get the bloody Media Pro working consistently with my iPhone, but that's for another day.
2. The ride on the RF tyres is appalling. Hard, jiggly, noisy and painful to listen to when you crash over a speed hump slightly too fast.
I've always said that when they need replacing I'm going non run flat to solve the ride issues. I have the 19in wheels and at the weekend I picked up a puncture on a back wheel. It looks like it may be repairable, but in the event it isn't then I'm tempted to bite the bullet and go non RFT right away. I've done 14k miles so there is a reasonable amount of life left in the tyres, but I'm prepared to take the hit if the benefits to the ride are as good as I've read.
So I'm looking for people who have relevant tyre swap experience.
Is the impact on ride really as big as they say?
Rim compatibility? I assume it's just a simple swap.
Tyre recommendations including guide price for all 4.
What about space saver spare vs gunk and compressor kit?
Thanks, Marbles.
I'm 14 months into ownership of a 335d Touring and I love it except for 2 things.
1. Trying to get the bloody Media Pro working consistently with my iPhone, but that's for another day.
2. The ride on the RF tyres is appalling. Hard, jiggly, noisy and painful to listen to when you crash over a speed hump slightly too fast.
I've always said that when they need replacing I'm going non run flat to solve the ride issues. I have the 19in wheels and at the weekend I picked up a puncture on a back wheel. It looks like it may be repairable, but in the event it isn't then I'm tempted to bite the bullet and go non RFT right away. I've done 14k miles so there is a reasonable amount of life left in the tyres, but I'm prepared to take the hit if the benefits to the ride are as good as I've read.
So I'm looking for people who have relevant tyre swap experience.
Is the impact on ride really as big as they say?
Rim compatibility? I assume it's just a simple swap.
Tyre recommendations including guide price for all 4.
What about space saver spare vs gunk and compressor kit?
Thanks, Marbles.
I've got 19" wheels on my 340i, fitted with Bridgestone S001 RFTs, and the ride is considerably better than the 18" RE050s I had on my first 335d. I also had them on the 18" wheels on my last 335d and they were fine. I'd also rate the Pirelli P Zero.
If you go with normal tyres, they'll fit the rims without any problems. I'd also recommend Slime sealant (it's water-soluble so can be washed out of the tyre, unlike some that can't). Alternatively, I've got one of these kits:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/STOP-DELUXE-TYRE-PLUGGER-...
on the theory that if I get a puncture in one of my RFTs I can either stop and try and fix it so I can get it repaired, or just carry on driving in the knowledge it'll mean a new tyre.
If you go with normal tyres, they'll fit the rims without any problems. I'd also recommend Slime sealant (it's water-soluble so can be washed out of the tyre, unlike some that can't). Alternatively, I've got one of these kits:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/STOP-DELUXE-TYRE-PLUGGER-...
on the theory that if I get a puncture in one of my RFTs I can either stop and try and fix it so I can get it repaired, or just carry on driving in the knowledge it'll mean a new tyre.
19s on previous generation 335, RFTs @ purchase : Bridgestone.
Swapped to Michelin Pilot Supersports.
massive difference, better ride, handling, less skittish, no TC light coming on.
I got some tyre slime, because (touching wood at this point) punctures are relatively rare so didn't want to go to cost/extra weight of carrying tyre in boot.
Simple swap, to the MPSS , same size and used stock pressures as per A-Pillar
Swapped to Michelin Pilot Supersports.
massive difference, better ride, handling, less skittish, no TC light coming on.
I got some tyre slime, because (touching wood at this point) punctures are relatively rare so didn't want to go to cost/extra weight of carrying tyre in boot.
Simple swap, to the MPSS , same size and used stock pressures as per A-Pillar
Personally I never got the "night and day difference" but there is a notable difference in a positive way that is worth it.
I think it very much depends on what gen of run flats you have.
if you have run flats from the e92 era then they are bloody hard, I have a 335i and changed for eagle F1 tyres. Nice difference.
I think it very much depends on what gen of run flats you have.
if you have run flats from the e92 era then they are bloody hard, I have a 335i and changed for eagle F1 tyres. Nice difference.
Re original post,am just about to do the same on my 430d m sport (Bridgestone S001RFT’s) so am watching this with great interest.
My tyre choice will be either Good Year F1 3’s or Dunlop Maxx RT but keeping an open mind.
One thing I did was contact my insurance to check if this counted as a modification if I changed to N RFT’s.
I was told if it was the correct size/speed/weight capability for the car then there was no problem and they recorded the information on my policy file....no need for written confirmation.
My tyre choice will be either Good Year F1 3’s or Dunlop Maxx RT but keeping an open mind.
One thing I did was contact my insurance to check if this counted as a modification if I changed to N RFT’s.
I was told if it was the correct size/speed/weight capability for the car then there was no problem and they recorded the information on my policy file....no need for written confirmation.
We just switched from GY Eagle F1 Asymm 2's in run flat to the non-runflat on the wife's F20 125i with adaptive suspension and the difference is indeed "night and day". I thought the game had moved on since I binned them off a few years ago on my E91 330i, but it seems not.
It's not just the stiffness of the sidewall but you really notice the reduction in unsprung weight as well. Handling is transformed imo.
It's not just the stiffness of the sidewall but you really notice the reduction in unsprung weight as well. Handling is transformed imo.
After 3 years on michelin sports non rf because of appalling ride on previous runflats after hrs of trawling sites and reviews I too went back to run flats on the goodyear eagle F1 assymetric 3 and they are really good so good I would never bother going back to run flats.Im handing the car back maybe soon so thats the reason.I had a lot of trepidation wondering if I had done the right thing as I pulled out the tyre shop but they are allright not crashy no bad road noise ..on 18s
smashy said:
After 3 years on michelin sports non rf because of appalling ride on previous runflats after hrs of trawling sites and reviews I too went back to run flats on the goodyear eagle F1 assymetric 3 and they are really good so good I would never bother going back to run flats.Im handing the car back maybe soon so thats the reason.I had a lot of trepidation wondering if I had done the right thing as I pulled out the tyre shop but they are allright not crashy no bad road noise ..on 18s
You'd notice an even bigger difference if you now switched to the non-RF version of hte tyre 
Swervin_Mervin said:
You'd notice an even bigger difference if you now switched to the non-RF version of hte tyre
No doubt but i do a shed load of mlles and as ive ridden 150 miles on a run flat before ,the thought of a thursday night in the rain with a can of gloop doesnt fill me with joy. I allways had ultraseal pumped in my non runners but he is now a long way away from me.one of these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/TYRE-PUNCTURE-REPAIR-STRI...
And for belt & braces:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/BMW-Genuine-Inflation-Com...
I’ve got them in both cars, though the M6 needs new goo - as it’s from 2006(it’s next to the keys for when I go pick up the 7 from bmw) and the 7 has a spare wheel anyway.
IME - at 18” & above wheel size, go-flats are the only viable solution, the ride is otherwise too hard on run-flat.
If you like to use your throttle (ok it’s a diesel, but YKWIM) in corners, then MPS4s’s (they only come in 19” and above) are the best performance tyre out there right now. Not cheap mind...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/TYRE-PUNCTURE-REPAIR-STRI...
And for belt & braces:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/BMW-Genuine-Inflation-Com...
I’ve got them in both cars, though the M6 needs new goo - as it’s from 2006(it’s next to the keys for when I go pick up the 7 from bmw) and the 7 has a spare wheel anyway.
IME - at 18” & above wheel size, go-flats are the only viable solution, the ride is otherwise too hard on run-flat.
If you like to use your throttle (ok it’s a diesel, but YKWIM) in corners, then MPS4s’s (they only come in 19” and above) are the best performance tyre out there right now. Not cheap mind...
Thanks for all the inputs. Very helpful.
By way of an update... The puncture was repaired successfully by the chaps at Martins in Bisley so I'm back on the road this morning. I don't know if I'm just hyper sensitive to it, but everything seemed even more crashy, bumpy and noisy this morning. Anyway, the tyre chap reckons my rear tyres are shot in 4k miles so the decision has been made to switch to non run flats around April.
I've moaned about the tyres several times to my dealer, usually whilst I was there moaning about my pro-media/iPhone experiences, and having called them to give them the opportunity to quote for tyres (hopelessly uncompetitive) they did agree to a 'heavy discount' on the compressor/gunk kit.
Off to do some serious research and get some quotes. I'll report back when I switch....
By way of an update... The puncture was repaired successfully by the chaps at Martins in Bisley so I'm back on the road this morning. I don't know if I'm just hyper sensitive to it, but everything seemed even more crashy, bumpy and noisy this morning. Anyway, the tyre chap reckons my rear tyres are shot in 4k miles so the decision has been made to switch to non run flats around April.
I've moaned about the tyres several times to my dealer, usually whilst I was there moaning about my pro-media/iPhone experiences, and having called them to give them the opportunity to quote for tyres (hopelessly uncompetitive) they did agree to a 'heavy discount' on the compressor/gunk kit.
Off to do some serious research and get some quotes. I'll report back when I switch....
I had a 2013 330d xDrive Touring as my previous car and it had runflats on 17" wheels and was comfortable but a bit 'floaty', I concluded that 18" would be OK but I wouldn't go to 19".
Be careful about reports where people change from a runflat that's one vendor/model/size to another that's a different combination of manufacturer, model or size. I don't doubt that some of any improvement may be down to moving to non-runflat, but it's impossible to know how much is just a change of brand. To be systematic, you'd have to replace, say a PZero Runflat with exactly the same size PZero non-runflat. And I've seen very few of these comparisons. It's made even more difficult when manufacturers change the tyre design but not the designation e.g. there are at least eight different types of Pirelli PZero out there.
Personally, I was happy enough with my runflats to have them on my replacement M235i Convertible RWD. I see loads of 'I moved from Continental Runflat to Michelin non-runflat and the improvment is fantastic' or similar on 2 Series Forums but almost everyone is changing two or three elements of the wheel/tyre spec' so it's hard to know.
Be careful about reports where people change from a runflat that's one vendor/model/size to another that's a different combination of manufacturer, model or size. I don't doubt that some of any improvement may be down to moving to non-runflat, but it's impossible to know how much is just a change of brand. To be systematic, you'd have to replace, say a PZero Runflat with exactly the same size PZero non-runflat. And I've seen very few of these comparisons. It's made even more difficult when manufacturers change the tyre design but not the designation e.g. there are at least eight different types of Pirelli PZero out there.
Personally, I was happy enough with my runflats to have them on my replacement M235i Convertible RWD. I see loads of 'I moved from Continental Runflat to Michelin non-runflat and the improvment is fantastic' or similar on 2 Series Forums but almost everyone is changing two or three elements of the wheel/tyre spec' so it's hard to know.
msej449 said:
I had a 2013 330d xDrive Touring as my previous car and it had runflats on 17" wheels and was comfortable but a bit 'floaty', I concluded that 18" would be OK but I wouldn't go to 19".
Be careful about reports where people change from a runflat that's one vendor/model/size to another that's a different combination of manufacturer, model or size. I don't doubt that some of any improvement may be down to moving to non-runflat, but it's impossible to know how much is just a change of brand. To be systematic, you'd have to replace, say a PZero Runflat with exactly the same size PZero non-runflat. And I've seen very few of these comparisons. It's made even more difficult when manufacturers change the tyre design but not the designation e.g. there are at least eight different types of Pirelli PZero out there.
Personally, I was happy enough with my runflats to have them on my replacement M235i Convertible RWD. I see loads of 'I moved from Continental Runflat to Michelin non-runflat and the improvment is fantastic' or similar on 2 Series Forums but almost everyone is changing two or three elements of the wheel/tyre spec' so it's hard to know.
I'm surprised nobody has produced any empirical data on the subject - personal views don't really help as everyone has different tolerances towards what sort of ride is acceptable.Be careful about reports where people change from a runflat that's one vendor/model/size to another that's a different combination of manufacturer, model or size. I don't doubt that some of any improvement may be down to moving to non-runflat, but it's impossible to know how much is just a change of brand. To be systematic, you'd have to replace, say a PZero Runflat with exactly the same size PZero non-runflat. And I've seen very few of these comparisons. It's made even more difficult when manufacturers change the tyre design but not the designation e.g. there are at least eight different types of Pirelli PZero out there.
Personally, I was happy enough with my runflats to have them on my replacement M235i Convertible RWD. I see loads of 'I moved from Continental Runflat to Michelin non-runflat and the improvment is fantastic' or similar on 2 Series Forums but almost everyone is changing two or three elements of the wheel/tyre spec' so it's hard to know.
In my case of moving from the same tyre in RFT to non-RFT, I'm talking about wrestling the steering wheel one day just to keep it in a straight line, and wincing over anything resembling a bump, to practically being able to drive no hands in a straight line and thinking "what bump?".
It is that marked a difference.
It is that marked a difference.
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