RUN FLATS AGAIN!
Discussion
Hi All
New member as just bought a 5 series with run flats. I have an extra set of alloys and wanted to put budget non run-flats on (£50 each as opposed to £170 for RF), but the garage I went to said the suspension settings had to be changed as they are set up for RF.
Is this true?
Also, is it a false economy to put cheapo tyres on a rapid heavy car?
Appreciate some feedback.
Thanks
New member as just bought a 5 series with run flats. I have an extra set of alloys and wanted to put budget non run-flats on (£50 each as opposed to £170 for RF), but the garage I went to said the suspension settings had to be changed as they are set up for RF.
Is this true?
Also, is it a false economy to put cheapo tyres on a rapid heavy car?
Appreciate some feedback.
Thanks
Do NOT put budget tyres on a car like that!
They're your only contact with the road and they will not be up to the job, especially in the wet where their hard compound will have you all over the place and the traction control working in overdrive. I had an E39 528i which the dealer had put Nan Kangs on - I threw them away almost immediately.
As for the runflats - I still haven't found the answer to this. I'd like to put non runflats on mine, but the dealers say I would need different wheels, as the wheels are designed for RFs. The 19" wheels didn't have RFs, anyone know where I could buy a set from?
And also, anyone actually put standard tyres on "runflat" rims??
They're your only contact with the road and they will not be up to the job, especially in the wet where their hard compound will have you all over the place and the traction control working in overdrive. I had an E39 528i which the dealer had put Nan Kangs on - I threw them away almost immediately.
As for the runflats - I still haven't found the answer to this. I'd like to put non runflats on mine, but the dealers say I would need different wheels, as the wheels are designed for RFs. The 19" wheels didn't have RFs, anyone know where I could buy a set from?
And also, anyone actually put standard tyres on "runflat" rims??
Define Budget??
I swapped the RFT's on my 120 to some Falken FK452's they are the same tyre I use on the 330D and what i did use on the E28M5 and also my road tyres for the 968.
There are a lot of people who talk a lot of crap about tyres and most high street tyre shops will tell you that the Falken is a budget tyre. NO it's just a tyre that doesnt cost much.
If it helps, you can get some Kuhmo RFT's that are a LOT cheaper than the michelin or Bridgestones that you are undoubtedly being sold?
oh and the only other thing to watch if you do swap is that the petrol flap pressures on your car will be for RFT's so you'll need to compensate for that when you pump them up.
I swapped the RFT's on my 120 to some Falken FK452's they are the same tyre I use on the 330D and what i did use on the E28M5 and also my road tyres for the 968.
There are a lot of people who talk a lot of crap about tyres and most high street tyre shops will tell you that the Falken is a budget tyre. NO it's just a tyre that doesnt cost much.
If it helps, you can get some Kuhmo RFT's that are a LOT cheaper than the michelin or Bridgestones that you are undoubtedly being sold?
oh and the only other thing to watch if you do swap is that the petrol flap pressures on your car will be for RFT's so you'll need to compensate for that when you pump them up.
As said, a lot of the Z4 owners swear by the Falken FK452s. I previously perceived Falken as a budget brand but now realise they're not.
Re: not carrying a spare. Lots of cars now come with normal tyres, no spare, and a can or two of repair foam stuff. Fortunately I've never had to use the foam stuff, but I wish manufacturers would stop this practice. I keep a 17" space-saver in the garage but rarely carry it because it takes up most of my boot...
Re: not carrying a spare. Lots of cars now come with normal tyres, no spare, and a can or two of repair foam stuff. Fortunately I've never had to use the foam stuff, but I wish manufacturers would stop this practice. I keep a 17" space-saver in the garage but rarely carry it because it takes up most of my boot...
Hi All
Thanks for advice. Will shop around for Falken tyres or similar.
I know non RF fit on any BMW rim, it was the suspension setting thing that worried me, however.
Having said that, the number of times my car side skips over a bump is a bit unnerving, especially roundabouts.
Must be the extra stiffness of RF sidewalls.
Thanks for advice. Will shop around for Falken tyres or similar.
I know non RF fit on any BMW rim, it was the suspension setting thing that worried me, however.
Having said that, the number of times my car side skips over a bump is a bit unnerving, especially roundabouts.
Must be the extra stiffness of RF sidewalls.
Just fitted Non RFT Falken's to my E90 330i. Two cans of tyre weld and a compressor for the boot. Car is so much nicer to drive. Steering now does not have a mind of its own and the car doesn't crash over every crisp packet in the road. It's a no brainer. BMW dealers talk utter nonsense about RFT's and lie (or are totally ignorant) about some things. They INSISTED i would need new rims for non RFT tyres for example.
Just remember, probably 95% of all cars on the roads don't have RFT's on but BMW would have you belive you are risking certain death due to a blowout if you don't have them. My parents have a new Honda Jazz and that has no spare or space saver either but they don't use runflats, just tyre foam. Many new cars are the same now.
BMW appear to be using us as guinea pigs while RFT technology is developed and making us pay for it in ride/handling and cost. Other manufactuers seem to be wisely waiting until they work properly.
Also, if you try to trade a car in to BMW which 'should' have RFT's they will knock off the price of a set of RFT's so they can put some back on! This would be like replacing your nice leather seats with concrete lintols and swapping the creamy straight 6 for tractor engine.
Convinced?
Just remember, probably 95% of all cars on the roads don't have RFT's on but BMW would have you belive you are risking certain death due to a blowout if you don't have them. My parents have a new Honda Jazz and that has no spare or space saver either but they don't use runflats, just tyre foam. Many new cars are the same now.
BMW appear to be using us as guinea pigs while RFT technology is developed and making us pay for it in ride/handling and cost. Other manufactuers seem to be wisely waiting until they work properly.
Also, if you try to trade a car in to BMW which 'should' have RFT's they will knock off the price of a set of RFT's so they can put some back on! This would be like replacing your nice leather seats with concrete lintols and swapping the creamy straight 6 for tractor engine.
Convinced?
ITP said:
Just fitted Non RFT Falken's to my E90 330i. Two cans of tyre weld and a compressor for the boot. Car is so much nicer to drive. Steering now does not have a mind of its own and the car doesn't crash over every crisp packet in the road. It's a no brainer. BMW dealers talk utter nonsense about RFT's and lie (or are totally ignorant) about some things. They INSISTED i would need new rims for non RFT tyres for example.
Just remember, probably 95% of all cars on the roads don't have RFT's on but BMW would have you belive you are risking certain death due to a blowout if you don't have them. My parents have a new Honda Jazz and that has no spare or space saver either but they don't use runflats, just tyre foam. Many new cars are the same now.
BMW appear to be using us as guinea pigs while RFT technology is developed and making us pay for it in ride/handling and cost. Other manufactuers seem to be wisely waiting until they work properly.
Also, if you try to trade a car in to BMW which 'should' have RFT's they will knock off the price of a set of RFT's so they can put some back on! This would be like replacing your nice leather seats with concrete lintols and swapping the creamy straight 6 for tractor engine.
Convinced?
No, ive just fitted a full set of RFT's to my E90 and happy i have too...Just remember, probably 95% of all cars on the roads don't have RFT's on but BMW would have you belive you are risking certain death due to a blowout if you don't have them. My parents have a new Honda Jazz and that has no spare or space saver either but they don't use runflats, just tyre foam. Many new cars are the same now.
BMW appear to be using us as guinea pigs while RFT technology is developed and making us pay for it in ride/handling and cost. Other manufactuers seem to be wisely waiting until they work properly.
Also, if you try to trade a car in to BMW which 'should' have RFT's they will knock off the price of a set of RFT's so they can put some back on! This would be like replacing your nice leather seats with concrete lintols and swapping the creamy straight 6 for tractor engine.
Convinced?
But have you tried your car on non-run flats though?
Glad they work for you but i think they should be on the options list while they are being developed and let the buyer decide if the 'benefits' are worth the cost.
At the moment the list of downsides is considerably longer than the list of upsides, which is one, the fact you don't need to stop (for 50 miles) to change/tyre weld a puncture.
Glad they work for you but i think they should be on the options list while they are being developed and let the buyer decide if the 'benefits' are worth the cost.
At the moment the list of downsides is considerably longer than the list of upsides, which is one, the fact you don't need to stop (for 50 miles) to change/tyre weld a puncture.
Edited by ITP on Monday 10th August 14:01
^^^^^^Thats just a too expensive trial to take on as i would not buy any cheap crap to compromise the RFTs, so i will just stick to the run flats. I have noticed the harsher ride but to be honest its only noticable around town or on the slow country type roads, once you get up to speed or on the motorway its a different car. We have a daily s
tter for around town and doing the shopping runs, so we'll stick with the RFT's on the longer faster motorway runs.
tter for around town and doing the shopping runs, so we'll stick with the RFT's on the longer faster motorway runs.Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff