New tyres - Run Flat or not?

[MrSifter]

I appreciate this has probably been done to death but I'm just about to change my front tyres and I'm in two minds whether to get rid of the runflats. I have a 2005 e46 330cd and believe my tyres are 225/40/18 (I can't check because I'm at work). I have Michelin sports on them at the moment but unfortunately I don't think my current budget will stretch to two new ones!!

I've heard Falken 452s are a good alternative (non runflat), what are peoples views on them?

Cheers

[oOTomOo]

After a lot of research myself I've just had two Falken FK452's put on the back of my 328.

For the price, excellent tyres - no complaints from mine and an improvement from the Dunlop sports I had on before (then again, they were bald)

[Vee]

I've Falkens on my 335d and find they wear quickly.
Going to try Continentals next (had them on my previous E46 330s with no issues).

Are you sure your car has runflats - an E46 shouldn't afaik, therefore rendering your worries about switching uncessary.

[DSM2]

Vee said:

I've Falkens on my 335d and find they wear quickly.
Going to try Continentals next (had them on my previous E46 330s with no issues).

Are you sure your car has runflats - an E46 shouldn't afaik, therefore rendering your worries about switching uncessary.

Some E46 did come with RFTs. Clue will be that their is a TPMS. Most people change for non RFTs, better ride, less cost, but you need to have some plan for a puncture.

[ed335d]

Vee said:

I've Falkens on my 335d and find they wear quickly.
Going to try Continentals next (had them on my previous E46 330s with no issues).

Are you sure your car has runflats - an E46 shouldn't afaik, therefore rendering your worries about switching uncessary.

How many miles did you get out of the Falkens?

To the OP - are you thinking about changing just the fronts, or a completely new set? It's not clear whether you are thinking about mixing non-rft (front) with rft (rear) - It's generally not recommended.

[MrSifter]

ed335d said:

Vee said:

I've Falkens on my 335d and find they wear quickly.
Going to try Continentals next (had them on my previous E46 330s with no issues).

Are you sure your car has runflats - an E46 shouldn't afaik, therefore rendering your worries about switching uncessary.

How many miles did you get out of the Falkens?

To the OP - are you thinking about changing just the fronts, or a completely new set? It's not clear whether you are thinking about mixing non-rft (front) with rft (rear) - It's generally not recommended.

Yeah it's only the two fronts I'm planning on changing, I've still plenty of tred left on the rears so they won't be getting changed for a while. I've spoken to a couple of people who have told me that running non RFTs on the front and RFTs on the back won't be a problem, what problems would arise from this?

And yep, it definitely has run flats......unfortunately!

[ed335d]

MrSifter said:

ed335d said:

Vee said:

I've Falkens on my 335d and find they wear quickly.
Going to try Continentals next (had them on my previous E46 330s with no issues).

Are you sure your car has runflats - an E46 shouldn't afaik, therefore rendering your worries about switching uncessary.

How many miles did you get out of the Falkens?

To the OP - are you thinking about changing just the fronts, or a completely new set? It's not clear whether you are thinking about mixing non-rft (front) with rft (rear) - It's generally not recommended.

Yeah it's only the two fronts I'm planning on changing, I've still plenty of tred left on the rears so they won't be getting changed for a while. I've spoken to a couple of people who have told me that running non RFTs on the front and RFTs on the back won't be a problem, what problems would arise from this?

And yep, it definitely has run flats......unfortunately!

A lot of it depends on how hard you drive. There are people who do it and do not report any issues, and there are others who have done it and report that it upsets the geometry of the car and gives unreliable handling (mostly due to differences in sidewall stiffness).

Personally, I would not mix manufacturer let alone tyre types (perhaps I'm over cautious).

Have you thought about second hand RFT's to tide you over before you need a complete tyre change? I didn't reply with a thought of offloading the spare RFT's (used) I have sat in the garage, but if you're interested, let me know! I purchased a set of 18's for winter tyre use, the rears were too low to keep but the fronts have plenty of life in them.

[MrSifter]

Ed, I hadn't thought about second hand tyres to be honest. What type/how much etc?

[DrainTheSpuds]

MrSifter said:

what problems would arise from this?

This thread contains some healthy debate on the subject!

[ed335d]

MrSifter said:

Ed, I hadn't thought about second hand tyres to be honest. What type/how much etc?

I've got two Bridgestone 225/40/18 (I will double check sizes!). Thinking about £75 + P&P for the two of them (where are you based?. Happy to supply pics!

[MrSifter]

ed335d said:

MrSifter said:

Ed, I hadn't thought about second hand tyres to be honest. What type/how much etc?

I've got two Bridgestone 225/40/18 (I will double check sizes!). Thinking about £75 + P&P for the two of them (where are you based?. Happy to supply pics!

I'm certainly interested in them, if only to get me through my MOT at the beginning of Feb although I'm not sure how much postage to Glasgow would be!

[LongLiveTazio]

Sorry to hijack but I have a 118D with 17" runflats (Pirelli). It's an M sport car with sports suspension so is quite stiff but since having it I've got the nagging feeling it's just too firm/non absorbent. I travel on some pretty bad roads and it does tramline quite badly and when trying to have a go it sometimes feels unsettled (so I back off, of course). Now, I believe the 1 series if you had it with 16" tyres were non runflats. Seeing as a lot of cars are supposedly over-tyred anyway (i.e. same deal with the 5-series?) could I change for 16" non-runflats and how much of a difference do you think there'd be?

[Sticks.]

I changed from the 17" Pirellis on my 120d M Sport to Coninentals and the ride and handling improved immensely. Added 0.1bar pressure. Your description of how it feels is exactly how mine was.

Whether it's legal or not, a mix of rfts and non rfts in an accident would be seen by an insurance company to reduce it's liability.

[LongLiveTazio]

Sticks. said:

I changed from the 17" Pirellis on my 120d M Sport to Coninentals and the ride and handling improved immensely. Added 0.1bar pressure. Your description of how it feels is exactly how mine was.

Whether it's legal or not, a mix of rfts and non rfts in an accident would be seen by an insurance company to reduce it's liability.

Normal Conti sports or similar, not Conti runflats?

[E46cd]

Interested in some of the subjects in this topic - have put a message up today about intermittent vibrations, also note the discussion about pulling in tramlines. Had pirelli rossi on previously, put it into dealer, had, I think only the fronts changed?? I will go check... But replacements are certainly different brand. Could this be causing my tracking to knock out easier than normal?

Better go check what I've got!!

[mattpullen64]

I had a puncture in one of the rear runflat Bridgestones on my Z4 and didn't want to replace just one of the tyres (having uneven grip at the back), but when I looked into the price of 2 new RFT Bridgestones, it was actually cheaper to get 4 new Falkens.

Haven't looked back since, better grip in the dry, much better in the wet and more comfortable ride. They seem to wear better too.

Thoroughly recommend ditching the runflats, just get a mobility kit for the boot (£20 from ebay) and let your insurance company know. i told mine (Adrian Flux) and they said it had no affect on the premium.

[LongLiveTazio]

mattpullen64 said:

I had a puncture in one of the rear runflat Bridgestones on my Z4 and didn't want to replace just one of the tyres (having uneven grip at the back), but when I looked into the price of 2 new RFT Bridgestones, it was actually cheaper to get 4 new Falkens.

Haven't looked back since, better grip in the dry, much better in the wet and more comfortable ride. They seem to wear better too.

Thoroughly recommend ditching the runflats, just get a mobility kit for the boot (£20 from ebay) and let your insurance company know. i told mine (Adrian Flux) and they said it had no affect on the premium.

Which Falkens did you go for?

[mattpullen64]

FK452 (pretty sure that's the model)