Replacing run-flats on 19" Msports (cracking version!)

[sinly]

After 23k miles, 35 months, i'm due my 4th set of rear tyres (inner edge wear on 335 conv and at almost £300 each I'm thinking of changing all 4 for non run-flats which are cheaper and hopefully give a better ride. The current wheel/tyre combo has also (i believe)resulted in 2 cracked wheels and lack of supply has meant its been sat at dealers for over 4 weeks now!

Apologies if covered this topic before, though cant find in searches. Basically, any advise on which tyres to replace with as willing to replace all 4 if it gives better wear and comfort - obvious choice guess is a Bridgestone NRF (and a can of emergency air)so in line with BMW spec, though still expensive and not exact spec obviously car intended with.

Thanks,

[cringle]

ps2's

[sjj84]

Vredestein Sessanta's get my vote. Had them on my M3, replacing the runflats on my Z4 with them in the next couple of weeks.

[E30M3SE]

Best 'upgrade' you will ever do on the modern 3er.

[Fox-]

Whats this dodgy wear issue about? Does it go away with non RFT's?

[sinly]

Fox- said:

Whats this dodgy wear issue about? Does it go away with non RFT's?

Don't know, but surely can't be worse than 6.5k miles through to cords, so worth a go. BMW say its just how the cars are set up and it happens etc

[Fox-]

6.5k miles per set of rear tyres, at £200 each, is completely unacceptable. Surely this can't be all they manage!?

[sinly]

£200 would be fantastic...BMW wanted £335 each (over £350 last year) and got them to match internet price of about £285 each for last pair...ridiculous £/mile combo though NRF's aren't that much cheaper.

[Fox-]

Is it just the 19s?

Would 18's on non Runflats wear in 6k as well? Does this affect Coupes?

[sinly]

Just seems to be a problem with the 19's Msport RFT's on 3 series. I'm driving a 3 series with 17" RFT's and the ride is great...love it!

[JNW1]

sjj84 said:

Vredestein Sessanta's get my vote. Had them on my M3, replacing the runflats on my Z4 with them in the next couple of weeks.

+1

Had a couple of sets of them on my E46 M3 over the last 40k miles; at least as good as the PS2 (IMO) and significantly cheaper unless you manage to find someone offering a mega-deal on the Michelins.

[jamie w]

sinly said:

Just seems to be a problem with the 19's Msport RFT's on 3 series. I'm driving a 3 series with 17" RFT's and the ride is great...love it!

This is true. We've an M Sport on 18s and an SE on 17s. The M Sport now has non RFTs and the SE remains on RFTs. The SE still has a better ride.

[JNW1]

jamie w said:

This is true. We've an M Sport on 18s and an SE on 17s. The M Sport now has non RFTs and the SE remains on RFTs. The SE still has a better ride.

I think it may also depend on which model(s) you have. I think the OP was talking about a 335 and if that's the case my understanding is that both the SE and Sport versions have the sport suspension as standard. However, in the case of the other models in the range the SE runs different suspension settings and only the Sport gets the sport suspension as standard. Therefore, you could have (say) a 330 SE on run flats with a smoother ride than a 330 Sport on non run flats because the softer suspension on the SE more than offests any downside with the run flats; however, I'm not sure that would be the case with a 335 as I think the suspension settings are the same.

Guess the different size wheel and tyre profile will also make a difference so think the only way you can really do a fair comparison between run flats and non run flats is by having the same size wheels and tyres on identical cars with the same suspension settings!

[Magnus Barelegs]

Again, I'm going to recommend Falkens.
I ran them in 19" sizes and they were excellent.
That's not excellent for the price, just plain excellent.
The fact they were half the price of others just makes them "wow"

[Vladimir]

Got my 335d with 16k miles and a bit of tyre wear left - I changed to non RFTs as soon as I could. Went for Conti Sport Contacts 3s - utterly brilliant tyres but might not be available in that size.

Something people also forget - RFTs on 19s weight almost 30kgs a corner. My non RFTs on 17s are almost bomb proof and weight 19kgs - that's a LOT less unsprung weight. RFTs are very heavy, so are massive rims.

[Magnus Barelegs]

Vladimir said:

Got my 335d with 16k miles and a bit of tyre wear left - I changed to non RFTs as soon as I could. Went for Conti Sport Contacts 3s - utterly brilliant tyres but might not be available in that size.

Something people also forget - RFTs on 19s weight almost 30kgs a corner. My non RFTs on 17s are almost bomb proof and weight 19kgs - that's a LOT less unsprung weight. RFTs are very heavy, so are massive rims.

I'd be surprised if RFTs weigh 30 kgs each.
Do you have anything to back this up?
Most manufacturers, including Continental, say their runflats weight 27% more than a normal tyre.
Which is offset by the fact you don't have to carry a spare/jack/compressor/mousse.

And, I have to say, I have been the victim of a puncture that the compressor/mousse couldn't cope with.
Being stranded is NOT fun.
So if I were switching back to non-RFTs, I would have to consider the BMW spacesaver and jack kit.
But there's nowhere to keep it in the boot....

Edited by Magnus Barelegs on Monday 14th March 15:52

[stewies_minion]

Has anyone got a clicky to where one might purchase a BMW spacesaver & jack etc?

I looked on the Bay and only found e46 ones.

[Vladimir]

Magnus - it took a lot of digging.~30kgs is for the wheel and tyre. The wheel weights are on a German website, tyre weights are on a Yank one. Will try and find them. You're about right on the extra weight of RFTs. Don't forget that I'm comparing 17s with non RFTs to 19s with RFTs.

Big wheels and silly profile tyres ate seen as higher performance. Ny experiences and research show they ate much heavier, more fragile and cause a bone jarring ride. The real reason so many get them is that they Thu.j they look good. I'm a smaller wheel fan.