BMW Run Flat Tires Love or Hate
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 พ.ค. 2024
- BMW Run Flat Tires Love or Hate
My recent experience with the run flat tires on our 2009 BMW X5 Diesel has me asking the question, do you love or hate them and should all vehicles be equipped with them ?
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I like mine currently, Bridgestone potenza's. Had them on the car for 3 years. No issues. I can understand if you have 18s or m sport susspension they probably are a bit harsh & noisy. But my 17s are great & don't need a spare taking up space + the peace of mind. 👍👍
I've switched from the run flats to normal tires, and carry a $19 air compressor that plugs into the lighter, and a tire plug kit to repair any nails or screws, roadside. I also carry a pair of pliers to pull out the screw easily.
Another option would be to buy a small spare, but it'd take up trunk space.
Save yourself lots of money going this route
Great idea. I am looking at that for my new 335i project as well since it does not have run flats
Hi Mario,that is a great idea. I have run flats on my Infiniti Q 50 they are forever getting flats..I hit a pothole a year ago and the 2 tires busted away from the rims, I don't like them!😊
Never pull out nail or screw
@@dellchapporeloaded1151 Then how do you think it can be fixed?
Hi did you have to change the rims as well or you can or you can keep the rims and switch to none flat
Had a similar issue with my Bridgestone run flat which were only a few months old on my 1 series . Had the punctured repaired with a plug. Curious to find out how long did you continue driving with the repaired tyre ?
Living in Los Angeles , I won’t be needing the RFTs and hate the bumpy roads .
I’ll be trying the standard ones for a smooth ride & AAA it’s a plus .
Recently had a puncture in my runflats. I wasn't quite as lucky as you. They charged me €8 to fix it. (:P) But I was in and out in about 20 mins, and considered myself lucky. What they told me was there was no reason not to repair the tyre as long as the sidewall wasn't damaged by driving on it for too long or too fast. I would agree with you, the manufacturers are just trying to milk us by saying they can't be repaired.
If you can get and carry a space saver tyre it helps reduce the distance you need to drive on the runflat before any damage is done.
If you own o SUV maybe runflats are ok because you expect some noise anyway and the suspension of the car can deal with the road bumps much better.
But for a regular car, for a smooth drive you should discard them as quickly as possible.
Just ended up paying 300$ for a measly screw . This is first time I am driving a car with run flats and didn’t know that it’s not easy to repair. Unfortunately, the road side mechanic also didn’t know. He simply pulled the nail and plugged it. Two days later, air was gone again. After a horrible exercise of finding the leak with 2-3 mechanics, tried removing the tyre and saw a fine crack near the puncture. Now replaced the tyre , but it creates the mismatch between this new and three old tyres . Next time I am replacing all of these with normal tyres. Need to see how to get a spare wheel or some other alternative
I hear ya it is a pain. A screw or nail can end up costing you some big bucks. Many tire shops will not swap out only one tire if you have more than a certain amount of wear. This could cost you 2 tires if it is a rear wheel drive car or 4 tires on an awd vehicle
I personally won't buy run-flats anymore. I have run flats on my MB C400 and they are noisy as hell, handling is awful and ride quality is harsh especially since I have 19s. The MB C400 is notorious for chewing through front tires fast and the cost of replacing just the two front run-flats will get me 4 brand new high-end performance sport regular tires. We have AMA here in Canada - 100 bucks a year they will come to tow your car, give you boost car lockout and repair or change out tires. It makes more sense for me to go that route plus a small air compressor and tire repair kit, if I am in a situation, where I have no cell coverage. So ultimately everyone's situation is different.
And along with the tire work, did they say anything about possibly replacing the TPMSensor?
this is an old video but... what have you heard about running different brands (star rated though) on same car. Keep in mind a e70 NOT staggered set up?? will this really harm transfer case or diff?
Im currently driving a 6 series with x drive and i can tell you driving a car on regular tires while the suspension/chasis is tuned for runflats from the factory, is a bad idea. The car shakes at around 60mh pretty annoying. With 20’’ factory wheels and a car built for high cruising speeds I would not take any chances.
I appreciate you doing this video. I recently purchased a 2013 BMW X5, which currently doesn’t have Run Flats. I’m doing my research and this is certainly a compelling point, i.e not having to deal with a flat tire and the headaches that go along with it. I may go with Run Flats for this reason as well as the handling aspect vs regular tires.
I hit a major pothole on New Years day (BMW 535 I X). I was able to drive home that day and to BMW the following day. I had to replace both right side tires and it cost a bit.
However the point is that I got home on a Holiday.
Worth it to me.
I hated the RFT tires which came along with my BMW F30. So much noise and bump, it made me feel like driving a truck. I hated it. Finally, I replaced them with Michelin CrossClimate tires, and all is gone. Now I enjoy the smoothest and most silent trips. I also bought a compressor and a repair kit, in any case.. Do not listen to what service people say, replace them and you will see the difference..
Oguz Yarsoy Kankusta
I'm glad I found your comment, I have an F31 and I am deciding to switch to non-run flats, I've noticed the road buzz and harshness of the tyres and I know other cars without run flats don't ride/handle this poorly. I know that if I ask my BMW service provider they will just say install run flats as they're in the spec of my car
And how do you lift you car off the ground to work on flat tire without the jack?
If you bought a jack ( because run flat equipped bmw doesn’t come with one) where do you keep it? There isn’t any spot in the trunk for the tools.
I've heard of runflats getting destroyed after driving on them, even if for just a little while. I just wish my BMW had a spot for a spare tire. What I do now is carry a plug kit with me, a fix a flat, and an air pump. Runflats get terrible ride and are noisy too.
True, I notice that they are a harsh ride.
I have a 5 Touring and an X5. Both have runflats. They have a perfectly comfortable ride. And the new X5 I've just ordered is superbly smooth on....runflats.
Ill carry a tire plug kit as well as a portable air compressor and call it a day.
I work at BMW roadside assist in Australia.Run flat tyres are nightmares.Fair enough if you find the tyre a "llittle" down at home...most of my calls are poor families travelling long distances on the weekends or late at night when the nearest dealers or tyre outlets are closed.A regular tyre blows and you can change it yourself or get roadside assist to come out and change it.A blown runflat in the middle of nowhere turns into a tow to a dealer until it opens in the morning or worse yet on the following Monday morning,The family or passengers stranded in or near a town nowhere near their home.Trust me guys after working in Roadside assist i wouldnt take a car fitted with runflat tyres for a long drive if you paid me.
Run flats even with huge holes on the sides can drive you to safety. You pay $30 bucks for a used tire to get you going and get a replacement tire at your destination or when you are back home. You make it seem so scary when it's the opposite. Donut spares are designed same as a run flat 50 mile radius.
You have to consider the number of times you have had a flat over the years and think is it really worth the premium? A tire pump and or roadside assistance membership is probably a better alternative.
I totally agree.
Also be aware that run flat tires can crack your rims as they have strong side walls.
Run flats are now CHEAPER in the UK than std tires. Just paid £1300 for four new tires (not run flats) as there are NONE to be found in the sizes I need. Not happy with it as no spare but no choice.
Just bought my first 2023 BMW X3. Love that thing but yeah no spare or jack even! Pretty nuts.
Which engine?
What do you do when the shop is closed? And you're 75 miles away from nowhere.
is the shop open 24/7? no. i had BMW 3 series. Could not drive, stranded on the highway for 2 hours for truck to come to tow it (several times).
BMW ownership experience was so low that i wished would rather drive a reliable corolla and go from point a to b without dealing with a such a pain.
The run flats can be an expensive PITA.
My F30 has run on flats and is noisy but it rides very well, I have a compressor and always check the air pressure every week just in case. Since they are more expensive I don’t want to mess them up, truth is they are not that bad but make sure you get the efficient grip by Goodyear or another expensive set
Thanks for watching.
Due to the price of runflat tyres I check the pressure of mine every 2 weeks and find there is always air needing to go into them. So maybe they do not seal to the rim as well as normal tyres.
@@petercreagh8797, don't you have tyre pressure sensors on f30?
My BMW dealer told me a guy with run flats drove from Boston to Albany with a flat. He made it but the tire was literally smoking lol.
My friend had a hole on the side of his MB C400 run flats in the middle of a small town. He called Mercedes and they told him not to drive the car as he could potentially damage the rims and also should not replace the one with a non-run-flat as it could affect the car. No tire shop in that town had the run-flat in stock. So I basically had to buy him a run flat from the city and drive out to the rural to go meet him and have the car taken to a local tire shop to have it installed. He ended up changing all 4 tires from run flats to Pirelli regular tire when he returned to the city and his ride quality has substantially increased and noise level going down.
If it was an AWD, so was his transfer case and the entire driveline...lol
You never need to replace four tires. You can replace one, and shave it to match the treat -depth of the rest of the tires.
Well the obvious thing about Runflat tires on an E93 is that there's no spare (as I'm certain it is with all runflat cars) but if you don't have them on an E93 you're screwed because there's nowhere to mount a spare. Unless you carry one in your backseat you're screwed.
Run flats keep you safe. You drive safely to a repair shop. Regular tires you have to change the tire in the elements and assuming you have experience changing a tire is not idea. Females and young kids may struggle with all the risk so towing and road side may be ideal. For me run flats are king when you consider that safety and your health are the most valuable things we have. P.s. towing is intended to take you to a place of repair so is the donut emergency tire. All run flats due is cut out risk and danger and bypass any expensive and time consuming towing service.
That’s true
For my X5 I bought a spare tire and put $100.00 regular tire and used more than the run flat. at 5K miles on runflat tire they said it is the car problem and did not cover warranty It is better to put regular tire even if you have to pay tow truck
Sounds like a greasy bunch
I cannot remember the last time I had a puncture, its got to be more than 25 years ago. The cost of run flats far outweighs their usefulness. When my 5 series needs tyres I will ditch the run flats, in the UK mine are £230 each. I will get can of tyre foam £9 and a compressor £20 and I'm in the RAC anyway.
I liked your video
Your biggest problem will be finding a rft replacement unless
You live in a larger area. Smaller towns will not stock them, so get a hotel waiting for them to get a tire.😢
I am expecting a child. I got my X5 E70 with normal tires. I did 25k km on them, got a patch and a plug because of a screw, and no, I am not getting normal tires anymore. Not because of regulations (where I live of the car has in the manual the F, you cannot put R tires), but because I want to be on the safe side. Just ordered new winter Fs and I impatient to get them on the BMW. Have some peace of mind now. Finally.
I have them as summer tyres on my BMW, trust me, when you are cornering hard on a dry road there is no give at all in the sidewalls so the grip is astonishing. When October comes round though, the winter wheels go on the car. Runflats, MSport suspension and rear wheel drive are not the best winter combination
Keep a 12v small compressor along with a patch and plug kit in your car or be a man and change the tire.
You bet
Oh my dad has a BMW x1 had a run flat tire/tyre and we had a flat tyre once and we were going to my cousin's car and we got a pothole and it had a small nail and it alarmed my dad that we had a flat tyre
I've just ordered a new X5 and paid extra to get the 20inch wherls and run-flats. You know why? At 80mph, a blowout is terrifying. At 60mph towing a large caravan, a blowout can take out both car AND van. Most people who object to them are talking about FLAT tyres, not blowouts. There's a huge difference.
I've been driving over 40 years and never had a blowout. Blowouts normally happen if the tire gets too old and barely has any tread left. Don't get fished in on the marketing. Run flats are just a way of the manufacturer in getting out of providing a spare tire and up-selling you on tires that cost twice as much, are noisier, heavier and ride worse.
@@richarddawson5836 I had two blowouts in my commuting life, both in Company cars with good tires.
Granted I think they're less common now, but the peace of mind is worth it.
@@steveprice638 Good steel belted tires are very durable and are very unlikely to blow out if correct air pressure. I don't believe it's worth the price or the aggravation of replacing 2 tires every time you have a small leak that would be fixable with regular tires but in the end it's everyones choice.
@@richarddawson5836 the only time I've had a puncture, they plugged it. I will grant they are expensive tyres, though.
@@richarddawson5836 PS why 2 tyres replaced with one leak. I didn't.
I have a 328i, and got rid of the run flats. They give lousy rides. Got rid of them for Michelins.
Good plan
Did u keep the rims? Can I use the same rims?
@@stormtaurus848 of course you can keep the stock rims
Probably should still call a tow truck or fill it before you drove, since it could have been a slow leak.
Yes indeed
Your in Canada right ?
Great. Which province ?
ExoticCar PlayPlace Toronto, Ontario
Are run flat tyres required for xDrive?
not at all even if dealer "tells you this". The proper diameters and balance between front to back must be adhered to. Match the sizes and you are good to go. Just be sure to pack a means to roadside fix or change if experiencing a flat.
Thank you.
The title is misleading... RFT's offer higher levels of safety at high speeds but with that comes the bumpy ride and $$$ to replace them.
false
that's easy....HATE. I dont mind dealing with a flat. The convince is too minimal to out way the price and most off all....performance of a regular tire.
you will never truly know the value of having a spare tyre in your car until you are on a long trip with your family, out in the middle of nowhere with no phone signal at night and you have sustain damage to your tyre so bad where it's no longer together with the wheel. a run flat will not help you in the situation. and if you have no spare wheel then brother good luck to you and your family because you are stuck. however if you have a spare you get your flashlight out and takes 10 minutes to change. I have taught my wife how to change the wheel on her e60 (god bless bmw for providing a spare before the run flat brain fart that the f10 came with) + she is now prepared. I'm glad in this situation you paid no money however in many cases people have to pay for replacement run flats when normally a puncture repair can suffice
I hate run flat tires with passion
I find the reason they call them "run flats" is because that's what they do. It was the worst idea BMW ever came up with. I got rid of them and bought an autoclub membership. Much better investment.
Agreed.
Agreed, except BMW, in their infinite wisdom, put them on the car. The ride was lousy, they leaked, and they were twice as expensive. The ride difference improvement was like night and day on the non runflats. The autoclub membership was $114.00 Canuckbucks. Owning a BMW without an autoclub membership is like driving without insurance. I've already used it three times for unrelated stuff. I'm not a BMW fan, I just drive one. "Happy wife, happy life". Just sayin' .
I opted for upgraded 20 inch M sport wheels when I bought my 2022 M340i and they came in with Pirelli PS4 performance summer tires run flat tires and they are garbage. The road noise is just horrendous, I had my car for just over a month and put less than 2000 miles the tires wear is just ridiculous fast they are already 6/32nd thread life. The worst part is I could feel the slightest bump on the road. Its just ridiculous I paid extra 5k USD. I called the bmw dealership if I could get a Michelin PS4s instead of this garbage pirellis they gave me unfortunately thats what the factory send them with. I end up buying a new set of tires Michelin PS4s for my brand new m340i and ride quality drastically improved. Pirelli tires are just garbage.
Do you even get a spare wheel?
Not with run flats, no
I believe that ... You do not even get a jack.
Love RFT
It's a shame when we live in a day when men complain about changing tires.
I taught my wife how to do it, but this was years ago, but she's done it before on her own. That was at least 8 years ago.
Still a shame.
Bmws don't have a spare ones they run on run flats and there is nothing to change.
You ever had a rusty screw on a wheel ? And tried jacking up a car in the freezing cold and dark small area of the highway with cars going 80 mph? The ground may be un even and then the spare is a donut type designed only for 50 mile range. Same range as a run flat with out all the dangers.
I hate them. Harsh ride, and on an awd system if the tire isn’t repairable and the other 3 are half worn you have to replace all 4 at $500 each. For $250 each you can buy really nice non run flat tires that ride better. Get yourself a plug kit and a small compressor and some latex gloves. Then you can drive it to a shop to get it properly repaired. I went with Michelin pilot sports 4s on my old x3 and the difference was night and day. BMW went this route to save a spare tire cost and jack and then bone you on run flats that are only produced in Germany. Harsh ride and the tire itself is substantially heavier too.
They why are not great
flat tires are a nightmare
just bought my 428i...first thing i did was take those stupid fucking things off
Good plan.
Nah sorry bro I call bullshit. Run flats are a waste of money. If you have a regular tire and if you have sensors. It’s going to tell you that your pressure is dropping so you go in and get it check out. So no matter what you going to get a warning. And the money I saved I can call the tow truck. And I know bmw don’t a spare but. Life happens and we figure shit out. I change mine out on my X4 and it runs so much better quieter , smoother and takes off faster. And they cost me 800 bucks less then the Goodyear run flats. I went with a continental.
Great choice since the non run flats drive a bit better and are cheaper.
Run flats allow you to get to safety ie off the motorway so IMO they are a godsend
This guy did not even try to pump some air in the tire before taking it to the shop; some people are terminal!
Ouch
RFT are more convenient.
If your a feminite man or woman you get the runflats so you can make it to safety of the tire shop and dont scar your hands. If your a real man you get a tire repair kit and a compressor so you fix it right there on the spot and get yourself home. 😂
do not have BMW, do not use run flat tires. Sorry, those are all money eater.
Cheap bastards Flat Tires are great.
NOT
dont buy any car with run flat unless they provide a spare tire! otherwise you are in big trouble.
run flats = wagon wheels... they suck !
True rough ride and heavy too
If your a feminite man or woman you get the runflats so you can make it to safety of the tire shop and dont scar your hands. If your a real man you get a tire repair kit and a compressor so you fix it right there on the spot and get yourself home. 😂
Thanks