Run Flat Tyres BMW

PM

I need at least 2 run flat tyres, I just got 3rd puncher repaired.

I was thinking of going Costco and getting 4 michelin tyres with 20% off it comes to around £190 each.

Does anyone know of any places you can buy 17" run flat tyres cheaper?

Tucker

Do they have to be run flats? I didn't think you could repair them as such?

twice the price and never quite seem to be the ideal solution they are supposed to be.

Normal tyres and a can of foam seems a better option most of the time.

PM

I just bought the car 6 months back so not really sure current ones are Run Flat. As BMW don't come with spare tyres anymore I thought they must be run flat, can foam can be used and norm tyres?

harveybobbles

Foam can be used, but can mess the tyre up inside.

BMW seem to use run flats on most cars now, unless you have 19 inch wheels or larger.

If your car is a 3/5 Series you could always buy a normal space saver spare wheel and fit normal tyres to it. They give a slightly better ride too.

chrisw

Have a read up on some of the BMW forums, lots of advice on changing to non-RFT. Generally appears to make the car better handling and stop tram-lining:-

http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=274

http://www.bmwland.co.uk/

http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/

bigjl

Better get to Costco quick, offer ends on July 3rd.

I have also heard a few people say their BMW drove better on normal.tyres.

I think they just bought one of those foam.repair things as already mentioned.

redped

There are two ways to check if you've got RFTs:
1. There should be either a star symbol on the side of the tyre, or sometimes it'll say RFT.
2. Let all the air out of one tyre; if it doesn't deflate, it's an RFT.

When the RFTs on my Z4 were due for replacement, I changed to regular non-RFTs.

Benefits:
(a) much better ride quality - noticeable as soon as I left the garage. It's a sports car so it's never going to ride like a saloon, but it's no longer like driving over every bump in a shopping trolley.
(b) about 2/3 the price of RFTs - £600 to replace all four instead of £900
(c) easier to repair a puncture - most places won't repair an RFT (yes, I know some will, but in general most won't)

Cons:
(a) having to buy a can of Tyreweld and a compressor - total cost about £25. If I get a slow puncture, I'll use the compressor; if it's bigger than that, I'll use the Tyreweld (garages aren't keen on removing Tyreweld from a tyre if they have to repair a puncture); if I get a blow-out, I'll phone the AA and get them to bring a flat-bed to transport my car home.

If you do ditch the RFTs, you should let your insurance company know. I haven't had any problems (and no change in premium), but it's safer to let them know.

Shimrod

PM wrote: »

I need at least 2 run flat tyres, I just got 3rd puncher repaired.

I was thinking of going Costco and getting 4 michelin tyres with 20% off it comes to around £190 each.

Does anyone know of any places you can buy 17" run flat tyres cheaper?

Unless you particularly want Michelins, I pay around £135 for Continental sport contact 2 tyres on my car at a local garage. You can find them slightly cheaper online if you use blackcircle or etyres, but I prefer the local (225/45/17).

Can't comment on the debate on to runflat or not - I personally think my car handles fine, but then I also don't drive to extremes.

redped

Shimrod wrote: »

Can't comment on the debate on to runflat or not - I personally think my car handles fine, but then I also don't drive to extremes.

A lot of it depends on the suspension and wheel size, rather than how the car is driven.

My wife's 318i has 16" wheels, and with the standard Continental RFTs the ride is actually very good. I've got 18" wheels with firmer M suspension (standard on my car), and the standard Bridgestone RE50A RFTs emphasised every bump in the road. It's a combination of the Bridgestone RFTs having a reputation for giving a harsh ride, combined with the firmer suspension and smaller sidewall due to the 18" wheels that cause a lot of people to ditch the RFTs.

redped

OP what size are you looking for? A quick check of Kwik Fit (I know lots of people don't like them, but it's only for a price comparison) shows 225/45/17 RFTs as follows if you book & pay online:

Bridgestone RE050A1 (avoid like the plague see my previous post ): £150
Pirelli Cinturato P7: £142

Like Shimrod says, blackcircles & etyre (plus numerous others) can be cheaper, but sometimes it's less hassle just going to a local fitter (even if it is Kwik Fit) and getting them done there & then.

vaio

redped wrote: »

There are two ways to check if you've got RFTs:
1........
2. Let all the air out of one tyre; if it doesn't deflate, it's an RFT.........

Is that true? As if it is, how do you know you have a puncture?

I thought RFT had stronger/different sideways so you could drive on them if they were flat and/or some mechanism to stop the tyre coming off the wheel if you did drive on them when flat?