Run Flat Tyres BMW

Shimrod

redped wrote: »

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.

Previous car had 18" wheels with standard tyres and sports suspension. At times, and especially with speed bumps it was almost like driving a plank of wood - so the current car with SE suspension is much better compared to the previous car.

The RFT also give my wife peace of mind - not long after she first started driving, she had a front wheel blowout in her car which dragged her across all three lanes of the motorway, fortunately missing everyone else along the way. That won't happen with the runflats.

I've also had a chance to check my last invoice, and I paid £138 for my last tyres, so slightly higher than I first quoted.

chrisw

vaio wrote: »

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?

All cars fitted with run-flats have to have a puncture warning light. In my BMW it uses the ABS system to detect a change in the rotation of a tyre due to a puncture. You have to reset it each time you change the pressure such as putting more air in when heavily loaded.

A run flat has extra stiff sidewalls so the tyre still looks much the same when it's punctured, although it will be slightly flatter if you look closely. You're supposed to be able to drive around 200 miles at 50mph on them with no air in.

I personally feel a bit uncomfortable with them though and would rather have had a spare instead. I've also got the Bridgestones which seem intent on taking you in a direction you don't want to go.

redped

Shimrod wrote: »

The RFT also give my wife peace of mind - not long after she first started driving, she had a front wheel blowout in her car which dragged her across all three lanes of the motorway, fortunately missing everyone else along the way. That won't happen with the runflats.

Fair point - you can't put a price on peace of mind. In general the concept of RFTs is good, and like I say on my wife's car they're fine; I just found the ride to be unnecessarily harsh with the Bridgestones.

marbella

I bought my run flat from the BMW dealer where I bought my car and it worked out cheaper.

PM

marbella wrote: »

I bought my run flat from the BMW dealer where I bought my car and it worked out cheaper.

BMW in North London wanted 256 each, I found good FR for 200.


Im now looking for a garage that can work on BMW in North London to, easier said then done.