Change run-flats to standard tyres?

Beastface

All,

Has anybody with a BMW which came equipped with run-flat tyres made the move to swap them out?

I'm thinking ahead to my first tyre replacement and at £287 each, the run-flats are amazingly expensive.

Any pit falls or obvious reasons not to?

System

Obvious issues :

• No space for a spare.
• You would need to buy a repair kit to fix puncture / re-inflate
• Does your BMW have a jack and wheel-brace to allow you to remove a wheel so that you can find the nail or whatever caused the puncture ?
• Replacement tyres must comply with manufacturers standards
• Is it a good money saving idea to cut costs on something as important as tyres ?

w211

You might have to inform your insurance company as you could be making a modification to your car by changing from run-flats to non run-flats.

daveyjp

Plenty have - see the BMW owners club websites. If the size and speed rating are the same no problem swapping. It is a pain if you get a puncture with no spare though.

Apples2

It's an all or nothing approach so you have to change all four, plus get some kind of spare/spacesaver/gunk

Some people have done it on an axle basis but struggled to find a garage prepared to do it.

The general consensus on the BMW forums after changing is "WOW! Why didn't I do this sooner?"

flashnazia

Beastface wrote: »

All,

Has anybody with a BMW which came equipped with run-flat tyres made the move to swap them out?

I'm thinking ahead to my first tyre replacement and at £287 each, the run-flats are amazingly expensive.

Any pit falls or obvious reasons not to?

I get recon run flats for £25 each (west Yorkshire).

sunshinetours

BAA1 wrote: »

Obvious issues :

• No space for a spare.
• You would need to buy a repair kit to fix puncture / re-inflate
• Does your BMW have a jack and wheel-brace to allow you to remove a wheel so that you can find the nail or whatever caused the puncture ?
• Replacement tyres must comply with manufacturers standards
• Is it a good money saving idea to cut costs on something as important as tyres ?

Yes of course it is if they are proper spec tyres. The added bonus in this case is improving ride and possibly handling. This is not about buying budget tyres is it, ROF tyres are horribly expensive and cannot , in many cases, be safely / easily repaired? (yes I know some places can do it)

System

sunshinetours wrote: »

Yes of course it is if they are proper spec tyres.

.....

In your opinion ... there is no "of course" about it
Since BMW cars have been designed and set-up to use Run Flat Tyres which have different operating characteristics to none run flats.

So in my opinion ... I stick with my earlier comment :

• Is it a good money saving idea to cut costs on something as important as tyres ?

GolfBravo

There are no insurance implications when swapping run flat tyres with standard tyres, as long as the replacement tyre size/load index/speed rating match the tyre placard for that particular vehicle (usually attached to the A or B pillar).

However, as already mentioned by BAA1, all current BMW cars that use run flat tyres have their suspension tuned for this particular type of tyre - so the car's handling characteristics with standard tyres can change dramatically (there could be an improvement, or deterioration - you just don't know until you fit new tyres).

So unless you know which particular brand and model of a standard tyre other BMW drivers recommend for your particular model I would advise to stick to the current run flat tyre, but make sure you shop around (etyres.co.uk, blackcirecles.co.uk, etc.). For example, my local tyre place offered me Pirelli P7 Cinturato 215/55 R16 93W for £198 each, and the next day I bought them from Blackcircles for £124 each fully fitted.

Paradigm

BAA1 wrote: »

In your opinion ... there is no "of course" about it
Since BMW cars have been designed and set-up to use Run Flat Tyres which have different operating characteristics to none run flats.

I find it hard to believe that BMW have "set up" to use run flats, in fact on the BMW uk website you can "build" your BMW & run flats are a £205 option on the 320d.
I seriously doubt that BMW would provide run flats & change the set up of the car for that amount, especially when a simple to fit sport steering wheel is £110.

pitkin2020

flashnazia wrote: »

I get recon run flats for £25 each (west Yorkshire).

I would rather stick ditch finders on than recons.