General Q about these run flats ... what to do / F30

[bmw2nv]

Seeing many horrendous reviews and $$$$ dumped into replacement tires, what is the trend now ...

Im almost in a 2015 328i ... is it best I negotiate the car coming with regular tires OR just stick to the run flats coming on the car. The car is going to have 19" rims on it.

If going with regular tires ... What the heck do you do in the case of a flat?? do you just use tire sealant / fix a flat products??

Really confused on this and is annoying to see how terrible the reviews are on these.

[montaillou]

As you're gonna go with 19" aftermarket wheels, you won't be able to use the tires and will probably resell them on CL or somewhere, just get what you can without paying anything extra.

What I do in case of a flat: I have an air pump in the car (plugs into cigarette lighter), a can of fix-a-flat, a membership with AAA and a cel phone. Between these, the solution has always been found.

[bmw2nv]

I should have mentioned 19" rims are coming stock with the car as per the M package.

I was thinking of downgrading and going for the 18" rims just to soften the blow on tires and replacements.

Anyone else going non run flats?

[RyansBMW]

My dad and brother both took the run flats off their E60 and E90 and run regular tires. Ride improved significantly.

[bmw2nv]

My dad and brother both took the run flats off their E60 and E90 and run regular tires. Ride improved significantly.

That's what I'm hearing a lot as well ... how much better the ride becomes as well.

What are they doing in the event of a flat though??? these cars have no spare tires and no room for a small donut either ... Just hope and pray you don't get one?? lol

[BimmerBreaker]

AAA in case of a flat. Could also carry a sealant repair kit or a donut spare in the trunk but neither of those seem like ideal situations to me.

I'm not aware of BMW selling their new cars without runflats though. Seems like a bit of a legal liability largely due to what you mention regarding what you do when there is a flat... though it may be different up in Canada. On older BMW M's that didn't come with a spare and in pre-runflat days, BMW would offer roadside assistance/towing (like what AAA offers) during the warranty period. But I would never in a million years expect them to offer this on a new car, particularly a more basic model and one that should be outfitted with runflats that you change to non-RF's.

I'd also normally say to stick with the 19"s but it really depends on road conditions where you are. The tires are negligible, its a couple hundred$$$ difference ever couple years or so. But the ride quality difference can be substantial on roads that aren't well kept.

[RyansBMW]

That's what I'm hearing a lot as well ... how much better the ride becomes as well.

What are they doing in the event of a flat though??? these cars have no spare tires and no room for a small donut either ... Just hope and pray you don't get one?? lol

Strangely enough, my dads E60 has a spare tire, even tho it came with run flats from the factory. That made his decision really easy to make the switch to regular tires. My brothers e90 doesn't have the spare but he has AAA and a cell phone so hes covered.

[Critter7r]

AAA in case of a flat. Could also carry a sealant repair kit or a donut spare in the trunk but neither of those seem like ideal situations to me.

I'm not aware of BMW selling their new cars without runflats though. Seems like a bit of a legal liability largely due to what you mention regarding what you do when there is a flat... though it may be different up in Canada. On older BMW M's that didn't come with a spare and in pre-runflat days, BMW would offer roadside assistance/towing (like what AAA offers) during the warranty period. But I would never in a million years expect them to offer this on a new car, particularly a more basic model and one that should be outfitted with runflats that you change to non-RF's.

I'd also normally say to stick with the 19"s but it really depends on road conditions where you are. The tires are negligible, its a couple hundred$$$ difference ever couple years or so. But the ride quality difference can be substantial on roads that aren't well kept.

All new BMWs (in the US, at least) come standard with Roadside Assistance for the duration of the 4-year 50,000 mile warranty.

OP: Our store does not offer a method of nor a reimbursement for the costs of switching to non-runflats. When a customer purchases a vehicle that's supposed to have runflats on it, they leave with a car with runflats on it.

If the cost of replacement tires is what concerns you, purchase BMW Tire & Wheel coverage. For the price of about 2 tires, you get unlimited coverage of the wheels and tires for a number years. And you can amortize it into the car payment if you're financing.

I personally don't think that the RFTs are too harsh at all.

[mcleod52]

I have no complaints about my RFT's ...

[montaillou]

I personally don't think that the RFTs are too harsh at all.

I agree. If anyone ever did a blind test (say as a passenger) I doubt most people could tell the difference between the two.

I switched from run-flats after my stock ones wore out because regular tires are cheaper and I so rarely (about every 8-10 years) get a flat anyways that the inconvenience is very minor for me. Also regular tires give you more options in the performance category.

If my tires had the same tread wear and tire pattern and were as good in dry as wet as they are now and cost the same, I wouldn't care if they were run-flats.

[cheech1]

I switched to non-runflats on my e90. I carry a compressor, jack, lug wrench, and a plug kit. Switched mostly due to cost of the runflats, and the fact that they don't last very long. With TPMS, you are notified immediately upon losing any air pressure, so with my compressor, can top off & get to a shop with no problem. Also, living on an island, the farthest I can drive from home is less that 100 miles.

[RyansBMW]

Also, do some research about run flats and cracked wheels. BMW has had some problems with its softer cast wheels cracking due to the extremely stiff sidewall these tires have. My brother had to have a rim replaced due to this very reason and hence his initial reasons to get rid of them and go with traditional tires.