[thfccambs]

I have run flats on my BMW and i'm thinking of replacing them with normal tyres.
Anyone else gone a head and done this?

[mjn]

Loads of people.

[thfccambs]

Originally Posted by mjn

Loads of people.

So i take it you have?
Have you noticed much diffrence in driving without run flats? More comfotable ride?
Did it cause you any problems at all? Take it rims are ok to change to normal tyres?

[un1eash]

Yup loads of people do, BMW even have RFT's as an option now. They ruin the handling of cars as the side walls are just too stiff. I had them on my Z4 and it would tram line, skip along and hitting a leaf felt like mounting a curb. The rims are fine despite what some BMW people will tell you. The only thing to consider is what to do when/if you get a puncture. You can get a space saver spare of a tyre kit which has goo and a pump, the mini kit is popular and they pop up on eBay every now amd then.

[KelvinS1965]

My OH has replaced two of her tyres on here Mini to non run flats (the tyre dealer made her sign a disclaimer as there is now a mix, but not on the same axle). The NRFs are on the rear and you can feel the difference when we go over speed bumps as the front is very firm, but the rear much smoother. Her car has the 17" wheels as fitted to some convertables which probably doesn't help the ride, but judging by the improvement, when she replaces the fronts in the near future, the ride will be much better than with the run flats.

She only uses the car for local trips, so my plan is to get a cheap steel wheel to keep in the garage just incase (then I could drive to her and fit it, but sod's law dictates that I'll be in the car with her in the event of a puncture ). Also to put a can of tyre weld in the boot (must get round to doing that ).

[thfccambs]

So would i be better waiting until all 4 need changing or would i be ok to replace frnt 2 first?

I had heard some garages as funny and refuse to change run flats for normal tyres.

[TRL]

I'd phone a good, local, independent tyre specialist and ask them for advice. Otherwise, replace the tyres when they are at the wear bars, whether that's two tyres or all four.


Tony

[TRL]

Are you in Cambridgeshire? Where?

Tony

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by thfccambs

I had heard some garages as funny and refuse to change run flats for normal tyres.

There's no good reason for this, the wheels are exactly the same.
Personally, I'm happy to keep the runflats.
I don't find them anywhere near as bad as people make out.
Even my winter tyres are runflats.
My previous BMW had normal tyres, and I can tell you right now the pump/goo option is rubbish.
You really need to consider a spacesaver and jack kit instead.
BMW sell them, or BMW forums will tell you which other spacesavers will fit your car.
For example, IIRC Porsche Boxster spavesavers will fit a 3-series etc (with adapters)

[un1eash]

You must of not driven a Z4 with RFT's then. The BMW wheels actually have an extra lip on the inside which prevents the tyre from coming of if you get a flat.

[booyaka]

bear in mind if your changing to from RFT to ordinary ones, what are you going to do in the event of a puncture?

You will need to consider, spare wheel, jack, another tyre for the spare wheel, cans of foam/goo etc.

I've had the RFT's on my 5 series for 3 years, despite a little bit costly to replace (but I get 20k plus out of them), I've had no issues and really don't see the huge need to change.

[Simian Sibling]

Ditch them!

I ditched my run flats on my 1 series about a year ago and the ride is far better and you don’t feel every bump as mentioned before. I needed to replace 3 of mine in one go and kept the 4th and sold it on eBay for £40 with some tread which helped towards the new tyres (not a lot but as they say every little helps). I was fed up paying £150-£180 for a tyre one of which I had to replace 2 months after new as you shouldn’t repair them, although I have read this can now be done?

I took the risk and didn’t buy a spare or jack just a can of foam from asda for £3 although it was for up to 16" and I have 17" if it got me off the road to a garage I’m happy with it. I have never had a puncture and let’s face it the last time I did have one it was a slow puncture as most are nails which the car will let you know you have lost pressure and you can get it fixed pretty quickly?

My only piece of advice is contact your insurer and ask them if you’re changing from standard factory to modified (something they ask in your quote) as you are going against BMW recommendations. I was with admiral at the time and they said there was no problem with me doing this.

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by Simian Sibling

as you shouldn’t repair them, although I have read this can now be done?

I had a puncture in one of my winter RFTs (Pirelli Sotozerro) last week, that was repaired no problem.

[Simian Sibling]

Originally Posted by FZR400RRSP

I had a puncture in one of my winter RFTs (Pirelli Sotozerro) last week, that was repaired no problem.

This was about 2 years ago if not more and I did have a feeling they repair them now.

Slightly off topic but is it really worth having winter tyres? I have considered it and often wondered if I should do it?

I hear BMW will now store and change them for you each season

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by Simian Sibling

I took the risk and didn’t buy a spare or jack just a can of foam from asda for £3 although it was for up to 16" and I have 17" if it got me off the road to a garage I’m happy with it. I have never had a puncture and let’s face it the last time I did have one it was a slow puncture as most are nails which the car will let you know you have lost pressure and you can get it fixed pretty quickly?

I had 19" Alpina wheels, one of which was badly damaged by a pothole.
Watching the foam uselessly squirt out of the dent as you sit in snow at the side of the road at 1AM is soul destroying.
At that precise moment, I vowed my next car would have RFTs or a spare wheel.
As you say though, you might never come across this.
Then again, you might.....

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by Simian Sibling

Slightly off topic but is it really worth having winter tyres? I have considered it and often wondered if I should do it?
I hear BMW will now store and change them for you each season

I think winter tyres are worth every penny, although we haven't had much snow this year at all.
BMW will store wheels and tyres for you, if you buy their winter wheel/tyre package.
That package was £900 for my car though.
I bought 4 x Pirelli winter RFTs for £111 each and just get them put onto my standard wheels around October.
Literally just had them taken off today.
We might still get snow up here, but the ground temperatures are now too high for it to lie.

[Simian Sibling]

I bet it was and being a gambling man I would take the risk .

Again off topic I read the AA and probably the others have changed their T&C to say if you don't have a spare they won't come out to you anymore if you have a puncture

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by Simian Sibling

Again off topic I read the AA and probably the others have changed their T&C to say if you don't have a spare they won't come out to you anymore if you have a puncture

I heard BMW roadside won't come out for punctures either.
Really, anyone relying on a tin of goo is taking a big gamble.
Get yourself a spacesaver and jack.
For a 3-series, the BMW kit is approx £200.
Which I didn't think was too bad.

[un1eash]

Another thing you should consider if switching is your insurance. I've heard stories of some insurance companies classing it as a mod if you switch from factory fitted RFT's. It's worth just double checking and maybe getting something in writing.

[un1eash]

Originally Posted by FZR400RRSP

I had a puncture in one of my winter RFTs (Pirelli Sotozerro) last week, that was repaired no problem.

The potential problem with repairing an rft that's had a puncture is you don't know the damaage that may have been caused if the tyre was run fully inflated at speed for a long period of time, it may have damaged and weakened the sidewalls which could lead to failure.

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by un1eash

The potential problem with repairing an rft that's had a puncture is you don't know the damage that may have been caused if the tyre was run fully inflated at speed for a long period of time, it may have damaged and weakened the sidewalls which could lead to failure.

Not sure I follow.
Do you mean an owner won't know how long it's been running under-inflated?
I thought RFT equipped cars had pressure warning systems, precisely to tell an owner that their tyres are soft, because they won't 'feel' soft?
My car does.

[un1eash]

Yes all cars with RFT's should have a tyre pressure monitor. What may happen though is you don't just lose a couple psi but have a serious flat and then driver 100 miles on that tyre before getting it fixed. Some garages won't take that risk as they only have your word that you haven't.

[gamingboy]

We just had to replace a run flat and the garage wouldn't repair it.

Possibly kept if for themselves.

I was told no repairs and last time I read you couldn't repair. Was an Allen key that went through the tyre though. :-)

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by un1eash

You must of not driven a Z4 with RFT's then. The BMW wheels actually have an extra lip on the inside which prevents the tyre from coming of if you get a flat.

Are you saying the Z4 has different wheels, depending on whether it uses runflats or not?
So changing to normal tyres requires a wheel change?
Anything you read about runflats, it says the technology is all in the tyre, there is no different technology needed in the wheel.
My 3-series has the same wheels as normal, even though I specified runflats.

[un1eash]

Originally Posted by FZR400RRSP

Are you saying the Z4 has different wheels, depending on whether it uses runflats or not?
So changing to normal tyres requires a wheel change?
Anything you read about runflats, it says the technology is all in the tyre, there is no different technology needed in the wheel.
My 3-series has the same wheels as normal, even though I specified runflats.

Official BMW rims which they use RFT's on have an extra lip/hump on the inside. The Z4 (E85/86 (non M) only came with RFT's as standard) and this extra lip is there to prevent the tyre coming off if inflated, it doesnt effect adding normal tyres in any way despite what some BMW dealers will tell you.

Google EH2+ hump

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by un1eash

Official BMW rims which they use RFT's on have an extra lip/hump on the inside. The Z4 (E85/86 (non M) only came with RFT's as standard) and this extra lip is there to prevent the tyre coming off if inflated, it doesnt effect adding normal tyres in any way despite what some BMW dealers will tell you.
Google EH2+ hump

Ah right, so it's more of a 'preference' than a necessity?

[un1eash]

Originally Posted by FZR400RRSP

Ah right, so it's more of a 'preference' than a necessity?

I guess but if they recommend it and you fit aftermarket wheels with RFT's and the tyre comes of the rim you'd look pretty stupid after telling everyone you have runflats.