Another GREAT idea...THANKS BMW..etc

[Daka]

I went to look at the new X5's thinking about buying a Diesel....
These cars...and evidently a lot of the others no longer have a spare tire...OF ANY KIND...NOT EVEN A DOUGHNUT.

RUN FLATS WHAT A STUPID IDEA...there isn't even room to change over to regular tires and have a spare.

I can see a situatuation where this could be a real problem....flat tire on a weekend, unrepairable tire.... on a road trip.....what then...does every tire store have new RUNFLATS in stock...in EVERY SIZE?
Well, here's the answer....BMW and all the rest, you can keep your new IDEA
I'll keep my "OLD" X5 till it is worn completely out...and then some..with its regular tires
WHAT MORON DECIDED TO DO AWAY WITH THE SPARE TIRE..(a doughnut was bad enough, but now NOTHING)

[1stE53]

Originally Posted by Daka

I went to look at the new X5's thinking about buying a Diesel....
These cars...and evidently a lot of the others no longer have a spare tire...OF ANY KIND...NOT EVEN A DOUGHNUT.

RUN FLATS WHAT A STUPID IDEA...there isn't even room to change over to regular tires and have a spare.

I can see a situatuation where this could be a real problem....flat tire on a weekend, unrepairable tire.... on a road trip.....what then...does every tire store have new RUNFLATS in stock...in EVERY SIZE?
Well, here's the answer....BMW and all the rest, you can keep your new IDEA
I'll keep my "OLD" X5 till it is worn completely out...and then some..with its regular tires
WHAT MORON DECIDED TO DO AWAY WITH THE SPARE TIRE..(a doughnut was bad enough, but now NOTHING)

This is yet another one of thousands of unintended consequences of liberalism. The safety regulations mandated (which can be a good thing although BMW is always ahead of the game) make cars heavier and heavier. Emissions controls restrict the engines making them less efficient; then government force them to get better mileage out of the cars. What are manufacturers to do they have to save weight anywhere possible to make up for restrictions.
I personally do not like the run flats either, too many negatives. Rough ride, not as long lasting, fewer options for tread, more expensive, and with the weight of the X5 you wouldn't get far at all on them when 'flat'. I would rather pull over, put on my spare (five minutes) and continue my travels @ 80+ mph

[JCL]

I don't spend any time worrying about my runflat tires. I had them on a 2004 Z4, and they were fine, if a little harsher than the non-RFT. On the 535, I don't find them to be harsh, which I put down to the tires having improved over the years.

You can pretty much go as far and as fast on a RFT as you can on a temporary donut tire. If you watch the pressures and heat buildup, you can repair a RFT. I have had one flat tire in the last 10 years, (on a RFT) and I had it fixed the next day. I just don't see what all the anguish is about. But then, I am glad cars are getting better mileage these days, and I am glad they are safer. I don't like them getting heavier, but then I buy cars that aren't heavier.

[motordavid]

Had RFTs oe, on the Vette; they ran fine for 32K+ miles, if a lil' noisy at end of life; I switched to non-RFTs, for replacements, but that was simply to save a few bucks,
and maybe get a "better" tire, but it comes with the need for mini-compressor/plug kit, and luck, for long trips. The average tire joint won't have my Vette tires in stock, or an E70 species
RFT or non-RFT, either so "the tire not in stock" is a weak complaint, imo.

Daka, I am surprised you were surprised on the RFT only situ; it looks like you have been a BMW CCA member for a long time, and the Roundel Mag has pages of RFT
rant letters every issue. I would neither pick or pass over a car simply because it came with, or without RFTs, but everyone has their own bag.
GL, mD

PS: try turning off your car for those 10 min bridge openings.

[Daka]

I never paid much attention to the Run Flat stuff, till recently.
We were 4 people on a trip, late on a Saturday evening on I95 in Georgia we had a flat, turns out the tire was not repairable...it was cut about 4' long on the sidewall just above the tread...
Tire stores ?? BMW dealer ?? lots a luck, we had the car flatbedded to a dealer, can't remember which one, (not my car only partial my problem), so instead of getting back to Fl on Sunday morning, we got home Monday night..
There doesn't even seem to be room for a doughnut spare under the floor even on the non 3rd row vehicles....(X5)

I still think it's a bad idea....were talking about a doughnut tire (cheap, light weight) on a $70,000 plus vehicle...NO THANKS
Hopefully I'll get 150,000 miles out of the 06 X5 ...My 99 528iT got that far ...and I still see it around here....

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Daka

I never paid much attention to the Run Flat stuff, till recently.
We were 4 people on a trip, late on a Saturday evening on I95 in Georgia we had a flat, turns out the tire was not repairable...it was cut about 4' long on the sidewall just above the tread...
Tire stores ?? BMW dealer ?? lots a luck, we had the car flatbedded to a dealer, can't remember which one, (not my car only partial my problem), so instead of getting back to Fl on Sunday morning, we got home Monday night..
There doesn't even seem to be room for a doughnut spare under the floor even on the non 3rd row vehicles....(X5)

I still think it's a bad idea....were talking about a doughnut tire (cheap, light weight) on a $70,000 plus vehicle...NO THANKS
Hopefully I'll get 150,000 miles out of the 06 X5 ...My 99 528iT got that far ...and I still see it around here....

A 4 foot (4 inch?) cut in a sidewall is going to make any tire unrepairable, RFT or not. If you want a spare, BMW will sell you one (for non-3rd row E70 vehicles), as well as a jack. They both fit under the floor, although the tire you take off won't.

[Cole]

In South Africa the E70 can be fitted with a space saver spare if you forgo the third row of seats, it is a selectable option when you purchase... Don't know if its offered else where but I would assume so.

[Weasel]

As above, the spare tire option is just that, an option that has to be selected when ordering the vehicle or retrofitted later... and only without the 3rd row option for obvious room reasons.

[Daka]

So, the salesperson I spoke with didn't have a clue about a spacesaver...
not that that is so great, but better than no spare.
I guess you don't have a choice about the runflats...
For a "sort of offroad vehicle" no spare is not a great idea.
Oh, and when you put the "doughnut" on where do you put the "flat" tire
there isn't room in the well, and if you do have a slot of "stuff" back there, tough luck....put it on the roof?
Still a stupid idea...NO E 70 FOR ME...HMMM Does the Chev Tahoe have a spare?

[HPIA4v2]

As an independent car mfg BMW tries so hard to keep the volume going, for obvious reason, getting cheaper parts when bought in large quantity.
Then it has to bow to all other driver wants ie. RFT, softer suspension, better fuel economy etc.

Audi S5 comes in real sport suspension, lowered with real LSD, non-RFT but I hate the V8 (for future Mods reason) so I went with 335xi manual. My mistake was to test drive 335 with manual/sport and it was acceptable in term of suspension and body roll. fast forward to now, I have to spend probably around $2K-3K to get KW after market to remedy the problem.
BMW better watch out, they need to add option for non-RFT and also when someone buy M-sport package can that person have a decent suspension (not boat ride) who cares about ride comfort if that person care about it then forgo the sport package.
Hate to see BMW goes out of their domain just to chase numbers.

Steve Dinan was asked about the first mod people should do on their BMW, to my surprise he didn't say engine/suspension but to get rid the RFT!