Run Flat or Not to Run Flat?

[Zulu95]

The last time I ran with Dunlop Tires was on my 1975 2002 back in the '70s. They lasted about 15K miles.
I'm sure the modern versions must be much better.

[andrewwynn]

I'm on my third set of tires since I bought my X5 74,000 miles ago.

I'm pretty ok with that especially since i use winter tires all year.

[bfeng]

Originally Posted by ard

lol
I have STOCK michelin RFTs and they are quite good. But people seem to think RFT is a model of tire.

I used Michelin Lattitude HP RFT’s for yearsc(two sets), and while 4-season performance was great, the ride was really awfully harsh, and they are an expensive tire.

I’m half way thru a set of Pirelli Scorpion Plus non-RFT’s, and I like them. The Rude quality is vastly improved, and the tires were less than 1/2 the price of the OEM Michelin RFT. I have a non-BMW mobility kit in the car, and carry a full size alloy X5 spare in my enclosed trailer (Michelin Lattitude HP RFT).

I am never going back to RFT.

John

[richardb]

Originally Posted by bfeng

I used Michelin Lattitude HP RFT’s for yearsc(two sets), and while 4-season performance was great, the ride was really awfully harsh, and they are an expensive tire.

I’m half way thru a set of Pirelli Scorpion Plus non-RFT’s, and I like them. The Rude quality is vastly improved, and the tires were less than 1/2 the price of the OEM Michelin RFT. I have a non-BMW mobility kit in the car, and carry a full size alloy X5 spare in my enclosed trailer (Michelin Lattitude HP RFT).

I am never going back to RFT.

John

Thanks for the help!

[richardb]

Hey everyone, I finally had some new snow tires mounted to our X5 30i. The original Bridgestone run flats were nearly totally worn below the limits, totally worn!

I went with the only snow tire available in the m-sport sizing for our car:

285 45 R19
255 50 R19

The tires are VREDESTEIN WINTRAC PRO XL. So far, the difference is night and day. The car rides smooth like butter and like a normal car again. There is no snow in sight in Southern Connecticut yet, but will report back with performance once we test them properly.

I'll be refinishing a set of style 223's for the Summer, with Bridgestone Dueler HP Sport (Performance Summer) tires. These wheels are very limiting in tire choice options, but I do really like the styling that pairs with the M-sport package.

[ard]

Just a thought....


Even if you cannot carry a spare (due to 3rd row of your car doesnt have a location)...having a spare tire AT HOME in the garage can be a great strategy for dealing with a flat.


1. On a long trip, if you arent using the rear seat, you can toss it in.
2. If you get a flat locally, a family member can drive it out to you. (Instead of getting flat-bedded to a tire store, and having to buy 'the closest they had in stock'.


Next time you get new tires, keep the one with 'legal tread'...then hunt for a one-off rim in classified....


FWIW.


Regards,


Mr. Belt and Suspenders.

[andrewwynn]

Funny timing!

I'm hoping to pick up my next car tomorrow. It's 08 and comes with the BMW mini spare!

I told my wife less than 20 min. ago that we can take my spare with in a garbage bag on road trips with her car (now that her car no longer has run on flat tires).

100+ agree on the keep a spare I'm the garage idea. Wife works about 50 minutes commute and we have tow reimbursement with our insurance.

Also due to availability when I bought her new tires I ended up with five. (found set of 3 and 2 no singles). Historically I've lost one tire each set of 4 so I'm ahead of the game.

[BGM]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Funny timing!

I'm hoping to pick up my next car tomorrow. It's 08 and comes with the BMW mini spare!

I told my wife less than 20 min. ago that we can take my spare with in a garbage bag on road trips with her car (now that her car no longer has run on flat tires).

100+ agree on the keep a spare I'm the garage idea. Wife works about 50 minutes commute and we have tow reimbursement with our insurance.

Also due to availability when I bought her new tires I ended up with five. (found set of 3 and 2 no singles). Historically I've lost one tire each set of 4 so I'm ahead of the game.

Agree it's not a bad idea to have an extra tire. But some people don't live in a house and live in a city (big apartment garages-- don't let you store them and most smaller buildings might not have garages). I'm on 105K miles of RFTs the past 13 years--never any issues.

[Mikee5]

Finally, got rid of the Bridgestone RFT's, I put on some cheap Winrun tyres. I thought anything had to be better than the Bridgestones and I was right; these cheap tyres are far better, smoth ride, good handling, quieter, no more tramlining. I have no idea how long they will last, but at less than half the price of the old tyres I don't care.
I carry a portable pump, a can of tyre repair, and am looking around for a small but capable jack and a spare for trips.
BMW should be ashamed for putting rubbish RFT's on their cars.

Mike

[twarr1]

Ive always had ROF tires on my X5. The last set was Goodyear Eagle runflats. In almost 200k mikes I’ve had 2 flats and both were a result of the Goodyear tires blowing out at the corner where the sidewall meets the tread. Both times the tire shop had to order the tire with a several day wait. My theory is, since the sidewall is so stiff, it concentrates stress and the tire fails there. This last tire change I went with non-run flat Pirelli Scorpions. The improvement in ride quality is like having a totally different car.
Yes, it was nice to be able to drive 15 miles to the tire shop when the tire failed, but then again, a non run flat tire wouldn’t have failed in this mode.