Run Flat or Not to Run Flat?

[richardb]

What is the consensus in 2021?

It's common knowledge that installing 'regular' tires offers wider range of options for our cars. They can ride better and quieter.

However, this generation E70 does not come with a full size spare, so I see the value in the run-flat as I get older. Our new-to-us E70 is my wife's daily driver and we have kids.

Once you add wife and kids into the mix, the thought of a flat tire leaving you stranded complicates things. It's not as easy to just "get rid of those run flats''.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

[andrewwynn]

RF have haves my butt three times including once when 6 hours from home, once at 2am in a snow storm 2 hours from home and once when 40 minutes from home at midnight.

I was unable to find a good deal on RF tires on my latest round and found the exact model tire i wanted in non RF that was basically half price so for the first time since I bought my car 6 yr ago not on RF and not looking forward to my next flat tire.

Wife's e70 came with NO spare not just donut so not really an option there but I'm a big fan of not going to change a tire on a freeway at 2am in a snow storm.

That event, i realized I had zero air pressure in one tire and was damaged beyond repair, but was able to drive down the road a few miles to find a covered well illuminated location to pull out my tools and install my spare.

Wife needs a new set of tires before winter and they will of course be RF.

My first set of RF had a bonus of 500# per corner of load capacity.

[crystalworks]

I'll never run (well, hard to say never) on RoF tires. As you mentioned, they are stiff, heavy, and expensive. 2 of our X5s have mobility kit so they have the space saver spares. I removed the spare from the 4.8is as I rarely drive it. I've had only 2 flat tires that weren't in my driveway in 24 years of driving. So I just carry a plug kit and call it good.

Having said that... I'll have a flat on my way to Houston today.

[andrewwynn]

The stiff sidewall worked ok for me did not hurt my cornering and def helped load carrying.

Oh I realized I have to bump up my saved butt count to maybe 6-7.

I drove on tires using screws as a tire plug (remove screw that punctured tire, install screw with bigger head to seal leak) and used plastic temporary tire plugs long term, something I'd not have done without run on flat.

[ard]

BMW generally put crap RFT tires on many of their cars. These were cheap (to BMW). Sold at deep discount to BMW to let them capture a market of dumb consumers that just ‘get the same’

So, ‘all run flats suck’ became the truth.

Even when more mfgs came out with really good technology.

Look at some of the higher end brands. I like Michelin, but there are others. The stiffer sideways that might be a downside on a 3 series is great on a bigger X5. Love them on our diesel. And I have a spare

[andrewwynn]

That's an important thought. Just like the shit alignment from the factory. The tires that come with are not optimized for YOU.

(My Z28 came with absolutely stellar tires for dry ground, couldn't push the car over a 1" berm of snow though that was pretty hilarious true story)

[richardb]

We bought a 2010 X5 30i M-Sport. Love it. It has the staggered M sport package wheels in 19'' so the tire sizing is limited vs. the 20'' that became more standard across modern cars.

So, the rear is 285/45R19 and the front is 255/50R19. I believe there is a Pirelli scorpion run-flat and Bridgestone (factory) available. Sadly, nothing from Michelin in RFT or standard tires in this sizing... that I've seen.

On a related note, it looks like the E70 donut has two versions: one steel wheel for base models and an M-sport version which is aluminum and larger to clear M brakes. Interesting. Our X has no spare, just an empty storage space.

[andrewwynn]

The "spare" is a 3rd row on wife's E70 50i. Crazy thing though not "m sport" came with square 255/55-18. The rear tires wear pretty quick with the fact the rear wheels are often going 1-2mph faster than the front (and occasionally 10; the DSC will kick in often during full throttle shifts). I would like to upsize slightly but to a square setup.

With the 3mph speedo lie, I will be ok with up to 4% up size to get the speedo to read correctly on the freeway. I'm going to start a thread on the topic as we need to change her tires before winter.

[Dave00]

I will NEVER NEVER NEVER run Run Flats again. The change in ride quality and tread wear was astonishing. I'm amazed at how hard those Run Flats are as my local discount had a bear of a time getting them off and I probably heard at least a dozen cuss words thru the glass in the waiting room. Went with Nitto Motivos and the ride quality is amazing (Night and Day from the stock Run flats). I carried a can of fix a flat for a while, but finally found and picked up a BMW Spare tire kit from a fellow member for piece of mind. Ditch the Run Flats and go with a standard tire and save money, ride quality and tread life of the tire. You won't be disappointed.

[andrewwynn]

Coincidentally impossible to get RF in the size I want to run so I will be looking into the mini spare alternative. We have 3rd row there really isn't a place for it but I could bring with on trips packed with baggage or on the roof.

I also do always have puncture repair kit in the glove box and have inflator with on any trip.

I have no issues with the RF tires and my latest set of tires are non RF version of the next model of the same brand of tire and they drive just the same so I think there is a big apples and oranges comparison going on: comparing base included RF with premium non RF definitely not a fair comparison. Are the non RF even "all" season?

Nonetheless it's great if you found better driving tires and a working spare solution. My contention is that my butt was saved 4-5x from having RF tires and it's a big trade off to go back to having to change a tire in a snow bank vs. drive to a safer location.