if 2007 X5 has run flat tires... can you still install normal winter tires/wheels???

[marcx5]

what happens to the tire pressure monitoring system in the car if you put regular winter tires/wheels on in the winter? can it still use the tire pressure system or does that only work with the run flat tires?

thanks.

[LeMansX5]

I had aksed the same question to dealer and the answer I got
"the TPM works by computing the wheel rotation and it knows a flat or low tire pressure by # of wheel rotations. A low presure tire will have different rotations as compared to normal tire pressure."

I have not seen anything on the wheel itself to monitor pressure. Some other manufacturers have a thing behind tire valve to monitor tire pressure and it talks to car computer.

[rodybmw]

Originally Posted by LeMansX5

I had aksed the same question to dealer and the answer I got
"the TPM works by computing the wheel rotation and it knows a flat or low tire pressure by # of wheel rotations. A low presure tire will have different rotations as compared to normal tire pressure."

I have not seen anything on the wheel itself to monitor pressure. Some other manufacturers have a thing behind tire valve to monitor tire pressure and it talks to car computer.

If the dealer was referring to cars from a couple of years ago then he would be correct, but that would be called the FTM (Flat Tire Monitor) and not the new TPM (Tire Pressure Monitor). My 2005 545 has the FTM , however, starting with the 2006 model on the E60 they switched to a real Tire Pressure Monitor which has actual sensors behind the valve stem. This is a much better system as the FTM on my 545 (which uses the rotation method) just tells me that one of the tires has low pressure without telling me which one.......and with Runflats you can't visually tell which tire is low on pressure, so I have to measure the pressures of each tire manually until I find out which tire triggered the FTM alarm. With the new TPM it monitors the actual pressure inside each tire and therefore is more usefull.

The new system with sensors is better, and if you get a second set of wheels you can just buy new sensors for those wheels and it should work fine. I don't think the sensors are very expensive.

[lapeter]

I currently have a 2005 4.8is. In the winter I install my 18 inch winter tires with Factory BMW wheels. Will I be able to buy run flat snow tires and put them on my currrent 18" wheels??? Can I then install a sensor? Since I will not have a spare, I can't use my current winter tires.
TIA
Al

[X5Jay]

Originally Posted by lapeter

I currently have a 2005 4.8is. In the winter I install my 18 inch winter tires with Factory BMW wheels. Will I be able to buy run flat snow tires and put them on my currrent 18" wheels??? Can I then install a sensor? Since I will not have a spare, I can't use my current winter tires.
TIA
Al

Installing a sensor in your 4.8 won't help because there's nothing on the other end to pick up the signal. You can put any tires you want (that fit, of course) on your 4.8 and the current system will work with them - there are no sensors. Having said that, I wouldn't recommend RF snows because you won't know which one is flat. I thought the 4.8 had a space-saver spare?

[motordavid]

Originally Posted by X5Jay

Installing a sensor in your 4.8 won't help because there's nothing on the other end to pick up the signal. You can put any tires you want (that fit, of course) on your 4.8 and the current system will work with them - there are no sensors. Having said that, I wouldn't recommend RF snows because you won't know which one is flat. I thought the 4.8 had a space-saver spare?

...

Rambling on...

If one's car doesn't have in-wheel sensors, you don't just glue in
a set...I'm sure someone will come up with a add-on sensor and
"reader", but not yet. In addition, the older version of "tire pressure reading",
using the FTM method, won't "read" any in-wheel sensor, anyhow.

Scratching my head about the "other set of tires" conundrum, I
think I'd add tires to existing wheel, (with the in-wheel sensor),
though that may force one to deal with big freakin wheel/tire sets.

Or, go to winter wheels, (non-"sensored"), and snow tires and learn
to live with that ancient method of actually driving around and having
to keep an eye on your tires' "bulge" and even having to occasionally
check them damn tars' pressure.

For those of you with the older FTM method, toss on what tire
you like, reset the sensor readings and go.

RFTs...as I have ranted about: a great invention for Buffy hauling
the soccer team around the malls and byways of Amerika. For cars,
sports cars, et al, with minimal "room", a great idea. In a 2 1/2 ton
suv...pretty fooking weird.
BR,mD

[Outrageous]

According to the Bridgestone site, with the "support ring" type RFT system, you can use standard conventional tires with the ring. See: http://www.runflat-system.com/sr_e/sr_top_e.html

[marcx5]

thanks for all replies so far. two questions:

1) does the tire monitoring system SHOW you the actual tire pressure, such at 33psi?? or does it just indicate a change. i would like to see the ACTUAL pressures... so that's easier to monitor and be sure all are set the way i want.

2) obviously it seems a winter tire/wheel won't use the tire system, right? i've been using the Michelin Pilot Alpins in the winter which are great with 17" wheels. i don't know if they have run flats for these. if not... then what happens if you get a flat... because there is no spare in this car, right???

[motordavid]

Originally Posted by marcx5

thanks for all replies so far. two questions:

1) does the tire monitoring system SHOW you the actual tire pressure, such at 33psi?? or does it just indicate a change. i would like to see the ACTUAL pressures... so that's easier to monitor and be sure all are set the way i want.

2) obviously it seems a winter tire/wheel won't use the tire system, right? i've been using the Michelin Pilot Alpins in the winter which are great with 17" wheels. i don't know if they have run flats for these. if not... then what happens if you get a flat... because there is no spare in this car, right???

1-None of us has "seen" the car...dunno. My Vette shows the individual TP at each wheel ~, real time.
I would assume the new sys. for BMW would show something similar.
2-Vette owners have been arguing and advising on how to run non-RFTs for years: can of goop, small
compressor and plugs, cell phone and AAA
card, etc., etc., or some combo of the above.

I'd save the hand wringing for when we know more about the new car
and its features and options.

RFTs are an innovation and yet, insidious, imo.
GL,mD

[Outrageous]

Continental has RFT's using reinforced sidewall technology. If you look at their chart, they have summer and winter tires "under development for BMW" in sizes suited to the E70. See: http://www.conti-online.com/generato...ension_en.html
And: http://www.conti-online.com/generato...reifen_en.html