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

marcx5 · #1 08-31-2006, 02:14 PM

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 · #2 08-31-2006, 03:19 PM

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 · #3 08-31-2006, 04:55 PM

Quote:

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 · #4 08-31-2006, 07:44 PM

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 · #5 08-31-2006, 08:12 PM

Quote:

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 · #6 08-31-2006, 08:25 PM

Quote:

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

lapeter · #7 08-31-2006, 11:16 PM

Sorry for my confusion- I was refering to buying a new 4.8i or 4.8is replacement and then putting on run flat winter tires- sorry. Also the new E70 will not have a spare tire.

Quote:

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

JCL · #8 09-01-2006, 12:43 AM

Quote:

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

Well, I had guessed that you were talking about an E70 using your old winter wheels, but now you have confirmed it, good

Yes, you should be able to install your old 18" wheels. We don't know the offsets yet, but it a good bet that they will fit, pending confirmation when the vehicle is actually out.

You will be able to buy 18" runflat snows for those wheels. Many runflats work on standard wheels. Some runflats use a wheel with an additional hump to help keep the bead seated (the E70 has these). Some runflats use proprietary wheels, so let's leave those out of the discussion. BMW is referring to the E70 as having 4th generation runflats, which relate to the Bridgestone design with a stiff sidewall (and no support ring). It is safe to say that there are some runflats out now that will work, and there will be more out next year. No idea on price or performance. Early adopters may have to pay the price. It is still very much a moving target, but lots of things are or will be possible.

Yes, you can then install the sensors in standard wheels. They attach to the back of each valve stem. They are specific to the vehicle or brand of vehicle (radio frequency).

If you go with RFT snows, the theory is you don't need a spare. If you go with standard snows, not a bad idea since you already have them, you won't have a spare, but you have quite a few options. As MD mentions above, you can use cans of goop, a portable air compressor, an AAA card, a cell phone, etc. My last flat tire was in 1998, 6 or 7 vehicles back, so I am not too worried myself. Also, if you don't have the 3rd row seat, you can carry a space-saver spare in the under-floor compartment. BMW Australia has announced that that will be a standard feature on all their 5 passenger E70s, which is what tells us it is possible, ie it fits.

Cheers

Jeff

lapeter · #9 09-01-2006, 08:55 AM

Thanks Jeff for the info. I think I will opt for RFT on the new car. We have some back roads here that are flat tire prone and then no cell phone coverage.

marcx5 · #10 08-31-2006, 08:54 PM

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???