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  #1  
Old 12-16-2007, 10:37 PM
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un Flat Tires a huge scam

I'm really wondering about the RFT's that BMW are putting on their vehicles. I acknowledge, that yes you can drive on them for a while to get to a servce facility.

However, when you get the the service facility, the chances are that they will not be able to repair it, because run flat tires cannot be patched. Secondly ,they will not have your replacement run flat tire in stock because they are so unusual, and absolutely forget it if you have 19-20" rims. Thirdly, it must save BMW hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to encourage you to try and drive to a service facility and take care of it yourself instead of calling BMW service to come out and take care of your flat tire. Oh yes and don't forget, to patch a normal tire costs about $20 compared to having to replace a $250 -$460 RFT tire. Fourthly, the cost of the RFT is considerably more expensive than a normal tire. Fifthly, they weigh a lot more than a normal tire, thereby reducing handling, performance and fuel efficiency. Sixthly, the flex in the sidewall is almost non-existent, which reduces handling characteristics considerably too!

Yes, I am pretty sure these RFTs' are a big scam that are factored into your warranty and service contract when buying a new BMW. Their bean counters have obviously calculated the savings that can be had in avoiding road side assistance calls (#1 cause of calls is flat tires).

When your first set of tires wear out, get some normal ones and enjoy better ride, better handling, better fuel efficiency, cost savings to you, and if you are unfortunate to get a flat, just call BMW roadside assistance, what the heck you paid for it! Or if you are in a hurry, just put the skinny spare on, get to the service center, pay your $20, have it patched and you are on your way, and that would be way faster than driving your RFT to the service center and them telling you they will have to special order a new RFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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  #2  
Old 12-16-2007, 10:55 PM
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from all i'm learning on the RFT's... i tend to agree with this post.
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  #3  
Old 12-16-2007, 10:58 PM
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I am new to rft's, so I don't have any experience. From your post, I gather that either you've had a bad experience or have heard of those that have. Either way, could you elaborate a bit more? This is useful information and since most of the X5's sold over the last year have rft's, we can all benefit!
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  #4  
Old 12-16-2007, 11:24 PM
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RFT's can be repaired. Our 750Li has had two flats in last 2 years. One in the tread repaired for $25 @ Firestone Dealer. Tire removed, repaired from inside, remounted and balanced. Other puncture in sidewall = new tire just like a regular tire except much higher cost. Not a fan of RFT's but neither my M5 nor my M3 have spares or runflats, I have been left stranded with a puncture. So BMW must think flats are a rarity. I hope I have better luck with the X5. Lack of spare tire is the biggest drawback to a BMW in my experience.
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  #5  
Old 12-16-2007, 11:25 PM
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they can be repaired, been there done that
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  #6  
Old 12-16-2007, 11:35 PM
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Yes, they can be repaired. Also, you totally forget the most important factor of having them - your own safety. When you get your RFT punctured, your vehicle maintains control and you can find a safe place to replace it with the spare (should you want to avoid going to a BMW service center), as oppose to having to do that on a shoulder of a busy highway. Hard to put a price on that !
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  #7  
Old 12-16-2007, 11:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Investor
Lack of spare tire is the biggest drawback to a BMW in my experience.
Well only because of your 3rd row seat. BTW, I do think RFTs should've been an option at order-time.
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  #8  
Old 12-16-2007, 11:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigtop
I'm really wondering about the RFT's that BMW are putting on their vehicles. I acknowledge, that yes you can drive on them for a while to get to a servce facility.

However, when you get the the service facility, the chances are that they will not be able to repair it, because run flat tires cannot be patched. Secondly ,they will not have your replacement run flat tire in stock because they are so unusual, and absolutely forget it if you have 19-20" rims. Thirdly, it must save BMW hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to encourage you to try and drive to a service facility and take care of it yourself instead of calling BMW service to come out and take care of your flat tire. Oh yes and don't forget, to patch a normal tire costs about $20 compared to having to replace a $250 -$460 RFT tire. Fourthly, the cost of the RFT is considerably more expensive than a normal tire. Fifthly, they weigh a lot more than a normal tire, thereby reducing handling, performance and fuel efficiency. Sixthly, the flex in the sidewall is almost non-existent, which reduces handling characteristics considerably too!

Yes, I am pretty sure these RFTs' are a big scam that are factored into your warranty and service contract when buying a new BMW. Their bean counters have obviously calculated the savings that can be had in avoiding road side assistance calls (#1 cause of calls is flat tires).

When your first set of tires wear out, get some normal ones and enjoy better ride, better handling, better fuel efficiency, cost savings to you, and if you are unfortunate to get a flat, just call BMW roadside assistance, what the heck you paid for it! Or if you are in a hurry, just put the skinny spare on, get to the service center, pay your $20, have it patched and you are on your way, and that would be way faster than driving your RFT to the service center and them telling you they will have to special order a new RFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have mixed thoughts about RFT's
1. if you have a flat, you will be notified of a puncture and usually you would have a spare and could swap out the tire. If you are in a rush or your wife is driving with the kids, you know they will not be stranded or she will not be in need to look for help. When necessary, your Vehicle with RFT's can get you to safety at home (in rain/sleet, cold, etc) or to repair shop. If the tires havent been used alot witout air (mile or two), they are likely to be repaired and patched from inside, I have heard of it being done.
2. I absolutely agree with issues on finding identical tire in stock, while I would see this issue at most next door shops, I still think that BMW service is likely to have the tire in stock. This actually is the same thing with most regular BMW tires (especially high performance ones)
3. When there is time, call up local shops and always check with TireRack, They seem to have some of better prices. Dont rule out repair unless the puncture is on a sidewall or you drove for an extended period of time/distance.
4. Cost on most BMW OEM tires is expensive, thats part of getting a such an expensive car, I am not happy, but there isnt much choice.
5 and 6 I absolutely agree with you on these points, but X5 is an SUV and not a sports car, I see this more of a convinience vehicle and I know if my wife gets a flat somewhere, she would call me with the message on display and I could calmly tell her to keep driving home at reasonable speeds instead of her panicking. Same goes if I am in the car and the flat is at the worst possible moment, freezing rain or something similar.

All in all, on X5 if they offered a choice to have run flats at an additional charge of over $500 I would have to think if I want them, If there is no difference in cost, its an added convinience to me and I am sure to most others. Financially it might not be the best choice, nor its best for performance. I think if you own X5 you want convinience and not necessarily best performance. you get M cars for when you want best performance, and I hope they dont force you to have RFT's on them.
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  #9  
Old 12-17-2007, 12:58 AM
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Other posters have summed it up well, but for my part:
  • I have had run-flats on three BMW vehicles. I had one flat, and it was a straightforward repair. It isn't so much a matter of not driving on it, as not driving on it while deflated. The tire repairer needs to be sure that the tire structure hasn't been compromised by being overheated due to excessive flexing.
  • Early run-flats were harsher riding; this latest generation seems pretty good to me
  • If you want to carry a spare, do so. On the E70, there is room for one as long as you didn't order the 3rd row seat.
  • If you want to carry an inflator and sealant kit, like the M-series, do so; you can buy them from BMW dealers or many tire shops
  • The real reason for spec'ing them is to allow a controlled stop from speed, without losing control. They are better in this respect than non run-flat tires.
  • If you did have reduced side-wall flex (which I am not convinced of), you would get better mileage, not worse.
  • You can call BMW Roadside Assistance any time you like if you aren't mobile, whether you have run-flat tires or not. Ask them to send a flatdeck so that you don't destroy your run-flat tire.
  • If you have dedicated winter tires at home, which isn't such a bad idea, you will always have spare tires available if a replacement isn't in stock. I do agree that until they are more common, finding a replacement run flat tire can be a challenge.
To me, whether a vehicle has run flat tires or not is a non-issue. There are pros and cons of run flat tires, but to me it isn't enough to influence a purchase decision on a new vehicle. Also, it isn't as if the move to run flat tires is just a BMW initiative.
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  #10  
Old 12-17-2007, 01:51 AM
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it's been mostly cons for me. My experience with RFT's have been with my daily driven 335i w/ Bridgestones RE050A RFT. The tires are by nature of the sidewall design very loud and somewhat harsh. They also don't handle as well as the regular tires. I have had to replace 3 of my RFT's in the 13,000 miles this past year. RFT w/ the ribbed edge on the 050A tend to have a higher likelihood of cracking on impact with even small potholes. A bubble would form and the tire structure compromised.

RFT's are also expensive. They are almost double the price from non RFTs and it seems most local tire shops don't carry them. Tirerack is often low on supply also. Treadwear on RFT's are also fairly pathetic.

I ended up replacing all my RFT's and I carry a spare now. Much better insurance and not replacing with RFT's more than cover the cost for the additional rim. My F430 came with RFT's and I had my dealer replace them w/ Pirelli Corsa's and I have no regrets.
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