Bridgestone runflats going at 17K - replacement ideas?

[Ag4.8]

My 20 in Dunlop Sportmaxx tires are close to done at less than 14000 miles (fronts more so than rears). I am looking at Continental Extreme Contact DWS. Anyone with any experience with this tire. Gets good write up and reviews. I will have to get mobility kit as have third row.

Any thoughts?

[bigx5er]

Originally Posted by Ag4.8

My 20 in Dunlop Sportmaxx tires are close to done at less than 14000 miles (fronts more so than rears). I am looking at Continental Extreme Contact DWS. Anyone with any experience with this tire. Gets good write up and reviews. I will have to get mobility kit as have third row.

Any thoughts?

We put these on our Mazda 3 in December and they are fantastic. Excellent tire in the snow/wet. Very good dry performance.

Of course the Mazda 3 is nothing like an X5, but we have found the tires to live up to their reviews.

[X5 Meister]

I don't understand the correlation of the mobility kit and the 3rd row? Which mobility kit are you talking about?

[Ag4.8]

Originally Posted by X5 Meister

I don't understand the correlation of the mobility kit and the 3rd row? Which mobility kit are you talking about?

Well since I have the third row, I don't have a spare. So if I get non RFTs I will buy one of those tire repair kits (compressor, tire slime, etc). It won't fix a blow out, but would give some piece of mind.

[X5 Meister]

I see, that's actually what I thought. BMW's mobility kit doesn't list any specific limitations unfortunately (though I'm sure they exist), but you should be aware that a similar kit made by Continental Tire (ContiComfortKit) does so and the 20" tires on the E70 fall out of their recommended range. See link. Maybe it has to do with the quantity of goo, or maybe they just think above a certain size is unsafe to patch with such a kit. I dunno. So just be careful, I'd hate for you to get stuck and find out the hard way. Also keep in mind that the goo can't be great for the tire pressure module mounted on the inside of the rim.

Accessories - Continental Tire ContiComfortKit Fitments for 20" Sizes

Originally Posted by Ag4.8

Well since I have the third row, I don't have a spare. So if I get non RFTs I will buy one of those tire repair kits (compressor, tire slime, etc). It won't fix a blow out, but would give some piece of mind.

[Ag4.8]

Thanks. I haven't looked into any brand of kit yet. I will look at the BMW one.

[RedRockin]

Originally Posted by Ag4.8

Thanks. I haven't looked into any brand of kit yet. I will look at the BMW one.

Might want to re-consider or look into this further. While waiting for my X5 production (took delivery 2 weeks ago) I did a lot of research about this. made the stupid mistake of not getting the space saver spare and I live quite rural. Ultimately, I bought the space saver spare from the dealer (got them to do it with mount and bal for $179). It fits in the storage compartment perfectly with no real need for the bolt-down bracket. of course it doesn't come with the BMW jack (with its proprietary rectangular jack point pad fitting) but an ACDelco 4 ton bottle jack works just fine (~$20 and MUCH easier to use). I just keep the bottle jack in the box it came in and it neatly drops into the smaller rectangular storage compartment next to battery (with room for tow cable, jump cables, gloves and still not full). I really didn't need the big storage compartment anyway.

But, back to the BMW mobility kit: it uses latex filler which has been reported to damage the TPMS. Slime makes a water soluble product that they swear washes out with no reported TPMS damage. The "safety" kit uses a one-step system in which you connect the slime to the compressor and it just pumps the slime into the tire with the air. The other slime kits (other than the "safety") use a two-step process in which you remove the valve core, put in the slime, replace the valve core and then connect the compressor and air fill.

Had I not chosen to get the space saver spare, I would have done one of these:
Amazon.com: Slime 70005 Safety Spair Flat Tire Repair System: Automotive

Amazon.com: Slime 50051 Safety Spair Roadside Emergency Essential Kit: Automotive

With free shipping and no tax - kinda hard to beat the prices. While I still wish I had just ordered with the spare, I can't complain because with the spare, bottle jack and a new lug wrench, it only cost me about $60 more than it would have if ordered (and I think the bottle jack is a huge improvement). I'd say, if you don't really need the storage compartment, go put some pressure on your dealer to cut you a price on the spare. If you want to go with a mobility kit, or have a 3rd row, consider the above.

From Slime.com FAQ's:

My vehicle has a TPMS device; can I use SLiME?

TPMS STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY

As leaders in the tire care and repair industry, Accessories Marketing, Incorporated (AMI), the manufacturers of SLiME Tire Sealant wish to address the mandate set forth in the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation (TREAD) Act, passed in the fall of 2000. In response to this mandate, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) established the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard that requires the installation of Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) to all vehicles by September 1, 2007.

From our findings, and after significant dialog with the leading manufacturers of TPMS devices, SLiME Tire Sealant will not damage TPMS devices. We understand TPMS manufacturers have conducted extensive testing to ensure their sensors remain operational after exposure to any chemical fluids that might come into contact with the sensors. This includes after market products, such as SLiME Tire Sealant. AMI has also conducted independent testing, which supports and verifies SLiME Tire Sealant’s compatibility with TPMS devices.

Currently, there are two types of TPMS devices available: Direct and Indirect. SLiME Tire Sealant’s TPMS formulation is compatible with all TPMS systems. However, it is important to note that once installed, Slime Tire Sealant may come in contact with the sensor in a way that renders the sensor TEMPORARILY inoperable until it is properly cleaned, inspected and re-installed by a tire care professional.

Because SLiME is a water soluble flat repair treatment, it is easily removed from the tire with water. At the time the affected tire is inspected by a tire care professional, they should clean the sealant from the tire, prepare the area and repair with a Rubber Manufacturer’s Association (RMA) approved patch/plug. The TPMS device should also be cleaned off with water to remove any sealant which may have come into contact with the device. Do not use any fine objects to ream and clean the small pressure sensor opening as it may damage the electronics. After the repaired tire is replaced and inflated the TPMS system will resume operating as normal.

Please note that SLiME is recommended as a REPAIR for all Over the Road (OTR) applications.

From the Conticomfortkit site:

The ContiComfortKit combines a powerful, high-volume, 12-volt air compressor, integral pressure gauge and a latex liquid tire sealant packaged in a compact, lightweight unit that's easy to store in the vehicle. (Kit is 9.5"W x 7"H x 3.75"D.) This product's sealant may interfere with the tire pressure monitoring sensors on vehicles with direct TPMS, possibly leading to error prompts and incorrect pressure readings. Use of this product on direct TPMS vehicles could also result in damage to the tire pressure sensor inside the wheel. Please contact your sales specialist at Tire Rack for more information.

From minimania here: Classic Mini Cooper - CONTICOMFORT KIT FLAT REPAIR MOBILITY KIT - MINI C - www.MiniMania.com

FWIW, my X5 is on a 3 yr lease. I will pull my RFs and store then for lease end return. As long as I will have to replace tires anyway, I'd rather buy good non-RFs which ride much better and cost way less. Then again, I don't have a family to consider nor a wife driving alone either - perhaps someday if ever lucky enough to meet the RIGHT one! Meanwhile, I considered Ultra High Performance All Season and comcluded the Continental Extreme Contact DWS would be the shiznet: Consumer Survey Results By Category

But, after bad experiences with High Performance tires soft compound on our cheaply paved and chipping/flaking highways (which EAT soft tires for breakfast - had to replace the high performance tires on my G35s for lease return with only 14k miles @ 2 yrs!), and not really caring for the low-profile look, I decided to order the General Grabber HTS: Consumer Survey Results By Category

Go ahead - blast me for having too much time on my hands but what else was I going to do to relieve tension (remember - no wifey ) while waiting a month for my X5???

[X5 Meister]

The BMW Mobility kit is a pretty nice unit. Fortunately I've never had to use the filler yet. When I have time I'll post the scanned manual. The compressor (which can handle big SUV / SAV tires unlike other cheaper portable compressors) is made in Germany and the goo (a 750 mL bottle of Automotive Tire Puncture Sealant that can seal punctures up to 4mm in size) is also made in Germany but for some strange reason "distributed by BMW Group Australia" (maybe X Foomph knows why?!). Apparently it should be changed every 4 years. Keep in mind the fact that BMW states it is NOT to be used with run-flat tires. According to the company it is fully compatible with TPMS systems. I personally think this is an ideal kit to have for the E53 X5 since strictly speaking the E53 X5's come with non run-flat tires and a FTM system (an indirect TPMS) which does not utilize individual wheel mounted sensors. It also comes in a nice pouch with adapters to inflate other items (sports balls, etc), a valve core remover tool, an extra valve core, a speed sticker and a pair of gloves.

BMW Accessories - 2006 X5 4.4i SAV

Some interesting facts: The mobility kit on the BMW USA website (linked above) looks on initial glance to be the same one as on the BMW.COM website (linked here: BMW AG: Accessories) but actually it's not. Here is the USA mobility kit on the left (with the black compressor) and the EURO mobility kit in the middle (with the blue compressor). On the right is a better shot of the complete USA kit.

In case anyone was wondering, the kits are both made by the company TERRA-S Automotive Systems GmbH & Co. KG of Owingen, Germany. (TERRA-S Page)

The Euro mobility kit has their "Air Control" compressor while the USA mobility kit has their "Aero King" compressor. (BTW, the yellow button is the pressure release button, to allow the adjustment of pressure) They both share the same specs (below), the only difference being that the "Aero King" model can accommodate a puncture sealant bottle when needed (according to their website). (Doesn't make much sense to include a compressor in a mobility kit that can't accommodate tire sealant, but what do I know)

Specs:
- Can achieve a tire pressure of up to ca. 5.5 bar (79.8 psi)
- Can inflate tires of up to 22 inches
- Has a cable length for power supply: 3.5 m. - Performance is:
V = 35 litres to 2.5 bar (36.3 psi) pressure in less than 5 minutes
V = 45 litres to 3.0 bar (43.5 psi) pressure in less than 8 minutes
Max. run-time: 20 minutes at 2 bar (29 psi)
Usable at temperatures from: - 30° C to + 70° C

TERRA-S Page

TERRA-S Page

The company website in fact, shows what is virtually the same kit as the BMW USA mobility kit (see the two links below), though of the two kits I'm not sure which is the exact one.

TERRA-S Page
TERRA-S Page

In any case it is also interesting to note that they made the BMW M Mobility kit that was standard equipment on the M Roadster as it was one of the earliest BMW's without an on board spare tire.

TERRA-S Page

Originally Posted by RedRockin

But, back to the BMW mobility kit: it uses latex filler which has been reported to damage the TPMS. Slime makes a water soluble product that they swear washes out with no reported TPMS damage. The "safety" kit uses a one-step system in which you connect the slime to the compressor and it just pumps the slime into the tire with the air. The other slime kits (other than the "safety") use a two-step process in which you remove the valve core, put in the slime, replace the valve core and then connect the compressor and air fill.

[BGM]

Originally Posted by X5 Meister

The BMW Mobility kit is a pretty nice unit. Fortunately I've never had to use the filler yet. When I have time I'll post the scanned manual. The compressor (which can handle big SUV / SAV tires unlike other cheaper portable compressors) is made in Germany and the goo (a 750 mL bottle of Automotive Tire Puncture Sealant that can seal punctures up to 4mm in size) is also made in Germany but for some strange reason "distributed by BMW Group Australia" (maybe X Foomph knows why?!). Apparently it should be changed every 4 years. Keep in mind the fact that BMW states it is NOT to be used with run-flat tires. According to the company it is fully compatible with TPMS systems. I personally think this is an ideal kit to have for the E53 X5 since strictly speaking the E53 X5's come with non run-flat tires and a FTM system (an indirect TPMS) which does not utilize individual wheel mounted sensors. It also comes in a nice pouch with adapters to inflate other items (sports balls, etc), a valve core remover tool, an extra valve core, a speed sticker and a pair of gloves.

BMW Accessories - 2006 X5 4.4i SAV

Some interesting facts: The mobility kit on the BMW USA website (linked above) looks on initial glance to be the same one as on the BMW.COM website (linked here: BMW AG: Accessories) but actually it's not. Here is the USA mobility kit on the left (with the black compressor) and the EURO mobility kit in the middle (with the blue compressor). On the right is a better shot of the complete USA kit.

In case anyone was wondering, the kits are both made by the company TERRA-S Automotive Systems GmbH & Co. KG of Owingen, Germany. (TERRA-S Page)

The Euro mobility kit has their "Air Control" compressor while the USA mobility kit has their "Aero King" compressor. (BTW, the yellow button is the pressure release button, to allow the adjustment of pressure) They both share the same specs (below), the only difference being that the "Aero King" model can accommodate a puncture sealant bottle when needed (according to their website). (Doesn't make much sense to include a compressor in a mobility kit that can't accommodate tire sealant, but what do I know)

Specs:
- Can achieve a tire pressure of up to ca. 5.5 bar (79.8 psi)
- Can inflate tires of up to 22 inches
- Has a cable length for power supply: 3.5 m. - Performance is:
V = 35 litres to 2.5 bar (36.3 psi) pressure in less than 5 minutes
V = 45 litres to 3.0 bar (43.5 psi) pressure in less than 8 minutes
Max. run-time: 20 minutes at 2 bar (29 psi)
Usable at temperatures from: - 30° C to + 70° C

TERRA-S Page

TERRA-S Page

The company website in fact, shows what is virtually the same kit as the BMW USA mobility kit (see the two links below), though of the two kits I'm not sure which is the exact one.

TERRA-S Page
TERRA-S Page

In any case it is also interesting to note that they made the BMW M Mobility kit that was standard equipment on the M Roadster as it was one of the earliest BMW's without an on board spare tire.

TERRA-S Page

X5 Meister---you left your Isotoners next to the Mobility Kit.

[DeePee]

The OE Michelin Latitude HP Tour 255/55/R18 RFT tires in my 07 X5 3.0 were almost done (@ 41,500 miles). The michelins, as well as Bridgestone Duelers HL 400 RFTs are in back order (nationally, as they've said) right now. The tire shop is offering me a Continental Cross Contact UHP SSR instead. There's only one feedback (review) from Tire Rack and sad to see that the person is not happy with the tires (he's in Europe i think). So anyone can advised whether these tires are okay?