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  #1  
Old 10-21-2009, 02:40 PM
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switching to conventional tubeless tires. help appreciated.

Dear All,

I have done 19,000 Kms (11/12 k miles) and it seems my front left tire doesn't have much tread left.

I am running on stock 255/55 R 18 tires.

I hate the comfort levels of RFT esp in India.

Can I do a tire change to make the tires last longer?

Can I change the front tires to conventional tubeless and leave the back as the stock RFT?

I am planning on eventually changing all the tires to normal ones but BMW says don't because the suspension has been designed with RFT in place.

Has anyone replaced their RFTs? And if so, which tire do you recommend?

What do you guys suggest?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
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  #2  
Old 10-21-2009, 06:30 PM
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I switched from 18" RFT to 20" Michelin Latitude HP (non RFT)
Ride comfort is one million times better even with the lower profile.
Dont know about the suspension design and RFT thing but I guess is BS.
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  #3  
Old 10-21-2009, 07:03 PM
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I would never mix run-flats with non-run flats on the same vehicle. Thef difference in sidewall stiffness could have very unpredictable handling effects.
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Old 10-21-2009, 07:24 PM
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I would contact www.tirerack.com via email or telephone. Those folks are huge and quite helpful in tire/wheel replacement suggestions. I am certain other X5 owners have done as you desire and as the above poster already has done.

Tire Search Results
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  #5  
Old 10-21-2009, 07:46 PM
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The tyres can be replaced with non run-flats but do not mix the two. Either all RFTs are none. The "suspension designed for run-flats" is marketing BS.
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  #6  
Old 10-22-2009, 03:35 AM
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Guys,

Thanks for all the replies. OK, so now I know that I cannot have a mix of RFT and regular tires.

So this is going to cost me a bomb. I have already e-mailed tirerack.com and I have asked them which tires are good. I wonder if they ship to India.

Everything is so expensive here... I did a general inquiry and found out on average that a 255/55 r 18 normal tyre is about 400 dollars.

I don't know two shits about tires.....So i guess I will have to ask around...

No one mentioned if a tire rotation would be ok??

Thanks!
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  #7  
Old 10-22-2009, 04:20 AM
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The suspension being designed for RFT is not BS, it is an engineering fact. Perhaps a better phrase is 'optimized design'.

That doesn't mean though that you can't safely run non-RFT, they will work just fine. What BMW did was tune the suspension to reduce RFT harshness. You don't get the benefit of that tuning if you run non-RFT, but you are unlikely to keep running the identical tire that BMW specified originally in any case, so don't worry about it. My RFTs are not at all harsh, but each tire is different. There is often more difference between two completely different tire designs than between a RFT and a non RFT from the same manufacturer, in terms of harshness, tread noise, life, etc, IMO.

You don't note what pressures you are running. That is where I would start, if I was noticing harshness (on 18" tires) and a tire worn out prematurely.

RFTs get blamed for a lot of things, not always fairly. Use Galion's example, posted above. He switched from one tire to another, and is much happier with them. We don't have all the details, but he potentially changed the tire manufacturer, tire design, tire load rating, tire tread design, tire sidewall design, wheel weight, and tire/wheel size. He also changed from a RFT to a non-RFT at the same time. To assume that all the difference is due to the RFT essentially assumes that none of the other factors had any influence on the improved performance/comfort.

Agree that you shouldn't mix the two, RFT and non-RFT.

Recommend that you don't rotate them. You give up in performance what you gain in stretching out the life. That is why BMW says not to rotate them, due to the compromised handling once the tires have taken a set.

You note that one tire is worn out. Assuming that you have kept the tire pressure set correctly, is it worn out from aggressive cornering (ie on the shoulder of the tire)? Is it worn out in the centre of the tread from overinflation? Is it worn out on both shoulders from under-inflation? Have a good tire store inspect it and see why it is wearing.

Hope this helps. Feel free to change out your RFTs, lots of people have done so and it is perfectly safe as long as you don't get a blowout (which is what a RFT is really designed for, and which really isn't very common these days). I am just pointing out that it is a simplistic approach to the problem, given the other variables I have described above.
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Old 10-22-2009, 06:45 AM
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If you change to non runflats do you then have a spare or rely on the tyre gunk and compressor? i have a xdrive 3.0d m sport on order but would like to have a spare as I do in my e53 3.0d sport.
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Old 10-22-2009, 09:00 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gen2c4s View Post
If you change to non runflats do you then have a spare or rely on the tyre gunk and compressor? i have a xdrive 3.0d m sport on order but would like to have a spare as I do in my e53 3.0d sport.
You could, or you could rely on a cellphone. You can buy a spare from BMW if you don't have a 3rd row seat.
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