Run Flat Tires

[ard]

I have an M5- with the mobility kit.

After getting stranded 110 miles from home for 2 days, I swore never again. I now carry a full size front wheel in the trunk, jack, lug wrench. It has saved me 4 times. What would be a many hour, to overnight delay (with potentially needing to buy an new unmnatched tire at retail) is now a 20 minute pause.

That being said, my 2010 and 2012 has 255/50-19 Michelins and seems to ride just fine. But I have the spare too...

[kakalika]

Will be tossing my run flats immediately after winter.

[motordavid]

Originally Posted by Price

If you have 3rd row and no space for a spare - yes it is.

I read your post with excellent reading comprehension, the first time; my point is one does not have to use RFTs, with no spare, but one may choose to do so.

Not arguing the merits of RFTs vs non-RFTs in terms of handling, etc., but I run our Vette with non-RFTs. It's a choice I make and I don't give it a 2nd thought, even on a 2 month, 13,000 mile road trip, we made this past summer, I did not wring my hands. You can choose RFTs or not, regardless of your "no space". It is up to each, to decide...

[brian5]

Just going to add my opinion here as I see so many negative comments on RFTs.

I have RFTs on summer and winter wheels. They don't bother me at all and I see no reason to change.

[cravin]

As mentioned, it's all a personal decision. I, personally, would still get RFTs even if they sounded like huge tread tires on a monster truck. Just for the piece of mind that my wife doesn't need to get out of the truck on a highway with two boys in the back seat is worth the drawbacks alone.

[brian5]

@ pokemon,

Do you have many RFT staggered tire choices for summer? I thought it was only the O.E. "Dunlop SP Sport Maxx DSST" and the "Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport"? I'd be interested in hearing if you find out about any others.

If I could choose a tire, it would be the Michelin Latitude Diamaris but I don't think that they have RFT options.

[enjoytheride]

Purchased and collected new 35d Mar 2010 fitted with 20" Dunlop RFT 275 front 315 rear. At 26700 km (approx 17,000 ml) rear tyres suffered from the well documented "inner" wear nearly to wire and fronts nearly at tread bars, all 4 tyres replaced with Bridgestone RFT. This is when I started to research what I considered to be premature wear. Already aware that my knowledge of the vehicle was greater than service consultant. (They had performed a wheel alignment at the 15,000 km service). Speak with any tyre retail outlet and no opinion will be the same. Rear tyres made it to 59,200 km (a slight improvement) and have been replaced with local Goodyear shop doing wheel align after I gave them info from this site. This day now at 67,000 km (covered about 8,000 km) and they look good. Fronts still going and look to have about 10,000 km left. Driving habits = 90% country running @ 110 kph. No spirited driving but as any x5 owner will know u don't have to slow down for corners! Both Dunlop and Bridgstones are noisy at town speeds and having sorted the wheel align debacle bridgstones have better mileage. RFT?? we travel 200 km each way twice a week between country towns with no repair facility let alone town bigger than population 20 in between. Haven't had a flat yet but would not like to be on the side of a roadway (only one lane each way with dirt verg) either attempting to change or wait for repair with multiple trucks caravans you name it wizzing past.......hourses for courses!

[Daka]

One more opinion.
Looks like I will be keeping my 06 3.0 X5, and will be driving it till BMW makes room for a spare and the option of NON RUN FLATS. So, I guess I'll see 500,000 miles or more.
BMW's other DIM BULB IDEA is NO DIPSTICK...sorry BMW you have screwed up BIG TIME

[enjoytheride]

Daka, better restore some of your faith, the five seater has a skinny spare and I found the dipstick 'hidden' under there 'don't touch unless you are mechanic' area of the under bonnet. Eg where the brake master cylinder is.

[Daka]

Originally Posted by enjoytheride

Daka, better restore some of your faith, the five seater has a skinny spare and I found the dipstick 'hidden' under there 'don't touch unless you are mechanic' area of the under bonnet. Eg where the brake master cylinder is.

Well, good to know...it only tells me that the sales people don't have a clue..When I asked they "checked with the manager" and said no spare available, ( I didn't say 2 or 3 seat) and Oh No, you dont need a dipstick, it has a warning light...