Run Flats or Not?
 

Our 2006 E53 X5 has a full size spare wheel in the boot.

We have been buying Run Flats for the passed 8 years.
Not sure why, but we have been.
The Vehicle has 20" Rims and Sports Suspension, so the ride is firm (Hard)

Is there any reason i should be buying Run Flats??

Would a Non Run Flat (Normal Tyre) be a slightly softer ride?
Not too mention, easier for the Tyre place to get them on.

Thoughts?

Yes, it will most definitely be a slightly more compliant ride. I ditched the Bridgestone run-flats as soon as I could. I went a step further and stepped up one size in sidewall height on the front and the rear tires for an even more compliant ride.

Save yourself some money... and some weight and get regular tires.

Thanks crystalworks.

Yes, we've had the Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport Run Flats for a while now.
They have been ok, apart from the very firm ride, which i mostly attributed to the 20" rims.
They seem to last ok, nothing special, but we get 2 or 3 years out of them.

I'd love to buy some Michelins for the X5, but ever time i've priced them, they were way more expensive (but probably worth it)

From memory, the X5 is a 275 front and a 315 rear in 20"
So there wasn't too many options out there.

Goodyear, Dunlop, Bridgestone... and the Michelins.
(Then probably some 2nd Tier manufacturers)

Ok, so i'll look for some Non Run Flats this time.

Is the full size spare a 17" rim with a standard tire? You may not be able to run the spare since the circumference is probably not the same as the 20's wheels. If you do decides to go to non run flat tires, you will need to pick a size tire that when inflated is close to the circumference as the spare in the trunk.

Do yourself favor and get the non runflats. its smooth, less road noise, lighter and substantially less expensive tires. Give yourself a raise. There are a number of X5 owners that have ditched the run flats in favor of a conventional tire

My 4.6is has a factory spare in the back and same diameter ( total diameter of the rim plus spare tire sidewall height) as the 20 inch wheels on the vehicle. Now of course the spare does not have the contact patch of the 20s simply because the spare is a skinnier tire.

Run flats? On an E53?

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/f...psq1u6w64r.gif

Good point
It is a 17", but the final radius is the same, i've used the spare once for around 200k's of driving, it was fine.
Never set off Flat Tyre alarm.

I would be more concern with the wear and tear on the differential and the transfer case from running tires that doesn't have the same circumference as one another.

Obviously have no idea how the Tyre Pressure Monitor works do you :)

I can't get away with a 3psi difference in my 20" tyres, let alone a physically different sized wheel.