[br438]

Alenza 001 rft... I just hadn't put a compressor in the car yet. that's on me.

The tire is 6psi low, and they are driving to a HomeDepot to get a Rigid compressor that will run on the 12v outlet or batteries.

These wheels and tires (and the 001 before this set) have never lost even 1 PSI out of the tire between checks (they read different at different temps, but don't lose air), so I'm fairly certain there is an object somewhere in the tire.

At 31psi currently, if I can keep them in the 31-37 range, I would guess the tire sidewall is still good - as long as the patch can be made.

First focus is to get them home safe. I had been thinking of moving to PS4S,.... but with this experience, I'm honestly really glad they have the 001s on the X3. This may change my mind on RFTs. hmmm... anyone else have an experience like this?

[ASAP]

at 31 psi, you are probably ok but it could deflate quick... you need to pump it up asap otherwise the tire will be done

[br438]

Once aired up, the tire has been holding at 38psi for the journey. I'm interested how it got to 31psi. hmmm... will report back.

[TXGrey]

I had a puncture go all the way down to around 20…. Tire was repaired and I drove on it for another season. I do triple digit speeds almost weekly. Your tire will be fine. (Still running 001s - FYI)

Now less than 20, I’d say that’s pushing it. 15 or less? I’d prob trash the tire for sure.

Keep us posted.

[Hound Passer]

Originally Posted by br438

This may change my mind on RFTs. hmmm... anyone else have an experience like this?

Yeah, it's a love-hate for the RFTs for me too just as you explain. RFTs have saved my bacon a couple times, but the most important time was when I was on the expressway going to a meeting. Warning pops up. Made it to the meeting on time and didn't have to risk life and limb to apply fix a flat or change a tire on the highway -- had to do that once in high school. Once is enough for a lifetime. Plus around here many parts of the expressway have turned the emergency lane into an HOV lane with an emergency pull off every few miles...miles.

I just don't know why there are not more all-season RFTs for 20". Plenty of summer and winter only. I think Firestone/Bridgeston is the only company with any M&S All-Season RFTs and they don't have great reviews for what they cost.

[chhappy7]

Originally Posted by Hound Passer

Yeah, it's a love-hate for the RFTs for me too just as you explain. RFTs have saved my bacon a couple times, but the most important time was when I was on the expressway going to a meeting. Warning pops up. Made it to the meeting on time and didn't have to risk life and limb to apply fix a flat or change a tire on the highway — had to do that once in high school. Once is enough for a lifetime. Plus around here many parts of the expressway have turned the emergency lane into an HOV lane with an emergency pull off every few miles...miles.

I just don't know why there are not more all-season RFTs for 20". Plenty of summer and winter only. I think Firestone/Bridgeston is the only company with any M&S All-Season RFTs and they don't have great reviews for what they cost.

You pretty much almost touched it. Not enough people would probably buy RFT since they cost a good bit more per tire, especially on more performance oriented sizes like 20 inches. Once regular cars get to have 20 inch as a popular option like 18 inch is now, more will prob come out.

[br438]

Update: Family is home safe and sound. My daughter inflated the tire to 37psi in Atlanta, and that's where it sits right now at home. Weird.

1) Rigid's handheld 12v/18v inflator is amazing. It holds in the hand like a small finish nailer.

2) Runflats for the win, but I've done more research today on TPMS-safe slime in the rescue bottle that can attach between the inflator and the tire. I would love to not need to be on RFTs.

I cannot, personally, inspect the tire... as I can't lift over 10lbs... or really do anything at the moment. hahahaha... If the pressure holds overnight, I'll have someone look at it this week and report back.

It would be weird if it just lost air randomly. It would be less weird if someone between Nashville and ATL just decided to let some air out of a BMW tire for fun... ?? nah. who knows.

[Alias1431]

Originally Posted by Hound Passer

Yeah, it's a love-hate for the RFTs

I see the obvious appeal of RFT's, but I couldn't take the harshness and noisiness of them, so I switched to non's when the OEM's wore down. BUT, I could see myself giving them another go if they ever made PS4S RFT's, or better. Pipe dream?

[br438]

If Michelen will bring their self-sealing tech ti summer performance tires, they would be a no-brainer. Waaaay better solution for street tires.

Cup-2s or track specific? - will probably always be old-school.

[HeatJoey]

This is a great test, for my biggest concern of having a loss of pressure out of town with a run flat! How far did they end up driving on the tire ? I guess it doesn’t really count though as they didn’t lose all pressure so it’s no different than a non run flat with a possible puncture ?

[HeatJoey]

It is kind of strange that they don’t make an all season run flat for the 20”’s.. at least with the specified xl load range .. I do see no xl run flats our size, wonder if that is really a problem for normal driving or I don’t tow or carry full loads of anything

[br438]

Originally Posted by HeatJoey

This is a great test, for my biggest concern of having a loss of pressure out of town with a run flat! How far did they end up driving on the tire ? I guess it doesn’t really count though as they didn’t lose all pressure so it’s no different than a non run flat with a possible puncture ?

Indeterminate number of miles at 31psi.

~250 miles after airing back up. The tire did not lose any air at all the whole way home. (No sealant was used. Since it appeared to have stabilized at 31psi, the plan was for them to exit the interstate and air up as needed on the trip home - to be re-evaluated if it became too frequent.)

Still curious.

[br438]

Originally Posted by HeatJoey

It is kind of strange that they don’t make an all season run flat for the 20”’s.. at least with the specified xl load range .. I do see no xl run flats our size, wonder if that is really a problem for normal driving or I don’t tow or carry full loads of anything

Hmmm. My cold season tires are the all-season pirellis - but on oem 19s.

The performance tire market in the X3's tire range is... specific for sure.

[spangle1980]

Originally Posted by TXGrey

I had a puncture go all the way down to around 20…. Tire was repaired and I drove on it for another season. I do triple digit speeds almost weekly. Your tire will be fine. (Still running 001s - FYI)

Now less than 20, I’d say that’s pushing it. 15 or less? I’d prob trash the tire for sure.

Keep us posted.

Triple digit speeds almost weekly is TIGHT.

[TXGrey]

Originally Posted by spangle1980

Triple digit speeds almost weekly is TIGHT.

At my age, it would probably pass as stupidity… but I get to work at fairly early hours of the morning… so some days, I’m afforded a nice empty highway.

[EricP3]

Originally Posted by br438

Indeterminate number of miles at 31psi.

~250 miles after airing back up. The tire did not lose any air at all the whole way home. (No sealant was used. Since it appeared to have stabilized at 31psi, the plan was for them to exit the interstate and air up as needed on the trip home - to be re-evaluated if it became too frequent.)

Still curious.

I had a nail in one of my rear tires and it would drop from 38 psi down to 31 psi within a few days and then sit there for a while. I could make it over a week with it sitting around 30 psi before filling it back up. Eventually had a tire shop patch it.

[HeatJoey]

Originally Posted by br438

Indeterminate number of miles at 31psi.

~250 miles after airing back up. The tire did not lose any air at all the whole way home. (No sealant was used. Since it appeared to have stabilized at 31psi, the plan was for them to exit the interstate and air up as needed on the trip home - to be re-evaluated if it became too frequent.)

Still curious.

Guess my question remains, what if it lost all air would they have made it home? This is my whole concern with run flats and no spare as they would be stuck somewhere far away since they were well beyond 50 miles from home, which is the max range of a run flat with no air.
I still think a spare is better even though I hate this thing in the back lol
I don’t think I’ll make a long trip without it. Right now I still have the run flats but once worn , non run flats are going on

[chhappy7]

Originally Posted by HeatJoey

Guess my question remains, what if it lost all air would they have made it home? This is my whole concern with run flats and no spare as they would be stuck somewhere far away since they were well beyond 50 miles from home, which is the max range of a run flat with no air.
I still think a spare is better even though I hate this thing in the back lol
I don’t think I’ll make a long trip without it. Right now I still have the run flats but once worn , non run flats are going on

Lmao. I feel like I see this ugly ass picture everywhere xD I just carry a slime set around and so far in my years of driving haven't had a flat yet. All else fails, roadside is only about half an hour at most away, so I'd rather go down that road rather than carry around that thing. To each their own though.

[br438]

As of tonight, that silly tire is still holding air perfectly.

That car will have TPMS safe slime ("rescue") and that compressor in it from now on.

I won't sweat RFTs when the time comes.

I will say that - even in Atlanta, on a Sunday most tire stores and all BMW service centers were closed, and Alenza 001 RFTs and PS4S for the m40i (20" staggered) were absolutely not available at any Costco... or anywhere "same day". This is a tough vehicle to "need a tire" while out of town.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by br438

As of tonight, that silly tire is still holding air perfectly.

That car will have TPMS safe slime ("rescue") and that compressor in it from now on.

I won't sweat RFTs when the time comes.

I will say that - even in Atlanta, on a Sunday most tire stores and all BMW service centers were closed, and Alenza 001 RFTs and PS4S for the m40i (20" staggered) were absolutely not available at any Costco... or anywhere "same day". This is a tough vehicle to "need a tire" while out of town.

this WILL be true for any iteration of a tire needed for this car... rft or not

i've made this abunduntly clear... that is you want to be absolutely safe, you will need a spare to get you where you are while on a trip

if not on a trip... i would HIGHLY suggest getting the most common tire type for your car... which in the case of the x3 m40i is the 20 inch rft... this will put you out of service the shortest as the chance of the tire being in stock is highest

[HeatJoey]

Originally Posted by chhappy7

Lmao. I feel like I see this ugly ass picture everywhere xD I just carry a slime set around and so far in my years of driving haven't had a flat yet. All else fails, roadside is only about half an hour at most away, so I'd rather go down that road rather than carry around that thing. To each their own though.

understood and agreed.
however.... it's ugly only until you or your wife is 300 miles from home, at night, with a tow truck being hours away, or no cell service, with no bMW dealer nearby or open on a sunday night, or no tire in stock in these weird sizes, going down us27 in the middle of no where... just saying

at the very least, even with run flats, if you're more than 50 miles away the spare is the only real solution. where do you tow your car to if you're 400 miles from home lol?

[HeatJoey]

Originally Posted by br438

As of tonight, that silly tire is still holding air perfectly.

That car will have TPMS safe slime ("rescue") and that compressor in it from now on.

I won't sweat RFTs when the time comes.

I will say that - even in Atlanta, on a Sunday most tire stores and all BMW service centers were closed, and Alenza 001 RFTs and PS4S for the m40i (20" staggered) were absolutely not available at any Costco... or anywhere "same day". This is a tough vehicle to "need a tire" while out of town.

exactly why my ugly spare isn't so ugly the day you need it