RFTs are such a nice invention !

rori zahr · 01-19-2010, 11:42 PM

yesterday, on my way to the office I had my first tire light alarm going off in my dash.
it was powering rain like crazy and there was no way to pull over to check the condition of my tires so I kept going.
I was not even sure it was a puncture, I thought it could be a difference in air pressure that have triggered the alarm. from the cabin, the drive was normal.
Only when I reached the office, some 20K later that I was able to see that the rear "left" tire was running on it's lateral rubber support, no remaining air at all. I took the car a couple of hours later to a nearby tire shop and get it fixed in 2 minutes.
I was reading an article that there's a second generation of RFTs much more improved from Bridgestone.
love the invention.

Irishace · 01-20-2010, 07:00 AM

You won't love the performance of them and the cost of replacing them either. RFTs offer convenience but little else.

Why Knot · 01-20-2010, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irishace

You won't love the performance of them and the cost of replacing them either. RFTs offer convenience but little else.

Like everything else in life, it is a matter of opinion. The problem is that the RFT's are shoved down our throats. An option for non-RFT's is really needed.

KingOfJericho · 01-20-2010, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Why Knot

Like everything else in life, it is a matter of opinion.

Not much room for opinion as the tires have a much more rigid sidewall which significantly reduces drive comfort. I would call that a fact.

My135 · 01-20-2010, 09:14 AM

I am still waiting on the 3rd gen of RFT which supposed to improve performance with a softer ride and lesser noise.

1ottawa · 01-20-2010, 10:07 AM

what's more valuable to you:
performance or life?
money or life?
comfort, or life?

Lionel Hutz · 01-20-2010, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rori zahr

Only when I reached the office, some 20K later that I was able to see that the rear "left" tire was running on it's lateral rubber support, no remaining air at all. I took the car a couple of hours later to a nearby tire shop and get it fixed in 2 minutes.

IIRC, you are supposed to completely replace a RFT that has been driven on just the sidewall with no air pressure.

Lionel Hutz · 01-20-2010, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1ottawa

what's more valuable to you:
performance or life?
money or life?
comfort, or life?

You realize it isn't exactly like people were dying left and right from flat tires before RTFs were invented, right?

KingOfJericho · 01-20-2010, 10:28 AM

Last week my neighbor walked out to his car and discovered that one of his tires was flat... he died right on the spot.

1ottawa · 01-20-2010, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zed 2.0

You realize it isn't exactly like people were dying left and right from flat tires before RTFs were invented, right?

of course not. some people don't like taking chances tho

a front flat on the highway at 70mph in traffic could be disastrous.

KingOfJericho · 01-20-2010, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1ottawa

of course not. some people don't like taking chances tho

a front flat on the highway at 70mph in traffic could be disastrous.

I don't believe that RFTs prevent blowouts which is the type of flat you're referring to.

imported_mega · 01-20-2010, 10:53 AM

I would rather have more grip and stopping power on the road, than a runflat, to me the grip/stopping distance are by far a bigger safety advantage than a runflat

and the difference is significant, best mod on my car was removing runflats

Why Knot · 01-20-2010, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

Not much room for opinion as the tires have a much more rigid sidewall which significantly reduces drive comfort. I would call that a fact.

You are absolutely right, but the extra stiffness does not bother everyone.

Xyloft · 01-20-2010, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

I don't believe that RFTs prevent blowouts which is the type of flat you're referring to.

lets not forget that since people dont actualy treat their runflats like runflats (like replacing them when they're supposed too. ) which causes RFT's to blow out.

imported_mega · 01-20-2010, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xyloft

lets not forget that since people dont actualy treat their runflats like runflats (like replacing them when they're supposed too. ) which causes RFT's to blow out.

like the OP, he drove 20k on a flat tire, and they did not replace it in 2 minutes, they must have plugged it

any driving on a flat runflat and they should be replaced

KingOfJericho · 01-20-2010, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imported_mega

like the OP, he drove 20k on a flat tire, and they did not replace it in 2 minutes, they must have plugged it

any driving on a flat runflat and they should be replaced

Whoa... didn't even notice that. Yeah get that tire off the car!! You're not supposed to plug or patch a RFT.

Tom K. · 01-20-2010, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

You're not supposed to plug or patch a RFT.

No tire should be repaired if the puncture is in or near the sidewall. But if it's in the tread, why wouldn't you patch/plug a RFT?

Tom

miro2296 · 01-20-2010, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

Last week my neighbor walked out to his car and discovered that one of his tires was flat... he died right on the spot.

lol

SV Concepts III · 01-20-2010, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irishace

You won't love the performance of them and the cost of replacing them either. RFTs offer convenience but little else.

+1 Those are my gripes with it, I just replaced them with INVOs and a AAA membership

larryn · 01-20-2010, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick@Jlevi SW

+1 Those are my gripes with it, I just replaced them with INVOs and a AAA membership

Get stranded twice because of no tires available in the area you had a RFT blowout in, and there is no convenience at all. I just see them as expensive, overly harsh, and leaving you with zero good options in many situations.

Went car shopping this past weekend for/with my wife, and it was down to a 328xi and a A4 3.2Q. Her deciding factor was that the Audi had a full sized spare and no RFT tires. She was actually leaning towards the BMW, and then said "Wait a sec... that car doesn't have those crappy RFT tires?".

Yvette · 01-20-2010, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imported_mega

like the OP, he drove 20k on a flat tire, and they did not replace it in 2 minutes, they must have plugged it

any driving on a flat runflat and they should be replaced

even BMW dealershop plug them, unless they aren't pluggable.
I wouldn't think BMW would do such irresponsible things to save some cost.
I had tire insurance.

2010AW135i · 01-20-2010, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e90sexion

even BMW dealershop plug them, unless they aren't pluggable.
I wouldn't think BMW would do such irresponsible things to save some cost.
I had tire insurance.

BMW dealerships do stupid shit all the time. They are SUPPOSED TO REPLACE THE TIRE. There is NO way for them to know how far you drove on the tire when it was flat.

I'm all for plugging the tire if you just found it was flat and never drove on it without air in it.

But any driving on the tire with no air in it, has compromised the safety and intergrity of the tire. It NEEDS to be replaced.

01-19-2010, 11:42 PM	#1
rori zahr AristoCat 42 Rep 676 Posts Drives: M2 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Beirut iTrader: (0)	RFTs are such a nice invention ! yesterday, on my way to the office I had my first tire light alarm going off in my dash. it was powering rain like crazy and there was no way to pull over to check the condition of my tires so I kept going. I was not even sure it was a puncture, I thought it could be a difference in air pressure that have triggered the alarm. from the cabin, the drive was normal. Only when I reached the office, some 20K later that I was able to see that the rear "left" tire was running on it's lateral rubber support, no remaining air at all. I took the car a couple of hours later to a nearby tire shop and get it fixed in 2 minutes. I was reading an article that there's a second generation of RFTs much more improved from Bridgestone. love the invention. __________________ AristoCat
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01-20-2010, 07:00 AM	#2
Irishace ElevenPointFive 327 Rep 2,450 Posts Drives: E90 335 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	You won't love the performance of them and the cost of replacing them either. RFTs offer convenience but little else. __________________ 2008 E90 335xi - N54 Daily Driver MHD Stage 2+ ~ CPE DPs ~ BMS Intake ~ AMS FMIC
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01-20-2010, 09:14 AM	#5
My135 Lieutenant Colonel 87 Rep 1,609 Posts Drives: Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (0)	I am still waiting on the 3rd gen of RFT which supposed to improve performance with a softer ride and lesser noise. __________________ 7/08 135 Coupe, Crimson Red, 6 SP, Sport, Taupe Lette/Aluminum. Performance Mods: JB4 on Map 5, BMS DP Fix V3, Injen polished intake, AR Catless DP, Maddad resonated mid-pipes, aFe exhaust polished tips, ST Suspension Coil Over and Hotchkis front sway bar. Others: BMS OCC, BT Scanner, Mud Flap. Next Mods: AA Front Strut Brace.
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01-20-2010, 10:07 AM	#6
1ottawa Private 1 Rep 53 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ottawa, ON iTrader: (0)	what's more valuable to you: performance or life? money or life? comfort, or life?
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01-20-2010, 10:28 AM	#9
KingOfJericho Major General 2454 Rep 7,341 Posts Drives: Yes Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CT iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 135i Coupe [5.26]	Last week my neighbor walked out to his car and discovered that one of his tires was flat... he died right on the spot. __________________ The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Bimmerpost. 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee High Altitude Hemi \| 2010 S4 Sold \| 2010 BMW 135i Retired \| 2006 Lotus Exige Sold
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01-20-2010, 10:53 AM	#12
imported_mega Colonel 124 Rep 2,204 Posts Drives: various bmw's Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: neverland iTrader: (0)	I would rather have more grip and stopping power on the road, than a runflat, to me the grip/stopping distance are by far a bigger safety advantage than a runflat and the difference is significant, best mod on my car was removing runflats __________________ You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape. Driving e82, e72, e85, R53 Gone but not forgotten.. 1974 2002, many various 3s.
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