RFT Replacement

NickP · 03-22-2011, 05:13 AM

The rears on my car will be due for replacement in a few thousand miles time - and I'm probably going to change to non RFT -

What I need to know is, as my fronts still have plenty of life left in them can I run a split set up ie RFT's on the front and non RFT's on the rear?

I don't really want to bin the fronts ideally!

jonl1983 · 03-22-2011, 05:26 AM

no, you can not mix rft with non rft, car will be dangerous to drive! take the fronts off and flog them on ebay, you can use the money and put it towards paying for the non rft's

creepy coupe · 03-22-2011, 05:39 AM

Keep the fronts and rears if they are legal, store them somewhere, when you go to trade it back in, dealers like runflats to be fitted. Otherwise they might try and knock you £1200 on the price.

Em135eye · 03-22-2011, 05:48 AM

Changed all mine when the fronts still had a fair bit of tread. I just got the fitter to take them away, such was my hatred for them!

doughboy · 03-22-2011, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickP

I don't really want to bin the fronts ideally!

You don't bin them, either keep them for trade in time, or sell them on ebay.

As said you can't mix rtfs / non rfts (against manufacturers regs)

I got £150 on ebay for a pair of part worn 18" front RFTs!!

Merv B · 03-22-2011, 10:38 AM

What make and size are the RFTs you have?

Pwalo · 03-23-2011, 03:50 PM

I ran 225 17 continental RFT's on the rears and Bridgestone Potenzas on the fronts for about 2000 miles - might not be factory recommended but to be honest no real ill effects unless your rear track is out but that would happen with non rfts all round. I got four non RFT's now and the car does feel much more natural.

rup · 03-24-2011, 04:35 PM

For nearly a year have had RFT on rear and non RFT on fronts. No handling problems, better than when all RFT as dangerous tramlining now gone.
I do drive the car hard too.

m1bjr · 03-24-2011, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doughboy

As said you can't mix rtfs / non rfts (against manufacturers regs)

Unless you are Kwik Fit Bridgwater.

Then you can do WTF you like

jabroni80 · 03-24-2011, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonl1983

no, you can not mix rft with non rft, car will be dangerous to drive! take the fronts off and flog them on ebay, you can use the money and put it towards paying for the non rft's

Surprising to know you can't have a combo of non rfts and rfts?
At the risk of sounding extremely stupid. ....Why would it be dangerous? i thought the only difference between the tyre options is a reinforced steel wall?
Is it incase you blow more than one tyre at once?

Tony

NickP · 03-25-2011, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merv B

What make and size are the RFTs you have?

Bridgestone RE050A's 18"

jonl1983 · 03-25-2011, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jabroni80

Surprising to know you can't have a combo of non rfts and rfts?
At the risk of sounding extremely stupid. ....Why would it be dangerous? i thought the only difference between the tyre options is a reinforced steel wall?
Is it incase you blow more than one tyre at once?

Tony

it completely messes up the handling characteristics of the car, if one axle has the stiffer side walls of an rft and the other axle the softer walls of a non rft the car will handle like a boat.

the car wont respond as you would expect it to when turning etc, hence making it dangerous.

Kerr · 03-25-2011, 11:24 AM

When I first test drove my car it had new non run flat on the front. They were replaced with run flats before sale.

The front end did seem smoother and you could feel the front was a little softer too, but still the similar grip levels and equally predictable.

In no way did I feel the car felt unstable though.

I can't see to much flex coming through 30/35 series 19 inch tyres.

BEE EM · 03-29-2011, 04:38 PM

My fronts are coming to the end of their life, i am getting rid of the run flats and looking at a full set of either Falken 452's or Toyo Proxes T1's any recommendations.

Thanks

Dr Dave · 03-29-2011, 05:11 PM

From my POV it's not reccomended but I wouldn't have any reservations in running RFT's with non RFT's - obviously same type of tyre across each axle though.

Dr G13 · 03-30-2011, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

From my POV it's not reccomended but I wouldn't have any reservations in running RFT's with non RFT's - obviously same type of tyre across each axle though.

+1

I'm not a huge fan of rft because iv had 2 puntures so far but damn they grip in the dry!

Falmouthboy · 03-30-2011, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rup

For nearly a year have had RFT on rear and non RFT on fronts. No handling problems, better than when all RFT as dangerous tramlining now gone.
I do drive the car hard too.

You may not think it has improved - but if you had an accident and 'handling' was an issue, you can be sure that your insurance company and the police may see it differently. Your choice and your risk.

rup · 03-30-2011, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falmouthboy

You may not think it has improved - but if you had an accident and 'handling' was an issue, you can be sure that your insurance company and the police may see it differently. Your choice and your risk.

I seriously doubt that. Told my insurance company, they said it made no difference. Had multiple services at BMW, they asked me did i know was mixing RFT & non RFT, told them yes, they were fine with that. Never told me it was dangerous.
On previous cars i've noticed a bigger differnce when have say new rears (as replaced old ones) and part worn fronts.
Lot of mis-information on these forums from people who've never mixed but seem certain it's dangerous.
I've done it in the real world for a year, it's perfectly safe, RFT and non RFT are NOT fundamentally different tyres like say cross-ply & radials usto be. They just have a stiffer side wall.
Anyway just my opinion, each to their own.

bbstoke · 06-09-2011, 01:27 PM

Guys i've worked for Michelin for 22 years and as far as run flats are concerned Michelin are far superior, anything else is false econonmy,they will last loads longer,grip better,all round safer tyre,even better in the snow(with a 3x2 slab in the boot)

And if you have any problems with the tyre michelin will come out to you and replace free of charge(if it's a manufacturing fault) Oh and it's bad practice to mix RFT and non RFT. Like mixing radial with the old cross thread, it is legal as long as you have the legal depth,just not a good idea..Hope this helps...Btw i get my tyres for free :-)

willhollin · 06-09-2011, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbstoke

...Btw i get my tyres for free :-)

Can I be your special friend?

03-22-2011, 05:13 AM	#1
NickP Detailing 13 Rep 440 Posts Drives: E90 330d Join Date: May 2010 Location: Essex,UK iTrader: (1)	RFT Replacement The rears on my car will be due for replacement in a few thousand miles time - and I'm probably going to change to non RFT - What I need to know is, as my fronts still have plenty of life left in them can I run a split set up ie RFT's on the front and non RFT's on the rear? I don't really want to bin the fronts ideally!
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03-22-2011, 05:26 AM	#2
jonl1983 Lieutenant 21 Rep 482 Posts Drives: F12 640d M Sport Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: South Wales iTrader: (2)	no, you can not mix rft with non rft, car will be dangerous to drive! take the fronts off and flog them on ebay, you can use the money and put it towards paying for the non rft's
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03-22-2011, 05:39 AM	#3
creepy coupe Lieutenant General 1867 Rep 13,043 Posts Drives: BMW M340I G20 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2015 BMW 435d [0.00] 2009 335i [0.00]	Keep the fronts and rears if they are legal, store them somewhere, when you go to trade it back in, dealers like runflats to be fitted. Otherwise they might try and knock you £1200 on the price.
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03-22-2011, 05:48 AM	#4
Em135eye Banned 175 Rep 4,302 Posts Drives: M135i Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South West iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW M135i 5 door [0.00]	Changed all mine when the fronts still had a fair bit of tread. I just got the fitter to take them away, such was my hatred for them!
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03-22-2011, 10:38 AM	#6
Merv B Private First Class 8 Rep 150 Posts Drives: 2005 320D SE Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Lancs iTrader: (0)	What make and size are the RFTs you have?
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03-23-2011, 03:50 PM	#7
Pwalo Private 10 Rep 87 Posts Drives: 118d m sport Le Mans blue 2009 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Guisborough iTrader: (0)	I ran 225 17 continental RFT's on the rears and Bridgestone Potenzas on the fronts for about 2000 miles - might not be factory recommended but to be honest no real ill effects unless your rear track is out but that would happen with non rfts all round. I got four non RFT's now and the car does feel much more natural.
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03-24-2011, 04:35 PM	#8
rup Private First Class 4 Rep 171 Posts Drives: Z4 - 23 Sdrive Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: London iTrader: (0)	For nearly a year have had RFT on rear and non RFT on fronts. No handling problems, better than when all RFT as dangerous tramlining now gone. I do drive the car hard too.
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03-25-2011, 11:24 AM	#13
Kerr Brigadier General 112 Rep 4,021 Posts Drives: BMW M235I Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Aberdeen iTrader: (0)	When I first test drove my car it had new non run flat on the front. They were replaced with run flats before sale. The front end did seem smoother and you could feel the front was a little softer too, but still the similar grip levels and equally predictable. In no way did I feel the car felt unstable though. I can't see to much flex coming through 30/35 series 19 inch tyres.
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03-29-2011, 04:38 PM	#14
BEE EM Enlisted Member 3 Rep 42 Posts Drives: 520d SE Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: KENT iTrader: (0)	My fronts are coming to the end of their life, i am getting rid of the run flats and looking at a full set of either Falken 452's or Toyo Proxes T1's any recommendations. Thanks
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03-29-2011, 05:11 PM	#15
Dr Dave Zummerzet Zyder Drinker! 112 Rep 5,541 Posts Drives: '06 330D Le Mans Blue Join Date: May 2009 Location: Somerset iTrader: (3) Garage List 2006 330d M Sport [0.00]	From my POV it's not reccomended but I wouldn't have any reservations in running RFT's with non RFT's - obviously same type of tyre across each axle though. __________________
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06-09-2011, 01:27 PM	#19
bbstoke Private First Class 2 Rep 154 Posts Drives: 2006 e90 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Stoke-On-Trent iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 318i SE [10.00]	Guys i've worked for Michelin for 22 years and as far as run flats are concerned Michelin are far superior, anything else is false econonmy,they will last loads longer,grip better,all round safer tyre,even better in the snow(with a 3x2 slab in the boot) And if you have any problems with the tyre michelin will come out to you and replace free of charge(if it's a manufacturing fault) Oh and it's bad practice to mix RFT and non RFT. Like mixing radial with the old cross thread, it is legal as long as you have the legal depth,just not a good idea..Hope this helps...Btw i get my tyres for free :-)
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