[Carjack]

3 or 4 days ago was just about 300m from home and the bleeper and tyre pressure warning light came on.
I suddenly had that sinking feeling. I’m getting my F30 in Sept! Why a puncture now?
The display came up with quite a screed, saying that I should brake slowly and drive to my nearest BMW dealer, but not more than at 50 mph and 50 miles away. Or something like that!

Got home checked the tyres and it was the front right. Could see the nail in the tread. Tyre pressure was 26psi. Pumped 50 strokes of the foot pump, checked again. Pressure at 24psi! Sod!

It had to be the front, with 4mm left on the fronts and the rears with only 3mm. Couldn’t find anybody local to repair the puncture so phoned/emailed around for a complete set of 4 tyres.

I like Cont’s so enquired for runflat SPT2 SSR’s. 225/45 R17 91v and 255/40 R17 94V

Halfords £790
E tyres £730
Mytyres £682
Kwik Fit £843
BMW £906 (Bridgestone, original OEM)

Told Kwik Fit that their price was too close to BMW, so they dropped their price to £730 immediately! Negotiated further with BMW and got the price down to £860.

In Sept the motors going over to a family member, so I asked what tyres do you prefer? Cont or Bridges. The answer? With what it was originally supplied with.
So it’s Bridge/s and they are now fitted and am very pleased! They seem quieter than the previous Bridge/s. (Improvement in runflat design?) with nice firm braking, steering more positive and with greater precision. Most of this due no doubt to the wear from 7mm over the last 3 years down to the current 3 & 4mm. The dry road performance with this wear was OK but to be honest it was noticeable in the wet, even in a straight line, let alone around the bends.

So I am pleased for the sake of the family member that he has a set of new tyres! My conscience is clear! It’s only money, but it will have to be considered in the final sale price!

[TripleD]

Ouch! MyTyres are around £616 for the set of RF Bridgestones, you didn't pay the BMW £860 did you?

[Carjack]

^ I got my winter tyres and steel wheels from Mytyres, but I just did not want to chance my unblemished alloys with them or who ever they use.
My BMW Main Dealer is the best there is.
You pays your money and takes your choice.

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by Carjack

...My BMW Main Dealer is the best there is.
You pays your money and takes your choice.

Are you certain that your dealer has all the necessary equipment for tyre fitting and that they don't just run your car down to the nearest Kwikfit?

[MEGA]

Why did you not just get it puncture repaired and why on earth did you re fit the awful awful runflats given the opportunity to both massively up the performance and save money at the same time?

also lmao at think BMW offer the best tyre fitting service. Might as well have gone to a local caravan site and asked them to do it..

All in my humble opinion, obviously.

[sylonien]

I'm a convert too, still got RFT on the rear but got some new none RFT front and felt the difference immediately.

[Carjack]

Thanks for your above comments!
My BMW Main Dealer, and I've had one or two, is the leading and the best in the UK. They told me they stocked and fitted their own tyres. I have no evidence to call them liars.

Would you seriously hunt high and low to find a back street runflat repairer for a tyre with 4mm of tread when your motor is capable of 140mph or so down the autobahn? is it really worth the risk?

The family member wanted runflats for safety reasons (a wet night on the motorway?) and in particular the make as originally supplied.

Had a good run out today and the Wife mentioned, without prompting:-
"The car seems to be running quite today!" Fantastic! She is lovely!
I do believe they HAVE improved runflats, again since 3 years ago.
Runflats are NOT awful. The world is and moving on!

[mob17]

Runflats are shit. Just a method of cost cutting by BMW. If they are better than NRFTs, then why don't the M division use them?

Admittingly i havent driven with your runflats but i doubt they are a big improvement from normal RFTs

[Falmouthboy]

Originally Posted by sylonien

I'm a convert too, still got RFT on the rear but got some new none RFT front and felt the difference immediately.

Mixing RFT and Non-RFT is not a good idea. They have different grip and handling characteristics.

[sylonien]

I know, its' ok. Haven't got much tread left on the rear so will be swapping them soon.

[Subzero2003]

When my current Bridgestone RFT's expire, i will be replacing with Non RFTs for a number of reasons.

Firstly, the most obvious one, the ride comfort. Even though the ride isn't bad at all with the Bridgestones, it could be better.

Secondly, the RE050A is an aged tyre now. It is not at all good in wet/damp/greasy conditions and I will not pay that much money for a tyre, when i could save hundreds and go with the best tyres money can buy.

Thirdly, whilst the RE050A feels great through the corners, if you meet a small bump mid corner, the tyre skips wildly and destabilises the car. This is again down to it being a RFT with stiff sidewalls (particularly on the RE050A which has stiff sidewalls even in non-RFT form). On totally smooth tarmac, in dry conditions, the RE050A is a fantastic tyre. But in real life driving with ruts and bumps in the road and in a country where it rains half a year, it just doesn't cut it any more and there are much better tyres out there.

That said, this is my opinion for myself. If it was for my mother or sister, i'd be encouraging them to stick with RFTs, just for the safety benefit. However, i would be telling them to look at the Michelin or Continental RFTs, which are more modern designs.

[mccoy]

Originally Posted by Falmouthboy

Mixing RFT and Non-RFT is not a good idea. They have different grip and handling characteristics.

Is this just what you have been told or have you actually driven a car with a mixture of RFT's and Non-RFT's?

I recently replaced my front tyres for non-RFT's and left the back RFT's as they still have lots of life left and found it actually handles better, both in the wet and the dry. Obviously when the backs wear out, I will be replacing them for non-RFT's to match the fronts but I don't think the need is there right now and I certainly wont be listening to mr tyre fitter who's seeing the £££ signs!

[Falmouthboy]

Originally Posted by mccoy

Is this just what you have been told or have you actually driven a car with a mixture of RFT's and Non-RFT's?

I recently replaced my front tyres for non-RFT's and left the back RFT's as they still have lots of life left and found it actually handles better, both in the wet and the dry. Obviously when the backs wear out, I will be replacing them for non-RFT's to match the fronts but I don't think the need is there right now and I certainly wont be listening to mr tyre fitter who's seeing the £££ signs!

It's what I've been told by a local indi Tyre specialist who I trust and read on numerous forums. But I concede that in a court of law this would be disregarded as hearsay.

[MEGA]

Better grip on 2 of the four wheels still means better grip overall. Just replace the others as and when.

The front and back have different handling characteristics bone stock anyway as the profile/width is different so for me although I can see your point that argument has never really held water for me ...

Dave

[Carjack]

Originally Posted by Subzero2003

When my current Bridgestone RFT's expire, i will be replacing with Non RFTs for a number of reasons.

Firstly, the most obvious one, the ride comfort. Even though the ride isn't bad at all with the Bridgestones, it could be better.

Secondly, the RE050A is an aged tyre now. It is not at all good in wet/damp/greasy conditions and I will not pay that much money for a tyre, when i could save hundreds and go with the best tyres money can buy.

Thirdly, whilst the RE050A feels great through the corners, if you meet a small bump mid corner, the tyre skips wildly and destabilises the car. This is again down to it being a RFT with stiff sidewalls (particularly on the RE050A which has stiff sidewalls even in non-RFT form). On totally smooth tarmac, in dry conditions, the RE050A is a fantastic tyre. But in real life driving with ruts and bumps in the road and in a country where it rains half a year, it just doesn't cut it any more and there are much better tyres out there.

That said, this is my opinion for myself. If it was for my mother or sister, i'd be encouraging them to stick with RFTs, just for the safety benefit. However, i would be telling them to look at the Michelin or Continental RFTs, which are more modern designs.

Thanks for yr most intesting post Sub0 and it is yr experience which I appreciate.
I like Continentals as they seem to have a good long life!
When I first drove a new E90 in 2005 I was most impressed with two things:-
1) The positive steering.
2) They way it could take fast bends on the motorway in the outside lane in heavy rain/spray with complete confidence and that was with RE050A's!
In fact I still quite enjoy driving thro' heavy spray but I have noticed only with a good tread depth. With the recent tyres at 3mm rear and 4mm front, it was not with the same degree of confidence. I would suggest that this experience would be very similar with all makes of tyres.

With my new RE050A's my confidence has returned in heavy rain and have noticed that the steering also has much improved. In fact I had not realised that directional control had dropped off somewhat.
I agree runflats are very useful if family members also drive. They were
v. useful for driving with the flat 10 miles to my BMW Main Dealer.