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Sedans BMW 3-Series BMW 3-Series 2006
6997 messages, Last post on Jun 11, 2009 at 1:07 AM
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Don't let price be an object in replacing run-flat Chicago Tribune, Published August 28, 2005 Q. My 2006 BMW 325i sedan came with 205/55-R16 all-season Bridgestone Turanza EL 42 RFT run-flat tires. Due to a low tire-pressure warning, I drove carefully at 45 m.p.h. a distance of 10 miles to the dealer to have it repaired. The dealer told me once the tire has been driven in a low-pressure condition, it cannot be repaired and must be replaced at a cost of $229. What good are these run-flat tires if they cannot be repaired? Is there any alternative to this, other than replacing all four with quality standard tires and carrying a 12-volt powered tire inflator pump and a container of tire sealant? Would standard tires of the correct size work on my wheels? R.K., Chicago A. Sure, you could replace the run-flats with conventional tires, but they would cost nearly the same. Also consider that you lose the advantage of being able to drive the car to a safe place should the tire go flat in the middle of nowhere or that you can get home from dinner at Morton's without getting dirty. When a conventional tire goes flat, you will ruin your expensive alloy wheel in less than a mile if you ride on it. As for repairing your current tire, we turned to Bill VanderWater, consumer products manager of sales engineering for Bridgestone/Firestone North America. First, he told us that BMW's position on all damaged tires is replacement, not repair. He also reminded us that there is no room in your BMW for a spare or a jack should you go with conventional tires. Finally, he said there are special techniques (and training) required to safely repair a run-flat, and it is contingent on the damage being in a repairable place on the tire. Our suggestion? Bite the bullet and buy a tire. |
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Replying to: cdnpinhead (Dec 14, 2005 1:42 pm) My understanding is that once you drive on a "flat" RFT, you have to replace it. Some people in this forum have reported repairing RFTs, but I think you have to catch it right away and not drive on it. BMW recommends replacement every time (whether or not you drive on it), but speculation is that they do so for liability concerns and not because RFTs are incapable of being repaired. RFTs will safely get you to the nearest BMW dealer or tire place, and then empty your wallet when you get there. 
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With a sport package I'll get staggered RFTs, sized so as to be somewhat delicate in terms of road hazard damage. . .and I'm not all that enamored of the wheel choice. Perhaps I should buy a set of four tires & wheels from Tirerack to use for everyday commuting. On my (sadly) infrequent, but very enjoyable, 3-5K mile solo driving vacations around the West, I could put the OEM wheels back on for max performance & pleasure, and throw one of the commuter sets in the car for a spare. Even run-flats may find their limits on some of the roads I drive in Nevada and Eastern Oregon, where it can be 120 miles between places with open gas stations, even in the daytime. The commuter tires (I like Kumhos also & run them on my present car, after a set of Michelin Pilot AS) could be chosen for wear & the wheels for appearance that pleases me. |
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Replying to: cdnpinhead (Dec 14, 2005 4:15 pm) I just had my winter wheels and tires put on, and carrying a spare around in the trunk would eat up almost half the available space. I fit two wheels and tires in the trunk and two in the back seat. I carry a can of Fix-a-Flat and a 12v inflator so that if I get a low-pressure warning, I have a fighting chance of getting pressure back into the RFT so that it can be repaired...
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Replying to: aphall (Dec 14, 2005 1:24 pm) |
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Replying to: corvette (Dec 14, 2005 4:49 pm) But then I came to realize that it is an extremely rare occurrence to get a flat -- maybe once every 3-5 years. And, to be a big problem at all, it would have to happen on one of those rare occasions when I happened to be in the middle of nowhere -- maybe 2-3 times a year. I finally realized that it's just not worth worrying about. I mean, I would rather have GFT's and a spare, but it's not that big a deal. As several people have said, you can carry that Fix-A-Flat in a can if you're really worried. But one thing I don't get is why you need the 12volt inflator. Doesn't the can of Fix a Flat have enough compressed air to reinflate the tire? Jim
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Replying to: buynewbimmer (Dec 15, 2005 2:29 pm) That may be true…but I’ve had 5 flats in the past 5 years…normal roads, not driving through a construction site or anything. We’ll see what 06 has in store. |
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Replying to: buynewbimmer (Dec 15, 2005 2:29 pm) Maybe. If I can tell it's a slow leak, I'd rather not use the Fix-a-Flat, and just inflate the tire with the compressor. And if the Fix-a-Flat works to seal the tire, it may still have very low pressure. It's just another tool to have at my disposal. |
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speaking of rtf tires.I find them to be noisy on the slightest coars blacktop road.The regular Turanza L42 E has very bad reviews on the Tirerack Board. They list the rtf tire for 165.00 $.Sofar there are very few choises in these tires if you can even find them. Any one out there find them also noisy ??????
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Replying to: adolf2 (Dec 15, 2005 7:18 pm) I've heard this in several places on these boards, but I'm not sure how much of this is due to the run-flat construction vs. the things that can make any particular tire noisy. Even with non-RFTs, there's a wide variance in noise from one brand/model to another, mostly having to do with tread pattern. For what it's worth, though, I would guess that, all other factors being equal, RFTs would tend to transmit more road vibration -- noise -- to the car due to the necessary stiffness of their sidewalls. Only a guess, but this might be why many people notice the difference.
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