Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Sedans BMW 3-Series BMW 3-Series Run Flat Tires
2421 messages, Last post on Dec 02, 2009 at 1:06 PM
You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
I just brought a 2009 3-series coupe BMW, and the deal breaker could have been the run flat tires, but I continue the deal anyway after 20-minutes of thinking. After reading these post..... I do not know what to think about them. I'm 50-year old and have had flat and my wife has had flats. The first thing we do is look for a safe spot to change the tire. depending on where you are at, this could take 50 to 300 yardsof traveling to get off a busy road or looking for a level spot. By the time you reach a safe place to replace your regular tire, it is damaged, and normal protocol is to replace both tires so that they can ware even. I agree, run flat tires could about 75-dollars more, but no time is wasted changing the tire, and they could maybe be plugged. This post has opened my eyes, but I still think it is a good deal.
|
|
|
Replying to: jagost (May 20, 2009 6:15 am) I am just about ready to close the deal on a a similar car 09 328xi coupe with the RFT. Did you buy the optional tire maintainence package ($799 for 3 years). THis seems to be logical however for a few dollars more I can lease a 528xi with simialr equipment and regular tires. How do you like the car? |
|
|
TO JAGOST I am a 66 year old that loves the car but real iffy on RFTs. I am running them on a 2006 330i. The first set was worn out at 24,000 miles of 70% city and 30% highway. I am on the 2nd set with now 39,000 miles and have about 1/3 tread left. No flats nor blowouts. I carry a "donut" spare, power kack, and tools just in case. Yes the spare does take up trunk room, but I have lived with that for 39,000 miles and still constantly feel that I have enough room left for trip packing. My wife did up a wonderful tire cover that matches the trunk material perfectly. The car has ALL options including the Sport Package, so when it comes time to change tires, (back tires being larger tham the front) money starts passing in wads. One thing to keep in mind when running RFTs, is that they ARE NOT AVAILABLE in all areas. I live in Springfield/Eugene Oregon. The rear tires (when I need them) are a day away in Portland! Sad if you are in an outlying area for a weekend drive and find that you have to get hold of a RFT now! Yes you have a certain number of miles on the RFT (they say 50, but I am sure you can get more). But what is 50 miles when in the western mountain region? I like the comfort of the "donut" in the trunk. Like you, I grew up replacing flat tires (as I did checking the dip stick......what happened to that?) As I say I have now run 39,000 miles with no flats. So why carry a "donut tire"? I FEEL SAFER. 
|
|
|
Replying to: johnsam (May 20, 2009 8:02 am) I think that with time, the technology will get better and prices will come down. These run flat tires have been around since the 80s and 90s, and It appears that is the way car makers are headed to help make a greener world (by-the-way, I do not care, I'm not political). This will reduce the weight of the car, and no one will need a spare tire so the petroleum that goes into making a spare will be saved to make other things. Finally, I had a 2006 Lexus IS, and Lexus make you sign a paper stating that you were warned that the tread life on them is only 14,000 miles. I replaced mine at 18,000 miles. |
|
|
ya know guys, it doesn't make a hill of bean difference, run flats or non run flats, The problem is with the tires. They are noisy, drive hard and wear fast. If you don't care, keep the rft's. If it bothers you buy a jack and donut or jack and full size spare. This 68 yo geezer has a 09 335xi and the tires are starting to get noisy at 8000 miles and I think the dealer is dragging his feet regarding replacement tires. But my wife wants a 3.28 sedan so we will see if they want her business. If your tires are riding hard and getting noisy don't let to much time go by. They will prorate. I don't hot rod so my tires are wearing o.k. good luck to all |
|
I just join this post today because I just brought a 2009 BMW and read all the post on RFT. It is ashamed that all website links that are suppose to help buyers with the purchase of cars such as msn.com, yahoo.com and even Edmunds.com all have great thing to say about the BMW drive and feel. But not once do they ever write about the run flat tires perceive problem in the review section by the pros or the customers who brought the car??? And that there is no choice but to buy the BMW 3-series with RTF or do not buy a 3-series at all. It just shows that all these websites are in bad with the car companies.
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: jagost (May 20, 2009 3:49 pm) The customers who bought the car ARE reviewing RFTs, right here. You won't see straight-ahead forums like this at those other sites. Visiting Host, not in bed with anyone at the moment 
|
|
|
checkout this Edmunds link: http://www.edmunds.com/bmw/3series/2009/index.html#search=open.eq..amp.p.eq.cveh- icledata%23%23-1%23%23-1%7E%7Enf12%7C%7C424d57 The Editor rating is 8.4, customer rating is 9.3, and not one tire complaint. Most customer will only go here. I found this Edmund forum probably the same way other did, I google it, and read all the links. Edmund does good work, better than other sites, but this info is not part of the the main "Edmunds.com where smart buyers Start" page. Does that page have a link to the forum? No. This information is mostly read after the fact. When the deal is closed.
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: jagost (May 21, 2009 8:42 am) "It's not all bouquets, though. Despite adopting new fourth-generation run-flat tires with an altered sidewall design aimed at providing greater compliance, the 3 Series continues to suffer from an overly firm ride. At highway speeds it is reasonably comfortable, but at lower speeds around town it can become quite harsh when attempting to deal with broken sections of asphalt." (From First Drive Road Test READ IT HERE Given the hammering BMW has gotten from us about iDrive and Bangle styling, if we are in bed with anyone, this is definitely a lover's quarrel. |
|
|
|
|
Replying to: beamer44 (May 17, 2009 6:36 pm) I see you got the spare. Does it fit in the trunk with the top down? If so will go for the 328ic. Looked at the new Lexus is350c and infinity but BMW is what we really want if I can make the spare work with top down. thanks again
|
|
You are here:
Forums
Sedans BMW 3-Series BMW 3-Series Run Flat Tires
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2010 BMW 3 Series
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
