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BMW 3-Series Run Flat Tires

3108 messages,  Last post on Apr 21, 2013 at 1:52 PM

You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Tires

Messages Page 269 of 311

#2680 of 3108 Re: No spare 325, Year 2005 [kmreece722] by kyfdx HOST

Oct 09, 2010 (7:26 am)

Replying to: kmreece722 (Oct 08, 2010 9:23 pm)
Don't feel bad about not finding the spare.. I bought mine from a BMW dealer back in April.. Looked the car over for about an hour.. "Hey, this car doesn't have a spare!".
 
Took the salesman about 10 minutes to figure it out, himself. I've had two other E46 3-series, but they both had full-size spares..
 
Your key will have to be initialized by the dealer.. Expect 0.5-1.0 hrs. of labor... So, $60-$150....

#2681 of 3108 noisy by upstatedoc

Nov 10, 2010 (1:38 pm)

Conti RFT are starting to get noisy w/ 18,500 miles on them. I know we have discussed this a million times but what are the best choices for GFT's on the 328i xdrive. Once and for all!

#2682 of 3108 Re: noisy [upstatedoc] by larry175

Nov 10, 2010 (1:52 pm)

Replying to: upstatedoc (Nov 10, 2010 1:38 pm)
You are lucky. If you had Bridgestones the noise would have started at 5000 miles. I just put Conti Extream DWS on and after 2 days, who knows, and check this out. $650 for tires and M & B and alignment. Then Im told I have 1 cracked wheel and two bent ones. I order 3 rims $185 each. Remount and etc $270+$185X 3 for rims=$825 + original $650=$1475. I could have ordered a set of 18" wheels and tires for $1500. boo hoo

#2683 of 3108 Re: noisy [upstatedoc] by johnsam

Nov 10, 2010 (5:02 pm)

Replying to: upstatedoc (Nov 10, 2010 1:38 pm)
I have never bought "Conti RFTs" but I can give you my experience with 2 sets of Bridgestones.
Bought new 2006 330i.
First set of Bridgestones lasted 24,000 miles then having hardly any tread.. At the time I was 63 years old and the wife was 61. Do not drive hard!
Bought 2nd set of Bridgestones. Lasted 26,000 miles again hardly any treat.
Then bought Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus. Have had on for 10,600 miles. LOVE THEM
225/40R-18 FRONT /// 25535R-18 REAR (Sports Package)
I will NOT RUN RFTs again
I have always carried a "donut" spare + tools etc. so that is no problem.
Far less expensive at $1,094.00 INCLUDING Install / extended warranty / chrome valve stems etc etc.
 
HAPPY MOTORING

#2684 of 3108 Re: noisy [upstatedoc] by shipo

Nov 10, 2010 (6:48 pm)

Replying to: upstatedoc (Nov 10, 2010 1:38 pm)
The best choices? Uhhh, sorry to bust your chops like this , but as with many other things in life, "best choices" depends. Upon what? Geez, lots of stuff; how about, all-season versus dedicates winter or summer tires? How about tread life versus absolute stick to the pavement in the summer months? How about... Ahhh, you get the idea.
 
So, what are you looking for in a tire?

#2685 of 3108 Re: noisy [upstatedoc] by bigkev

Nov 11, 2010 (6:11 am)

Replying to: upstatedoc (Nov 10, 2010 1:38 pm)
Pirelli!

#2686 of 3108 2011 without run flats? by 1socalgal

Nov 11, 2010 (12:16 pm)

(1) Is it possible to order a 2011 3 series BMW without run flat tires? (2) If not, can the run flats be swapped out for radials (including changing the rims)? (3) Is there room in the trunk - below the floorboard - for a spare?

#2687 of 3108 Re: 2011 without run flats? [1socalgal] by shipo

Nov 11, 2010 (3:14 pm)

Replying to: 1socalgal (Nov 11, 2010 12:16 pm)
1) No, BMW will not sell you a 2011 3-Series equipped with anything other than RFTs.
 
2) Yes, you can throw the RFTs away and replace them with GFTs (Gets Flat Tires); the best part is that your factory wheels work equally well with either type of tire.
 
3) Yes, and No. There is room in the trunk for a spare (and a jack kit), however, there is no room below the floor for even a "Space-Saver" spare.
 
If I ultimately opt for a new BMW with RFTs, I'll yank the RFTs and replace them with GFTs, and in lieu of a spare, I'll simply put a can of goo and a small air compressor in the trunk.

#2688 of 3108 Most Tire "Issues" I've Had. . . by cdnpinhead

Nov 11, 2010 (10:08 pm)

over the past several years involve a slow leak caused by a nail or screw or whatever puncturing the tire. When one tire is losing air more quickly than the other three, examination has always resulted in finding something the tire which could be removed and the tire patched at my convenience within a few days.
 
The one exception in the past 10 years is why I will never own a car with RFTs. I was driving from Lakeview, Oregon, to Winnemucca, Nevada, on one of the most desolate (& beautiful) roads in the U.S. There is one tiny town on the highway in 211 miles -- great fun to drive with almost no traffic. One beautiful Sunday morning I was about 60% of the way through the drive when a rear tire went completely flat. I stopped quickly enough to not damage it, took a 20-minute break to install the matching full-size spare & drove without further drama to Beatty, where I spent the night -- on to Phoenix the next day & got the tire repaired. Absolutely a non-event, but with RFTs it would have taken me half a day to even get to a town, followed by an X-day wait for a new tire & highly questionable mounting of it. Guess I could have shipped the bad wheel-tire assembly to Reno or the Bay Area to have them mount the new tire and ship it back. Anyone want to guess how long that would have taken, or what it would have cost?
 
RFTs were developed for heavily-populated areas (like the Northeast U.S. or Germany) with a major city every 50-100 miles, not for the other 85% of the U.S. and Canada.

#2689 of 3108 Re: noisy [shipo] by upstatedoc

Nov 12, 2010 (9:14 am)

Replying to: shipo (Nov 10, 2010 6:48 pm)
I would be happy with all-season and tread life over stickiness. I'm not pulling many "G's" these days.

Messages Page 269 of 311

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