Ask the Car People.SM


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 290 of 311

#2888 of 3108 Re: Are the Michelin RFT's better? [Mr_Shiftright] by busiris

Jul 02, 2011 (10:15 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jul 01, 2011 9:15 am)
I guess I see it differently. It just isn't an issue to me.
 
Carmakers make decisions on what to offer all the time, and we (as a customer) either take it or pass on it. For example, Model X comes with a Bose stereo, but you prefer a different stereo brand... The choice is to accept the Bose or pass on Model X.
 
And, there really are some advantages to RFT's... As I think I have posted here before, my neighbor was well off the side of the interstate hwy changing a flat when he was hit by an incredibly drunk driver and killed instantly. If his car had RFT's, he would probably be here today.
 
Now, that doesn't mean ther aren't disadvantages to RFT's... just that, depending on the situation, they may work for you OR against you.
 
Chew a tire up in Podunk, WY, and you have a real problem. Even then, in many cases, that isn't limited to RFT's alone. If my 328i BMW (Sport Pkg. - 18"wheels) shreads a tire there, there's little chance I will find a 255/35-18 RFT OR GFT locally (in stock).
 
Still, if I had the capability to carry a spare designed into the vehicle, I might make it to a larger city on a space-saver spare... maybe.
 
That's why I think BMW should at least offer the space-saver space in the trunk (like my wife's 2005 MINI convertible that came equipped with RFT's).
 
But, I knowingly bought the car with RFT's, so I accepted the risk.

#2889 of 3108 Re: Are the Michelin RFT's better? [busiris] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 02, 2011 (10:56 am)

Replying to: busiris (Jul 02, 2011 10:15 am)
Well I'm not so sure that unfortunate (tragic) scenario is really a booster for RFTs though. He could have driven off the road on a regular tire---sure, ruining it beyond belief but you've seen those police chase videos----I'd trade a tire and rim for my life anyday.
 
Besides, if you run a RFT while flat for an appreciable distance, it's ruined as well.
 
It's like tires are going flat left and right these days. I have way more bicycle flats than car flats (by about 100 to 1 !!!) and I don't see any RFT bicycle tires being marketed.
 
(cue commercial: "bicyclists, what if YOU have a flat tire while crossing a bridge in a narrow bike lane? You need the all new TREK RFT tire---only $185, for that peace of mind!")
 
You'd laugh, right?

#2890 of 3108 Re: Are the Michelin RFT's better? [busiris] by cdnpinhead

Jul 02, 2011 (1:21 pm)

Replying to: busiris (Jul 02, 2011 10:15 am)
If my 328i BMW (Sport Pkg. - 18"wheels) shreads [sic] a tire there, there's little chance I will find a 255/35-18 RFT OR GFT locally (in stock).
 
Very good point. This is the other half of the RFT fiasco -- NO SPARE TIRE. When I'm driving in bumf*** western U.S. out here, which is pretty much my only choice, I have absolutely no expectation of getting a replacement tire. What I do want is either: 1) a tire that any normal truck stop or 24-hr service station can repair and put back on the car, and/or 2) a spare that matches the other four tires -- I'll put it on and drive back to Phoenix. Then I'll take however long it takes (2-3 days) to replace the tire, if that's what's required.
 
It's the magic daily double -- crap no-one-can-work-on-them tires or ones that no one is willing to patch, combined with no spare.
 
Oh boy.
 
The Germans have no concept of western North America or Australia -- it's big country with very limited services. Apparently they don't want to include those of us who live in such places in their demo. I guess it makes sense, given the number of social-climbing people living in densely-populated areas.
 
The fact is that BMW no longer care about enthusiasts; they care about people who will buy (or more likely lease) the cars in ever-larger numbers.
 
Oh well.

#2891 of 3108 Re: Are the Michelin RFT's better? [cdnpinhead] by busiris

Jul 02, 2011 (4:04 pm)

Replying to: cdnpinhead (Jul 02, 2011 1:21 pm)
Regardless what any of our opinions happen to be, at the end of the day sales usually wind up driving production policies. Overall, few wish to purchase a polka-dot paint job on a BMW, so we aren't given that as an option.
 
While we all probably agree that having the capability to have some type of spare in a new BMW is desirable, enough buyers don't seem to care. And, as long as sales continue to increase, I really doubt we will see any spare tire options.
 
In fact, we may see the mandatory RFT issue pop up on other manufacturer's products due to BMW's continued success.
 
It wouldn't be the first time.
 
I agree that the modern BMW is oriented to urban environments as well. Four year service included in the price of the car has reduced value if the nearest dealer is 250 miles distant.
 
But, that's nothing new, either. In my lifetime, television evolution has been driven by the urban environment much more so than the rural environment ( after all, where I grew up, there were only 2 channels one could receive...in the 1950's and early 60's).
 
On another point, I don't think I have ever seen a bicycle RFT. Seems like a popular solution for competitive bicycling. Maybe Mr. Shift_Right is onto something there!
">

#2892 of 3108 Re: Are the Michelin RFT's better? [busiris] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 03, 2011 (9:20 am)

Replying to: busiris (Jul 02, 2011 4:04 pm)
The reason people don't care (although apparently many do) is because people today are used to regular tires rarely going flat anymore IMO.
 
Who has had a flat in the last 5 years? Not me. Sure it happens, but when's the last time you saw anyone on the road changing a tire?
 
Fact is, most buyers don't even KNOW their car has run-flat tires. I have a friend who didn't even know her BMW was all-wheel drive when she bought it.

#2893 of 3108 RFT's...get over it! by rfl

Jul 03, 2011 (9:28 am)

Used to hate 'em.... now 4th BMW with RFT's. They are markedly improved- smooth ride and they last as long as most GFT's- and they can be repaired if you find the right tire shop for a minor puncture and can be replaced as inexpensively as GFT's if you get them from Tire Rack.
It's worth the piece of mind... a sixteen year old grandaughter of a friend had a flat on the road at night with a GFT...scared the hell out of her...he went right out and bought her a set of RFT's. I would not have a car without run flats. Period. Welcome to the 21st century!
 
Suck it up.
 
They are here to stay!

#2894 of 3108 Re: Are the Michelin RFT's better? [Mr_Shiftright] by kyfdx HOST

Jul 03, 2011 (9:33 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jul 03, 2011 9:20 am)
Got a roofing nail in my rear tire, just a few weeks ago...
 
It still held air.... no tire place would plug or patch, because it was within 1" of the tread edge... Friend of a friend plugged it for me... 3 weeks later, no issues.. (saved me $350-$450 for a new tire).

#2895 of 3108 Re: RFT's...get over it! [rfl] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 03, 2011 (10:36 am)

Replying to: rfl (Jul 03, 2011 9:28 am)
Her parents lets a 16 year old drive at night by herself? This is a problem way beyond RFTs IMO. I don't even think that's legal, without an adult to accompany her.

#2896 of 3108 Re: Are the Michelin RFT's better? [Mr_Shiftright] by boston303

Jul 03, 2011 (12:50 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jul 03, 2011 9:20 am)
...Correction. They don't know until they have to replace them at 15-20,000 miles at the tune of roughly $250 per tire. I can guarantee that they know then. Then they are shell shocked with the very poor performance and unreasonable cost.Did they know this when they bought the car? Clearly not. They bought this car for it's reported status and no longer because it actually functions better than a Ford. (oh, fine pick another car).. The point is those people would hardly no the difference. The ultimate driving machine with an automatic (which the vast majority of cars sold in the US are) is an oximoron; sad to say. BTW my daughter is on her way to a THIRD set of run flats for her Mini which has onlt 46,000 miles on it and has run snow tires for three winters since 2006. So her tires did not even average 15,000 miles. I no of no other way to say it than this is simply pathetic. BMW and Mini should be totally ashamed of their design and decision. Of course it takes forever for German engineers to admit they are wrong....

#2897 of 3108 Re: Are the Michelin RFT's better? [Mr_Shiftright] by busiris

Jul 03, 2011 (1:06 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jul 03, 2011 9:20 am)
Who has had a flat in the last 5 years? Not me. Sure it happens, but when's the last time you saw anyone on the road changing a tire?
 
Yesterday. On I-85, in SC.
 
Ove the last 3-4 years, my wife has had 2 flats (on RFT's-repaired in both instances) and my younger daughter had a flat within 2 weeks of me buying her a new set of tires... Fortunately, it was repairable as well.
 
Years ago, when I was much younger, my father told me to never stop along the side of the road to change a tire... just drive on the flat to the next parking area/exit ramp and change the tire. Back then, most cars had inexpensive steel wheels, so ruining a wheel wasn't too pricey.
 
On a modern car, especially such as a BMW, a replacement wheel can easily run $500+ alone, and adding a replacement tire can add $150+ to the mix, so in many cases I would suspect the car owner to be reluctant to continue onwwards with a flat. Of course (to me, anyway) my life is worth $750-1000.
 
  
Fact is, most buyers don't even KNOW their car has run-flat tires.
 
I agree... Overall, we probably have the least educated car-buying-public that I can remember in my lifetime.
 
For the majority of new car owners...As long as it starts, and the ride is smooth, nothing else matters.

Messages Page 290 of 311

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement