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BMW 5-Series Tires and Wheels

132 messages,  Last post on Dec 12, 2012 at 4:44 PM

You are in the BMW 5-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 5 Series, Car Safety, Tires, Wheels, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 8 of 14

#70 of 132 Re: What type of tires 2011 535xi? [gregoryx] by james27

Jul 31, 2011 (2:43 pm)

Replying to: gregoryx (Jul 31, 2011 1:13 pm)
At least on my BMW, there is NO place to store a spare tire (plus, you'd have to buy the jack and wrench, as it doesn't come with them). If you want one cluttering up most of the trunk area, and no easy way to hold it down, go for it. If you figure you'll just call for service...good luck - you may just be out of range on the cellphone and may have to wait hours. The redeeming feature of a RFT is you can safely drive on them and get to a place where you (hopefully) can replace it or repair it. So, without one, your choices are: run without a spare at all, carry around a spare (you'd have to buy a new wheel, or maybe one of the compact spares), or install something like 'Slime' in the tires and hope that would prevent a flat (and doesn't trash the pressure sensors). Expect a tire servicing dealer to charge you extra for getting all that slime on his equipment when you do need to replace the tire.

#71 of 132 Re: What type of tires 2011 535xi? [james27] by shipo

Jul 31, 2011 (3:34 pm)

Replying to: james27 (Jul 31, 2011 2:43 pm)
You paint a pretty bleak picture of relying on a flat-fixer kit, however, the costs of using such a kit are far less than running with nasty RFTs.
 
The kit ($79.00):
http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/detail.jsp?ID=38
 
Cost of a new TPMS sensor: $53.
 
The cost difference between a set of RFTs and a set of GFTs: $500.
 
I'm thinking I'd much rather pay for a few new TPMS sensors than a set of RFTs.

#72 of 132 Re: What type of tires 2011 535xi? [shipo] by james27

Jul 31, 2011 (4:43 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Jul 31, 2011 3:34 pm)
If it did trash the TPS, and I'm not saying it would (but it could), you'd then have to listen to the car chime at you all the time as I don't think there is a way to turn off that warning, not counting the displayed warning as well. It might even play nanny if it detects you driving too fast for having a flat as well. All that is supposition. If you go that route, let us know your feelings, especially if you end up with a flat. I typically go years without one, then get a couple. On one day, I had two tires with nails/screws in them, now that was a major pain. Luckily, the leak was slow enough, I could pump them up and leap-frog my way to a repair shop, but that assumes you carry a compressor.

#73 of 132 Re: What type of tires 2011 535xi? [james27] by shipo

Jul 31, 2011 (5:24 pm)

Replying to: james27 (Jul 31, 2011 4:43 pm)
The kit I included the link to includes a compressor.

#74 of 132 Re: What type of tires 2011 535xi? [shipo] by gregoryx

Aug 03, 2011 (6:05 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Jul 31, 2011 5:24 pm)
Thanks - sounds like run flat can be a pain and expensive, as they are with my mb. I'd rather have conventional tires and will try to negotiate with dealer. I'm ordering my vehicle next week

#75 of 132 BMW tires and wheels by abandoned

Sep 01, 2011 (7:16 am)

I have a year old 550GT with the Sport package (20" wheels and RFT's). Just replaced both rear tires and wheels. Wheels were cracked and tires slashed from inside. These tires were replaced 6 months previous for same thing. BMW does nothing and blames me for driving through pot holes. For 32 years I have been driving high end MB and BMW. Never experienced this problem before. My last car was MB 550S with AMG package. This is not a safe vehicle and stay away. BMW refuses to deal with my problem and will not take responsibility. There is a design and manufacture flaw but they hide from the problem. Does someone need to be killed for them to wake up?

#76 of 132 Re: BMW tires and wheels [abandoned] by shipo

Sep 01, 2011 (8:01 am)

Replying to: abandoned (Sep 01, 2011 7:16 am)
Your post misses a few very key points:
 
1) It is highly unlikely that any of your previous cars have ever had 20" wheels with such short sidewalls.
 
2) When you say "BMW does nothing but blame me..." are you referring to your dealer (a franchisee, and not BMW proper), or are you saying someone from Woodcliff Lake, NJ?
 
3) There is no design or manufacturing flaw, low profile tires such as you're running will, by definition, become easily damaged at the slightest provocation; regardless of tire brand, wheel manufacturer, or vehicle manufacturer.
 
4) Not only did you opt to "upgrade" the size of the wheels on your car when you bought it, you "upgraded" them two full sizes. The standard 18" wheel setup which comes on the GT has tires with over 4.8" of sidewall, and even the 19" setup of the standard sport package has a fairly reasonable 4.3"; which is typically enough to absorb pot-hole hits and such encountered in normal day to day driving. Instead of opting for either of the above, you went for a setup which only offers 3.8" of sidewall give.
 
5) All of BMWs web sites and Sales and Marketing literature include disclaimers regarding tire and wheel damage caused by opting for large diameter wheels and low profile tires.
 
So, BMW clearly states tire and wheel damage can result from running the low profile setup you have, and you still bought it anyway; how is it BMWs responsibility? Some folks feel they need that much bling, but for my part, I have no intention of ever owning a car with wheels with less than 4" of rubber protecting them from the road (and 4.3" would be even better).

#77 of 132 Re: BMW tires and wheels [abandoned] by shipo

Sep 03, 2011 (7:50 pm)

Replying to: abandoned (Sep 01, 2011 7:16 am)
I take it by your continued silence you've figured out that BMW isn't really to blame for your wheel and tire issues.
 
Suggestion; have your dealership put a 19" wheel and tires setup from the standard 550i GT Sport Package on your car. Not only should both the ride and handling of your car improve (not that you need the handling this car is capable of on regular roads), but your wheels and tires will be far more capable of absorbing the impacts from the things you seem to be driving over without sustaining damage.

#78 of 132 Re: BMW tires and wheels [shipo] by techman9

Sep 05, 2011 (5:18 am)

Replying to: shipo (Sep 03, 2011 7:50 pm)
On the contrary, I still blame BMW. There is clearly a design flaw in the suspension. After my 9th bent wheel and my 6th tire replacement, I traded the car in for a new 2012 Audi A6. I now have a car that rides like a sport sedan should ride and I no longer must worry about what roads I travel down, will I need to have my car towed to the dealer again, downtime and the most important the aggravation.

#79 of 132 Re: BMW tires and wheels [techman9] by shipo

Sep 05, 2011 (6:54 am)

Replying to: techman9 (Sep 05, 2011 5:18 am)
So which size of wheels and tires were you running on your BMW?
 
FWIW, I see that the two different wheel/tire options of the 2012 Audi A6 have 4.8" and 4.3" of sidewall height between the rim and the road (sound familiar?).

Messages Page 8 of 14

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