Are RunFlats in BMW's future?

stubenhocker · 12-17-2008, 01:29 PM

http://www.tirereview.com/default.as...ext&item=13311

BK · 12-17-2008, 01:34 PM

I put money on RFT being the future. Not just for BMW, but for lots of upscale models and manufacturers. Cheaper for the auto manufacturer (no need for a spare!), more money for the tire manufacturer (no, you can't patch this, you need a new tire!).

Kilgore Trout · 12-17-2008, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BK

I put money on RFT being the future. Not just for BMW, but for lots of upscale models and manufacturers. Cheaper for the auto manufacturer (no need for a spare!), more money for the tire manufacturer (no, you can't patch this, you need a new tire!).

I don't think saving the money on the spare, or making money on selling replacements is the real upside for BMW, M-B, etc.

What those companies really gain is the advantage of not having to engineer storage for a spare in the trunk.

txusa03 · 12-17-2008, 01:44 PM

same here, rft will stay, i mean tire manufacturers will constantly developed better rft in the future.

EDK99 · 12-17-2008, 01:45 PM

They are in BMW's past, present and future. I don't see them getting away from them.

The real question is when is an M car going to be fitted with a RTF? Hopefully never.

hanmaas · 12-17-2008, 01:55 PM

As long as there won't be a law that mandates RFTs, I honestly don't care much. Since I tend to use aftermarket wheels in the summer without RFTs and only the stock rims for the winter set up, it doesn't bother me.

hanmaas · 12-17-2008, 01:56 PM

But yes, I don't think BMW will move away from them in the near future.

Brunotheboxer · 12-17-2008, 02:01 PM

Not a run flat fan at all. In fact I hate them so I hope they are not the future.

rambalu80 · 12-17-2008, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BK

(no, you can't patch this, you need a new tire!).

They can be patched. I had a slow leak from a nail 3 months after I bought my car and the dealership patched it for me. The tire was fine for about a year until I had another nail.

CyberGypsy · 12-17-2008, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambalu80

They can be patched. I had a slow leak from a nail 3 months after I bought my car and the dealership patched it for me. The tire was fine for about a year until I had another nail.

Many have patched the and Honda does it daily on the RF thats on a few of the Honda line.

BMWKLR · 12-17-2008, 02:30 PM

Between my car and my wifes car, both Bmw, I have installed about 5 plugs in the tires. They work fine, but do so at your own risk. Im sure its safer than a regular tire with plugs. The trick to a runflat is to stop as soon as you get the warnings and check for a flat. If you have one take care of it as soon as possible. A garage will charge you about $10-15 for the repair. I carry a patch kit in the car. It takes me about 10 min to do one. The longer you use the tire in a flat condition the less chance you have of salvaging it.

chaz58 · 12-17-2008, 02:53 PM

Come on - BMW is going for maintenance free cars (or at least that impression to customers). They don't expect their upscale clients to actually break out a jack and use it. I wonder how many BMW driver's have ever jacked up their car.

12-17-2008, 01:29 PM	#1
stubenhocker Second Lieutenant 24 Rep 296 Posts Drives: 2007 E91 2016 F30 328d Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Brush Prairie, WA USA iTrader: (0)	Are RunFlats in BMW's future? http://www.tirereview.com/default.as...ext&item=13311
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12-17-2008, 01:34 PM	#2
BK Smiling politely 165 Rep 7,931 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Washington DC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [9.00]	I put money on RFT being the future. Not just for BMW, but for lots of upscale models and manufacturers. Cheaper for the auto manufacturer (no need for a spare!), more money for the tire manufacturer (no, you can't patch this, you need a new tire!). __________________ E90 330i Black Sapphire 6MT \| 991.1 C4 Platinum Silver 7MT
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12-17-2008, 01:44 PM	#4
txusa03 Major General 548 Rep 6,563 Posts Drives: TS330iPPSP6MT Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Planet Earth iTrader: (3)	same here, rft will stay, i mean tire manufacturers will constantly developed better rft in the future. __________________ under construction!
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12-17-2008, 01:45 PM	#5
EDK99 Captain 33 Rep 934 Posts Drives: 07 E85 M Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	They are in BMW's past, present and future. I don't see them getting away from them. The real question is when is an M car going to be fitted with a RTF? Hopefully never. __________________ 2007 e85 Imola Red \| Black Leather \| Carbon Leather Trim \| Premium \| Navigation \| Heated Seats
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12-17-2008, 01:55 PM	#6
hanmaas Lieutenant 17 Rep 577 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	As long as there won't be a law that mandates RFTs, I honestly don't care much. Since I tend to use aftermarket wheels in the summer without RFTs and only the stock rims for the winter set up, it doesn't bother me. __________________
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12-17-2008, 01:56 PM	#7
hanmaas Lieutenant 17 Rep 577 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	But yes, I don't think BMW will move away from them in the near future. __________________
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12-17-2008, 02:01 PM	#8
Brunotheboxer Colonel 371 Rep 2,984 Posts Drives: 2014 Shelby GT500. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boston/Cape Cod iTrader: (0)	Not a run flat fan at all. In fact I hate them so I hope they are not the future. __________________ "...I maybe drunk, but you're ugly, and I can sober up..."
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12-17-2008, 02:30 PM	#11
BMWKLR First Lieutenant 143 Rep 370 Posts Drives: white m235 cp RED w/gray pop Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pembroke Pines iTrader: (0)	Between my car and my wifes car, both Bmw, I have installed about 5 plugs in the tires. They work fine, but do so at your own risk. Im sure its safer than a regular tire with plugs. The trick to a runflat is to stop as soon as you get the warnings and check for a flat. If you have one take care of it as soon as possible. A garage will charge you about $10-15 for the repair. I carry a patch kit in the car. It takes me about 10 min to do one. The longer you use the tire in a flat condition the less chance you have of salvaging it.
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12-17-2008, 02:53 PM	#12
chaz58 Captain 15 Rep 701 Posts Drives: 328iT Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Detroit Burbs iTrader: (0)	Come on - BMW is going for maintenance free cars (or at least that impression to customers). They don't expect their upscale clients to actually break out a jack and use it. I wonder how many BMW driver's have ever jacked up their car. __________________ _________________________________________________
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