RFTs

Casey 5 · 12-21-2006, 02:05 PM

How many of you have experience an unexplained bubble in the sidewall of your RFT requiring replacement of your RFT?

By "unexplained" I mean that you were not involved in an accident nor do you recall an unusal impact or trauma to the tire. In other words you only recall normal "performance" driving conditions within the type the tire should be designed to function without failing.

I have experienced a bubble on the 18' RFT that was mounted to the 162 rim that came with the 330i I purchased back in June 2005. After 6000 miles that tire developed a bubble. THe 162 rim was pristine and the tire had experience no trauma other than regular performance driving.

I am now hearing that others have had this bubble issue on their 18's and some have had it on their 17s.

It may potentially be the case that these RFTs have a design or manufacturing problem and should be recalled. A recall would require the manufacturer to replace all Bubble tires free of charge.

obLu · 12-21-2006, 02:12 PM

I got one. Surprisingly it's not on my wheel that took a beating in a pot hole .... it was bad enough to rash my wheel but the tire's fine.

But I'm not making a big deal about it. It's runflat right? Most incredible technology ever, can't possibly have a blow out ... so what's there to worry about?

petesamprs · 12-21-2006, 02:18 PM

i have a very small, barely noticeable bubble on my winter RFT. Cause unknown. I'm gonna run it for the rest of the season and see if it gets worse.

Casey 5 · 12-21-2006, 02:18 PM

If there was nothing to worry about...it would not need to be replaced. I think there is a potential safety issue with the bubble...otherwise they would advise to keep in service.

obLu · 12-21-2006, 02:21 PM

It was sarcasm.

BK · 12-21-2006, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casey 5

If there was nothing to worry about...it would not need to be replaced. I think there is a potential safety issue with the bubble...otherwise they would advise to keep in service.

Casey, I think obLu was being facetious.

When you guys say a "small" bubble - what does that look like?

Richwm · 12-21-2006, 02:23 PM

how about a picture so we can see what you are talking about.

obLu · 12-21-2006, 02:29 PM

It's not so much a traditional bubble like you used to see. Traditional bubble looks like a big ole bloated wart on your sidewall. I think it was from seperation of belts? I dunno. Been the mid 80's since I had a cheap ass tire that got one.

The RFT bubble I've got looks more like two internal belts overlapping each other and creating a bulge. But that bulge has gotten bigger and bigger over time, and none of my other tires exhibit it.

I was half serious when I said I don't care. I've experienced a couple of freeway speed blowouts in my years and they're nothing to be afraid of unless you overreact. I'd almost welcome it blowing so I could then completely dismiss RFT as useless tech.

Casey 5 · 12-21-2006, 02:29 PM

Unfortunately I replaced mine last summer and did not take a picture...just kept the service paperwork.

SuperSport · 12-21-2006, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richwm

how about a picture so we can see what you are talking about.

Here is the thread I started about my issue, with pics

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40451

BK · 12-21-2006, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperSport

Here is the thread I started about my issue, with pics

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40451

Thanks - that is very helpful and I'll keep an eye out for it on mine (so far so good, knock on wood).

SuperSport · 12-21-2006, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BK

Thanks - that is very helpful and I'll keep an eye out for it on mine (so far so good, knock on wood).

My car was purchased in Oct. of 05, so what I am wondering if this RFT issue is happening more of the first sets produced for the e90's or if it a cause of concern for all of the RE050A RFT.

SIDE NOTE.

I talked to a Manager at a Bridgestone dealer today, and I "quote" he said that the so-called impact seperation they are saying it is

"Could be caused by as little as pulling into your driveway"

So then I replied "what's the point of having tires you can't drive on without catastrophic failure, for everyday drving situations. Sounds to me like poor quality tires"

curvehound · 05-23-2007, 11:46 AM

I have a E90 with the 18in wheel package (bridgestone RFT's). the tires have about 7k miles on them and the two fronts both have large bubbles in the sidewalls. I bought the tire/wheel warranty package from the dealer when i bought the car. Anybody have any luck getting their warranty to cover replacment of tires for bubble problems? the dealer says the wheels need to be replaced and that the bubbles are due to road damage but says the warranty does not cover this problem.
thanks
Ian

12-21-2006, 02:05 PM	#1
Casey 5 Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 256 Posts Drives: E90 335i,SPG,ZSP,ZPP,Step Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chapel Hill, NC iTrader: (0)	RFTs - Bubble Issue. How Big a Problem? How many of you have experience an unexplained bubble in the sidewall of your RFT requiring replacement of your RFT? By "unexplained" I mean that you were not involved in an accident nor do you recall an unusal impact or trauma to the tire. In other words you only recall normal "performance" driving conditions within the type the tire should be designed to function without failing. I have experienced a bubble on the 18' RFT that was mounted to the 162 rim that came with the 330i I purchased back in June 2005. After 6000 miles that tire developed a bubble. THe 162 rim was pristine and the tire had experience no trauma other than regular performance driving. I am now hearing that others have had this bubble issue on their 18's and some have had it on their 17s. It may potentially be the case that these RFTs have a design or manufacturing problem and should be recalled. A recall would require the manufacturer to replace all Bubble tires free of charge.
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12-21-2006, 02:12 PM	#2
obLu Major 50 Rep 1,159 Posts Drives: 330i 6MT ZSP Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kirkland, WA, USA iTrader: (1)	I got one. Surprisingly it's not on my wheel that took a beating in a pot hole .... it was bad enough to rash my wheel but the tire's fine. But I'm not making a big deal about it. It's runflat right? Most incredible technology ever, can't possibly have a blow out ... so what's there to worry about?
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12-21-2006, 02:18 PM	#3
petesamprs Lieutenant 34 Rep 519 Posts Drives: . Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: northeast iTrader: (0)	i have a very small, barely noticeable bubble on my winter RFT. Cause unknown. I'm gonna run it for the rest of the season and see if it gets worse. __________________ '14 535i (ED) Retired: '08 M5, '08 550i (ED), '06 330i
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12-21-2006, 02:18 PM	#4
Casey 5 Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 256 Posts Drives: E90 335i,SPG,ZSP,ZPP,Step Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chapel Hill, NC iTrader: (0)	If there was nothing to worry about...it would not need to be replaced. I think there is a potential safety issue with the bubble...otherwise they would advise to keep in service.
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12-21-2006, 02:21 PM	#5
obLu Major 50 Rep 1,159 Posts Drives: 330i 6MT ZSP Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kirkland, WA, USA iTrader: (1)	It was sarcasm.
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12-21-2006, 02:23 PM	#7
Richwm Captain 65 Rep 920 Posts Drives: 06 E90 330i 6MT, 01 E46 330i Join Date: May 2006 Location: Canyon Country, CA. iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 Jeep JLU Wrangler [0.00] 2006 (Mar 05 build ... [8.00] 2001 330i [9.00]	how about a picture so we can see what you are talking about. __________________ Mar 05 Build date,2006 E90 330i, Sport Package, Premium Package, TR MT-1's . V-1 Hard-wired power with custom V-1 Concealment Display . Rear fogs, Rear power outlet's, M short shifter knob, BlackLines, BMW Strut tower bar, CDV Delete, Front M3 wishbones + tension struts, BMW Performance shocks and springs, BMW Performance Brake kit F&R, OEM short shift kit. Rear M3 Guide rods and Wishbones. 2006 E-90 330i with 302,000 miles.
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12-21-2006, 02:29 PM	#8
obLu Major 50 Rep 1,159 Posts Drives: 330i 6MT ZSP Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kirkland, WA, USA iTrader: (1)	It's not so much a traditional bubble like you used to see. Traditional bubble looks like a big ole bloated wart on your sidewall. I think it was from seperation of belts? I dunno. Been the mid 80's since I had a cheap ass tire that got one. The RFT bubble I've got looks more like two internal belts overlapping each other and creating a bulge. But that bulge has gotten bigger and bigger over time, and none of my other tires exhibit it. I was half serious when I said I don't care. I've experienced a couple of freeway speed blowouts in my years and they're nothing to be afraid of unless you overreact. I'd almost welcome it blowing so I could then completely dismiss RFT as useless tech.
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05-23-2007, 11:46 AM	#13
curvehound Private First Class 42 Rep 154 Posts Drives: 2016 MG/SO M3 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	bubble fixed with tire warranty I have a E90 with the 18in wheel package (bridgestone RFT's). the tires have about 7k miles on them and the two fronts both have large bubbles in the sidewalls. I bought the tire/wheel warranty package from the dealer when i bought the car. Anybody have any luck getting their warranty to cover replacment of tires for bubble problems? the dealer says the wheels need to be replaced and that the bubbles are due to road damage but says the warranty does not cover this problem. thanks Ian
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