[pweber84]

I have this same opinion.
I hate Run Flat tires, they are to heavy and to hard. On perfect road are great, but when you hit on the worst way or some ruts you are jumping like a mouse from one side to the other. darkevo's post, yes, it is easy to destory your alloy wheel when you have RF tires.

[AzureHaze]

No love for RFTs here!

[Pierre Louis]

If you study the reviews and keep track of tire development as I have, you'll discover that RFT's, especially Bridgestone, are in their 3rd generation and are mostly as soft as the same type tire that is not run flat. Bridgestone even has an all season that comes with the same tire with or without run flat, the RE960AS, and it tested about the same.

The reviews for tires for the 335d sport package are also interesting in that the latest generation of Bridgestone RFT's seem pretty good.

My only complaint so far with my Bridgestone Potenza RE 050AI's has been, compared to past Michelins, is I now have the "usual" loss of air pressure. Michelins seem to be made with materials that minimize air loss compared to other brands in my experience.

The car rides more softly when I inflate the tires a pound or two above the recommended levels too. It wouldn't surprise me that many have problems with their RFT's, including sidewall issues, because they don't properly maintain air pressure, even the small amount before their air pressure monitor systems kick in.

It wasn't until the 2011 models that the latest run flat designs were found, so earlier cars had harsher rides. Reviews from 2009 and 2010 model owners seem to reflect this.

PL

[noobmw]

I had a screw in my brand new run flat after first week of owning car.
Local BMW dealer told me to drop dead...several other rip off tire companies told me to drop dead....Big O tires of all places said, bring er in, if its in center of tire we can fix it...and they did. 25 bucks.....

[noobmw]

Originally Posted by ******84

I have this same opinion.
I hate Run Flat tires, they are to heavy and to hard. On perfect road are great, but when you hit on the worst way or some ruts you are jumping like a mouse from one side to the other. darkevo's post, yes, it is easy to destory your alloy wheel when you have RF tires.

a run flat designed to absorb the impact of a curb saved my rim. I hit a small but blunt pothole and it jarred my car...I was PISSED! After looking at the tire I noticed it had a small bilge in the side so took it to tire shop. They said it saved my rim from breaking as the "curb protector?" absorbed the impact.
Still, no matter what these run flats are expensive and the verdict is still out for me.

[noobmw]

Pierre. no offense but get a life....

[Pierre Louis]

Originally Posted by noobmw

Pierre. no offense but get a life....

Hey noob, try to understand, this is an enthusiast forum....

PL

[Puerto Rican 335d]

Why do we gets guys like noobmw in this forum, STICKY please address this guy, we are here to help one another and not critisize anyone. Thats the reason I left another forum, me trying to help, some JACKASS made a stupid remark now just to FALK with him I mention his name in kudos and he doesnt respond, TOUCHE my friend!!

[totitan]

Having owned my 335d for less than a week I dont have much of an opinion about the run flats yet, but after reading the above maybe I should start looking for something else.

Regarding plugging tires, it is ridiculously easy to do yourself. I haven't paid to have a tire repaired in years

[335dFan]

Originally Posted by totitan

Having owned my 335d for less than a week I dont have much of an opinion about the run flats yet, but after reading the above maybe I should start looking for something else.

Regarding plugging tires, it is ridiculously easy to do yourself. I haven't paid to have a tire repaired in years

I would suggest that the RFTs are not that bad, but everyone's experience is different. It depends on your sensitivity to harshness and your normal road conditions. For years I have been a stiff suspension guy so that part was not that big a deal, but when the road surface is bad they can be rather brutal. With mine the performance itself was rather good as long as I didn't beat them up on the track too much, but when it got colder I noticed the all seasons started getting too slippery, so I switched to RfT winters. The wear on both the all seasons and the winters was pretty good. I went to Michelin PSS non-RFT for other reasons. And now I am starting to look closely at the wear on them as I have a lot of negative camber.

[noobmw]

Pierre, my apologies, I was only being sarcastic.
Its not everyday you see a post of someone following the studies of high performance tires.
To each his own and again, sorry.

[Puerto Rican 335d]

no problemo noobmw we are here to help!!! I for one go out my way as well as others in this forum to be as unbiased as possible on products installed a nd give CORRECT info, sorry if I came across to harsh but as I said I hv left another forum cause there are guys that CANNOT beleive the truth!! Anyway welcome aboard amigo any questions feel free to conatct any of us!!

[Pierre Louis]

Originally Posted by Puerto Rican 335d

no problemo noobmw we are here to help!!! I for one go out my way as well as others in this forum to be as unbiased as possible on products installed a nd give CORRECT info, sorry if I came across to harsh but as I said I hv left another forum cause there are guys that CANNOT beleive the truth!! Anyway welcome aboard amigo any questions feel free to conatct any of us!!

Thank you both for being up front and nice about things.

I have found this forum to be at least mostly civil about the opinions of posters and statements are generally quite insightful.

I'm still on the fence with replacement tires when the time comes (in about 10,000 miles - I've got 30,000 on my original RFT's and they are getting like normal performance tires in the past - a bit rough and louder so replacements will be better no matter which kind...) so objective comments are appreciated.

PL

[Puerto Rican 335d]

Hankook VENTUS cheap for the price and EXCELLENT I used them here for a year and a half and i bought them used from a guy In Orlando!! had them shipped to PR and drove the FALK out of hte rears, I went almost bald on the rear from racing the car w my RENNtech flash and WAGENR IC now Im driving the OEM 17" conti run flats

[DC-IT]

My experience with my OEM Contis RFT seems to be positive and I expect to be able to get one more season to go before I need to replace them.

My D currently have 66.400 Miles/107,000 KM since Nov 2009.
Discounting switching over to Winter tires for 3 Winters (approx 22,000 Miles) my RFT would have gone through over 44,000 Miles and by the time I replace them next Spring I expect to get over 58,000 Miles out of them.

Is this normal bearing in mind I do a lot of highway driving?

[335dFan]

Originally Posted by DC-IT

Is this normal bearing in mind I do a lot of highway driving?

DC, do you ever track your car? If you drive it somewhat sensibly and you don't ever go to the track with those OEM RFT, I imagine that your experience would be easily achievable. I thought my OEM tires were pretty good too as I said in an earlier comment, but they were a bit slippery for me after tracking the car with them and when the weather started getting cold. I run Blizzak LM-25 RFTs in the winter, which I rather like too.

[DC-IT]

@335dFan: No I don't track my D but I also don't baby it.
Mostly I drive if above speed limit to enjoy the torque!
When it's time to replace the RFT, I'm likely getting the same Contis.

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by DC-IT

...My D currently have 66.400 Miles/107,000 KM since Nov 2009.
Discounting switching over to Winter tires for 3 Winters (approx 22,000 Miles) my RFT would have gone through over 44,000 Miles and by the time I replace them next Spring I expect to get over 58,000 Miles out of them.

Is this normal bearing in mind I do a lot of highway driving?

Wow! Our cars were both put in service Nov 2009 (I presume yours is a 2010, too) and have almost identical mileage (I'm at 64400).

I switched to winters this last winter. The original Bridgestone RE050A RFT lasted around 23K, the 2nd set I put on - Michelin Pilot Sport ZP - the rears lasted around 20K or so, bought a new pair and the fronts may not last the next 20K. But mine are ZSP and yours sound like the non-sport; sounds like you got pretty good mileage out of them.

[F32Fleet]

RFT can be plugged like any other tire. Shops are getting away from it for liability reasons.

If you are looking for replacement I recommend you take a look at the 960AS RFT. I love them and run 32F35R psi.

[DC-IT]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

Wow! Our cars were both put in service Nov 2009 (I presume yours is a 2010, too) and have almost identical mileage (I'm at 64400).

I switched to winters this last winter. The original Bridgestone RE050A RFT lasted around 23K, the 2nd set I put on - Michelin Pilot Sport ZP - the rears lasted around 20K or so, bought a new pair and the fronts may not last the next 20K. But mine are ZSP and yours sound like the non-sport; sounds like you got pretty good mileage out of them.

Yeah mine's also a 2010, non-sport 17" rims.
My actual mileage is around 43,000 miles per year which I spread over two Diesel vehicles (335D & ML). I gave the TDI to my daughter.

My D had been trouble free for the first 60K miles and then in mid-March I got the first SES which led to the replacement of fuel injector # 4 but the SES stayed on after I took it back and had to send it back in twice before it's finally fixed after the intake manifold and DDE were replaced and the cylinder head was cleaned off carbon buildup.

My D was out of warranty when this happened but my SA got BMW to provide all the parts while I paid part of the labor!

Now that it's fixed I hope to drive it till the wheels fall off!

Cheers.