Run Flats

[JavierH19]

iirc bmw improved the suspension to compensate for the poor ride of run flats but even then they aren't good. I'd pass on rf tires. They're great if you're old/weak or simply get scared and can handle a flat or blowout that well.

 

[edyvw]

iirc bmw improved the suspension to compensate for the poor ride of run flats but even then they aren't good. I'd pass on rf tires. They're great if you're old/weak or simply get scared and can handle a flat or blowout that well.

Certain parts like shock mounts are not rubber but special silicone. When I ditched RFT, I also did suspension upgrade and among things I did is rubber shock mounts. Believe it or not best aftermarket rear mount is Monroe for BMW.

 

[edyvw]

Actually, tire advancements have eliminated most of those issues. If you are really concerned, make sure you replace the tires with MOE (MB Original Equip.) or whatever BMW calls them, (5 Star ?) .
I'd say you'd get a much harsher ride with 20" wheels than you'll ever experience with run flats.

If you have room for a spare, do whatever you like, but ultimately, the 50 miles or so that RF tires afford is OK. I haven't had a flat in 30 years!

The star designation is that tire is compliant to BMW standards. They have certain requirements from tire manufacturers when it comes to uniformity of tires, regardless if it is RFT or not.

 

[Marcozi]

My BMW, like all BMWs from 2004, came with RFT and no spare space. It is DD, it is actually a workhorse. And I run regular tires with quick patch kit.
When I go to ski, I shovel spare in the trunk.

Mi e came with staggered Michelin Pilot Super Sports (non-RF) and no spare.

 

[ecotourist]

Our Tesla Model 3 doesn't have run flats, a tire patching kit, or a tire pump. [It does have tire pressure monitoring system.] We go on long trips "way back of beyond", where we're at least 100 miles from a center of any size. Places where a flat tire would be highly inconvenient. What to do?

I bought a Modern Spare. It's expensive, weighs about as much as a suitcase and took up a lot of room. The kit provides a narrow (but full size) spare tire and tire changing tools. I won't carry it when driving locally.

My next tires won't be run flats either.

 

[Paco Pena]

Run flats are the work of the Devil. I want a tire that can be patched if it gets a nail not tossed out.

Paco

 

[johnmyster]

Our Tesla Model 3 doesn't have run flats, a tire patching kit, or a tire pump. [It does have tire pressure monitoring system.] We go on long trips "way back of beyond", where we're at least 100 miles from a center of any size. Places where a flat tire would be highly inconvenient. What to do?

I bought a Modern Spare. It's expensive, weighs about as much as a suitcase and took up a lot of room. The kit provides a narrow (but full size) spare tire and tire changing tools. I won't carry it when driving locally.

My next tires won't be run flats either.

At that point, just carry a full size. If you need it, you're not under time pressure to get to a tire shop and resolve.

Some time back I traveled for work for weeks at a time. My car had a space saver. I'd toss a full size in the car for long trips away from home.

 

[ecotourist]

At that point, just carry a full size. If you need it, you're not under time pressure to get to a tire shop and resolve.

Some time back I traveled for work for weeks at a time. My car had a space saver. I'd toss a full size in the car for long trips away from home.

All good points. I prefer a regular size spare tire too.

I borrowed a full size winter tire from a friend in the past for long trips. Problem is that a regular tire is very wide/deep and takes up much of the limited trunk space. This tire is full size but much thinner which allows a carry-on size suitcase to sit on top of it. And the kit inside the wheel includes the required tools and a jack.

 

[edyvw]

Mi e came with staggered Michelin Pilot Super Sports (non-RF) and no spare.

Yeah, sometimes in 2015/16 they started to offer non-RFT set up.
Some models now come with spare.

 

[meep]

There are “spare kits” now for bimmers and they are affordable. I would carry a patch kit and compressor if local and throw the spare kit in there for travel - if I had one - it had been on the menu for a while.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I am looking at a BMW with run-flat tires. Is it true they do not have a smooth ride and they are noisier than regular tires? Thank you

Only when the get to the end of their service life. Also there's a tradeoff between responsiveness when turning the wheel and ride softness. Even go-flat summer tires can ride harshly because the higher load rating.

 

[johnmyster]

All good points. I prefer a regular size spare tire too.

I borrowed a full size winter tire from a friend in the past for long trips. Problem is that a regular tire is very wide/deep and takes up much of the limited trunk space. This tire is full size but much thinner which allows a carry-on size suitcase to sit on top of it. And the kit inside the wheel includes the required tools and a jack.

I'm trying to remember what I did with my e92 once I no longer had run flats. I'm pretty sure I had a space saver spare in the trunk from a 5 series, and on longer trips I had an extra curb rashed wheel with still useable tire on it that would ride in the back seat with a seatbelt through the spokes. It had one of those neat tire bags on it to keep the rubber off the ivory leather.

I harvested a jack and a lug wrench from a subaru at pull a part. Thanks BMW but no thanks.