Runflats saved my ass

KwlAznKid · 05-13-2013, 01:00 PM

this is the exact reason i'm a bit hesitant to switch to non runflats

Doctor///M · 05-13-2013, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pimp4cheddar

What spare do you have? I've considered buying an OEM 18" wheel to just keep in my trunk...

17" E60 space saver kit. Got it on ebay for $100. Sometimes you get lucky, most times it's difficult to find one. I remembered seeing one in the FS Wheels/Tires section pretty recently. Good luck!

f0xfire021 · 05-13-2013, 03:43 PM

To the OP, that's awesome that the runflats worked for you. I can certainly see the upside in that situation.

I just recently drove cross country and took a screw into the right rear tire. The tire still had pressure, and was losing only a few PSI per hour. The downside was that none of the shops in the small town I stopped at could service runflats. I had to find a shop in Indianapolis that had my specific tire (Potenzas), that was still open at 5 on a Friday afternoon, and backtrack 50 miles to get it mounted.

For around town they're fine, but outside of any major metro area the practical advantages of runflats are seriously lost to the convenience of having any little tire shop be able to patch up a flat.

Also, I've always heard you can't patch a runflat - is that true even if it hasn't totally gone flat (running at roughly 10psi under normal back to the tire shop)?

335icandy · 05-13-2013, 03:52 PM

RFT's are great actually! They saved my ass as well! I replaced them with new RFT's on factory wheels... ended up buying an aftermarket set of wheels with 19" non rft tires now though.... smooth cushion ride... but no spare makes me nervous.

smass · 05-13-2013, 04:02 PM

I just switched out run flats for 18" PSS. Other than the price and the handling at the extreme edge I am not impressed. The car has lost its on center precise feel. I completely understand how some people like the softer ride, but here in FL where our roads are like glass, the run flats were great for my highway runs.

Dark_Knight_335 · 05-13-2013, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335icandy

RFT's are great actually! They saved my ass as well! I replaced them with new RFT's on factory wheels... ended up buying an aftermarket set of wheels with 19" non rft tires now though.... smooth cushion ride... but no spare makes me nervous.

BMW tire repair kit off amazon or eBay on the cheap. Hell, I'll sell you mine. Oh wait....nevermind- no spare

paulguma · 05-13-2013, 06:50 PM

at least they're good for something.

Dark_Knight_335 · 05-13-2013, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smassey321

I just switched out run flats for 18" PSS. Other than the price and the handling at the extreme edge I am not impressed. The car has lost its on center precise feel. I completely understand how some people like the softer ride, but here in FL where our roads are like glass, the run flats were great for my highway runs.

God I hate you.

upstatedoc · 05-13-2013, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark_Knight_335

God I hate you.

But they have lots of speed bumps.

ihc95 · 05-13-2013, 08:27 PM

$800 later I have two new front tires LOL

jeffro535 · 05-14-2013, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDS2015

I have Potenza's on my car right now with about 15000 miles on them. They still have plenty of life left but they're getting very noisy. Did you notice this also with the Potenza's? I want to switch to Pilot Sport RFTs after these wear out. But if the noise is just going to get worse and worse then I may have to switch them out earlier than I'd like to. Do you notice a lot of noise from the Pilot sports?

Seem quieter and less harsh. Wet weather performance is much improved.

captainaudio · 05-14-2013, 10:11 PM

As far as I am concerned my 335i with the OEM shocks and the RFTs was anything but a safe car. If that car hit a road imperfection (pot hole, frost heave, etc.) at speed the suspension would bottom out and the car would become unsettled.

I have owned a lot of cars in my time and IMO the 335i with sport suspension (my first BMW) was one of the most poorly engineered cars I have ever owned. As it turned out ditching the RFTs and replacing the shocks with Koni FSDs solved the issue but I really don't think I should have to re-engineer the suspension of a car that is touted as "The Ultimate Driving Machine"

CA

ihc95 · 05-14-2013, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captainaudio

As far as I am concerned my 335i with the OEM shocks and the RFTs was anything but a safe car. If that car hit a road imperfection (pot hole, frost heave, etc.) at speed the suspension would bottom out and the car would become unsettled.

I have owned a lot of cars in my time and IMO the 335i with sport suspension (my first BMW) was one of the most poorly engineered cars I have ever owned. As it turned out ditching the RFTs and replacing the shocks with Koni FSDs solved the issue but I really don't think I should have to re-engineer the suspension of a car that is touted as "The Ultimate Driving Machine"

CA

You must be used to quite a selection of cars to think a 335i is "the most poorly engineered car" you've ever driven...

05-13-2013, 01:00 PM	#45
KwlAznKid Brigadier General 383 Rep 3,037 Posts Drives: BMW/MERCEDES/PORSCHE Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Los Angeles/Fremont USC/UCSD Alum iTrader: (6)	this is the exact reason i'm a bit hesitant to switch to non runflats __________________ BMW E93 M3 / Mercedes Benz W209 CLK500 BMW E64 650I(sold) / BMW E92 328I(sold) / BMW E46 M3(sold) / BMW E92 335I(sold) Porsche 996 911 C2(sold) / BMW E46 325CI(totaled)
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05-13-2013, 03:43 PM	#47
f0xfire021 Private 10 Rep 86 Posts Drives: '09 e91 328xiT \| 6mt Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: North iTrader: (0)	To the OP, that's awesome that the runflats worked for you. I can certainly see the upside in that situation. I just recently drove cross country and took a screw into the right rear tire. The tire still had pressure, and was losing only a few PSI per hour. The downside was that none of the shops in the small town I stopped at could service runflats. I had to find a shop in Indianapolis that had my specific tire (Potenzas), that was still open at 5 on a Friday afternoon, and backtrack 50 miles to get it mounted. For around town they're fine, but outside of any major metro area the practical advantages of runflats are seriously lost to the convenience of having any little tire shop be able to patch up a flat. Also, I've always heard you can't patch a runflat - is that true even if it hasn't totally gone flat (running at roughly 10psi under normal back to the tire shop)?
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05-13-2013, 03:52 PM	#48
335icandy Lieutenant 56 Rep 506 Posts Drives: 2016 328dX Msport Estoril Blue Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Toronto, ON, CANADA iTrader: (0)	RFT's are great actually! They saved my ass as well! I replaced them with new RFT's on factory wheels... ended up buying an aftermarket set of wheels with 19" non rft tires now though.... smooth cushion ride... but no spare makes me nervous.
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05-13-2013, 04:02 PM	#49
smass Lieutenant Colonel 430 Rep 1,608 Posts Drives: 2010 335i 8 speed Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Scottsdale, AZ iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 E90 335i [0.00] 2016 F15 35i [0.00] 2003 E53 3.0 [0.00] 2006 E90 325i [0.00]	I just switched out run flats for 18" PSS. Other than the price and the handling at the extreme edge I am not impressed. The car has lost its on center precise feel. I completely understand how some people like the softer ride, but here in FL where our roads are like glass, the run flats were great for my highway runs.
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05-13-2013, 06:50 PM	#51
paulguma Bavarian Murder Weapon 4 Rep 249 Posts Drives: E90 335i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Las Vegas, NV iTrader: (2) Garage List 1999 BMW 328i [0.00] 2008 BMW 335i [0.00]	at least they're good for something. __________________
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05-13-2013, 08:27 PM	#54
ihc95 Major 150 Rep 1,316 Posts Drives: 2021 X3 M40i, 2018 Mustang GT Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NJ iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i Coupe [0.00]	$800 later I have two new front tires LOL
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05-14-2013, 10:11 PM	#56
captainaudio World's Foremost Authority 1181 Rep 4,535 Posts Drives: M4 Cab - Cayenne GTS - Jag XK Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Upper East Side Manhattan - Boca Raton FL - Lime Rock CT iTrader: (0)	As far as I am concerned my 335i with the OEM shocks and the RFTs was anything but a safe car. If that car hit a road imperfection (pot hole, frost heave, etc.) at speed the suspension would bottom out and the car would become unsettled. I have owned a lot of cars in my time and IMO the 335i with sport suspension (my first BMW) was one of the most poorly engineered cars I have ever owned. As it turned out ditching the RFTs and replacing the shocks with Koni FSDs solved the issue but I really don't think I should have to re-engineer the suspension of a car that is touted as "The Ultimate Driving Machine" CA __________________ Drivers Club at Lime Rock - International Motorsports Research Center - Society of Automotive Historians - Madison Avenue Sports Car Driving and Chowder Society (0nly a VP) - BMWCCA - Porsche Club of America - M Gruppe - Polish Race Drivers of America (PDRA) - Glen Club (Watkins Glen International) - Jaguar Club of Southern New England
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