[zedman]

Check this link out - looked pretty bad what happened to the magic 'get you out of any situation' RFT

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/t...176385&nmt=Run flat failure- advice needed

[HighlandPete]

Yes, seen pictures like this and similar reports of short 'run on flat' use before.

Very much looks like the tyre has been run on low pressure for many miles, rubber has been hot and on the final 'triggered' run it just falls apart. In fact I suspect many of this kind of failure, the tyre finally gives up and triggers a warning, so is already destoyed inside. The run to the garage is on a ruined tyre near, or at zero pressure.

No way would a good tyre, as a genuine triggered puncture, fail this way in 5 or so miles at recommended speed. Simply put, where does the heat come from?

Remember we in the UK use the indirect TPMS, so more than one tyre can lose pressure and no warning is set off. We MUST check pressures more regularly than normal tyres, as we can't see, or detect a slow puncture.

This is the main reason why, in the USA, they must have the direct wheel sensor system, as one wheel ONLY is enough to trigger a low pressure failure.

HighlandPete

[wafik]

happened to me too with my 335i - when it was only 3 weeks old from new!

[rogerxp]

Me too. Exactly the same as above. Sensor came on, limped to a garage, only got 2 miles down the road and the alloy chewed up the tyre from the inside. Was stranded and had to wait for recovery.

[dxb335d]

So is this cuz they have been run hard whilst flat?

[rogerxp]

My guess was that the slight lean that occurs when it's 'flat', plus the heat produces, allows the alloy (especially if a 19 incher) to lean and quickly chew up the tyre.

If you can keep topping up with air that might buy you more time. I was on route to do this but the tyre had gone before getting to the next petrol station.

[HighlandPete]

There is obviously more to this issue than just getting a puncture warning and the tyre failing in a few miles.

Cars have been run for over 100 miles when deliberately deflated, so any tyre that fails in a few miles has to be already damaged, IMO.

My view is the tyre has already travelled many miles on lower than ideal working pressure and been riding the side walls, therefore they are compromised.

I do wonder if, in time, we are going to find clear links between inner tyre wear and side wall damage as well.

HighlandPete

[martin26]

RFTs and TPM dont work together in a BMW. The TPM measures wheel speed and the RFTs mean when you loose a little pressure the TPS doesnt notice.

I bought a used 335i with the tyres worn only on the inside edge, but a discount to cover the cost of replacing the tyres. I drove the car home. Next day I got an explosion on one of the tyres 100 yds from my house- litterally BANG HISS. It was too late to get to a tyre dealer so I parked up. I sat there looking at the dsah board thinking why is there no TPM warning. I limped to the closest dealerand after a mile of driving with NO air the TPM came on......go figure.

[acerboo]

i keep a small electric pump in the boot to reflate if possible, may help.