**Consolidated RFT Failures/Issues Thread**

Press the dealer for any other RFT replacement but Goodyear LS. This is a well known problem with the GYs and I would be surprised if the dealer did not offer to replace them with an alternate brand just to keep a happy customer.

Thanks for the recommendation. I've raised so much stink that this will be my next action with my next Bubble!

Anyone have a pic of a sidewall bubble? Do the bubbles trigger a TPMS warning?
Any symptoms, change in driving etc

It's a subtle bulge in the sidewall. No change in pressure or drive.

It definitely can be subtle and easy to miss depending on the lighting conditions. Some are not so subtle, but there is no loss of pressure or change in handling until the bubble bursts and it most likely will. I've gone as long as 400 miles with a bubble without bursting. Once the bubble burst within 10 miles. The bubble is the result of the tire structure being cut from the inside as the tire is pinched between the wheel and the pavement. Air then flows into the tread layers. It's only a matter of time before it goes. Once you take the tire off of the wheel there is no air pressure and the bubble disappears and you have to look closely to see the damage on the inside of the tire.

This has happened twice with my 2011 535 w/M package. Tires are 19 inch Dunlops. Had the insurance, good investment, paid for itself with first tire.
Cheers

they were substituting them when they were on national back order.
this was not done to keep the customer happy,although it did,or because they were aware of the tires being problematic.
it was done only because it had to be done. with no similar sized ls2 tires available, what other option did good year have?

i am not suggesting they no longer have that policy.
i am suggesting not to assume they do.personnally i would be very suprised if they do.
why would they pay to replace 4 from a competitor at retail,when they can replace 1 of their own at cost.

my concern is about damage to inner side walls,that are not clearly visible.
owners are not aware and thus take no action. they can be a potential ticking time bomb.

also because so many are either pressured by the dealership, or just feel its a necessity ,rather then an option to purchase the insurance,are accurate stats being kept on all tires affected?
or are numbers kept artificially low allowing bmw to continue to install them on their cars,long after they have been aware they are a problem?

by bmw choosing to stay with these tires they ,keep selling insurance ,and at an ever increasing price. they obviously see no reason for change.
i have to wonder why good year stays in the game with them? good year has to be taking a hit.
if good year believes their tire is good,then its a bmw issue,wheels? suspension? combination of the two?
in any event bmw is making money selling insurance,and good year is continually paying out for claims.

If you read this thread one would believe that the tires have been improved because less failures are being reported. Or it could be that the dynamic suspension software has been improved. Maybe the roads are just better. I don't think we'll ever find out.

Well, I hate to jinx myself, but my last bubble on my 2011 535 X drive with sport 19' LS2 was just about a year ago. I admit I have not hit "bad" pot hole, but I have hit a few "medium" ones. The rear tires are original with between 15 and 16000 miles. So, perhaps there has been a "silent" redesign.

When it is time for replacement I will think I will go with non run flat.

I sure hope I don't have an issue because I posted this today.

Will BMW accept a non-RF on a lease return?

No. You'll have to either swap out the tires before turnback and replace with runflats or pay for their replacement. You may be able to work something out with the dealer if you're buying/leasing another BMW through them.

Originally Posted by GHOST PROTOCOL

FYI: It is not a run flat tire issue. Rather, it is a low profile tire issue. When you selected the M sport package, you got the 19 inch rims instead of the 18 inch rims. The tires on both the 18 and 19 inch rims are low profile, but the tires on the 19 inch rims are low profile to a greater degree. Therefore, you are more at risk to road hazards. Several months ago, BMW updated its website and now advises that your are at risk to road hazards when using the low profile tires. No such warning is given for the 17 inch rims because the tires used on those rims are not low profile.

That is absolutely correct. I have 19's and am just as frustrated. I have the coverage but you can't go into just any tire shop as everyone knows. I 'd like to know if anyone out there has increased their low profile RFT's to the the very next size up with any success? Does BMW
void the insurance. Seems to me that visually, the wheel wells on the 550 have enough clearance to handle it. Any opinion is welcomed.

I have Michelin Pilot A/S 245/45/r19 non-run flat. Installed by the dealer at time of delivery. I couldn't be happier. No warranty issues because I got them done at the dealer - at least that's what they told me.

That's the tire I would like to switch to. I just picked this car up last week and it has 245/40/R19 tires. Before your response, my approach to this problem was to increase the sidewall to 45. Now I see you have the tire size I was going after so that definitely gives me hope. Love the ride on these 550i's. They are like no other so I'm encouraged by your response. My car is being flat bed to BMW Manhattan Monday morning. Here's my dilema: I have the tire coverage for the car. The car has 20,000 miles as do the tires. They cover road hazard but not normal wear., I I think. Do I bite the bullet and buy 4 new Michelins as you have and start from there. Another words, if I have another tire failure, they would always have to match the 245/45/R19 michelins. Otherwise they will put on another crappy Goodyear tire that is on the car now and I will have another problem before too long. New with BMW so I don't know how flexible they are. Please advise and Thanks.

It will cost you, but the roads of NYC are not friendly to low profile run flat tires. I think it will be worth it in the long run. Don't do it at BMW, buy the tires online or from Costco (similar price) and get them installed at your local Mavis or Costco (tell the manager not to scratch your wheels during the swap). If your car is a lease, you can just put the original tires back on before you turn it in.

No, they will not

Here is what most people do.

Take off the run flats (but keep them in your garage), and when you are returning after the years are up, put the run flats back on and you are golden

Originally Posted by Mikez38

Will BMW accept a non-RF on a lease return?

Originally Posted by djsilo

I have Michelin Pilot A/S 245/45/r19 non-run flat. Installed by the dealer at time of delivery. I couldn't be happier. No warranty issues because I got them done at the dealer - at least that's what they told me.

There is a run flat A/S alternative in a 45 series tire. Maybe the dealer will do this tire as well.
Bridgestone RE-960-AS pole position run flat.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....e+Position+RFT

Had the Michelin A/S on my RL, excellent in winter.
I would expect a much better ride and handling compared to the LS2.
Although, I have been very pleased with the LS2 and xdrive on my M sport in the rain and they seem pretty quiet.
The cars suspension just seems very well mannered over the broken highways around cleveland, maybe it is an added benefit of the DDC.
Can also say that the magnetic shocks on the MDX Advance, seem to vastly improve the ride in Comfort mode, compared to my previous standard MDX.

Sidewall bubbles are a function of several things:

1. The profile of the tire. The lower the profile, the greater the propensity for a failure. You can almost guarantee failures on 25 series tires, 30 series, 35 series, etc.
2. The structure of the tire. Read the fine print on your tires. Tread has more belts than sidewall. Fewer sidewall belts = less strength.
3. Potholes and speed bumps.
4. Hitting the lift (arms, fingers, etc) in a garage will typically result in a bubble.
5. Anyone who drives on the highway with a bubble is taking a chance of injury/mortality to self, passengers, and other drivers, etc.
6. When the belt in the tire is compromised, the bubble forms because the air seeps from inside the tire belts to the thin outer surface of the sidewall. The only thing holding the air in that tire is the eighth of an inch of rubber. If that thin rubber was safe, tires would be made without the inner belts.


4. Driving style. Insurance companies charge higher premiums for cars that attract aggressive drivers. CTS V and top of the line Mercedes sports car premiums are about $4000 per year if you are over 25 and you have no tickets. Regular ins for CTS with same driver will be about $1200 per year. Similarly, tire manufacturers realize that aggressive driving leads to more sales of tires.

z06bigbird - As you say, low profile tires will always have a higher failure rate. In the case of the 19" LS2s on the F10 there is at least one other reason. There most likely was an incompatibility between the tire and vehicle.

I say this because two BMW dealers and one Goodyear dealer indicated to me that the 19" LS2 failure rate was considerably higher than similar tires on other cars. Further proof is BMWNA changed out the tires and wheels to a different size at no cost to me, RWD F10s with 19" summer tires appear to experience fewer failures. Finally, current 19" LS2 owners also seem to experience a lower failure rate. This is all circumstantial evidence, but taken as a whole points towards an incompatibility that has been rectified in the latest models IMHO.

This incompatibility coupled with less than perfect road surface conditions created the failure problem. Was this incompatibility due to the active suspension, an underspecified tire, or tire manufacturing problems? We'll probably never know.

Originally Posted by Diver624

There is a run flat A/S alternative in a 45 series tire. Maybe the dealer will do this tire as well.
Bridgestone RE-960-AS pole position run flat.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....e+Position+RFT

Has anyone actually tried these tires on a 535i Sports Pkg (19 inch wheels) car? Do we know there is not a clearance issue? If they fit, then the Tire Rack road test makes them sound quite attractive.

I don't like run flats anymore. Too many bad experiences in my 135i and my fathers 550i. Regular tires are better on BMW IMO.

Originally Posted by mdspadeccom

Has anyone actually tried these tires on a 535i Sports Pkg (19 inch wheels) car? Do we know there is not a clearance issue? If they fit, then the Tire Rack road test makes them sound quite attractive.

The diameter of a 45 series tire is 1" more than a 40 series tire in our size (245/40/19), I doubt that 1" would cause a clearance issue. I think there are some people on this board who are using 45 series tires but i'm not sure if they're using 18's or 19's. Since the tire is larger by 1" it will affect your speedometer reading by 3.6%, another words at 70 mph your speedo will read 67.5 mph, which isn't a big deal. I think BMW's speedo's read a little fast anyway. You could check with BMW and confirm the clearance question.

Originally Posted by Diver624

The diameter of a 45 series tire is 1" more than a 40 series tire in our size (245/40/19), I doubt that 1" would cause a clearance issue. I think there are some people on this board who are using 45 series tires but i'm not sure if they're using 18's or 19's. Since the tire is larger by 1" it will affect your speedometer reading by 3.6%, another words at 70 mph your speedo will read 67.5 mph, which isn't a big deal. I think BMW's speedo's read a little fast anyway. You could check with BMW and confirm the clearance question.

And the 1 inch of extra diameter is divided between the top and the bottom of the tire, so it is only 0.5 inch of extra sidewall height. The extra circumference would finally (after all these years) give me a BMW speedo that is almost accurate (another of my pet peeves).

I have 19" with 245/45/19 Michelin pilot a/s and they're great. My speedometer is accurate - when checked against GPS cruising at 60.