**Consolidated RFT Failures/Issues Thread**

read the fine print. You DO NOT have to return it with the same brand of tires. My old 335i a couple years back went back with non-rft's. Spending 60,000 won't get you a car with a forged wheel. Nobody answered my question as to what tire pressures you guys are running. My Michelin primacy's on my 351's were way over inflated coming off the boat at almost 41psi. Hitting a pothole with an over-inflated or under-inflated tire could definitely cause a bubble. With that said though, don't go aiming for potholes..

Originally Posted by RaveD

When I spend $60K for "the ultimate driving machine" I expect the wheels and tires to be of a certain quality and reliability. Plus, when leasing the vehicle, options are limited, since you have to return the car in 3 years with the original equipment.

I accept that low profile RFTs are more susceptible to damage from road hazards; however, the multitude of issues being reported on these Goodyear tires strongly suggests these specific tires have a defect.

I had hoped the complaints were overblown and my experience would be different. But I hit one pothole at 30MPH and the tire bubbled. My E60 had low profile tires and I hit many worse potholes at highway speeds and did not have a single bubble in 3 years.

I love this car, but if I'm constantly going to the dealership for new tires over the next 3 years, I doubt very much I'll be back in a BMW in 2014.

I don't believe in paying 60K for a car that I have little confidence in, regarding the RFT issue. My experience with a RFT 335 and 328 have proven to me that the RFT concept is useless. I shouldn't have to swap out tires, or wheels. While I have test driven a 528i and a 550i with the adaptive suspension, I do not want to get into a 535 xdrive and run into a ride problem. I will say that I do like the F10.

To say it is rediculous or stupid, or whatever to not want a car because of quite evident and obvious tire issues (BMW's decision to only use RFT technology) is quite out there.

As to lacking "sense," buying a car that you know is going to have to travel over roads in poor condition with giant potholes--that shows a lack of brainpower. It's evident enough that the RFT tire issue on the F10 model is causing more grief than not. The smartest choice offered for bad roads is the 528 with 17's.

Originally Posted by schnell525

Sorry you guys are having such a tough time with these RFTs. I have decided that I will not buy another BMW with runflats. I was heavily leaning towards an F10 by the end of May, but with roads that are horrible and state and local governments not repairing as they should, I think I have ruled out BMW.

A perfectly reasonable statement, in my opinion. The price of a set of 19" OEM tires/wheels isn't chump change. They function as a key component to the handling potential, riding comfort and reliability of the car...as well as aesthetics. It's not the same as a sub-par NAV or stereo system. The wheel/tire package should be proven before the car goes into production. If the issue appears after production starts (as often happens) then a 'fix' (if one exists) should be applied to future production; especially for a luxury sports sedan priced at $60K+. I think the average customer would find it unacceptable if their SA told them that they could 'upgrade' to a more reliable wheel/tire package, at their expense, after taking delivery.

All of you folks with 19 inch GY runflats - if BMW was willing to work with you (keeping in mind what is available on the market today), what would be an acceptable fix for an all-season tiresolution? I was just curious as to the options available other than to switch to 18 inch wheels/tires.

Originally Posted by RaveD

When I spend $60K for "the ultimate driving machine" I expect the wheels and tires to be of a certain quality and reliability. Plus, when leasing the vehicle, options are limited, since you have to return the car in 3 years with the original equipment.

Excellent point and I completely agree.

For anyone leasing, if you switch to non-run flats you'll have to keep the run-flats stored in your garage until you return the vehicle. And then you'll have to pay again to have the run-flats installed back on the car when the lease ends, otherwise BMW will charge you the full retail price of 4 new run-flat tires.

Originally Posted by ssj

All of you folks with 19 inch GY runflats - if BMW was willing to work with you (keeping in mind what is available on the market today), what would be an acceptable fix for an all-season tiresolution? I was just curious as to the options available other than to switch to 18 inch wheels/tires.

Goodyear was willing to work with me under their road hazard warranty. They offered to replace all four tires with any brand because Goodyears were unavailable. Unfortunately, the Goodyear Eagle LS2 is the only 245/40/19 RFT all-weather tire available. My choices were summer RFT tires or non-RFT tires. Since there are no winter RFT's in that size (Goodyear or otherwise), summer tires are not an option. Non-RFT's are not an option to me because there is no room for a spare in the car. At least a bubbled or blown Goodyear RFT will not leave me stranded with no option but to be towed.

535 iX and 550 iX F10s equipped with the sport package are the only cars of any manufacturer that use 245/40/19 RFT all-weather tires. They are specifically built for those cars and no others. It was a poor decision on BMW's part to select a tire size with no options while eliminating room for a spare. They could have at least offered 18" on the sport package as an option as they do in markets outside of North America. There are more 18" RFT tire options including winter tires.

Originally Posted by ssj

All of you folks with 19 inch GY runflats - if BMW was willing to work with you (keeping in mind what is available on the market today), what would be an acceptable fix for an all-season tiresolution? I was just curious as to the options available other than to switch to 18 inch wheels/tires.

Unfortunately there is no other All Season Run Flat available other than the Goodyear in 245/40/19. There are numerous choices for summer run flats which is ok if you don't get any snow or don't mind changing tires for the winter so those would be an acceptable fix if you don't get any snow.

Hopefully other tire companies will produce an all season run flat tire in this size soon. Bridgestone has a new generation 3 all season run flat tire but not in this size.

Bottom line, it's totally unacceptable that BMW put it's customers in this position.

Originally Posted by Diver624

Unfortunately there is no other All Season Run Flat available other than the Goodyear in 245/40/19. There are numerous choices for summer run flats which is ok if you don't get any snow or don't mind changing tires for the winter so those would be an acceptable fix if you don't get any snow.

I'm late to the game (car just on order), but this is what I'm discovering, too. I've already decided to get the insurance, but I was seriously considering a pre-emptive strike by putting other tires on the car from the get-go (and saving the Goodyears for when I turn the car in). I didn't realize until this morning that there ARE no other all-season RFTs. Not sure what I'm going to do now. I guess deal with the Goodyears, get them replaced as needed under the insurance plan, and hope for new tire developments?

Ugh.

Went to the NY Auto Show last night. Spent a lot of time looking a sidewalls of tires. The various manufacturers sure like low profile tires. The configurations at the show may of course not be typical of the bulk of the cars on the road though. Looked in a lot of trunks and at many spares - longing for one in our F10.....

Was thinking, although far from a perfect solution, a compact spare available from BMW parts department with tools, would loose some trunk space-yes but at least for me, be a solution.

Interestingly, the new 650i comes standard with our beloved Goodyear LS2 245/40-19 all season tires.

Originally Posted by ssj

All of you folks with 19 inch GY runflats - if BMW was willing to work with you (keeping in mind what is available on the market today), what would be an acceptable fix for an all-season tiresolution? I was just curious as to the options available other than to switch to 18 inch wheels/tires.

I would be happy if BMW replaced my tires with non-rfts and modified my trunk to accommodate a compact spare. I don't think I'm alone on this one.

Originally Posted by BMWfan1015

I would be happy if BMW replaced my tires with non-rfts and modified my trunk to accommodate a compact spare. I don't think I'm alone on this one.

Agreed, replace my tires with non RFTs and give me a compact spare. I don't expect them to modify the floor to accept the spare, but at least give me one that I could leave in the trunk for when I am far from home...

Originally Posted by RH512

Your dealer may help you and try and accommodate the situation. Or they may be just trying to make a profit on the policy and not come through when you need it.

However, when you read the details of the policy, I believe it is OE tires and wheels only.

As other's have said, the choices for 245/40-19 are few.

I agree it might be an issue. I'll try to have the dealer put it in writing. I called the insurance company that administers the policy for BMW (safe-guard) and they said they would cover any run flat I use since all major tire brands are OE on BMW's however I would have to pay any difference in cost. The dealer also said the policy is cancelable at any time and the unused balance refunded so if i change tires and they end up not covering them I can cancel the policy. Before i purchase the policy I'll make sure the "cancel at any time and refund unused portion" is very clear otherwise I'm not going to get it.

It's really a disgrace that we have to go through all this crap because of BMW's poor tire choice.

Please let us know if you will be able to do it get insurance with clear conditions for cancelations and refund
I have seen # 1200-1500 range for 5 year term
I will be leasing for 36 mo therefore what kind of ## i should expect, do we have any leverage in negotiations?
Let say if i dont like their/BMW/ price what are my choices go away and get a bubble a day for next 3 years?
I hope we have an attorney on this forum that will be able to articulate issues of GY RFT to the BMW NA and they do something before my pick up in June
Alex

As many people mentioned above, the bubble issue is Goodyear manufacturing defect. It does not happen to any other brand. I purchased my 535i just before Christmas. After 4 months with a little over 2,200 miles, I found 2 bubbles on my front driver side Goodyear RFT 245/40R19. My SA told me the same thing, the tire is on one month national back order. Even though BMW gave me a Bridgestone loaner tire, I am still not trusting the other three Goodyear tires. Beside, when BMW replace the bad tire with Bridgestone, they chipped of some paint on my rim & I also found some dents on the edge of my rim. I called BMW to complaint. All BMW told me was that it might because the marks were result of I drove over the pothold. I remembered that I inspected my rim before I gave my car to BMW. There was not even one mark on it. I also called Goodyear, since their tires are on national back order, Goodyear is willing to replace my 4 tires with other brand, but BMW refuses to go with this route. BMW insists me to wait for the Goodyear. Finally I brought my car in today for my tire replacment. They told me they have the Goodyear replacement tire.

Literaly we are driving on some ticking time bombs where bubbles can develop. Tires can explode at any time & rims can be bent. Does BMW have to wait for catatrophy or even death happen just like in the case of running away Lexus and Prius? Worst yet, BMW is still not taking any action to fix this problem or offering other alternative solutions or doing any voluntarily recall. Therefore, I urge all of you to file complaint with NHTSA. Hopefully with more poeple complaint, NHTSA will launch their investigation. Here is the link

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

There's another forum with the same topic. I just copied in here in case some of you might miss it.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...=run+flat+tire

As many people mentioned above, the bubble issue is Goodyear manufacturing defect. It does not happen to any other brand. I purchased my 535i just before Christmas. After 4 months with a little over 2,200 miles, I found 2 bubbles on my front driver side Goodyear RFT 245/40R19. My SA told me the same thing, the tire is on one month national back order. Even though BMW gave me a Bridgestone loaner tire, I am still not trusting the other three Goodyear tires. Beside, when BMW replace the bad tire with Bridgestone, they chipped of some paint on my rim & I also found some dents on the edge of my rim. I called BMW to complaint. All BMW told me was that it might because the marks were result of I drove over the pothold. I remembered that I inspected my rim before I gave my car to BMW. There was not even one mark on it. I also called Goodyear, since their tires are on national back order, Goodyear is willing to replace my 4 tires with other brand, but BMW refuses to go with this route. BMW insists me to wait for the Goodyear. Finally I brought my car in today for my tire replacment. They told me they have the Goodyear replacement tire.

Literaly we are driving on some ticking time bombs where bubbles can develop. Tires can explode at any time & rims can be bent. Does BMW have to wait for catatrophy or even death happen just like in the case of running away Lexus and Prius? Worst yet, BMW is still not taking any action to fix this problem or offering other alternative solutions or doing any voluntarily recall. Therefore, I urge all of you to file complaint with NHTSA. Hopefully with more poeple complaint, NHTSA will launch their investigation. Here is the link

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

I just called BMW NA they dismissed me and told me to buy tire insurance or speak to my CA(who also told me to buy the insurance)! I told them that I should not have to if the tire's are defective or overtly road sensitive. It's a lost cause unless action is taken. So I just filed a complaint with the FTC, now need to do so with the office of Consumer Production (here in NJ) and the Vehicle National Highway Safety. Then get my wife (an attorney) to write BMW NA a letter. Let's see if that does anything?

Originally Posted by Bim168

There's another forum with the same topic. I just copied in here in case some of you might miss it.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...=run+flat+tire

As many people mentioned above, the bubble issue is Goodyear manufacturing defect. It does not happen to any other brand. I purchased my 535i just before Christmas. After 4 months with a little over 2,200 miles, I found 2 bubbles on my front driver side Goodyear RFT 245/40R19. My SA told me the same thing, the tire is on one month national back order. Even though BMW gave me a Bridgestone loaner tire, I am still not trusting the other three Goodyear tires. Beside, when BMW replace the bad tire with Bridgestone, they chipped of some paint on my rim & I also found some dents on the edge of my rim. I called BMW to complaint. All BMW told me was that it might because the marks were result of I drove over the pothold. I remembered that I inspected my rim before I gave my car to BMW. There was not even one mark on it. I also called Goodyear, since their tires are on national back order, Goodyear is willing to replace my 4 tires with other brand, but BMW refuses to go with this route. BMW insists me to wait for the Goodyear. Finally I brought my car in today for my tire replacment. They told me they have the Goodyear replacement tire.

Literaly we are driving on some ticking time bombs where bubbles can develop. Tires can explode at any time & rims can be bent. Does BMW have to wait for catatrophy or even death happen just like in the case of running away Lexus and Prius? Worst yet, BMW is still not taking any action to fix this problem or offering other alternative solutions or doing any voluntarily recall. Therefore, I urge all of you to file complaint with NHTSA. Hopefully with more poeple complaint, NHTSA will launch their investigation. Here is the link

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

Not true. Do a search. Before the GoodYears the bubble complaint was about Bridgestone's. The low profile of the tires is the biggest contributor. 20's are worse than 19's, 18's are better than both.

dj

Originally Posted by bim168

i urge all of you to file complaint with nhtsa. Hopefully with more poeple complaint, nhtsa will launch their investigation. Here is the link

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

+1

+1
thank you very, very much for taking your time and helping with this issue
alex

Originally Posted by djfitter

Not true. Do a search. Before the GoodYears the bubble complaint was about Bridgestone's. The low profile of the tires is the biggest contributor. 20's are worse than 19's, 18's are better than both.

dj

I'm talking about the same car model with the same profile tires. For F10, BMW uses Dunlop, Michelin & Goodyear. Goodyear has more failures than any other brands. How do you explain that?

Originally Posted by Bim168

I'm talking about the same car model with the same profile tires. For F10, BMW uses Dunlop, Michelin & Goodyear. Goodyear has more failures than any other brands. How do you explain that?

Okay, I'm not a mind reader. I just commented on your posting, and that's not what you said.

dj

Originally Posted by djfitter

Okay, I'm not a mind reader. I just commented on your posting, and that's not what you said.

dj

I thought I mentioned. I missed that. Thx!

Originally Posted by a72

I just called BMW NA they dismissed me and told me to buy tire insurance or speak to my CA(who also told me to buy the insurance)! I told them that I should not have to if the tire's are defective or overtly road sensitive. It's a lost cause unless action is taken. So I just filed a complaint with the FTC, now need to do so with the office of Consumer Production (here in NJ) and the Vehicle National Highway Safety. Then get my wife (an attorney) to write BMW NA a letter. Let's see if that does anything?

Well I bought tire insurance with BMW at the time I purchased my car. Yet I still have to deal all the hassles with my local dealer, with NA BMW, & with Goodyear. Eventhough Goodyear agrees to replace my 4 tires with an alternative brand, but BMW is still not willing to go with alternative solution. In other words, it's a way of BMW trying to deny their responsibility, trying to get you paying for the cost of their defective tires.

this is why I'm leaning towards the 18" even though I'd like to get the sport package on my next car which will be a 2012 535i. The sport gives you bigger wheels (which I don't care about and the bigger tires which obviously have problems), shadowline trim which I like and the sport steering wheel and sport seats. I would definitely get the sport seats on their own and wish you could get 18" rims with the sport package. We'll see what 2012 brings

Originally Posted by soledoc

We'll see what 2012 brings

Hopefully new tires on 5ers with 19" wheels!

Greg