**Consolidated RFT Failures/Issues Thread**

I feel that for a tire with such a short and stiff sidewall, it would make sense to reduce the tire pressure as much as possible (within BMW's suggested pressure rating). If you look at the tires like a pressure vessel and compression (hitting bumps) may cause a high compression ratio within the tire and cause the sidewalls to rupture. Also heat may be causing the tire pressure to spike since there's much less air volume inside the tires which may cause sidewall rupture especially when hitting potholes or bumps regardless if you feel them or not. The only downside in reducing the tire pressure would be reduced handling feedback. Oh and make you buy the tire insurance or warranty from BMW, the initial cost is high but it'll pay for itself.

Originally Posted by timmiii

I'm sorry to hear about your situation but eight failures sounds a bit excessive. Where was the tire mounted on the vehicle which failed?

Most of the tires were mounted on the front. but some were on the rear. My failure rate of approximately one per month does not appear to be extraordinary for sport equipped X-drives with 245/40/19 LS2s in the Northeast. Switching to 245/45/18 Continental SSRs solved my problem. I suspect you will do well with the 18" LS2s.

Originally Posted by radarguy

Most of the tires were mounted on the front. but some were on the rear. My failure rate of approximately one per month does not appear to be extraordinary for sport equipped X-drives with 245/40/19 LS2s in the Northeast. Switching to 245/45/18 Continental SSRs solved my problem. I suspect you will do well with the 18" LS2s.

LOL, yeah maybe for the tires but for the car itself its future is not looking too bright.

Last post was 4/24/12! Does this mean that the issues are slowly going away? Did BMW and Goodyear quietly come up with a fix? Maybe it's the Spring/Summer months with less pot holes?

Originally Posted by eyesight1

Last post was 4/24/12! Does this mean that the issues are slowly going away? Did BMW and Goodyear quietly come up with a fix? Maybe it's the Spring/Summer months with less pot holes?

NO! It is just the fact that BMW beat me (us) and I (we) gave up!
The RFT's on my 2011 528i, are 17's ,the ride is like it must have been in a covered wagon in the 1800's. They are like wood with the handling to match. My 2008 with Michelin Pilots would drive circles around the 2011. JMHO

I had to replace two of those blasted Goodyears on my 535xi M-Sport just last week, due to sidewall bubbles. That makes 4 tires and 1 wheel in one year.

Originally Posted by eyesight1

Last post was 4/24/12! Does this mean that the issues are slowly going away? Did BMW and Goodyear quietly come up with a fix? Maybe it's the Spring/Summer months with less pot holes?

I wish Goodyear came up with a fix!
December 2011 - I had multiple bubbles on sidewall of the front two tires and the dealership replaced all four tires as a pre-caution.

March 2012 - had to replace the front passenger tire due to bubble on sidewall.

And just yesterday and the most concerning experience, I hit a pothole doing at most 25 mph and the front driver tire bubbled on the sidewall, the area of the sidewall tore open exposing the underlying mesh which too had tore and the tire was leaking air. I had to call roadside assistance to tow the car to the dealership due to the damaged sidewall. All that from hitting a pothole doing only 25mph.

These tires are such a hazard that I have no confidence taking this car on any long distances. The most frustrating part is that after all this time with this issue, there is still no other manufacturer that makes these tires, so owners are stuck with these poorly designed/manufactured tires!!

Originally Posted by eyesight1

Last post was 4/24/12! Does this mean that the issues are slowly going away? Did BMW and Goodyear quietly come up with a fix? Maybe it's the Spring/Summer months with less pot holes?

Undoubtedly the roads are better this year due to a milder winter and fewer freezing/thawing cycles. Prior to my change to 18" OEM 18" Contis from the 19" GY LS2s. Nevertheless, according to my Goodyear dealer, the LS2s were failing at a rate on the F10 that was way out of proportion to the failure rates of low profile tires on other cars. Many of my eight Goodyear failures were not associated with pot holes and at least half were in the summer months. Ultimately it is the combination of tires, dynamic suspension and road conditions that cause the failures. I looked at a new 2012 535 at the dealer today while I was in for service and the ratings on the GY LS2s were exactly the same as my original tires. It's possible that BMW recalibrated the suspension software to reduce the tire failure problem. We'll never know.

As alandf mentions above, I think most owners with the problem just gave up and mounted different tires and perhaps wheels. I have now traveled 4500 miles on the Contis with no problems.

probably owners are just giving up...

I had my M-Sport in for an oil change on Monday and asked the SA if he's seen many LS-2 failures. He said a couple, but not in large numbers. I think the reason why you haven't seen many new posts is as was said the warm winter with not as many potholes and the fact that these tires are now available at dealers and independents, such as Tire Rack. Lot of the complaints before were about the long waits (weeks) before a dealer could locate a tire.

I have 15,000 miles on my LS2's and they've been wearing pretty good. Figure I'll go another 10-15,000 miles and replace them with another set or better a set of Bridgestone if they start making them in a 245-40-19. . That should carry me through the end of my lease.

Or change to the 45 series LS2 19" tire like what's on the 7 series.

isnt that something bmw could have done...should have done?...seems like an easy enough fix.
why should the burden continue to be placed on the consumer?
the choices seem to be either purchase the tire insurance or replace the tires.
either way we pay.

the way i see it it is bmw who should pay.
and eventually they will.
perhaps a lawsuit,a recall,a hefty fine,or loss of future sales.
even if this tire wasnt problematic, and it clearly is, why would any auto maker choose to factory install a tire whose specific size was manufactured by only one tire company?
do they expect us to be married to good year for the lifetime of the car?
bad enough they mandate run flats, they then compounded it by mandating good year ls2.

good year for their part added to the problem with inadequate production levels.
when you are the only show in town the least you can do is maintain product availability.
good year should have been aware,and if they werent bmw should have made them aware.
both were sleeping and neither seemed to care.

correction.
looking back my last line stated they were sleeping.
they were not sleeping.in fact they were wide awake.
clearly at some point they both became very well aware of the much higher then average fail rate.
yet other then eventually stepping up productions levels the same tire problem continues years later.
car buyers can understand faulty parts. what they cant understand or accept is the company continuing to provide them after they have been clearly exposed as defective.

so in fact they were not sleeping. they were and still are just pretending to be sleeping.

[duplicate message]

second failure - same tire (front/passenger side).

hit pothole near my house in 95+ degree weather.

F-ck BMW. F-ck Goodyear.

Originally Posted by lindros2

second failure - same tire (front/passenger side).

hit pothole near my house in 95+ degree weather.

F-ck BMW. F-ck Goodyear.

You're lucky. I had 2 failures on the same day. It was over $900 to have them replaced. And I share your sentiments on BMW and Goodyear.

Originally Posted by w5lx

You're lucky. I had 2 failures on the same day. It was over $900 to have them replaced. And I share your sentiments on BMW and Goodyear.

So many people to blame, but ultimately it's my fault.

Even though the pothole was obscured by a manhole cover.

bro dont blame yourself.
if we concentrate on scanning the road surface for potholes,we increase the risk for a collision with greater damage to the car and more importantly the body.
having to decide whether to look for holes or the traffic ahead is no way to drive or live.
we shouldnt be in that place.bmw and good year put us here and they are responsible.

had either done what is responsible and required ,adequate road testing of the car,data would have identified the fail rate rather quickly and clearly.
they would have then had the opportunity to go back to the drawing board and reexamine the suspension,the wheels,the tires,or anything else that proved to be the weak link.
instead it would appear,they either did inadequate testing ,ignored the negative results,or did the testing on a flawless freshly paved patch of road surface.

however the road testing or lack of it played out, the results are the same. either deliberate deception or incompetancy. either way they are guilty and at fault,and ultimately should be held financially responsible.....not us.
a number of times here i see some rather eager to give bmw a pass, yet not hesitate to blame ourselves or each other. and its not limited to just this tire issue..... we didnt start the fire.

I've filed claims with the NHTSA - nothing.
I've called and screamed at BMW - nothing.

I've called and screamed at a dealer (when Excellence was on backorder, no one returned calls, etc.) - free tire.

[18 months later]

I called dealer - $505 quote for tire.
I called Goodyear - they're looking into a solution.


Incidentally a quote for Michelin Pilot Super Sports is about $1500 installed.

[another duplicate post - something is broken with Bimmerfest - I only clicked Quick Reply once]

Originally Posted by w5lx

You're lucky. I had 2 failures on the same day. It was over $900 to have them replaced. And I share your sentiments on BMW and Goodyear.

You should not have to pay for these replacement tires out of your pocket because there is a Goodyear warranty that covers the replacement due to road hazard. I don't have tire insurance and I have had the dealership change six tires at no cost to me.

I can accept the fact that cars will have an issue occasionally, but I despise BMW and Goodyear for the situation they refuse to correct after nearly 1.5 years.

Originally Posted by tovj829

You should not have to pay for these replacement tires out of your pocket because there is a Goodyear warranty that covers the replacement due to road hazard. I don't have tire insurance and I have had the dealership change six tires at no cost to me.

Mine were covered under my Tire and Wheel Insurance that was bought at the time the car was purchased.

Originally Posted by w5lx

You're lucky. I had 2 failures on the same day. It was over $900 to have them replaced. And I share your sentiments on BMW and Goodyear.

I'm on my second one in a week.

Do I get a medal?

Does anyone know if they still putting the LS2's on the 2013 M-Sport 19 inch rim or have they gone to something else? Thanks.

Originally Posted by winger22

Does anyone know if they still putting the LS2's on the 2013 M-Sport 19 inch rim or have they gone to something else? Thanks.

There is no other All Season Run Flat tire in this size other than the GY LS2.

Bridgestone makes a new All Season Run Flat (Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT) but unfortunately not in our 19" size.