Goodbye RFTs. Hello New Shoes

I said ciao to the Pirelli RFTs after a dismal 11K miles performance for $ 2,200. Installed new Continental Extreme Contact 19" for $ 1,200 at Discount Tire. Added a ContiComfort Kit from Tirerack.com.

What a difference in ride! I should have done it a long time ago, and saved thousands in the process.

If only I could find a slim emergency tire, it would be awesome.

Glad to hear you like the the Contis. I'm about to do the same with my '09 F02. Can't wait to have a better handling car and a quieter one.

Originally Posted by dfwbiker

Glad to hear you like the the Contis. I'm about to do the same with my '09 F02. Can't wait to have a better handling car and a quieter one.

The handling has changed like night and day. I feel the agility of my 5er is back, but in a larger, plushier, and more powerful beast.

As they say, I'm lovin' it.

I drank the cool aid about a month ago when I ditched the runflats for blizzaks. Even a snow non run flat created a shocking difference in the ride quality. I did not really love my 740(my first BMW ever) but after getting non run flats I LOVE the car. BMW needs to offer the option. Please follow up if any one has a good option for a spare. I have the slime kit but it apparently kills TPMS

BMW needs to offer real spare tires. Then no one would need to mess with RFT or the useless BMW Mobility Kits.

Originally Posted by LIRacer

BMW needs to offer real spare tires. Then no one would need to mess with RFT or the useless BMW Mobility Kits.

Doesn't your B7 have non RFT and a Mobility Kit? Any experience with that you can share?

Originally Posted by azbimmer

Doesn't your B7 have non RFT and a Mobility Kit? Any experience with that you can share?

Yes I have experience with the mobility kit, and it is all bad. IF you happen to have a puncture in the tread, it may work, if you apply it carefully, filling the tire with goop, driving it a mile and then re inflating. But if you puncture the tire on the side wall or shoulder, the mobility kit is useless, and you get to wait on the side of road for several hours until the BMW tow service gets around to showing up.

I slim spare tire package would be a superior alternative. Although it will eat up space in the already small trunk, it is a much better and safer alternative to an inflation kit.

Just got the car back from Discount Tire with new Continental Extreme Contact DW's. What a difference! The care is quieter, smoother, handles better and is like driving a new car.

I did get the Conti tire kit, just in case, but boy am I glad this 750li no longer has the run-flats!

Originally Posted by dfwbiker

Just got the car back from Discount Tire with new Continental Extreme Contact DW's. What a difference! The care is quieter, smoother, handles better and is like driving a new car.

I did get the Conti tire kit, just in case, but boy am I glad this 750li no longer has the run-flats!

Keep a good tow service number handy as inflator kits are useless on a side or should puncture.

Originally Posted by LIRacer

Keep a good tow service number handy as inflator kits are useless on a side or should puncture.

While this is certainly true, RFT's have limited range when under decreased pressure. For myself, there are multiple cases where I could be stranded further out than the RFT's can travel "flat". We dumped the RFT's on both of our SUV's right out of the gate and have been much happier with the ride and fortunately haven't had to deal with a flat. We'll see how the 7 rides in the spring on 20's with RFT's before deciding on replacement.






P.S. I LOVE your Vette.

Doesn't your SUV have real spares (which all cars should)? A run flat can at least get you to a tire store or bimmer dealer, but a 'mobility kit' is pretty good for remaining stuck at the side of the road.

Thanks for the compliment on the Vette. If the nice weather keeps up, I am going to let it stretch it's legs tomorrow.

Originally Posted by LIRacer

Doesn't your SUV have real spares (which all cars should)? A run flat can at least get you to a tire store or bimmer dealer, but a 'mobility kit' is pretty good for remaining stuck at the side of the road.

Thanks for the compliment on the Vette. If the nice weather keeps up, I am going to let it stretch it's legs tomorrow.

Nope, both the X5 and ML came with RFT's and no spare. The problem comes in when we're heading out for longer road trips, especially through the mountains. It is easily conceivable that we can be anywhere from 100-200 km from any service station. The RFT's are not going to get us there. So in that scenario, either way, we're looking at waiting for a flatbed. We chose to take the better ride comfort and hope that if we pick up a tread puncture (not sidewall like you correctly pointed out) the kit will get us to a service center.




Off topic, but is your Vette a full, stock restore? Looking for a project to do a restore/mod type with the father-in-law and the Vette is high on the list. I'd like to do something with an original body, but drop in an LS7 with modern underpinnings. Thoughts?

That is pretty much what I did. I installed a ZZ502, Vette Brake Products racing suspension, Keisler 5 speed, big brakes from a C4 vette. I went with a true big block rather then a bored out LS. There is nothing like opening the hood and seeing this monster. I wish I'd gone a few more grand and went for the ZZ572!

As a first time BMW owner who bought a car off the lot with run flats, I wonder if there is an option for non run flats and a spare. If not, why not? It is clear to me since I swapped out to non run flats that there is a big problem around these boards. Most agree that run flats are bad for the drive in every way. Between vibration, noise and the degraded ride one would think that the makers of the greatest driving machine would reconsider ditching a part of the car that ruins it. I personally love my car with it's non run flats but when I get around to buying my next car I will not consider an auto with run flats. I would go back to Mercedes or Audi just for that. This really is a deal breaker and I'm shocked that BMW has not figured it out.

I've written this in a few threads: I have run flat snow tires on and aside from a slightly harder ride, the car handles great, and I don't hold my breath every time I hit a pot hole.That being said, it is beyond me why so many high end car maufacturers are no longer supplying spare tires. It is a safety issue for many. Being stuck on the side of the road for hours is simply dangerous. Aside from getting hit by some moron who is cruisng the shoulder, you are totally exposed to any creatin looking foir trouble. I am considering buying a spare and jack, and when I am on a trip where I need luggae room getting a room carrier.

Originally Posted by jprescott

As a first time BMW owner who bought a car off the lot with run flats, I wonder if there is an option for non run flats and a spare. If not, why not? It is clear to me since I swapped out to non run flats that there is a big problem around these boards. Most agree that run flats are bad for the drive in every way. Between vibration, noise and the degraded ride one would think that the makers of the greatest driving machine would reconsider ditching a part of the car that ruins it. I personally love my car with it's non run flats but when I get around to buying my next car I will not consider an auto with run flats. I would go back to Mercedes or Audi just for that. This really is a deal breaker and I'm shocked that BMW has not figured it out.

I could not agree more. My next cars will not be BMWs for this very reason. Audis and Mercs are looking better all the time.

Originally Posted by azbimmer

I could not agree more. My next cars will not be BMWs for this very reason. Audis and Mercs are looking better all the time.

I'm not sure about the Audis, but our ML came with RFT's so I'd check whatever model you are looking at to be sure. I do know that Porsche has zero models that come with RFT's according to the salesman we were working with.

Find a slim spare and a cargo net to secure it and u will be just fine i did this with my 335 coupe made a huge difference. Same issue in the 3 series forums people hate the rft's, they are loud, ride hard and get damaged easily. Oh did i forget hella expensive, who needs a bmw tire plan for $1200 they sure did figure outnanother way to add safety and lace their pockets at the same time. A good spare tire in the trunk has always worked for many years, c'mon BMW lets not fix what isnt broken.

Hi I am new here. Does trading for non run flats alter the reading of electronics in any way? Have had 2 BMs but haven't had the guts to try non RFT. It's just that I can't imagine myself being stuck with a flat tyre and there's no spare...

No problems at all by not having RFT's. The electronics all work the same.

Got the new tires about a month ago, couldn't figure out why the balancing was never quite right. It turns out the RFT's that were on the car had bent three out of four wheels. Now I've got new wheels!

Add me to the list of converts who have ditched the RFTs (along with the stock 18s). I got a set of Modulare Forged M13s in 20" with Conti Extremecontact DWs, and the ride could not be better. It's like having a whole new car! As for emergencies, I have one of the 18s in the trunk with a wrench and inexpensive jack. It works for me because I don't use my trunk very often. I only wish BMW would catch on to the unpopularity of the RFTs, although I suspect many of their customers wouldn't know the difference in ride quality if it bit them in the you-know-where!

Originally Posted by gassy

Add me to the list of converts who have ditched the RFTs (along with the stock 18s). I got a set of Modulare Forged M13s in 20" with Conti Extremecontact DWs, and the ride could not be better. It's like having a whole new car! As for emergencies, I have one of the 18s in the trunk with a wrench and inexpensive jack. It works for me because I don't use my trunk very often. I only wish BMW would catch on to the unpopularity of the RFTs, although I suspect many of their customers wouldn't know the difference in ride quality if it bit them in the you-know-where!

Welcome to the club. I love the Conti DWS tires. Have put a few thousand miles, and the handling makes me smile every time. I have a Conti emergency kit and touch wood, have not had to use it. The RFTs were always attracting nails, as if there was a magnet built it.

Sounds like you can add regular tires on run flat rims. Pardon my ignorance. I searched for it and some said you can't. I just bought a 750li with run flats. Declined the tires insurance thinking that, if I get a flat, I will just buy a pair of Continentals DWS.

Originally Posted by king0fspades

Sounds like you can add regular tires on run flat rims. Pardon my ignorance. I searched for it and some said you can't. I just bought a 750li with run flats. Declined the tires insurance thinking that, if I get a flat, I will just buy a pair of Continentals DWS.

Good idea. 7K miles later, I am still very happy with my decision to ditch RFTs.