Who has NON-runflats on their F10/F11?

If so, which tire?

Do you carry fix-a-flat and a compressor?

Michelin PSS, yes fix a flat, compressor, patch kit.

I'm done with runflats which bubble and are crap.

Any opinion on installers? We have Discount Tire, Kauffman Tire, and Butler Tire (the last one being more expensive and high-end, but has a high-speed balance machine).

...with Slime compressor kit and plug kit.

I have been driving on Bridgestone Potenza RE050A RFT maximum performance summer tires since they were OE on my 2006 650i. I got bubbles on my GY LS2 RFTs on my 550i xDrive and put on the Bridgestones. I have never had a problem with them. They are great tires. I have to use dedicated winter tires in the winter, but that shouldn't be necessary in Atlanta.

Originally Posted by lindros2

I'm done with runflats which bubble and are crap.

Any opinion on installers? We have Discount Tire, Kauffman Tire, and Butler Tire (the last one being more expensive and high-end, but has a high-speed balance machine).

Kauffman treats me right. Six cars, 10 years, get the road hazard, lifetime rotate / balance, brakes, alignment, ..... all good.

Originally Posted by lindros2

I'm done with runflats which bubble and are crap.

Any opinion on installers? We have Discount Tire, Kauffman Tire, and Butler Tire (the last one being more expensive and high-end, but has a high-speed balance machine).

Do a search at
http://www.gsp9700.com/search/findgsp9700.cfm
and make sure whatever installer you go with has a Hunter Road Force Balance. Also ask to make sure the tech knows how to properly use it.

I have Michelin PSS for Summer and Michelin PA-3 for Winter.

I normally carry a can of fix-a-flat, a compressor, and a plug kit. For very long road trips I carry a compact spare.

I immediately dumped the RFTs for Michelin PSS tires. Because I travel long distances in the car and hit long stretches without service, I elected to carry a compact spare I got from Bimmerzone and a compact jack. Those fix a flat cans are good for some flats. Others, not so much.

I dumped the RFTs for Michelin Pilot Sport AS Plus tires that are one sidewall size taller than stock (245/45/19) (stock is 245/40/19 on the 550xi M Sport). They don't rub And they have handled some severe pothole impacts on the FDR Drive without bubbling.

I bought a Bimmerzone spare but I don't carry it much. I do have an air compressor. Most leaks are slow leaks that just require enough air to get to the tire shop.

I have Michelin PSS for summer and carry a BMW compressor, slime and a plug kit.
I have got the dedicated winters at home and do not carry a spare.

F10 Non RFT Recommindation

What I've found is a good idea is that on tirerack.com, you can read reviews by car and it lists tires that other users use.

Received my August issue of Car and Driver Saturday and they did a test of nine summer performance tires. Number one was the Michelin Sport followed by I belive the Continental DW. Pick up a copy. Good information.

Count me for another with PSS! But no compressor/fix-a-flat. We in HK are never more than 15-20mins wait from call for a tow truck.....

I do have the factory RFs on my car, but I have switched to non-runflats on several Corvettes. Along with the other things folks have mentioned, some food for though would be to keep your eyes open for a cheap take off that will fit your car (or the donut spare if it's cheaper) and keep it and a jack at home. That way if you have a serious blowout at least you could have someone bring you the back up and get you running again in case it takes a few days to come up with a new tire or wheel if it is damaged.

Originally Posted by snj1013

Michelin PSS, yes fix a flat, compressor, patch kit.

Same here.

I have not had any punctures though.

PSS as well. And the kit.
No issues yet with 25k miles on these tires.

Originally Posted by sdg1871

I dumped the RFTs for Michelin Pilot Sport AS Plus tires that are one sidewall size taller than stock (245/45/19) (stock is 245/40/19 on the 550xi M Sport).

How does the speedo handle the extra ~10% height? I believe 24.5mm is about an inch.

Since my initial post (two days ago) my father-in-law picked up a 2012 Cadillac CTS Coupe.

No runflat, no spare - from the factory. They do provide a compressor and some flat-fixing stuff in a kit.

Yet BMW won't do this (or at least my dealer won't) due to "liability issues." Instead they choose to charge between $505/tire (Goodyear Excellence) and $525/tire (Dunlop SP Sport MAXX GT) for replacement runflats.

Originally Posted by lindros2

Since my initial post (two days ago) my father-in-law picked up a 2012 Cadillac CTS Coupe.

No runflat, no spare - from the factory. They do provide a compressor and some flat-fixing stuff in a kit.

Yet BMW won't do this (or at least my dealer won't) due to "liability issues." Instead they choose to charge between $505/tire (Goodyear Excellence) and $525/tire (Dunlop SP Sport MAXX GT) for replacement runflats.

They offer a "donut" spare on the CTS as a factory option. I had one and it had the option. It's also the last car I had that I had a flat on the road and I was glad I had the spare tire.

Originally Posted by lindros2

How does the speedo handle the extra ~10% height? I believe 24.5mm is about an inch.

No issues. The F10 has a built in speedometer error that results in it reading faster than it is actually going. The greater wheel diameter should correct that.

Originally Posted by jjsC6

They offer a "donut" spare on the CTS as a factory option. I had one and it had the option. It's also the last car I had that I had a flat on the road and I was glad I had the spare tire.

I can see the benefits of this - especially living in Atlanta.

My father-in-law's car (MY2012) does not have any spare of any kind.

Just the "Tire Inflation Kit". His MSRP was a hair short of $40k.

Originally Posted by sdg1871

No issues. The F10 has a built in speedometer error that results in it reading faster than it is actually going. The greater wheel diameter should correct that.

Sorry I missed that you had a all-wheel drive car (which I assume has matched tires all around).

The early-build (pre-Sept 2010 / MY2011) sport cars have 275/35R19 rears. The later cars are 275/40R19, which is what I wanted to go to.

Originally Posted by lindros2

Sorry I missed that you had a all-wheel drive car (which I assume has matched tires all around).

The early-build (pre-Sept 2010 / MY2011) sport cars have 275/35R19 rears. The later cars are 275/40R19, which is what I wanted to go to.

Yes in the United States the 550xi M Sport's tires are not staggered--they are all the same size (245/40/19)