Run flat tire problems

I picked up a screw in the rear tire of my 650 the week before last and brought it into a local high end wheel and tire dealer to have it patched. The tire never had less than 20 lbs of pressure in it, but when the dealer took the tire off to repair it, he found a strange cut like area on the tire about 6 inches in length. He said he had been in the tire business for over 6 years and has seen lots of run flat tire failures, but had never seen anything like this. He suggested I take the tire to BMW since he believed it should be covered under warranty and he isn't an authorized Bridgestone dealer. I brought a picture I had taken (see below) to the dealer and he quickly replied that since the tire had a puncture, it needed to be replaced and that the puncture caused the crack. Since I didn’t seem to have any other option, I went back to the local tire dealer and replaced the tire for $425. (which was $100 less than the BMW wanted to charge me).

A week and a half later, I somehow managed to pick up another screw in my tire (not the one that was replaced) and this time I stopped immediately and checked the tire pressure (37 lbs). Since there was plenty of pressure and the leak appeared to be very slow, I drove the car back to the local tire dealer to have the screw removed and the tire patched (keep in mind that the pressure was 35 lbs when I got to the tire shop). When the technician removed the tire, there was the same type of thin cut like area on this tire (see below) – so the tire is ruined and needs to be replaced. I brought the tire to a Bridgestone dealer to see if they would cover it under warranty and the Manager said he had never seen anything like it, but since it was a run flat and had a puncture that the tire needed to be replaced and wouldn’t be covered under warranty.

Has anyone had a similar problem with their tires? Do any of you in the tire industry have any ideas for me on this situation or do I need to just get out my wallet again and cuss about how much I hate these run flat tires?

I bought the tire warranty from BMW - 5 years total. I picked up a nail, the RED run flat warning came one an BMW replaced the tire the next day.

I can completely feel your pain. My fronts wore out because of tire pressure issues, according to BMW. Was going to cost $600 for replacements. Luckily, Bridgestone didn't see it that way and replaced them both for the price of 1. They did however ask if I wanted the warranty, about $40 a piece. I delclined since I had the one from BMW.
I would reccomend you consider this.

yes the same thing happen to me last year i dump my RF replace them with goodyear F1
and bought a spare for my z4
speedyz4

No issues with my 645, 17k miles. Honestly I think any tire would have been ruined by what you described.

I think some folks just have bad luck with flats. I have about 3 flats in 20 years. I am amazed at some of the stories in which folks have had 3,4,5 flats in 6 months.

Hello
I am having the same problem we may have something here I am visiting the firestone store on tomorrow to replace a tire which has a split in the back of tire but NO NAIL just lost of air hopefully bridgestone/firestone are not having this problem again . I dont know if you remember the story of there lawsuits for the blowouts they were having with there tires!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am gonna save my tire and take pictures and also contact FIRESTONE/BRIDGESTONE and threaten them with media exposure!!! Please do what ever you need to do to put fire under there BUTTS
PS I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED

I have had 6 punctures in 3.5 years. Before that I had one flat tire in the last 15 years. The Bridgestone RFTs seem to have zero resistance to nails and screws. Everything sticks to them. After replacing 4 tires, I bought a Stop & Go plugging kit and fixed the next 2 myself. No problems with the plugs at all. I'm getting close to replacement time and don't think I will buy more run flats. I don't think I will buy another car with run flats.

Run flats suck, period

Is there a warranty to cover run flats that are replaced under 10,000 miles because of a flat.
BMW does not fix they only replace.
I had the tech keep the tire since tire-store said they can repair it at a cost of $30.00
BMW replaced it for $330
I guess I feel robed
Is there a recourse please help
gabepalhttp://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/ima...lies/laugh.gif

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 4 RUN FLATS IN THE LAST 5 WEEKS AT A COST OF OVER $2000 ON MY 2011 BMW 550i X DRIVE.
I REPORTED IT TO BMW NA, SO FAR THEY ARE GIVING ME THE RUNAROUND.
WILL NOT BUY BMW WITH RUN FLATS AGAIN. IF BMW WILL NOT SOMEHOW REIMBURSE ME I WILL SWITCH BACK TO MERCEDES OR AUDI NEXT TIME.

Originally Posted by PHALI2

Hello
I am having the same problem we may have something here I am visiting the firestone store on tomorrow to replace a tire which has a split in the back of tire but NO NAIL just lost of air hopefully bridgestone/firestone are not having this problem again . I dont know if you remember the story of there lawsuits for the blowouts they were having with there tires!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am gonna save my tire and take pictures and also contact FIRESTONE/BRIDGESTONE and threaten them with media exposure!!! Please do what ever you need to do to put fire under there BUTTS
PS I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED

You cut a tire and threaten media exposure. Good luck with that.

dj

Check number of posts (1) and the date of the post (2009) ...

Originally Posted by Citroen

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 4 RUN FLATS IN THE LAST 5 WEEKS AT A COST OF OVER $2000 ON MY 2011 BMW 550i X DRIVE.
I REPORTED IT TO BMW NA, SO FAR THEY ARE GIVING ME THE RUNAROUND.
WILL NOT BUY BMW WITH RUN FLATS AGAIN. IF BMW WILL NOT SOMEHOW REIMBURSE ME I WILL SWITCH BACK TO MERCEDES OR AUDI NEXT TIME.

My last BMW was a 2008 535xi which I turned in June 15, 2011 a fantastic automobile and I loved driving it. It did not have run flats and because I could not get a new 535xi without, I purchased a Mercedes Benz E350 4Matic. My problems with runflats on previous models was so bad (6 ruined tires in 18 months that caused horrible inconveniences requiring delays in travel, rental cars, and expenses.) that I would NEVER own a vehicle with them. They do not run as nicely as radials to begin with so why use them?

Having written to BMW (James O'Donnell, now past President of BMW of North America) and having not received an answer, I will not drive a BMW with run flat tires. That is all they offer and some dealers threaten you regarding warranty and maintenance if you place radials on the car.

It is a shame because they do make a fine machine.

2011 BMW 328XI. Labor day weekend, monday night. Was 300 miles away from NYC, in NH. Slammed onto a pothole at 80 MPH - RFT went flat upto the rimm, and car became un-derivable. My option was to stay with the car or park it and go back to work the next day. Had to call in tow service to the get my car to the nearest airport, about 80 miles - cost $420.

Parked my BMW there, got into a rental, drove back to NYC.

Bought the following the day after:
Wheel: $340
New RFT: $289
RFT pressure value: $168
Tire mount: $55
----------------------------------------------
Total spent: $852

Rental cost: $130
Rental Fuel: $70
----------------------------------------------
Total Rental: $200

----------------------------------------------

Total money spent: $1472
Mental harassment: Limitless!!
----------------------------------------------

This is my true story. Learn from it, avoid RFTs or BMW altogether.

AJ

Originally Posted by aj101

2011 BMW 328XI. Labor day weekend, monday night. Was 300 miles away from NYC, in NH. Slammed onto a pothole at 80 MPH - RFT went flat upto the rimm, and car became un-derivable. My option was to stay with the car or park it and go back to work the next day. Had to call in tow service to the get my car to the nearest airport, about 80 miles - cost $420.

Parked my BMW there, got into a rental, drove back to NYC.

Bought the following the day after:
Wheel: $340
New RFT: $289
RFT pressure value: $168
Tire mount: $55
----------------------------------------------
Total spent: $852

Rental cost: $130
Rental Fuel: $70
----------------------------------------------
Total Rental: $200

----------------------------------------------

Total money spent: $1472
Mental harassment: Limitless!!
----------------------------------------------

This is my true story. Learn from it, avoid RFTs or BMW altogether.

AJ

Don't put on rft's then???

Sent from my WX435 using Bimmer App

I have but the problem I found is also with low profile tires, too. I bought a MB E350 4matic and the original equipment tires were inferior. After hitting a bump while entering a parking lot, I needed to replace four tires and went to Toyo's. After only 2,500 hundred miles of the originals, the new Toyos were quieter and handled the road so much better. I have even hit the curbs going into parking lots at higher speed with out the Toyos giving out. total 15,000 on the Toyos.

I am thinking that the luxury car market has found a sucker in the buys for their more expensive and less road worthy tires. Another way to separate people from their money.

Originally Posted by rubberismoney

Don't put on rft's then???

Sent from my WX435 using Bimmer App

BMW's are sold only with RFT's. Which is why I went to to MB. And that has proven to be better but not much and it does not drive as well either. so, buy a BMW and remove the run flats and put radial tires on and all is well. that is what I will do soon.

Originally Posted by restats

BMW's are sold only with RFT's. Which is why I went to to MB. And that has proven to be better but not much and it does not drive as well either. so, buy a BMW and remove the run flats and put radial tires on and all is well. that is what I will do soon.

That's what I'm saying throw out the tires and put on non rft tires

Sent from my WX435 using Bimmer App