Run flats or regular tires ?

I want to replace my tires as the tread 5 3/4 and the ride is very harsh now when hit bumps and manhole covers.

Is it a good option to go for regualr tires and buy and repair kit or go for run flats.

Please advise.


2008 328i first BMW.

This has been discussed here at length and the consensus seems to be that Run Flats give a harsher ride.

Require your tire dealer to ceremoniously burn the old runflats so that they won't be resold to some unsuspecting sole ....

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=635643

Ok, looks like non run flats are the consensus.
Is there a recommendation about the non run flats make model?

Also thanks for the quick replies guys.

Originally Posted by vikram1023

Ok, looks like non run flats are the consensus.
Is there a recommendation about the non run flats make model?

Also thanks for the quick replies guys.

Stop! There is no consensus. These forums are not a consensus-building system. They are a place to vent or rant about something they don't like. We have no real idea how many people are staying with RFTs. And there's another thread that started out as such a rant, and ended up getting a lot of RFT supporters to post in: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=637360

Also does using the run flat kits the cause the TMPS sensor needs to be replaces is this true.

^ Most likely toasted.

ok, so i am new and think i was making conclusions too fast .. looks like the new RFT's are solid performers as well form your post.
So i am confused now, which would be a comparable tire to the new factory tires.

Originally Posted by vikram1023

Also does using the run flat kits the cause the TMPS sensor needs to be replaces is this true.

There's no such thing as a run flat kit. But I assume you mean goo injection kits? Those can can be used on either RTFs or non-RTFs. Same for TPMS, in fact... they can be useful on standard tires.

With all that out of thw way: yes. A goo kit tends to ruin in-tire TPMS sensors.

Originally Posted by vikram1023

ok, so i am new and think i was making conclusions too fast .. looks like the new RFT's are solid performers as well form your post.
So i am confused now, which would be a comparable tire to the new factory tires.

If you have factory RFTs, everything is FAR better. The factory tires are notoriously bad, especially when combined with the factory shocks. They don't get along well.

You can find far better tires, both in RFT and go-flat. But it's hard to be more specific without knowing your priorities. Track performance? Road performance? Harshness? Resistance to potholes? Bad weather safety? etc. etc.

Tires are distressingly complex things to purchase.

Originally Posted by floydarogers

Stop! There is no consensus. These forums are not a consensus-building system. They are a place to vent or rant about something they don't like. We have no real idea how many people are staying with RFTs. And there's another thread that started out as such a rant, and ended up getting a lot of RFT supporters to post in: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=637360

I stated that there seems to be a consensus that RFTs have a less harsh ride than non-RFTs and I will stand by that statement.

I have never seen a post here to the contary although there are many who have stated that:

1. The stiffer ride quality was not a problem for them.
2. They were willing to put up with the stiffer ride quailty because they like many of the other qualities of the RFTs (the main one of course being the fact that a flat will not disable the car)

CA

Originally Posted by vikram1023

Also does using the run flat kits the cause the TMPS sensor needs to be replaces is this true.

It wasn't the case for me when I (unsucessfully) tried to seal a flat with the Conti Comfort Kit.

CA

I live in NC and there is none or very rare snow fall, it is rains most of the time.
I am not a track person just looking for a Sproty every day diver, pot hole resistance would be plus and I am on local roads mostly.
Hope that helps.

Originally Posted by vikram1023

I live in NC and there is none or very rare snow fall, it is rains most of the time.
I am not a track person just looking for a Sproty every day diver, pot hole resistance would be plus and I am on local roads mostly.
Hope that helps.

I am also on the market for new tires and am looking for Ultra High Performance All Seasons.

I just called tire rack and they are out of stock on two of my top choices, Pirelli P_Zero Nero and Bridgestone Potenza Pole Position. Not sure where to go from here.

CA

CA, I just bought the Bridgestones a week ago. I went to the local Firestone dealer with the TireRack price and they matched it. I think they may still have the tire in stock.

BTW, I don't see the big deal about the 3GL tires. They ride OK, but I was also OK with the ride on the Kuhmo summer-onlys prior to this.

Originally Posted by captainaudio

I am also on the market for new tires and am looking for Ultra High Performance All Seasons.

I just called tire rack and they are out of stock on two of my top choices, Pirelli P_Zero Nero and Bridgestone Potenza Pole Position. Not sure where to go from here.

CA

Any reason not to consider the Conti DWS? After 20,000 miles, I'm enjoying mine more and more.

Tom

Originally Posted by Tom K.

Any reason not to consider the Conti DWS? After 20,000 miles, I'm enjoying mine more and more.

Tom

Have 10K on my DW's. Better ride including impacts, quieter with better traction then the Bridgestone Run Flats that came on the car.

Originally Posted by captainaudio

I stated that there seems to be a consensus that RFTs have a less harsh ride than non-RFTs and I will stand by that statement.

My apologies; I will accept that limited statement. I was concerned that a new poster might be concluding after 3 posts that unwarranted conclusions had been made, not only in this thread but in others.

Originally Posted by Tom K.

Any reason not to consider the Conti DWS? After 20,000 miles, I'm enjoying mine more and more.

Tom

Thats what I ordered. Also had to order 4 new rims since I found out that 3 of the 4 on the car were bent.

Low profile tires and NYC are not a good match.



CA

Originally Posted by captainaudio

Thats what I ordered. Also had to order 4 new rims since I found out that 3 of the 4 on the car were bent.

Low profile tires and NYC are not a good match.



CA

Ouch! Now you have to do parade laps at LRP with the new setup!

I'm still a believer that technology marches on...therefore I vote for the BS RE960AS RFT (3rd Gen). Cheaper price than the original tire...promised softer ride...a mileage warranty, and all-season tread design. All this with a "free trial" IIRC.
Oh, I forgot...NO mileage penalty for a staggered fitment (as with the Michelin RF).

Not sure how the pricing works out vs. Conti if you figure in the ContiComfort kit pricing.

Attn, OP: DON'T count on a "goo" kit to get you out of trouble if you mount non-run-flat tires and you get a flat. They are only good for simple nail punctures in the IMMEDIATE tread area...and YES they will clog your TPMS, requiring a replacement (about $55 through Tire Rack).

Originally Posted by pointandgo

I'm still a believer that technology marches on...therefore I vote for the BS RE960AS RFT (3rd Gen). Cheaper price than the original tire...promised softer ride...a mileage warranty, and all-season tread design. All this with a "free trial" IIRC.
Oh, I forgot...NO mileage penalty for a staggered fitment (as with the Michelin RF).

Not sure how the pricing works out vs. Conti if you figure in the ContiComfort kit pricing.

Attn, OP: DON'T count on a "goo" kit to get you out of trouble if you mount non-run-flat tires and you get a flat. They are only good for simple nail punctures in the IMMEDIATE tread area...and YES they will clog your TPMS, requiring a replacement (about $55 through Tire Rack).

I had a flat on non-run-flats (large cut in sidewall). I tried to fix it with the Conti Comfort Kit and injected the sealant. It did not seal the flat but did not damage the TPMS.

Originally Posted by captainaudio

I had a flat on non-run-flats (large cut in sidewall). I tried to fix it with the Conti Comfort Kit and injected the sealant. It did not seal the flat but did not damage the TPMS.

Probably a throw of the dice, depending on where the injury is and where the 'goo' goes...or how much of it you put in the tire and how it settles in the tire. Having used the BMW system twice with my M3 (indirect TPMS), there seemed to be no limit to how much I could pump in...a whole litre? It was quite a large bag of goo. The ContiKit should be similar if not identical.

I was QUITE IRRITATED that my dealer then wanted to charge me $50.00 to replace this 'goo' bag. This was AFTER my UNINFORMED or SNEAKY BMW salesman told me that I had runflat tires at the time of sale...quite conveniently AVOIDING opening the trunk...so that I WOULDN'T see the LACK OF A SPARE TIRE. I had no idea at that time...and drove away from the dealership assuming that I had at least a 'temp' spare. What an idiot I was.

My 2011 non-sport E93 is a perfectly smooth riding car with the OEM Conti 225/45R17 RFTs. Got sport package or a pre-2011 (apparently they revised the suspension on the '11s to better accommodate the RFTs?) then maybe non-RFTs would indeed be the better option.

Originally Posted by captainaudio

Thats what I ordered. Also had to order 4 new rims since I found out that 3 of the 4 on the car were bent.

Low profile tires and NYC are not a good match.



CA

CA,
I am planing to get these tires as well, do you recommend conti care kit and protection plan for seller?