Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
I've ordered a new 2011 335i xDrive to replace my '07 335xi. I have ContiProContacts on the 335xi, but it's pot luck, sadly, what I get on the new version. I have 28,000 miles on the current set with not a single issue.
I have heard 'not-bad' things about the 3G version of the Bridgestone RFTs. I like the idea of the RFT and I've not had any bad experiences. Some of you will insist staying away from RFTs but I have to rely on my own experience.
My question is: Does anyone have specific driving experience, hopefully with BMW AWD, with the Bridgestone 3G RFTs in 225/45R17 All Season?
By the way, the '07 Sparkling Graphite Metallic version has only ~28,000 miles after not quite three years. I am due to receive better than KBB and Edmunds.com trade-in value for the car. The new one will be Tasman Green Metallic, Oyster w/black interior, ZSP, ZPP, ZCW, H/K stereo, satellite radio, PDC front & rear. It's being built as I write this. Oh, and the heated steering wheel and HD Radio at no extra cost.
Here is a quote from Bridgestone's own web site:
Bridgestone's first run-flat tire was introduced in the early 1980s with an aim to keep disabled drivers' vehicle mobile, even after complete air loss. The Porsche 959 was the first mass-produced vehicle equipped with run-flat tires, making them standard equipment in 1987. In this early application, these tires could not offer the smooth, comfortable ride as compared to conventional tires.
Striving to solve this problem, Bridgestone developed a second-generation run-flat tire in 2005 which offered improved riding comfort. And, in 2009, Bridgestone introduced new technology in the third generation run-flat tires, which offers almost the same riding comfort as conventional tires.
Bridgestone certainly are not saying when they are due in the UK either.
HighlandPete
Supposed to be OEM tires...
Wonder what the wear rating is on these "new" RFTs?
Current tires are rated "1" which is the lowest possible. Even WalMart does not sell tires rated this low.
GIMMICK or not a GIMMICK. Only time will tell.
Regards to all.
Best regards,
Shipo
The way it was put to me was, "Perhaps it is your driving habits!">>>>A nicer way of laying fault. At 67 years of age, do I speed? / take corners faster than a speeding bullet? DAMN RIGHT I DO.................That's why I bought 4 BMWs one after the other. Otherwise a Ford Fiesta would do just fine.
Anyway.........well expressed sir123.
I have one tire on the back that's worn out but I don't want to buy 2 new non-RFT.
What would happen if I just replaced one?
Would the car run like crap?
One axle? Ummm, maybe.
All four corners? Yes, absolutely YES!
come to think of it...that's the best thing to do with RFTs, use them as spares. people often forget to check the pressure on the spare anyway. so, even if you never refill the RFT spare with any air, it would still be good to be used to get you home in case of a flat. loving my car again.
Stay clear of that idea......NO QUESTION.
John
went on bimmerfest, but could not find button to click on for selling stuff.
Maybe the posts are saying that if you go to 18" go-flats, you can use one of the original 18s as a spare?
For example, the 18" wheel may have a 40 aspect ratio tire, the 17" a 45 aspect ratio.
HighlandPete
Also, any reason to get the warranty on the excess wear and tear up to $5000 for a cost of $25/month?
Thanks in advance
Someone asked me today if the BMW wasn't a "Sport" sedan... My response is that with an automatic transmission ans RFT's there is a Lincoln that outperforms it and for less money. "Sport" does not compute with an automatic.
OR
If you drive like a saint over the term of the lease and the tire simply wears out.
My experience over 3 Bimmers with RFTs is as follows:
1.) RFTs wear out faster than any tire I have owner over some 51 yewars of driving. I have repeatedly only obtained some 24-26,000 mile on a set >>>> with Sports Packages.
2.) I have NEVER had a blow out or puncture or failure of any kind over 3 BMWs and 5 sets of RFTs even though I have carried a "donut" spare / tools and an electric air pimp at all times. Who knows when and where a new tire will be required and NOT AVAILABLE where you are. Many places do not carry RFTs but will order them. Great if you are on a road trip and do not wish to spend a night when the flat hits you.
But as I say, (touch wood) no problems so far.
If the dealership ;lease covers normal day to day tread wear, (GIVEN THAT A SET OF TIRES ONLY LASTS LESS THAN 30,000 MILES>>>>>AND I STRESS THAT FROM ABOVE EXPERIENCE) THEN FORGET THE WARRANTY.
But if the dealership warranty says a set of tires should last 40,000+ miles then "HOGWASH" THAT IS BULL S_I_!!!!!! THEY DON'T. You don't want the burden of replacing tires just because THEY SAY that they should have lasted longer.
At 67 years of age, I do not "harass" my tires. They simply do not last long.
Take a look at the WEAR RATING number on your tires. Mine have always been rated "1" the lowest rating possible. Wal-Mart does not even sell tires rated "1". They do not want the complaints.
Other than the tires, the car is a dream to dive. All the best with your new car.
John - Springfield, Oregon
As to the excess wear and tear coverage, absolutely NO. BMW Financial is very reasonable. It won't nickel-n-dime you. I just returned a 2007 328i after a 3-year lease. BMW did not charge me anything, even though there were a couple dings for which I wouldn't be surprised if it chose to charge me.
As luck would have it, I also live just west of Boston and drive a 2007 335xi with ContiProContact run-flats. I have about 28,500 miles on my original set and they are wearing perfectly with perhaps another 7000 to 10000 miles of wear left. I've driven them through all 4 seasons, never got stuck in deep snow, never had a flat or any issue, and the car goes as straight as possible on our crappy roads (in other words, no alignment or tracking issues).
Based on my experience, I think you can relax and enjoy your new ride!
By the way, I'm supposed to pick up a new 2011 335i xDrive, perhaps as early as tomorrow, and I have no idea whether I'm going to get Continentals, Bridgestones and, I hear through the grape vine, maybe even Michelins.
Good luck! I have my fingers crossed for both of us!
xeye
Waiting for Bridgestone 3G RFT for a while now while Conti DWS non-runflat tires are out of stock...
To the 3 Series owners - this is now on 40K miles - any suggetsions/gotchas on a car at this point?
Thanks
Thanks!
Alicia
Best regards,
Shipo
Interesting to hear that this is even more of a world-wide situation than I had thought. I can't remember the guy's name, but there's a Scotsman who posts from time to time here as well.
The RFTs are one of the two primary reasons I'm not driving a BMW today. It's apparent BMW couldn't care less. There's always more at the door who will hock whatever they have to to drive a BMW, regardless of much else.
Some of (many of?) the enthusiasts are dropping away, but so long as the numbers go up, who cares (besides several of us, that is)?
I don't know what happened to the 3G product.
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/06/reviewed-bridgestone-3g-rft-tires-taking-the-- shock-out-of-run/
Run-flats have really messed up BMW cars, don't work at all well on a lot of UK roads and without replacing with conventional tires, will have lost a lot of BMW users. In fact some users have turned away from BMW because of the tire issues.
With normal rubber, the cars can be transformed to what some of us are used to as a 'real' set of BMW dynamics.
HighlandPete
What we do know, they have to be the total solution, or ''egg on face" comes to mind.
HighlandPete
I know this may not be important for day-to-day driving, but over July 4th weekend, my wife and I decided to take my car on the family vacation instead of her minivan, since we didn't expect to go shopping, and the trunk was just big enough for my family of 4. I don't think that would have worked, even if we only used a donut spare.