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Now, you've stated many times that mileage is dependent on the driver, and to a degree that's true.
I'll wager, however, that you would be hard-pressed indeed to find anyone with 80,000 miles on a set of RFT's. And, one would have a difficult time convincing me that most BMW owners today put performance ahead of tire life longevity. Especially with so few manual transmissions sold in BMW's in the USA.
The funny thing is, overall, I probably fall into the category that supports RFT tires and technology, yet I see there are many valid concerns and complaints about the tires.
Sticking one's head in the sand and denying that there aren't significant issues, maybe even problems, with RFT's is, IMO, not a very effective way to resolve the issue.
But, then again, if one doesn't acknowledge there ARE issues, there isn't any point in discussing it, is there?
I'm not necessarily referring to you in that comment, but there isn't any shortage of folks within BMW and the tire industry that fall under that umbrella. Ask any BMW owner who has had problems with RFT's and discussed it with their dealer. See what their response is...
Price of the new replacement tire on Tirerack.com... $310.00.
Fortunately, I have the wheel and tire insurance, so my out of pocket will be $0.00 for the replacement. Now, only 1.25 more tires to go, and I will have broken even on the insurance cost...
Any way you cut it, that's a high priced tire. It could have been worse... The rear tire cost is $405.00!
I know some people like 'em...I just don't know how they tolerate it. Maybe I'm just not "getting it", I dunno.
Besides, if you had say a 328ix and you lost one RFT with say 15,000 miles on it, I'm not sure they'd let you put just one new tire along with 3 other well-worn ones.
Considering the replacement cost, I'd rather have regular tires and a spare.... but, for that type of car, the driving experience difference is nil..
Now... performance runflats on a MINI? Those suck..
The new car I pickup on Saturday will have performance runflats.. I'll report back, once I get it home.
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Though not runflats, almost every OEM tire has been crap, in my experience... and, I'm too cheap to take them off before they are worn out.. the only difference here, is no spare.
regards,
kyfdx
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To be fair to the other side, I've only had personal experience (regular driving) with three cars equipped with GFTs,....but they were all bad.
All of your GFT experiences have been bad? Have you ever had a good driving experience relative to the tires you were riding upon? :confuse:
My major "bad" experience with GFTs were twofold (one MINI, two BMWs, a 2007 and 2008):
1. unbearably noisy
2. premature wear
A fair question though: "Would I have replaced by GFTs with another set of GFTs if I had been able to drive home in a rainstorm one night with a flat tire?"
Answer: No, it's still not worth the trade-off of 364 days of noise for 1 day of convenience. I have green slime, I have an air pump, I have AAA with 100 mile towing.
Some members of the GFT Alumni Club even have a spare tire!
If GFTs are now quieter and less expensive to replace, I'd change my tune for 2012.
In theory, I like the "promise" of RFT's... But, they fall short in practice.
I picked up the screw Sunday around noon. I called to get an appointment to get the replacement tire Monday AM. I asked to be notified before the appointment if the tire wasn't in stock and available, to which the service "arranger" agreed to do.
I went in today, Tuesday for my 10 AM appointment... You know where this is going, don't you?
No tire in stock...we will have one tomorrow.
The good part was that I was never stranded, nor did I have to change the tire before continuing on down the road... That's the "promise of RFT technology" I like.
You can see how that "promise" translated into reality.
Still, I'm not upset about it. Perhaps it's a rare condition that my sized tire wasn't in stock, or maybe it's an all too common occurrence. In the end, it simply is what it is.
I'm too old nowadays to let minor things like this get my blood pressure up...
Anyway, that's my opinion...
RFT = Run Flat Tires
GFT = Gets Flat Tires
Me thinks you actually like GFTs and don't like RFTs. Yes, no?
Yes, everyone, please self-correct my post #2969. :P
Original post:
-- http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.efceb01/456#MSG456
Acronym Finder entry (can't get the link to stick, you'll need to cut and paste it into a browser):
-- www.acronymfinder.com/Get-Flat-Tire-(GFT).html
I am fascinated though, by reports of people who are happy with RFTs--I'd really love to drive one of their cars and hum the holiday tune "Do you hear what I hear?"
I went in today, Tuesday for my 10 AM appointment... You know where this is going, don't you?
No tire in stock...we will have one tomorrow.
Update:
I now have a new front tire, and the issue has been resolved.
All I know is before my wife got her Lexus,she had a Subie GT and they told her the same thing.So she buys 4 Nokia's. Good bye Subaru. Who said ,"$185.00 for a Trek bike tire?"That's a shocker. :shades:
Case in point... When the iPhone 4 first came out, it was blasted with complaints about reception issues... Again, highly vocal and public.
Now, I haven't done any research on it, but on the surface, it seems Apple hasn't suffered from those complaints.
Lots of folks also moan and complain about BMW losing it's way by equipping the majority of it's US fleet with auto transmissions, but the company is having record sales.
It's easy to fall into a trap of forming an opinion based on insufficient information, and I am as guilty as anyone of doing it.
But, like an old statistics professor taught me years ago, when there are millions of samples, a handful of points on a graph don't necessarily translate into a trend.
Well, that's my opinion.
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Not my first choice for tires – but I had no issues in 30,000+ miles of [ um ] somewhat spirited driving.
I am aware of the issues and the risks, but this time ordered a 2011 BMW 335iS for European Delivery – with Run Flat Tires.
Essentially, as with the Corvette, my choice offered more positives and fewer negatives [ the RFTs ] than any other available option – for MY particular set of personal priorities.
YMMV.
- Ray
2 weeks to pick-up – in Munich . . .
I asked SA if BMW had a TSB out for the rims/tires combo as they are totally unsuitable for cars sold in the northeastern US. He suggested Kevlar rims!
I'm wondering if you can claim this damage on your insurance, as a road hazard claim?
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In fact, the local news had a story on a couple of months ago about that very topic.
The car is not a lemon but it does have bad Karma -- with 176 miles on the ODO I was stopped at a stop sign minding my own business and was hit across the front end by another car, causing about $10K damage.
FWIW, there have been a number of different methodlolgies for implementing TPMS systems; it sounds like the system on your car does in fact measure differential rolling speeds which it can then use to figure out which one tire out of a group is low on pressure. Said another way, if all four of your tires were losing pressure at about the same rate (not at all impossible), then the TPMS system wouldn't catch the fact that the tires were low.
Long story short, it is the vehicle owner who is reponsible for keeping the tires inflated up to spec.
FWIW, I've had several cars which have had tires which lose air at about the same rate; granted I've never waited long enough before checking them for the pressure to get down to sixteen pounds, but I don't think this is at all outside of the realm of possibility. Keep in mind the TPMS system does allow for a several pound variance between tires before it triggers a light or an alarm (otherwise you’d be getting an alarm all of the time; my current cars have a six pound variance), and what might well have happened is that the tires all lost pressure within the tolerance of the system down to sixteen pounds (which I assume is probably the floor for your tire/wheel setup baring an actual puncture).
I've never/ever expected my dealership to bear the full responsibility for maintaining my car; I simply don't have the time to be bringing it in every month for a checkup. If you don't either bring your car in that often, or check the pressure yourself that often, then the responsibility for keeping pressure up to snuff is yours and yours alone.
I ran them 2 times on a 2003 330i & 2 times on a 2006 330i. NEVER AGAIN !!!
After the 2nd set "prematurely" showed metal, I switched to Michelin Sport Plus staying with the larger rears (Sports Package). Not only is the initial price less, but the wear is longer. I have run the conventionals for 10 months now and see NO WEAR at all even though I have approx. 12,000 miles on them. (Of course I carry a "donut" spare and tools and air pump just in case.
I would NEVER return to RFTs. Those who will say that RFTs have improved will not be argued with. I am so much happier with the Michelins.
Thanks
The wear you describe is typical of running low pressure. Will occur on the 'loaded' camber side of the tire, the load is taken by the sidewall rather than the whole tire.
HighlandPete
In just over 1,000 miles of driving on a wide variety of roads, I found the ride [ even with these fairly low profile 18” RFTs ] to be absolutely perfect – at any speed and on every surface we encountered.
YMMV.
- Ray
Happy BMW driver . . .
Agreed.
Unfortunately, autos have become so "self-reliant and self-reporting" in the last few years, that many (through no fault of their own) have become accustomed to "no messages/warning lights" means "no problems".
TPS systems are a great example of systems that are mis-represented as "fail-safe" monitoring systems, when that was never their design. Yet, many car companies/salesmen sell them as exactly that, so its not unreasonable for an owner that isn't familiar with the system's inner workings to make that assumption.
The bottom line is this....
Read your owner's manual. These systems are explained in detail there, and there is information there that will tell you what a system "will and will not" do for the car/driver.
In my experience, probably less that 10% actually take the time to look at the manual. I doubt if most folks would even notice if the car didn't come with one any more....
So, will more than likely be getting serious about a 328x in next few weeks.
Am from old school so am not very enamored about the run flats----- will drive from local dealer to nearest tire store to pick up spare and throw in trunk.
Question: can I run a donut spare with rest of tires being full size? I only ask because if any of you look at some of the Suburu forums, the drive train is very critical of difference in tire diameters-----assume this is not so with BMW due to their type of AWD.
Speaking of that, hate to get off the run flat on this forum, but can one of you explain exactly how this 4wd system operates-----i.e. computer (electric) signals? mechicanical sensors? Also, if the rear wheels loose, say, 100% of their traction, will the fronts wheels then assume that much?
Reason for asking----- I live west of Denver in mountains-----some very serious hills and curves (including my 200' uphill driveway), and I would be getting snowtires for sure, but still would like to hear from some of you with practical experience in poor winter conditions.
Appreciate your wading thru all of this, but real life info is so much better than a salesman or service advisor ( I've talked to both).
So, that won't affect your AWD..
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