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BMW 3-Series Run Flat Tires
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in BMW
I just read the message below on TireRack.com and it made me wonder what kind of opinions and experiences 2006 3-Series owners were having. Please share.
"I am driving a 2006 BMW 325 with the standard OEM Bridgestone run flat tires. These are simply the worst tires I have ever experienced (I must add that I have had many sets of Bridgestone Turanzas and Potenzas that performed extremely well on other cars). The run flat tires provide a rough jostling ride, do not corner well, and are incredibly noisy on rough pavement. I have only had the car a few weeks but I am going to switch out these tires with something else that will provide ride and handling that is acceptable. Carrying a compact spare and a jack is a small inconvenience compared to riding on this poor excuse for a tire. There is a long way to go on this technology and BMW should not have ruined an otherwise great car with these tires. -- Review Submitted 2005-10-10"
"I am driving a 2006 BMW 325 with the standard OEM Bridgestone run flat tires. These are simply the worst tires I have ever experienced (I must add that I have had many sets of Bridgestone Turanzas and Potenzas that performed extremely well on other cars). The run flat tires provide a rough jostling ride, do not corner well, and are incredibly noisy on rough pavement. I have only had the car a few weeks but I am going to switch out these tires with something else that will provide ride and handling that is acceptable. Carrying a compact spare and a jack is a small inconvenience compared to riding on this poor excuse for a tire. There is a long way to go on this technology and BMW should not have ruined an otherwise great car with these tires. -- Review Submitted 2005-10-10"
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Comments
tidester, host
Jeff
New wheels in the spring!
Get used to a $4000/year ($500 x 4 x 2 sets/year) tire budget on a car advertised as having all free maintenance included. Or buy a C-Class. I don’t have the energy or time to sit in the tire department every 6 months. Fall back, get new tires. Spring forward, get new tires. Fall back, get new tires. It’d be ridiculous and exhausting. How weird is it that with this projected lifespan, you might want to rotate them every 5-6 weeks?!?
I’m getting new ones because I need my car back, but next time they’re bald I’m trading this rubber-whore on an E-Class.
As a matter of fact there are quite a few RFTs on the market now with some getting good reviews in handling along with good durability and the replacement cost is averaging $200 or less per tire rather than the $300 you have mentioned.
If interested, go to Tirerack website and you'll find many replacement possibilities with many rated superior to the Bridgestone RL42.
To trade in a car because of the tires seems drastic to me unless you really dislike the car. Also remember this is the trend for all cars, at least those high scale ones, to be equipped with RFT now.
You are certainly correct that it will cost less if you buy $200 tires and install them yourself. You might even bring your tire budget down to under $2000/year. Yay! That seems reasonable! Yay!
They are $330 each at Braman, my local BMW hucksters, plus installation.
It recently snowed here in the NE and I haven't experienced any slippage on snow/ice. I find the tires a bit "stiff", especially if you hit a bump/small pothole.
Are the standard RFT's on the 330xi different than the standard RFT's on the 330i with no sport? Just curious....
If the runflats are compromising handling with this car it is really unfortunate as I love everything else about it.
Be sure and tell him (on the above link) your opinion and concerns.
I drive 40K miles a year and this type of rubber set-up is not for me. If they truly tread out in the 15-20K miles range, I am going to spend $2-3 grand a year on tires - if not more. What the &&#!@ was BMW thinking? There are a lot of high-volume mileage drivers out there like me who love these cars, but I won't afford this - and trunk space being limited, well nothing more to say.
way go to BMW, that's thinking ahead. i guess they think everybody drives 10K miles a year that used to buy one of these things. Chalk up another sale for Infiniti.
if they told me i could get 30-35K on the things, i might go ahead, but this bull about 6K, 12K or 15K miles to a set of tires that cost over a grand to install, forget about it. i'm sure the price will go down and durability will improve. by then, i would probably 5 or 6K in the hole.
there are a lot of 3's on the road so maybe it doesn't bother everybody, but when you drive 40K miles a year and the car is a tire and premium gas whore
I'm guessing you have to buy new rims too? Seems like that came in the blog entry the other day.
Steve, Host
owners said no, but one guy said a BMW rep told him you did...
Also is there any kind of warranty on those tires?
They might be better served just buying a "L" , If a Nameplate is more important that a Driving experience.
DL
On a sports car, I would expect 30-40,000 miles from all-seasons, about 20-30,000 out of summer tires, and about 15,000 out of winter tires. In exchange for the lowered tire life, I would also receive superior handling.
I have not experienced this problem on my car. 8,050 miles on the summer Pirelli tires, which are, at most, 1/4 worn, and 2,150 miles on the winter Dunlop tires, which are just beginning to show any noticeable wear. Too soon to tell for sure on the winter tires, but from what I've seen so far, I expect at least 10,000 miles out of them as well.
My impression from the last time reviewing the tire warranty package is that it pays for the replacement tire (basically giving you a new tire) without pro-rated clause.
I just don't think it is worth it for the price. It amounts to buying insurance and if buyers always make out, they won't sell it, right? So I decided to self-insure. I only lose money if I have to replace three tires, not quite likely based on my own experience.
02 325i, 03 330ci and my '06 330i all had sport packages. The mileage is due to the soft composition of the tire not the run flat properties.
The run flats are expensive but I will take the safety!
A rear cost me $455 thanks to two nails. By this time next year the supply of run flats will dramatically lower the cost.
For a smoother ride avoid the sport package.
BMW Client Advisor--Rich
I have a BMW 328 convertible.
Would there be any issue with replacing the existing set of tires in size 205-60-15 to 225-50-15. The tire guy says it is no problem and the new size/tires are wider so it hugs the road more, he says it is the same or very close height wise... I am concerned about what that may affect -- the ride, aligement, etc.
Thanks
I doubt the extra width would be an issue, and he is correct... It might improve handling slightly... The correct "plus zero" size would be 225/55-15... though that might not be a very popular size...
It sounds like this guy doesn't have your size tire in stock? I'd just say no... If you really want to improve handling, you'd probably have to get new 16" wheels and move up to 225/50-16.. I think in this case, I'd stick with the stock size..
regards,
kyfdx
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WHAT STATE DO YOU LIVE IN? iN CA THE TIRE AND WHEEL WARRANTY FOR 3 YRS. IS SELING FOR $795. A GOOD PRICE CONISDERING EACH RUN FLAT WILL BE $ 350- 400 AND A BMW WHEEL WILL RUN $400-500.
RPATREI
Bryncerdd
My only hope is that, by the time I am in the market for my next car, the early problems will be sorted out and these tires will be cheaper and available in a wider variety of tread compounds.