Stories from the Sales Frontlines

graphicguy · July 2013

RB.....if you ever get the chance, Escort has just opened a new showroom at their HQ near me. If you're "cruising" through, you should stop in. They'll spend an hour with you showing you the what, the how, the why of how they consider their detectors the best. I agree with you. Escort has far exceeded Valentine's capabilities in the past couple of years.

roadburner · July 2013

Thanks! I've got a week-long assignment in Covington coming up; maybe I'll have some free time to visit.

graphicguy · July 2013

RB....cool. If you do come up my way (Liberty Twnshp) on the other side of the river, I think you have my email (if not, Walt has it). Give me a little notice. There's a nice restaurant up near Escort HQ (Jags). Maybe we can meet up, if you want.

stickguy · July 2013

Hey RB, looks like we will be taking my daughter down to see SC the week before labor day. I assume you would have just delivered your son about then. If I see a kid from Kentucky passed out in the gutter, I will let you know. We will be in Columbia Thursday and Saturday nights, and touring SC on Friday/

just for laughs, and to see more of the state, we are going to run up and check out Clemson on Saturday. Though turns out that is OD for football, so it might be just a touch crowded up there!

nyccarguy · July 2013

Hey everyone. I'm looking for some tire advice. I got a flat (front left) on my way home tonight. It looks like I hit a pot hole, the tire developed a bubble, then split. With 26,000 miles on my BMW's continental run flats, do I have to buy 2 new tires or just 1 & have it shaved down to match? Thanks!

explorerx4 · July 2013

Can't wait for college football season next fall.
One of my nephews is going to be a junior next year on a college football team.
He hasn't played yet, but I think this he will finally get a chance (red shirted freshman year). We usually go to the home games. If he plays we will probably go to some road games, too.
Only game we have locked in is a good one, ND/USC in October.
There are some other possibilities on the list.

dino001 · July 2013

Unfortunately too much wear to buy one. The idea is the wheel radius needs to match within tolerance. I have worse news to you - If I remember correctly, it is 328xi you got. this means you should replace all four - one true downside of AWD. Sorry.

nyccarguy · July 2013

Thanks bud. I was actually waiting for you to reply. I'll call tire rack & the BMW dealer in the AM to see what they say about replacement. I can't imagine that I'm going to have to buy a whole set of 4. 2 yes. Let me hop on tire rack & see how much this is going to set me back.

ohenryx · July 2013

Unfortunately too much wear to buy one. The idea is the wheel radius needs to match within tolerance. I have worse news to you - If I remember correctly, it is 328xi you got. this means you should replace all four - one true downside of AWD. Sorry.

I have a feeling this is going to be very expensive. Somehow I don't see myself ever buying a car where one flat would require 4 new tires.

nyccarguy · July 2013

Stock Tire Size is 225/45/R17. Cruising Tire Rack shows that I've got a couple of options:

They have the stock Continental ContiTracPro SSRs for $209 each. They also have a set of Michelin Primacy MXM4 ZP on special for $128 each. Both are considered Grand Touring Run Flat All Season Tires.

So do I replace 2 Continentals for $209 each or buy 4 new Michelins for $94 more? If I buy the Michelins, I can always keep the 3 good Continentals. If the Michelins are SHOT by turn in time, I can always buy a used Continental to slap on the car for lease turn in.

Thoughts?

graphicguy · July 2013

nyc....if you're going to buy out the lease and keep the car, buy all 4 of those Michelins. If not, buy one Conti, shave it, and call it a day.

nyccarguy · July 2013

Im thinking lately I'm leaning way toward NOT buying out the lease. To shave, how do I measure tread depth?

cadillacmike · July 2013

Well, both are NATO countries, so they are treaty obligated to do exactly that.

dino001 · July 2013

One thing - this is lease, which means you have to remember about the return procedures. Make sure whatever you do, you'll not be charged at the return for unmatching tires (AWD) or improper type (no RFT). I'd go and read the lease contract back and forth before making any purchase.

dino001 · July 2013

How do you shave a tire?

dino001 · July 2013

Seems like Michelins are a real bargain at that price. Your mishap just reminds me I'm due for a full four change soon, myself. Unfortunately, I have rear tires (and rims) in larger size (part of the sports pack) that is offered in only few tire models, each more expensive than the other. $1000 for a matching set, including installation would be a great deal (prices run up to close to $1500, depending on tire and place), unless I put same tire size to rear, as front (front is much more common size) and/or skip the whole RFT thing. It is within tolerance (i.e. smaller tire can technically be installed on a rim that is half inch wider), but I wonder if I'd lose too much of driving experience.

graphicguy · July 2013

nyc....I'd go to one of the local tire places and have them measure the tread depth...perhaps even your BMW dealer will do it for you. Or, just estimate the depth. It doesn't have to be exact.

dino...you shave a tire first by applying a foamy like cream to the tire and then takin a very sharp blade and scrape the foam off.....baddabing! :P

Sorry...couldn't resist.

In all frankness, tire places use a lathe to cut the tread of a tire to the depth you specify, or uniform to the other tires on the car.

If you're going to turn it in, personally, I wouldn't even bother with that, unless the new tire badly affects handling.

nyccarguy · July 2013

I would NEVER drive a car with mis-matched tires. I don't think it is safe & looking at 2 different tires on the car would drive me NUTS! As long as there are run flats on the car when I return it, BMWFS should be OK with it.

nyccarguy · July 2013

You special ordered a stick shift wagon with the sports pkg. Stick (no pun intended) with the staggered tires.

I'm leaning toward purchasing the 4 Michelins.

dino001 · July 2013

you shave a tire first by applying a foamy like cream to the tire and then takin a very sharp blade and scrape the foam off.....baddabing

I exactly pictured that when you wrote it

roadburner · July 2013

Thanks. I'll see how work goes.

roadburner · July 2013

Have fun! I think the USC-Clemson rivalry is almost as intense as Louisville-Kentucky...

nyccarguy · July 2013

I've decided to go with the Michelins. My local tire place matched tire rack's price, so I think that's the best option.

BTW - I'm waiting for roadburner to tell me to burn the continental runflats and buy a set of Pilot Sports (no run flat) with a can of fix a flat

ohenryx · July 2013

They have the stock Continental ContiTracPro SSRs for $209 each. They also have a set of Michelin Primacy MXM4 ZP on special for $128 each. Both are considered Grand Touring Run Flat All Season Tires.

I've never owned a run flat tire, and hopefully never will. But I was under the impression they were much more expensive than that. Someone here in the forums, not that long ago, posted about buying a set of four run-flat tires for $2,000.

Given your criteria, shown above, I would just buy the Michelins. One thing I can say is that I have never regretted buying Michelin tires.

roadburner · July 2013

Dropped into a used book store yesterday and found a shelf full of Automobile Quarterly volumes priced at $6 each. I resisted going overboard and only bought five issues...

roadburner · July 2013

Good choice on the Michelins; well suited to the car and a great deal to boot.

roadburner · July 2013

Someone here in the forums, not that long ago, posted about buying a set of four run-flat tires for $2,000.

Some dealers push the "You have to use BMW approved tires or you car will explode." line and then offer tires at incredible mark-ups. It varies from dealer to dealer, of course. I've often told the story about the BMW dealer in Santa Monica that charges almost 3 times more than my local BMW dealer...
As another data point, RFT prices in the 225/45-17 size my wife's 3er uses run from $512-$1,048 a set from Tire Rack. I don't doubt that some dealer would turn that job into a $2000 visit.

isellhondas · July 2013

Honda got sold a load of goods when they decided to put runflats on the 2005 Odyssey Tourings.

The dealers had to spend huge money for special tire machines.

The runflats wore out quickly and cost a fortune to replace among other things.

Must have seemed like a good idea at the time.

nyccarguy · July 2013

Thanks Roadburner. I appreciate your blessing. I'll keep you updated so you'll know when it comes time to replace the RFTs on your wife's càr.

roadburner · July 2013

Thanks!

Kirstie_H · July 2013

A reporter would like to speak with a Baby Boomer who recently (within the last year) purchased a compact or subcompact car. If you can assist, please contact pr@edmunds.com with your preferred contact information by July 17, 2013.

robr2 · July 2013

I've decided to go with the Michelins. My local tire place matched tire rack's price, so I think that's the best option.

It's quite possible they'll get them from Tire Rack - TR is also one of the largest wholesale tire distributors around.

www.tirerackwholesale.com

dino001 · July 2013

There are some sizes that have very few choices and very high markups, usually between 1200 and 2000 a set, depending on actual tire. On top of that, dealers will charge your high labor rate and will push purchase of an alignment, which is $200 at my local friendly dealer. With taxes you get over two grand really quickly.

nyccarguy · July 2013

Run Flat Tire Technology has come such a long way since 2005. The originals rode harsh, wore out quick, & were very expensive compared to their "get flat" (thanks shipo wherever you are) counterparts.

BMW specifically has a lot of money invested in making these run flat tires "work." They've heard the complaints over the years of angry owners and lead footed journalists & I believe they are making progress. Run flats aren't perfect & BMW knows that too as ///M Vehicles still come with "get flat" tires as standard equipment. I don't think they would have expanded run flats across the entire spectrum if they didn't believe that the technology was getting better.

My parents had a 2008 BMW 328xi that was virtually the same car that my 2011. They've always preferred a firmer riding car, but complained about their 328xi's harsh ride from the get go. They've both ridden in & driven my car and can't believe it's essentially the same car. Tires make the difference!

Take yesterday as an example. I was crawling along in bumper to bumper traffic when my low tire light started flashing. I drove about 1000 feet and pulled over in some zebra stripes after the off ramp. I walked around the car and saw my left front tire was low. I drove 5 miles up the road at 50 mph to a gas station/convenience store that's in the middle of the northbound & southbound lanes of the highway. I put air in my tire & immediately saw the gash at the top of the sidewall. I was able to drive home & park the car safely in my driveway in time for dinner.

Could I have changed a flat tire on the side of the road? Yes. I was lucky it was sunny and beautiful out yesterday evening. This morning it started pouring the second I left the house. Changing a flat on the side of a major highway in the rain isn't my idea of a good time. If my wife has the car, I don't have to worry about her stranded on the side of the road waiting for AAA or Roadside Assistance.

driver100 · July 2013

With 26,000 miles on my BMW's continental run flats,

I just replaced my 4 tires too...but I was getting vibrations. My tires had 25k miles on them too.....run flats for the 535ix.

People say you can expect to get 30K miles on them, which is pathetic, but that is average. Some get a lot less, some more.

I think Dino has it right, you are supposed to replace all 4, but check online.
Good luck. Oh, and mine came with Goodyears but replacements are Michelins.

driver100 · July 2013

Someone here in the forums, not that long ago, posted about buying a set of four run-flat tires for $2,000.

Yes, that was me, $435 each for a larger size. I don't see how run flats could be $125 each....isn't that what regular tires cost? I am in Canada, so tires cost more, but I think similar tires in the US were around $300 each!

robr2 · July 2013

I don't see how run flats could be $125 each...

They are probably on a close out and here they are:

Michelin Primacy Run Flats

nyccarguy · July 2013

Your 535xi weighs more than my 328xi, hence the shorter life expectancy of the tires.

nyccarguy · July 2013

Right you are my friend!

robr2 · July 2013

Right that they are a close out or the right tire??

isellhondas · July 2013

In spite of the benefits of run flats, I wouldn't want them.

A couple of years ago, I had a customer (older, of course) griping that the Accord he bought didn't have a full sized spare.

I asked him, " when did you last have a flat?". He couldn't remember.

I made the comment then that I hadn't had a flat since I was in high school.

Well, guess what? The next morning one of our CRV's had a flat when my wife went out to go somewhere.

driver100 · July 2013

Michelin Primacy Run Flats

Regular $200 for $128. Why would you not get all 4?

Great deal. Seems the price will come down closer to regular tires.

I agree, the safety features are nice of RFTs. My only concern is finding a dealer in a small town that has 4 tires at a reasonable price if you get a major flat in some little town on a holiday weekend.

explorerx4 · July 2013

You don't have to buy run flat tires. I guess they don't really work anyway.
Look at Town Fair Tire for prices. I don't like doing business with them, but their prices are hard to match.
Depending on how many miles you expect to put on the new tires, it may be worth it to save original 3 and look for a 4th for when you turn the car in.
You can't go wrong with Michelin's, but sometimes you can get good tires a lot cheaper.
My guess is those Michelin's seem reasonable, will last the remainder of your lease and maybe you can sell those Conti's to some other BMW owner looking for a 'previously loved' tire.

nyccarguy · July 2013

That's the right tire & I assume tire rack's price is a close out price

nyccarguy · July 2013

I am getting all 4 & will save my 3 "good" Continentals to see if I need them at lease turn in. Otherwise I will unload them.

nyccarguy · July 2013

I actually don't have to buy run flats, you are correct. But I have to turn my car in with run flats. I plan on driving the car for another 24,000 or so miles. My lease gives me 50K until the end of next September. I'm going to keep the 3 "good" Continentals.

There are a few Town Fair Tires around here. I prefer to do business with HANK MAYS GOODYEAR. They've got a store here in Stamford, one in Norwalk, & 1 in Port Chester, NY. The guy I deal with there is an old timer & is very honest. This will be the 3rd set of tires I've bought from them in the past year (Mom's Cayenne, Rebecca's Pilot, & now my BMW.

explorerx4 · July 2013

The last 2 sets of 4 tires I've bought have also been from a local Goodyear store. A set of Goodyears and a set of Generals.

driver100 · July 2013

I am getting all 4 & will save my 3 "good" Continentals to see if I need them at lease turn in. Otherwise I will unload them

Perfect, but the chances you will ever need 3 Continentals in the future are slim. You could try to sell them now to someone who isn't as particular about what is on their car and then you won't have to store them or think about them ever again.

Once you store them they will probably sit in storage until they are too old or they are outdated with newer cheaper, better products.

Thos RFT prices really vary though. Replacement Goodyears would have been $360 in US compared to $460 Cdn. My Michelins would be $330 compared to $430 in Canada. But, the alignment was out and 2 tires had bulges, so it wouldn't be safe driving across the border to save $100 a tire.

You should be very happy you only paid $128 per tire.

stickguy · July 2013

yeah, southern college football is something I have to experience. and, accidentally, I am going to.

the days we picked to visit SC and Clemson (what the heck, we will be in SC anyway, might as well see the whole state!) happen to be the home opener for both teams. which explained why hotels were a bit of an issue.

Thursday we fly into Columbia, SC is is playing UNC that night. Saturday we are going to visit Clemson, and Saturday night is their home opener.

so I guess we are going to get to experience the true nature of going to a big southern school! And see a lot of drunk southerners...

explorerx4 · July 2013

Columbia is a great little airport. When my daughter took her job overseeing a fleet of BMW's, I stopped there to rent a car before we parted ways in Georgia.
Flying out of there, after dropping off the rental car, I felt like I had my own personal TSA team. I say that in a good way. Despite the fact that I'm a Yankee, they could not have been nicer.
My kid's school has about 8k undergrads. The football stadium holds over 80k and is filled every game. It's a great experience.

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