Anyone Replaced Their Run Flats?

[JustinB]

I was looking for the Goodyears as well, as I'd had good experiences with the Eagle F1 GSD2s on a previous car, and I had the same problem as you for the same reason - 2006 2.0 SE on 16" wheels.

I ended up going to 18" wheels, but ended up with Falken 453s as there was an option for them to come already fitted to the wheels and balanced... and I like an easy life!

They seem good so far. Can't comment on them against other non-RFs, but a big improvement on the Bridgestone RFTs.

 

[Pasha]

Goodyear eagle F1s fitted to each corner today.WHAT a difference. Anyone want my old rears.
Bridgestone 255 35 r18, some good rubber still left.
Happy

 

[Zeclipse]

Goodyear eagle F1s fitted to each corner today.WHAT a difference. Happy

I did exactly the same thing this morning WOW! This is what I dreamt the car would feel like. I've been reading the 'night and day' comments for a while on this forum, but I never expected the difference after the change from RFTs to be this different. Im just a bloke on a forum, my advice doesn't count for much at all, but get off those run flats as soon as you can

 

[Mark-Z4]

I've not had any problem with my run flats. On the 17" wheels that came with the car the car was a bit twitchy with the Bridgestone run flats but with the 18" on the car has been completely fine.

Maybe when I sell the 108's and go up to a 19" I might run normal tyres to see what the fuss is about.


What are people doing who run normal tyres? Gel kit and electric tyre pump in the boot?

 

[Defonsecca]

Definitely swap them out to non-RF's. I swapped & had non-RF's on my Z4 3.0i Coupe for 2 years & about 50k miles & the difference is amazing. You no longer avoid grids & potholes for a start. Also I bought Z4 from a BMW dealer on a BMW PCP thing - one of those where you pay for half the car then give it back & you owe nothing and walk away. However I was v worried when they came to pick the car up they might add a charge for replacing my non-RF's with standard RF's ... but the BMW inspector that came didn't even mention them, he said "so long as the alloys are in perfect condition (which they were) that'll do for me..." and off he drove. Phew!

 

[Fozzstar]

Whilst I fully understand that changing from Bridgestone runflats to ordinary tyres on an E85 will significantly improve the ride and feel of the car, I am concerned that the original reason for BMW fitting runflats is being overlooked in the desire to achieve a better feel/ride.

A runflat tyre will not 'blow out'. I found this out when I hit a large pothole on a single-track lane and wrote off 2 tyres on my E85 3 litre. The car carried on in a straight line and got me home. It also got me to a local garage the following day to get the tyres replaced. If the tyres had not have been runflats, I may have veered off the road, crashed, and been seriously injured. Surely this alone should make you reconsider ditching runflats?

I now own an E89 Z4, and have just changed the Bridgestone runflats for Michelin runflats. The ride is great and I am happy that I am 'safe' if I get a puncture.

 

[Transmat]

I have falken 453 non runflats on my e89 with 19" wheels. The ride is a bit more comfortable and the steering is a tad lighter, but not a massive transformation as such. I swapped them purely for cost reasons.

Be aware that if your car is in warranty via bmw, if you swap to non runflats and get a flat they will NOT come out on a roadside assistance call if you get a flat tyre!

I must say that the feel was much improved when I did the swap on my old z4 coupe.