Run flat tyres

DonDon

DonDon

Member
 North Hampshire - the original and best
As we all know, these cars left the factory with run flat tyres which gave a terrible ride, especially on larger rims. That was ten to fifteen years ago.

I have seen threads on here about shoehorning a spare wheel in the boot. Is it time to consider switching to up-to-date run flats instead? Has the technology moved on sufficiently to make this a viable option?
 
DonDon said:
As we all know, these cars left the factory with run flat tyres which gave a terrible ride, especially on larger rims. That was ten to fifteen years ago.

I have seen threads on here about shoehorning a spare wheel in the boot. Is it time to consider switching to up-to-date run flats instead? Has the technology moved on sufficiently to make this a viable option?
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One of our guys (Z4 Owners FB Scotland)..went with the latest Pirelli run flats..reported to be an improvement over OE runflats (bigger profile though)... since swapped to GY Assy 6.. further improvement in ride and handlng..but not massively (for him)..so yes later options better..
 
I chickened out last year when I needed new tyres to get through the MOT and bought run flat Michelin PS4s in the standard sizes for 19 inch 326 wheels and am happy enough. Have not experienced non-run flats on a Z4 so maybe ignorance is bliss, I don’t know what I’m missing…
 
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I’m running Michelin PS4S ZP rfts on mine in 225/45 17. As when I got the car it had 2 of these already that we new, plus 2 ancient oem bridgestone rfts. They are far better than the BS. I read some reviews and feedback and the concensus seem to be they have improved a little. That’s an E85 though.
 
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I had 3 sets of Pirelli run-flats on my 2007 1 Series, another set on my E91 and currently Continentals on my E90 and they are all way better than the Bridgestones on my E86s.

Admittedly they were all 17s and my E86s were 18s, but then I ran 17" Bridgestones on my E90 for a few summers and they were just as horrible as I remembered. :cry:

I'm sure normal tyres will always be better than even new generation run-flats, and run-flats only work for 200 miles at 50mph. So as I do a few trips a year that are more than 300 miles from home I've got a full size wheel shoe-horned into the boot!
 
Mr Tidy said:
I had 3 sets of Pirelli run-flats on my 2007 1 Series, another set on my E91 and currently Continentals on my E90 and they are all way better than the Bridgestones on my E86s.

Admittedly they were all 17s and my E86s were 18s, but then I ran 17" Bridgestones on my E90 for a few summers and they were just as horrible as I remembered. :cry:

I'm sure normal tyres will always be better than even new generation run-flats, and run-flats only work for 200 miles at 50mph. So as I do a few trips a year that are more than 300 miles from home I've got a full size wheel shoe-horned into the boot!
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I’m not aware of any tyres that allow you to journey more than 50 miles after suffering air pressure loss?🧐🙈
 
Maybe my E86 handbook said 200 miles but anyway here's an extract from my E90 handbook.

Run-flat range.jpg
 
That's weird - although I suspect driving gently the suggested numbers could be exceeded.

My E90 came with 2 sets of run-flats, winters and summers, and as it has never gone more than 200 miles from home I'd either go home and fit one of the other set or just carry on - depending how far I had got!
 
I'm new to BMW and run flats but last week suffered a total failure of my rear nearside Bridgestone Potenza run flat - tyre guy reckoned that previous owner had in fact run it flat. Both rears were cracked all along the inside. Seems that run flat is a one shot deal - might get you home but then it needs replaced. I should of course have checked inside before I bought it but there you go!

Replaced all round with Eagles (non run flat) and its a much better car. FWIW the tyre guy was a BMW fan and rexkoned the Eagles were the best all round tyre for this typre of car.
 
Bouliebout said:
I'm new to BMW and run flats but last week suffered a total failure of my rear nearside Bridgestone Potenza run flat - tyre guy reckoned that previous owner had in fact run it flat. Both rears were cracked all along the inside. Seems that run flat is a one shot deal - might get you home but then it needs replaced. I should of course have checked inside before I bought it but there you go!

Replaced all round with Eagles (non run flat) and its a much better car. FWIW the tyre guy was a BMW fan and rexkoned the Eagles were the best all round tyre for this typre of car.
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Yup that’s the problem with run flats..even if you roll a mile on a flat run flat it’s toast..by now most E89s have a lot of undocumented ‘history’..enjoy the car…FWIW in Europe the GY / Conti / Michelin and new `Pirelli all work well on the E89..
 
Yes, they break up inside when they are run flat. I got lucky with the one I had repaired as it was still holding over 20psi when I got home so I inflated it fully then did the same before I left home the next day so it was OK for a repair.
 
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