Runflats on 17" rims

K

Kiwi_Mike

Member
 South Island, New Zealand
My 35i has 17" turbine-styling 292 rims which I've never been in love with. My plan was to switch them out for 18 or 19's to improve the look but I've now decided to put the money towards a decent set of new tires and just get on with enjoying the car.

The current tires are PZero non run flats fitted by the previous owner which seem to perform well but I'm wondering if I should move to run flats to give me an easier time if I get a flat and am not close to home. This is what my local BMW dealer is recommending.

So I guess the question is: As my wheels are only 17" does that mean that I won't get the common problems with run flats cracking the rims or giving a rough ride like they do on larger rims?

Is there anyone with run flats on 17" rims that wishes they'd gone with non run flats?

Cheers
 
I had 17’ run flats on my E90, they came off as soon as I got the car home. They were equally as sh!te as the run flats on both my 23i and 35iS. If my M40i had come with them they’d have been off of it too.

I’ve yet to have a good experience driving with them on any of my i6 BMW’s
 
Thanks for the reply Andy.

Ok, so the higher side walls don't sort out the issues then. I'll look for NRF's and keep the tire slime in the boot.
 
Purely my experience, others may be different!

But I ran my first 2 E86s on 18" Bridgestone Potenza run-flats for 22K miles and never suffered any wheel damage.

Before that I did 81K miles in my 1 Series with 4 sets of 17" Pirelli run-flats with no wheel issues.

More recently I had an E91 3 Series with 17" Pirelli run-flats for 7K miles and now have an E90 3 Series I've run on 17" Continental run-flats, Bridgestone run-flats and Hankook Winter run-flats for 10K miles with no wheel problems.

If you'd rather stay with run-flats for practical reasons I'd rate the Pirellis highest for ride and performance, the Bridgestones worst and the others somewhere in between!

I stuck to run-flats on all my non-Zs for practicality - the last time I got a puncture in my 1 Series it was in a snowstorm in December so driving 5 miles home was a much better option than trying to change a wheel in the slush!
 
I have runflats on my 19" wheels and to say the ride is harsh on the potholed streets of Edinburgh is an under-statement.

However, when chatting with a friend about changing for non-run-flat he suggested its a bad move on 19" rims. The low profile and non-reinforced sides of a non-run flat would actually lead to alloy wheel damage. His view was the strengthening protected the alloys at that profile?!?

Now I'm not sure to stick with RF's or go with normal tyres on replacement :?
 
McHaggis69 said:
I have runflats on my 19" wheels and to say the ride is harsh on the potholed streets of Edinburgh is an under-statement.

However, when chatting with a friend about changing for non-run-flat he suggested its a bad move on 19" rims. The low profile and non-reinforced sides of a non-run flat would actually lead to alloy wheel damage. His view was the strengthening protected the alloys at that profile?!?

Now I'm not sure to stick with RF's or go with normal tyres on replacement :?
Click to expand...

I don’t buy his logic..if his logic was true you would see more non run flat broken 326m..anecdotally less 326m break after non run flats fitted..

If you saw buckled rims with non runflats then it would support his logic..however what you see is stress cracks running laterally..

The more likely logic is that the stiff side wall of runflats transmit shock loads to the wheel more than tyres with a more supple sidewall
 
McHaggis69 said:
I have runflats on my 19" wheels and to say the ride is harsh on the potholed streets of Edinburgh is an under-statement.

However, when chatting with a friend about changing for non-run-flat he suggested its a bad move on 19" rims. The low profile and non-reinforced sides of a non-run flat would actually lead to alloy wheel damage. His view was the strengthening protected the alloys at that profile?!?


Now I'm not sure to stick with RF's or go with normal tyres on replacement
Click to expand...
Yes the ride is terrible on 19" RFTs and m-sport suspension (it really is unacceptable on UK roads), but to change to non RFTs just to prevent wheel damage seems a little odd to say the least.

I can see the logic in RFTs causing more likelihood of wheel cracking, due to less shock being taken up by the tyre, as they are more rigid.

I haven't driven an E89 on non RFTs but can't see them helping in preventing wheel damage to a major extent; if they were made of marshmallow maybe.... a more comfortable ride yes (they have got to)
 
We have runflat Bridgestones on 326M 19" wheels and they are firm for sure. You know if there's a deeper than usual pothole!
In terms of RFT or not, I believe that the runflat rims may be designed for the tyres - so we've stuck with them to date.
 
When I test drove the e89 it was fitted with 19" run flats, the ride, comfort and noise was terrible and it put me off the zed. After a few months I saw DSB in the dealership and I was smitten., however I went with the standard 17" square set up with RFT's on a 3.0 and once it arrived I was so pleased with the noise and comfort. I eventually ordered a set of 18" BBS alloys and fitted Goodyear F1's and I would say the ride quality and noise was about the same.
 
Moments said:
We have runflat Bridgestones on 326M 19" wheels and they are firm for sure. You know if there's a deeper than usual pothole!
In terms of RFT or not, I believe that the runflat rims may be designed for the tyres - so we've stuck with them to date.
Click to expand...

On modern cars there is usually no difference in rim design so you can put run flats or non run flats on as you so choose on most alloy wheels. :thumbsup:
 
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