Tyre cracking on runflats

[thespannerman]

Folks, had our Z4 for a few weeks, and one of the things that looked ok was the tyres, in terms of tread depth. They are all about 6mm, dot coded for 2017, so not massively old, but if I look in the treads I can see the rubber is cracked. I have only seen this before on old tyres, and usually more on the sidewalls, whereas the sidewalls on ours look ok. Are runflats more susceptible to cracking. My thoughts are to ditch the runflats but didn’t want to shell out on a set of tyres just yet.

Al

 

[Mr Tidy]

Cracking on tyres seems to have only become an issue more recently, but I don't think it is just run-flats that suffer from it.

My sister just bought a 2018 Fiat 500 (on non run-flats) and when it had it's first MOT in May the tester gave it advisories for cracking on all 4 tyres.

Whether you change them probably depends on how bad the cracking is - but if you do you definitely don't want more run-flats!

 

[groovy_hippy]

OP, are they Bridgestones? I seem to remember that it was an issue on the RE050 run flat…

 

[M1k3yC]

The rears on my M135i were cracking after about four years. They also showed small cuts around some of the treads where the tyre makes contact with the road. The fronts didn't seem to suffer from it. All tyres were Michelin Pilot Super Sport and on the car since new.

 

[thespannerman]

Well swapped the runflats for a set of “normal” Bridgestones, and the ride is much nicer, less harsh, and not tramlining anywhere near as much.

Happier now

Al

 

[Chippie]

Well swapped the runflats for a set of “normal” Bridgestones, and the ride is much nicer, less harsh, and not tramlining anywhere near as much.

Happier now

Al

Make sure you have a can or two of tyre weld and a 12v inflator in the boot just in case you get a puncture

 

[thespannerman]

Already had them

Al

 

[Mr Tidy]

Well swapped the runflats for a set of “normal” Bridgestones, and the ride is much nicer, less harsh, and not tramlining anywhere near as much.

Happier now

Al

That's great news.

I regret not binning them run-flats on either of my 3.0Si Coupes just to experience the difference, although I don't have run-flats now!

 

[thespannerman]

Further update. I did approx 50 miles yesterday, a mix of urban (full of pot holes and badly repaired surfaces) and rural ( fast but uneven) roads, and the car is transformed

It’s a much much nicer car to drive without the runflats, much more comfortable ride, no tramlining but still pin sharp steering. :driving:

Al

 

[KryStallone]

Glad I spotted this! Couldn't understand why my Z4 just failed its MOT due to both RE050 rears having cracks in. Looking forward to switching to non-RFTs

 

[KryStallone]

Tyre cracking on runflatsQuote groovy_hippy
by groovy_hippy »

OP, are they Bridgestones? I seem to remember that it was an issue on the RE050 run flat…

Glad I spotted this! Couldn't understand why my Z4 just failed its MOT due to both RE050 rears having cracks in. Looking forward to switching to non-RFTs

 

[Allan280]

Hi
Re050 s do crack a thing that can make them crack quicker is low tyre pressure I was surprised at was the recommended tyre pressure on my E92 coupe with the fronts at 38 psi and rears at 42 psi ! You would expect low to mid 30 s
Seems far too high for the weight of the car but that is what is recommended .

Allan

 

[dhobbs]

I thought tyres cracking can only be an MOT advisory not a failure.
Maybe if you can see any of the structure through the crack but not for general aging

Happy to be proven wrong :|

 

[Scooba_Steve]

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/5-axles-wheels-tyres-and-suspension#section-5-2-3

Tried pasting but doesn't come out well. Nothing on that list for cracks, so advisory.