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ditching runflats...?


bazza_g
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I've just asked BMW to put Goodyear F1 non run-flats on my car. They said 'no problem' but price was £890!!! No thanks.

So I got Event Tyres to do it yesterday. £549. That's more like it. They advised me, they could have sold me run flats, but they did confirm that the car would be 'transformed' with non run flats.

Cripes, what a difference. Softer in town, just plain better on b-roads. No difference on a motorway.

Run Flats are officially for people who want a secret storage compartment under the boot floor. That is the only advantage as far as I can tell!!!

Happy driving....

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  • 4 weeks later...
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Ordered 4 Falken FK452s from Camskill. £337! Have a friend with a tyre garage who will fit them for free. I'm going to knife one of the old run flats on the way to the tyre place to see how it works and if the TPMS picks up on it, good idea?

Front : 225/40/18

Rear : 255/35/18

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Having spent a disproportionate amount of time weighing up the pros and cons I’ve ended up putting Run Flat Michelin Pilot Sport on my 320d M sport 18’s.

Cost for all 4 (225/40ZR18 front and 255/35ZR18 rear) was £647 inc fitting etc. _ including the £40 fuel rebate offer Mich are doing at the moment. And this was from Kwik Fit of all places.

Why? I was still concerned about buggering the handling – had a very bad experience of running F1 Asy’s on my Golf.

First, set lasted 30,000 mile so I’m not likely to need to buy any more in the life of the car

Second, just wanted avoid the “have you informed your insurance company” “do you know it impacts the warranty”, “you know it will impact resale”, “what tyre pressure do you want them to be???” and “you know we don’t recommend you use these tyre” type questions that will be asked all the way down the line.

Yes I do have all the answers for these – I’ve trawled loads of sites and understand that most of the issues raised are a smoke screen but here’s a thing:

The two reasons for swapping from RF (for me any way) where:

1) Ride - Had Bridgestone before and they where truly awful ride. Double bounce over cats eyes and tram lining + the feeling you where ridding on solid rubber.

2) Cost – RF are massively expensive compared to the risk of a puncture on the benefit if a few extra litres of space.

Conclusion.

Ride on the Michs is light years better than the Bridgestone’s – a real step change

Cost – hey £650 aint that much more is it….

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  • 2 months later...
I have to say the ride has improved but I have found the Falkens wheelspin a lot more in the wet then the runflats.
I dont like the sound of that although i have never had a BMW thats not been a little twitchey when the road is wet/greasy.

Have to say that so far i have been impressed with the Bridgestone Potenzas that are currently on my car..;)

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Just going to get some GY F1s put in today to replace my 19" alloys after 2 cracks were found on its first service... event tyres 670ish fitted. what kinda puncture kit should i go for? i have no idea where to start looking for comparison guides etc etc or what kinda stuff is avaliable.

I hope the ride is better than the bridgestones i have had on... or ill be tempted to sell as soon as i can.

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Changed tyres on Friday, then had to take it in to get two cracked alloys replaced. Got it back on Sat.

Drove home and Sun morning drove out to breakfast only to discover one of the rears was low/flat... no warning was showen on dash :@ so took to petrol and filled with air. Everywhere is ofc closed on Sunday so had to wait till Monday and BMW tell me I have a sidewall puncture....

Really? One day after getting brand new tyres?!? eugh!! Not sure if I can dispute this as BMW didn’t put on the tyres just changed em onto the new alloys or weather I got a bad tyre in first place. Or if I did indeed get a SIDEWALL puncture on way home doing <30 in the snow...

New tyres is coming Wed.

Generally the car felt quite a bit better I have to say. Just got to remember to buy that mobility kit next time I am near Halfords.

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Heh, yes true. I did end up getting a compressor for 12 quid and can of tyre weld for 8... Fits nicely into the boot. Money well spent!!

As far as improvement in the ride quality, I wouldn’t say it is AS good as I thought it would be. That’s not to say it’s not better.

The car is way less twitchy and the bumps are still there but just not as sharp as before. The spine is saved. Overall, given the choice again I wouldn’t say it is non run flats hands down.. But I would give it serious thought.

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Yeah its not night and day, apparently on the early runflats it was but its an improvement and a worth while one IMO.

As it was almost an identical amount to change all 4 tyres to non-runflats as it was just the rears to the same RF's it was a no brainer in the end. :grin:

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