Run flats or regular tyres on a BMW E90

John_Mc

It's time to replace the 4 tyres on my 320D. I bought it second hand and there are normal tyres on it. The model doesn't have a well for a spare tyre though so I'm considering going with RFT's instead.

Is there any point though? They are more expensive than normal tyres and I am unsure if it's really worth it.

Thanks in advance

Gumbo

Are you comfortable with changing a tyre if you get a blowout?
if so, i would buy a space saver, jack kit and put a good set of normal tyres on.
Thats what i done on my old E90's.

On the otherhand, will it mainly be your wife or mother or girlfriend driving it on her own, would she be comfortable with the set up?

John_Mc

kceire wrote: »

Are you comfortable with changing a tyre if you get a blowout?
if so, i would buy a space saver, jack kit and put a good set of normal tyres on.
Thats what i done on my old E90's.

On the otherhand, will it mainly be your wife or mother or girlfriend driving it on her own, would she be comfortable with the set up?

Good question. It's just me driving it at the moment and I would be comfortable changing the tyre if required.

Thanks for the advice

bazz26

How would you change a puncture at the moment?

John_Mc

bazz26 wrote: »

How would you change a puncture at the moment?

Haven't had one yet but there's an electric pump and foam stuff that's meant to fix the tyre temporarily so that I can get to a garage.

That's the plan but not very confident it would work well.

Thinking the space saver is the best way to go

bazz26

Something like AA membership is worth considering too if your sticking with non run flats. I had an E90 and replaced the run flats with standard tyres and a space saver. E90 boot is small enough as it is but can be a bita with a space saver in there as it reduces the payload even further.

Voodoomelon

Out of curiosity, what do the like of the AA do with a puncture if you've no spare wheel? Do they plug the puncture or tow you to the nearest tyre place?

Gumbo

bazz26 wrote: »

Something like AA membership is worth considering too if your sticking with non run flats. I had an E90 and replaced the run flats with standard tyres and a space saver. E90 boot is small enough as it is but can be a bita with a space saver in there as it reduces the payload even further.

Problem with he AA is that you are waiting at the side of a road for a truck to come and bring you home or to a garage where you will have no choice but to buy what they have and what ever their price is.

I would rather change to a space saver continue home and buy my own tyre or use my own local garage as required.

Roen

Out of curiosity, is there a spare wheel well in BMWs? Space for a full size or just a space saver?

sunnysoutheast

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Out of curiosity, what do the like of the AA do with a puncture if you've no spare wheel? Do they plug the puncture or tow you to the nearest tyre place?

Some exclude coverage where there is no spare wheel, I know mine through chill does. I expect they would charge for the callout and lift?

The space saver robs so much space in the boot as there is no well in the f30. You can get the slime and compressor under the boot floor though!

Gumbo

Roen wrote: »

Out of curiosity, is there a spare wheel well in BMWs? Space for a full size or just a space saver?

Depends on the car.
E60 has space for a spacesaver.
F10 has no wheel well, similar to the E90.

Bolomaster

Why not run normal tires and a puncture repair kit?

wandererz

BMW alloys on the E90 are known to crack due to the hardened sidewalls on run flats.

Then you have the additional cost of having the alloys replaced and potentially a more uncomfortable ride.

Repairing of the cracked alloy is not guaranteed and does not rule out cracks appearing in other locations of the alloy and on the other alloys as well.

Stick to regular tyres.

166man

wandererz wrote: »

BMW alloys on the E90 are known to crack due to the hardened sidewalls on run flats.

Then you have the additional cost of having the alloys replaced and potentially a more uncomfortable ride.

Repairing of the cracked alloy is not guaranteed and does not rule out cracks appearing in other locations of the alloy and on the other alloys as well.

Stick to regular tyres.

There's only one alloy wheel in particular that applies to afaik, the 19's that E92 MSports run on.

wandererz

166man wrote: »

There's only one alloy wheel in particular that applies to afaik, the 19's that E92 MSports run on.

From my recent personal experience, also 17" Spider Spoke 160's on a 320D E90.

There are lots of other examples in BMW forums.
AFAIK, there was also a BBC Watchdog program on BMW alloy failure and BMW's failure to admit the fault [that's for a different thread though].

I wouldn't take the chance again.

166man

wandererz wrote: »

From my recent personal experience, also 17" Spider Spoke 160's on a 320D E90.

There are lots of other examples in BMW forums.
AFAIK, there was also a BBC Watchdog program on BMW alloy failure and BMW's failure to admit the fault [that's for a different thread though].

I wouldn't take the chance again.

That's interesting, I wasn't aware of that. I'd only heard of those 19's cracking and needing repairs or replacement.

Gumbo

166man wrote: »

That's interesting, I wasn't aware of that. I'd only heard of those 19's cracking and needing repairs or replacement.

The MV4's from the E92 MSport were the main culprits for BMW cracking alright.
Also, the 172M Spyder wheels on the E60, while not fully covered, tend to crack on the rear too.

Never heard of the 17" wheels cracking, especially the SE versions.

John_Mc

Thanks for all the information. I think from the sounds of it that I should stick with normal tyres.

Anyone have any recommendations? I'm looking for all seasons, i.e Ireland, will good wet grip.

Thanks

wandererz

Have Bridgestone Potenza's on the BMW and all seems good so far. Just did a trip to the north and back in the rain yesterday and all was well even at 120-160 on the motorway. 6 months old at this stage.

Have Uniroyal Rainsport 3's on the Jag and have had them on my previous cars as well. A fantastic tyre throughout the year. No issues whatsoever in the wet. Other owners on the UK Jag forum swear by them as well.

Those would be my options.

For what it's worth, a colleague of mine commented on those Rainsport 3's a few weeks ago as well. He pointed them out and commented that they were some serious tyre. I took a second look at the tread pattern etc and had to agree. They are 15 months old now but great wear. And I'm not one to drive like a granny! No cruise control for me unless I'm bored out of my mind!

Make a few calls, check online and you should be able to get a decent price on them.

Last times I got Bridgestones and Rainsports it cost roughly about 550 for the set.

John_Mc

Thanks very much for your reply! I've been looking for the Rainsport 3's but no one seems to stock them.

Any opinion on the Michelin Pilot Sport 3?

Alun

John_Mc wrote: »

Thanks very much for your reply! I've been looking for the Rainsport 3's but no one seems to stock them.

I have them on the MX-5 and got them at Discount Tyres in Blanch. They had to order them in though.

sunnysoutheast

John_Mc wrote: »

Thanks very much for your reply! I've been looking for the Rainsport 3's but no one seems to stock them.

Any opinion on the Michelin Pilot Sport 3?

I put the Falken 914 on my F30, in 225/45 R18.

They are good but appear very sensitive to temperature, so I would treat them as summer tyres only. In the cold they aren't much different to the Conti runflats I had TBH.

Recently I have found most tyre places don't stock decent tyres and need to order in. I wanted Michelin PS3 or GY Eagle but both had very long delivery times.

I use more than one set of tyres per year so I may look at getting steelies with winter tyres for the cold. Might try Hankooks for the summers next time.

John_Mc

Went with the Michelen PS3's in the end. Getting them installed today. Thanks everyone for the advice!

sunnysoutheast

John_Mc wrote: »

Went with the Michelen PS3's in the end. Getting them installed today. Thanks everyone for the advice!

Good choice!

The other thing someone told me is to get a water-based gunk spray for tyre repair as it's much easier to clean out if the tyre is repairable. I got "slime" from Amazon.

partyguinness

I have owned a 320d coupe and 320 saloon both with ordinary tyres.

I can't wait to get rid of the runflats on my 2009 520D E60. I hate them. Sick of the rough ride and tramlining.....:mad:

porsche959

If in Dublin area, I recommend:

http://www.route66dublin.ie/?alloy-wheel-repair&gclid=CJem5-2u9MUCFUKJ2wod6iQApw

(they are near the Walkinstown roundabout).

Got tired of the 19" runflats on my car so I got new alloys and 17" standard tyres fitted on my E92 there recently. Price was about €1,300 all in which is around what you'd pay to replace just two or three runflat 19" tyres.

knowbody

Bmw and wheels / tyres, ive had 18's and 19's, runflats and ordinary on 320d msport, there is no 100% solution to this but..

Bmw alloys are soft, they crack way too easily
Runflats are not great, they contribute to hard ride on 19's and become a real problem if you do lots of driving on poor surfaces

Eventually i put 18's aftermarket alloys with standard tyres on them and its the best compromise ....until i get a puncture, then i have to hope that can of foam does its work! Car is much much better though, doesnt tramline and has decent ride comfort.

Hope this helps...