Sponsored by The Tire Rack

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

Many share your concern but run flats seem to be the way of the future. Porsche and Cadillac are starting to equip models with run flats as well. Manufacturers love them cause it keeps cost down and offers more room in the trunk.

Which model Porsche comes with RFTs? The Boxster has been equipped with a sealant/compressor kit for a number of years, but with conventional tires. Mazda does the same for the Miata, and many touring motorcyclists carry them as well.

And although it's been 10 years since BMW first introduced OEM RFTs (and longer for Corvettes, IIRC), other car makers don't seem to be jumping on the bandwagon. Perhaps if future RFTs are designed with greater ride improvements and (more importantly) lower costs...

Tom

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by JTBMW1

My only concern is that if you drive on it when it is fully deflated- from just a simple nail puncture- do you ruin the tire?

You do... I know it first hand.

And if not can the tire be repaired with a patch on the inside? The cost for this is typically 50 bucks. So if you can drive on it "flat" then repair it, I am fine.

From my experience, a typical patch is about $20.

If you do ruin the tire and have to replace it and especially if the tire on the other side is 30% or more worn, they you may have to replace in pairs- which is very costly- then I have a concern.

If that is the case, then I may want to get a mini spare and keep it at home and throw it in the trunk for the long trips. Around town I would keep it out and if I get a flat call the other half to retrieve the spare in order to not drive on the run flat to save the tire. I just came from a Miata- which has no spare, no run flats. The car comes with sealant that when used ruins the tire and it must be replaced. To me, there was no value in using the sealant so, so I bought and kept a mini spare at home.

After my RFT fiasco, I bought a compressor and a plug kit to keep in the trunk... Just in case.

[ejm3]

Where did you get the plug kit?

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by ejm3

Where did you get the plug kit?

You can pretty much get it from any automotive parts store like Kragen or Auto Zone... I bought mine from Amazon since I was buying a tire inflator from them.

[Bob Z.]

Originally Posted by Tom K.

Which model Porsche comes with RFTs? The Boxster has been equipped with a sealant/compressor kit for a number of years, but with conventional tires. Mazda does the same for the Miata, and many touring motorcyclists carry them as well.

And although it's been 10 years since BMW first introduced OEM RFTs (and longer for Corvettes, IIRC), other car makers don't seem to be jumping on the bandwagon. Perhaps if future RFTs are designed with greater ride improvements and (more importantly) lower costs...

Tom

I also had a 2008 Boxster S, and it did not have RFTs.

[ejm3]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

You can pretty much get it from any automotive parts store like Kragen or Auto Zone... I bought mine from Amazon since I was buying a tire inflator from them.

Which inflator did you get?
I was looking at them and a number of reviews said the better ones were blowing fuses quite a bit. I'm sure the lighter in the 1-series will blow in no time.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by ejm3

Which inflator did you get?
I was looking at them and a number of reviews said the better ones were blowing fuses quite a bit. I'm sure the lighter in the 1-series will blow in no time.

I bought the Viair 70P.

[2012_135i]

Originally Posted by Berardi3

Does anyone feel concerned about not having a spare tire and jack I think I'm too old school . I'm thinking of not getting a bimmer for that reason. How does anyone feel about that ?

I shared (and still do) your concerns. I wasn't aware that the car came with run flats/no spare until I was half way through the sales negotiation process. It gave me pause but wasn't enough to make me not want a 135i. There are two things I don't like about run flats - the ride suffers noticeably and if you get a puncture you have to take it in right away. With a full size spare you can ride around for a while and more conveniently schedule your flat tire repair. But again, I wanted this car, not something else with regular tires and a spare, so it was just something I swallowed to get the ride I wanted. I've thought of changing out the tires and putting a spare in the trunk, but the loss of trunk space would not work for me, at least not right now. My car has to be a part time baby carrier and I need the trunk for the stroller. Maybe later when the kids are older and my tires are worn out and due for changing. Putting $1,000 or so into new rubber when I've got new tires on the car is not something I'm willing to swallow.

[abirmaher]

Ill tell you guys I swear by run flats now. My father has a 2011 550i and he hit a pothole once which put a nasty gash in his side wall and the tire instantly lost all the air in it. He then drove almost 100 miles on the tire and was totally fine. Pretty amazing if you ask me, spare tire unnecessary IMO.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by abirmaher

Ill tell you guys I swear by run flats now. My father has a 2011 550i and he hit a pothole once which put a nasty gash in his side wall and the tire instantly lost all the air in it. He then drove almost 100 miles on the tire and was totally fine. Pretty amazing if you ask me, spare tire unnecessary IMO.

Really amazing since the supposed speed and range of the RFT when flat is 50mph and 50 miles...

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

Really amazing since the supposed speed and range of the RFT when flat is 50mph and 50 miles...

According to my '08 manual, it ranges from 30 to 155 miles at a maximum 50 mph, depending on load.

Tom

[IDBMW]

I get rid of the run the flats tires and get regular performance tires right after I get a new BMW. I do not carry a spare! I have a mobility kit which has slime like stuff and an air compressor. I also have a small plug kit that can plug a tire. I have had 3 BMW’s this way since 2002 and never been stranded. I also have a cell phone I carry with me. However once and a while I take some mountain roads with no cell service so my backup there is the BMW assist button. Since 2002 I have had 2 flats but only had to use the air compressor to get somewhere it could be fixed.

A few other things about run flats: If you drive on a flat run flat it is supposed to be non-repairable. If you need a run flat in emergency you are going get jammed by the price. You can get 4 performance tires for the price of one or two run flats.

[abirmaher]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

Really amazing since the supposed speed and range of the RFT when flat is 50mph and 50 miles...

ya and he was doing at least 70 for a good chunk of that time... plus the time i got a nail and had pretty much a flat time and did about 20 miles at 80 to the dealership.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by abirmaher

ya and he was doing at least 70 for a good chunk of that time... plus the time i got a nail and had pretty much a flat time and did about 20 miles at 80 to the dealership.

I didn't go nearly that fast or as far when I got my puncture, and it got me where I was going, but it killed the tire... An expensive lesson.

[Isdaako]

My first vehicle with RFT's and like many I'm concerned, but not enough to change out the tires for non-RTF's until they've worn out.

[mleskovar]

28K miles and coming up on replacing my wife's RFTs. Had one slow leak that was close to the sidewall and an inside patch wouldn't hold. A plug worked fine. In all my and my family's years of driving we've only had one blow out (hit a piece of concrete on the freeway) that a patch/plug wouldn't fix and even an RFT wouldn't have been usable with similar damage. The tire came apart. The RFTs are too expensive, handle poorly, and too harsh on the ride so I won't be replacing them with another set of RFTs. I'll play the odds RFTs aren't needed. I already have a plug kit and air compressor in the trunk.

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by Tom K.

Which model Porsche comes with RFTs? The Boxster has been equipped with a sealant/compressor kit for a number of years, but with conventional tires. Mazda does the same for the Miata, and many touring motorcyclists carry them as well.

And although it's been 10 years since BMW first introduced OEM RFTs (and longer for Corvettes, IIRC), other car makers don't seem to be jumping on the bandwagon. Perhaps if future RFTs are designed with greater ride improvements and (more importantly) lower costs...

Tom

I've seen a Porsche Cayenne with run flats, the new 2013 Cadillac ATS also comes with run flats along with the new Jeep SRT8. They might not be jumping on the bandwagon all at once but it seems to be spreading to other manufacturers slowly.

[Bluemiles]

I had run flats on my 08 135i (year 1 of the 1), they gave me peace of mind. But rode hard when cold, mot mention expensive to replace. I like the saved space it provides, however.

[cpsquare8]

For what it is worth I have blown 2 runflats at speeds of 35 and 65. They got me to a safe location but could not have survived 30 miles. Both were very big gashes from road debris at night. Doubtless a regular tire would have left me at the point of impact. I have lost count of the number of flats I have had in the last few years. I carry a donut spare-well worth the peace of mind-a patch kit or compressor would have been worthless. Not sure when the tires wear out if the replacements will be RFTs or regular tires. I have several thousand miles to decide.

[ROKO-3]

I would t worry about it.

if you ae really nervous,just put one of those mini German spares in the trunk. Not to much weight and it comes with a free sense of security (also mini sized)

[ATSR]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

Did you have to replace the tire?

That's when the reality of the RFT's cost punches you in the gut.

+1

Add to that the fact that many places wont fix the RFTs, so in many cases you have to buy a new tire even if it doesn't blow up.

I got rid of my RFTs and I have roadside assistance.