new BMWs to be offered without RFTs

Craig in Alabam · 03-15-2017, 11:31 AM

Hi folks,

I just saw in Roundel that starting this spring new BMWs can be ordered with non-runflats. Apparently too many people were refusing to buy new BMWs without regular tires. I thought this was interesting.

Cheers!
Craig

zx10guy · 03-15-2017, 11:36 AM

I thought this was the case already for quite a few models. At least I recall seeing an option to get non-runflats for the 2 series. What would be nice would be a factory roadside emergency kit for those that don't get runflats: a patch kit or sealer and a portable pump powered off the cigarette lighter.

swagon · 03-15-2017, 01:32 PM

Maybe that's just a US thing, although M Perf cars have PSS from factory already...

BMW has been supplying their cars with non-RFTs for quite some time, I think since the E90 LCI. Early E90s were all on run flats but then they started ditching them on smaller wheels (up to 18").

IIRC, nowadays, M Sport pkg and staggered wheel sets have automatically run flats, except one set of 18" for F30 which comes with Michelin PSS.

The only new thing is that the G30 5er can now be ordered with a full spare tire.

tock172 · 03-15-2017, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zx10guy

I thought this was the case already for quite a few models. At least I recall seeing an option to get non-runflats for the 2 series. What would be nice would be a factory roadside emergency kit for those that don't get runflats: a patch kit or sealer and a portable pump powered off the cigarette lighter.

Dealers have been bending over backwards to met people's requests for regular tires for years, now it seems the mothership has finally caught on to actually allow the car to be ordered with the right tires as opposed to the swap being done at the dealer.

The option you're likely thinking of for the 2-series is called Track Handling, which gives the car Michelin PSS, among various other cool upgrades. The same package is available on several other models.

Vigilante375 · 03-15-2017, 10:09 PM

Ultimate handling machine with run craps. I ditched mine after 1500 miles and will never buy them again.

M cars don't come with them for the very reason they are very under performing. Imagine the M2 being beaten by a Camaro LT 1LE if the M2 was equipped with runflats. That wouldn't be good for business.

Glad they finally are getting away from the run craps.

ejm3 · 03-16-2017, 12:18 PM

I'm pretty sure when I bought my 135 the dealer said he would switch out the RFT's for non-run flats if I wanted, but I would be SOL if I ever got a flat so I chickened out.

KNS · 03-16-2017, 07:28 PM

There was some guy in a small cubicle in Munich crunching the numbers and wondering: "Why are we selling so many spare tires and mobility kits?".

mfarrzhp · 03-17-2017, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ejm3

I'm pretty sure when I bought my 135 the dealer said he would switch out the RFT's for non-run flats if I wanted, but I would be SOL if I ever got a flat so I chickened out.

Call AAA. I'm always running summer performance tires.

Stewy_604 · 03-17-2017, 12:42 PM

Happy to have ditched the RFTs on both my E82 (MPSS) and F15 (Conti DWS06). I can pay for a lot of tows with the savings over RFTs. In my F15, I have a patch / plug kit and a 12v compressor in the rear luggage area as a "just in case."

abqhudson · 03-17-2017, 08:50 PM

I stopped buying BMWs after about 10 of them when the cars started coming with run-flats and no spare (My last a 2007 BMW 5er). Will absolutely never buy a car with run craps. Now drive non - turbo Mercedes, V8 and V6, Will never buy one of those with run craps either.
Hopefully, somebody will get the message.

Converted1 · 03-18-2017, 10:43 AM

Thought I'd weigh in on a decision to actually keep run flats from a few years ago. My logic was that being a cabrio the car was safer with them on. I've hit some bad Tri State NY area unavoidable pot holes and the car goes straight after a blow out. That said, I've gone through more tires and rims in 4.5 years than in my previous 25 years of driving. Mind you that my 135 is not a DD, and my last car which I owned for ten years and had 225/45/18 PSS, and never saw a blow out.

Point is that, while I'd love to go back to conventional tires, I've decided that the RFT tires make the car safer if being more prone to sidewall bubbles, blow outs and overall poor performance (wild contradiction eh?)

Anyone disagree with that logic?

MightyMouseTech · 03-18-2017, 11:52 AM

Out of all my years driving, have only needed a spare once. And that one time, hit a pot hole big enough that it blew out three wheels and tires in the middle of nowhere in butt-fuck northern Alberta. Having one spare did not help. Had to drive 50km or so on the rims.

My last four cars now have had standard tires and no spare.

03-15-2017, 11:31 AM	#1
Craig in Alabam Private 27 Rep 91 Posts Drives: 2017 230i Convertible Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Madison, AL iTrader: (0)	new BMWs to be offered without RFTs Hi folks, I just saw in Roundel that starting this spring new BMWs can be ordered with non-runflats. Apparently too many people were refusing to buy new BMWs without regular tires. I thought this was interesting. Cheers! Craig
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03-15-2017, 01:32 PM	#3
swagon Major General 13521 Rep 8,165 Posts Drives: F80 6MT Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: . iTrader: (0)	Maybe that's just a US thing, although M Perf cars have PSS from factory already... BMW has been supplying their cars with non-RFTs for quite some time, I think since the E90 LCI. Early E90s were all on run flats but then they started ditching them on smaller wheels (up to 18"). IIRC, nowadays, M Sport pkg and staggered wheel sets have automatically run flats, except one set of 18" for F30 which comes with Michelin PSS. The only new thing is that the G30 5er can now be ordered with a full spare tire. __________________
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03-15-2017, 10:09 PM	#5
Vigilante375 Major 116 Rep 1,158 Posts Drives: 2012 AW 6M 135i Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: WA iTrader: (0)	Ultimate handling machine with run craps. I ditched mine after 1500 miles and will never buy them again. M cars don't come with them for the very reason they are very under performing. Imagine the M2 being beaten by a Camaro LT 1LE if the M2 was equipped with runflats. That wouldn't be good for business. Glad they finally are getting away from the run craps.
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03-16-2017, 12:18 PM	#6
ejm3 Major 200 Rep 1,075 Posts Drives: 2012 135 Convertible 6MT Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0)	I'm pretty sure when I bought my 135 the dealer said he would switch out the RFT's for non-run flats if I wanted, but I would be SOL if I ever got a flat so I chickened out. __________________ 2012 135 Convertible 6MT 2017 Acura MDX
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03-16-2017, 07:28 PM	#7
KNS Lieutenant 137 Rep 439 Posts Drives: 128i and Porsche Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Arizona iTrader: (0)	There was some guy in a small cubicle in Munich crunching the numbers and wondering: "Why are we selling so many spare tires and mobility kits?".
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03-17-2017, 12:42 PM	#9
Stewy_604 First Lieutenant 77 Rep 310 Posts Drives: 2011 E82 135i M-Sport Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Vancouver, B.C. iTrader: (0)	Happy to have ditched the RFTs on both my E82 (MPSS) and F15 (Conti DWS06). I can pay for a lot of tows with the savings over RFTs. In my F15, I have a patch / plug kit and a 12v compressor in the rear luggage area as a "just in case." __________________ 2011 BMW 135i M Sport Space Grey - BMS JB4, VRSF 3.5" catless DP, Berk exhaust, BMS intake, ER CP, Eibach Pro-Kit, H&R spacers, black kidneys, Blacklines, LUX angel eyes 2014 BMW X5 xDrive 35d M Sport Mineral White - MPBK w/ F85 rotors & Carbotech pads, ACS Springs/Links, iND reflector deletes, iND black roundels, MP black kidneys, M50D grille inserts 2007 Suzuki GSX-R 750 - too much to list
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03-17-2017, 08:50 PM	#10
abqhudson New Member 3 Rep 17 Posts Drives: 09 CLK 550, 2014 c300 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: albuquerque iTrader: (0)	I stopped buying BMWs after about 10 of them when the cars started coming with run-flats and no spare (My last a 2007 BMW 5er). Will absolutely never buy a car with run craps. Now drive non - turbo Mercedes, V8 and V6, Will never buy one of those with run craps either. Hopefully, somebody will get the message.
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03-18-2017, 10:43 AM	#11
Converted1 Wolfsburg to Munich 75 Rep 294 Posts Drives: 2009 135i Convertible M-Sport Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Westchester Co. NY iTrader: (1)	Thought I'd weigh in on a decision to actually keep run flats from a few years ago. My logic was that being a cabrio the car was safer with them on. I've hit some bad Tri State NY area unavoidable pot holes and the car goes straight after a blow out. That said, I've gone through more tires and rims in 4.5 years than in my previous 25 years of driving. Mind you that my 135 is not a DD, and my last car which I owned for ten years and had 225/45/18 PSS, and never saw a blow out. Point is that, while I'd love to go back to conventional tires, I've decided that the RFT tires make the car safer if being more prone to sidewall bubbles, blow outs and overall poor performance (wild contradiction eh?) Anyone disagree with that logic?
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03-18-2017, 11:52 AM	#12
MightyMouseTech Major General 4338 Rep 6,196 Posts Drives: 13 135i 6MT LeMans Blue MSport Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0)	Out of all my years driving, have only needed a spare once. And that one time, hit a pot hole big enough that it blew out three wheels and tires in the middle of nowhere in butt-fuck northern Alberta. Having one spare did not help. Had to drive 50km or so on the rims. My last four cars now have had standard tires and no spare.
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