impressed by RFTs

dcho · 02-08-2010, 08:47 AM

Well we all know that the RFTs aren't the most comfortable sets of rubber to be riding on but they sure serve their purpose and live up to their name.

I had a low pressure indicator warning several weeks ago so I checked the pressures, filled it up and didn't think too much of it. I figured maybe it was the change in weather (weak rationalization, i know, but left it at that).

Anyways, about two weeks later, I got the same warning again. Now I became quite suspicious and took it in the dealership immediately, thinking that I may have a flat. Low and behold, there was a huge bolt stuck in my front passenger side tire. I've been driving on this for 2 weeks! By visual inspection it would be hard to tell that the tire was flat too. I was shocked when the pressure reading was ~2 PSI.

Im just impressed by how the RFTs live up to their name. My apartment complex is new so theres tons of construction work going on. Either that or Houston roads just suck (which they definitley do). I think I'll stick with the RFTs for now.

just sayin.

Red Bread · 02-08-2010, 08:53 AM

You know you need to replace the tire now, right? While RFT's do allow you to drive on a flat tire, once you've done so, you need to replace the tire. Don't forget that you should ideally replace both tires on the same axle together, so this isn't a cheap thing. I'm still not a fan.

dcho · 02-08-2010, 08:58 AM

yeah its annoying but the dealership has one on order for me. at least theyll wash my car. so i guess its a 400 dollar carwash

bozola · 02-08-2010, 09:03 AM

Last time I got a free wash, the dealer swirled my entire car!

Cisitalia · 02-08-2010, 09:18 AM

I am glad you had a good experience with them. I have had this situation happen to me with conventional tires and it was much easier to diagnose a gradual loss of pressure and correct the problem. I think the RFTs mask these symptoms until the pressures are to low and than the damage was done.

I am so impressed with RFTs that they sit in my garage as a shrine to technology gone bad. I just took them off with 2k miles on them. Back to conventional tires and the car drives like it should. I guess I should put them up for sale.

jeremyc74 · 02-08-2010, 09:20 AM

Runflats mean a puncture costs you $400 (or twice that if you've got some miles on them and need to replace a pair) for a new tire instead of $30 for a patch. You couldn't pay me enough to put them back on the car.

My135 · 02-08-2010, 10:15 AM

I have patched my runflat and it drives like normal.

marvinp · 02-08-2010, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcho

yeah its annoying but the dealership has one on order for me. at least theyll wash my car. so i guess its a 400 dollar carwash

I personally don't see the dealership washing my car as a good thing. Whenever I go in I tell them NOT to wash my car.

Red Bread · 02-08-2010, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My135

I have patched my runflat and it drives like normal.

Did you drive on it with no pressure, or did you catch a slow leak and patch that? If you drove on it flat, then it's toast and you're hauling around the extra weight of an RFT for no benefit.

cadeucsb · 02-08-2010, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremyc74

Runflats mean a puncture costs you $400 (or twice that if you've got some miles on them and need to replace a pair) for a new tire instead of $30 for a patch. You couldn't pay me enough to put them back on the car.

Agreed...when you can go non-runflat (all 4) for the cost of replacing two if you get a flat (for reason mentioned in quote) and have your ride quality dramatically improved, its a no-brainer.

dcho · 02-09-2010, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadeucsb

Agreed...when you can go non-runflat (all 4) for the cost of replacing two if you get a flat (for reason mentioned in quote) and have your ride quality dramatically improved, its a no-brainer.

this is true. perhaps i will go non RFT for my next set. thanks!

rori zahr · 02-09-2010, 07:42 AM

I punched mine and and I ink I drove a couple of kilometers before getting into a tire shop. they fixed the puncture. no problems in the tire at all. called my bmw dealer and he told me that if the puncture happens in the upper side of the tire, it could be repaired and used normally.

ptack · 02-09-2010, 08:49 AM

When I had the dealer put the snows on I told them to keep the runcraps even though they probably had less than 15k on them. Good riddance.

mleskovar · 02-09-2010, 10:25 PM

I plan to ditch all my RFTs when I need to replace one. Our TPMS system doesn't help matters any either. A low RFT vs. a flat RFT looks the same from outside or inside the car so it forces you to pressure check all tires and hope/guess it's not getting worse if you have one that's low. They didn't do the normal German engineering due diligence on this 'feature'. I would prefer the rotational 'flat' tire monitor to our TPMS.

Cisitalia · 02-10-2010, 09:24 AM

Yes we have a stupid TPMS system with a missing interface to show the actual tire pressures real time. I have yet to figure out how I can look at the tire pressures. My other two cars I could easily pull up the four tire pressures while I was driving. Any one know how to do this? thx

sunking420 · 02-10-2010, 12:50 PM

I wanted to get 20k miles out of my run flats. Big mistake waiting that long. In the last 500 miles the things were so shot, it felt like driving on ice. Replaced the RFs with BF Goodrich G Force Sport KDWs(Around $750)and the car drives a LOT better. Way better grip, lighter feel, makes the car feel a lot more tossable. When I get on the gas, these tires seem to dig in and get the 135i really moving. Feels like it is destroying the road!!!Like one of the above posters stated, you couldn't pay me to put them back on......

rsjean · 02-11-2010, 08:47 AM

The only good thing about the RFT's for me has been given the crappy crappy condition of the roads in Rochester NY - pot-holes EVERYWHERE - and deep enough to eat a small planet - the runflat sidewalls are doing a good job of protecting the wheels from damage until spring when I can set them on fire and smell the sweetness of being rid of them.... then back to the Nitto Invo's I had on the E46.

02-08-2010, 08:47 AM	#1
dcho Captain 34 Rep 947 Posts Drives: SGM 135i Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Houston iTrader: (0)	impressed by RFTs Well we all know that the RFTs aren't the most comfortable sets of rubber to be riding on but they sure serve their purpose and live up to their name. I had a low pressure indicator warning several weeks ago so I checked the pressures, filled it up and didn't think too much of it. I figured maybe it was the change in weather (weak rationalization, i know, but left it at that). Anyways, about two weeks later, I got the same warning again. Now I became quite suspicious and took it in the dealership immediately, thinking that I may have a flat. Low and behold, there was a huge bolt stuck in my front passenger side tire. I've been driving on this for 2 weeks! By visual inspection it would be hard to tell that the tire was flat too. I was shocked when the pressure reading was ~2 PSI. Im just impressed by how the RFTs live up to their name. My apartment complex is new so theres tons of construction work going on. Either that or Houston roads just suck (which they definitley do). I think I'll stick with the RFTs for now. just sayin.
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02-08-2010, 08:53 AM	#2
Red Bread Major General 4465 Rep 9,160 Posts Drives: Smog machines Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	You know you need to replace the tire now, right? While RFT's do allow you to drive on a flat tire, once you've done so, you need to replace the tire. Don't forget that you should ideally replace both tires on the same axle together, so this isn't a cheap thing. I'm still not a fan.
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02-08-2010, 08:58 AM	#3
dcho Captain 34 Rep 947 Posts Drives: SGM 135i Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Houston iTrader: (0)	yeah its annoying but the dealership has one on order for me. at least theyll wash my car. so i guess its a 400 dollar carwash
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02-08-2010, 09:03 AM	#4
bozola Unloved BMW Addict 86 Rep 1,185 Posts Drives: Z3 Coupe, 3 318Ti Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: King County WA iTrader: (0) Garage List 1999 Z3 Coupe [10.00] 1998 318Ti [0.00] 1998 318Ti [10.00] 2008 128i [9.00]	Last time I got a free wash, the dealer swirled my entire car!
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02-08-2010, 09:18 AM	#5
Cisitalia No fast lane bandits allowed 7 Rep 338 Posts Drives: 2009 135i TiAg 6mt M-Sport Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (1)	I am glad you had a good experience with them. I have had this situation happen to me with conventional tires and it was much easier to diagnose a gradual loss of pressure and correct the problem. I think the RFTs mask these symptoms until the pressures are to low and than the damage was done. I am so impressed with RFTs that they sit in my garage as a shrine to technology gone bad. I just took them off with 2k miles on them. Back to conventional tires and the car drives like it should. I guess I should put them up for sale. Last edited by Cisitalia; 02-08-2010 at 01:12 PM.. Reason: sp
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02-08-2010, 09:20 AM	#6
jeremyc74 Banned 76 Rep 5,970 Posts Drives: '08 135i Montego/Terra Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Evansville, IN iTrader: (0)	Runflats mean a puncture costs you $400 (or twice that if you've got some miles on them and need to replace a pair) for a new tire instead of $30 for a patch. You couldn't pay me enough to put them back on the car.
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02-08-2010, 10:15 AM	#7
My135 Lieutenant Colonel 85 Rep 1,609 Posts Drives: Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (0)	I have patched my runflat and it drives like normal. __________________ 7/08 135 Coupe, Crimson Red, 6 SP, Sport, Taupe Lette/Aluminum. Performance Mods: JB4 on Map 5, BMS DP Fix V3, Injen polished intake, AR Catless DP, Maddad resonated mid-pipes, aFe exhaust polished tips, ST Suspension Coil Over and Hotchkis front sway bar. Others: BMS OCC, BT Scanner, Mud Flap. Next Mods: AA Front Strut Brace.
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02-09-2010, 07:42 AM	#12
rori zahr AristoCat 41 Rep 676 Posts Drives: M2 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Beirut iTrader: (0)	I punched mine and and I ink I drove a couple of kilometers before getting into a tire shop. they fixed the puncture. no problems in the tire at all. called my bmw dealer and he told me that if the puncture happens in the upper side of the tire, it could be repaired and used normally. __________________ AristoCat
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02-09-2010, 08:49 AM	#13
ptack Brigadier General 269 Rep 4,470 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: May 2008 Location: NJ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 135i [6.50]	When I had the dealer put the snows on I told them to keep the runcraps even though they probably had less than 15k on them. Good riddance. __________________ 135i, SGM, Coral, Sport Package, Auto, Premium Hifi, USB/ipod, Apex EC-7s, PPK Stage II
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02-09-2010, 10:25 PM	#14
mleskovar Lieutenant 79 Rep 435 Posts Drives: '18 230i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Huntington Beach, CA iTrader: (0)	I plan to ditch all my RFTs when I need to replace one. Our TPMS system doesn't help matters any either. A low RFT vs. a flat RFT looks the same from outside or inside the car so it forces you to pressure check all tires and hope/guess it's not getting worse if you have one that's low. They didn't do the normal German engineering due diligence on this 'feature'. I would prefer the rotational 'flat' tire monitor to our TPMS.
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02-10-2010, 09:24 AM	#15
Cisitalia No fast lane bandits allowed 7 Rep 338 Posts Drives: 2009 135i TiAg 6mt M-Sport Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (1)	Yes we have a stupid TPMS system with a missing interface to show the actual tire pressures real time. I have yet to figure out how I can look at the tire pressures. My other two cars I could easily pull up the four tire pressures while I was driving. Any one know how to do this? thx
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02-10-2010, 12:50 PM	#16
sunking420 First Lieutenant 12 Rep 334 Posts Drives: '08 SGM 135i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Flagler Beach, Florida iTrader: (0)	I wanted to get 20k miles out of my run flats. Big mistake waiting that long. In the last 500 miles the things were so shot, it felt like driving on ice. Replaced the RFs with BF Goodrich G Force Sport KDWs(Around $750)and the car drives a LOT better. Way better grip, lighter feel, makes the car feel a lot more tossable. When I get on the gas, these tires seem to dig in and get the 135i really moving. Feels like it is destroying the road!!!Like one of the above posters stated, you couldn't pay me to put them back on......
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02-11-2010, 08:47 AM	#17
rsjean satch 39 Rep 1,040 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sonoran Desert, Tucson AZ iTrader: (3)	The only good thing about the RFT's for me has been given the crappy crappy condition of the roads in Rochester NY - pot-holes EVERYWHERE - and deep enough to eat a small planet - the runflat sidewalls are doing a good job of protecting the wheels from damage until spring when I can set them on fire and smell the sweetness of being rid of them.... then back to the Nitto Invo's I had on the E46.
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