Sponsored by The Tire Rack

[joeyg4282]

Hi, can the runflats being switched on and off the OEM wheels so that I can run winter tires on the OEM rims or will that damage the runflats.

The SA at a dealership told us that she didn't recommend routinely removing and re-installing the runflats seasonally because it will wreck the runflats.

Anyone have any insight into this?

Joe

[Gary@TireRack]

Not true. That tire can be mounted many, many times as long as it's done correctly. Only improper mounting or dismounting can hurt it.

[nordique14]

Forget the single set of wheels and 2 sets of tires plan.

Here are a few reasons to have 2 sets of wheels:
1. Cost for labor. Figure $100 in the fall to have the winter tires mounted and another $100 in the spring to have the summer tires mounted. Multiply $200 time the number of years you plan on owning the car. It will likely turn out that a set of steel rims 17" rims will be cheaper in the long run.

2. Cost for winter tires. 17" winter tires will also be cheaper. Even if you go for 18" rims , you can get a 7" or 7.5" wide rims with 205, 215 or 225 winter tires all around (which will still be cheaper than stock sizes).

3. Save your nice rims. Why expose your nice BMW wheels to the slush and salt?

4. Hassle. Save yourself the hassle of having to go to the tire shop twice a year. You can change the tires yourself at home.

5. Early/late snow. You can change to snow or summer tires if there is a freak early (or late snow) you were not expecting. Once the cold weather starts (below 5C) you switch to winters. If the cold snap is a freak and goes away then you can switch back to your summer tires. You do not want to be on your summers when the temps drop. No excuse for you to be in the snow on your summer tires or on your winters on a 20C day.

Everyone I know who thought about trying to save money by only having one set of wheels either ended up spending more in the long run or regretting all of the hassle involved in doing it. That is the price of living in The Great White North. The other option is move to California like I did so you can run summer tires all year.

[Victory Road]

there is no problem unmounting and remounting for the life of the tires. Although, it is highly recommended that you store the tires indoors (climate controlled) for the winter seasons.

[Jammer005]

Originally Posted by nordique14

Forget the single set of wheels and 2 sets of tires plan.

Here are a few reasons to have 2 sets of wheels:
1. Cost for labor. Figure $100 in the fall to have the winter tires mounted and another $100 in the spring to have the summer tires mounted. Multiply $200 time the number of years you plan on owning the car. It will likely turn out that a set of steel rims 17" rims will be cheaper in the long run.

You will most likely have some value in the wheels (and possibly the tires) when you decide to get rid of the car. So you can sell them privately and recover some of your initial costs.