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02-08-2010, 08:47 AM | #1 |
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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. |
02-08-2010, 08:53 AM | #2 |
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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, 09:03 AM | #4 |
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Last time I got a free wash, the dealer swirled my entire car!
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02-08-2010, 09:18 AM | #5 |
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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 |
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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 |
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I have patched my runflat and it drives like normal.
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02-08-2010, 10:16 AM | #8 |
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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.
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02-08-2010, 10:37 AM | #9 |
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02-08-2010, 12:56 PM | #10 |
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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.
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02-09-2010, 07:30 AM | #11 |
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02-09-2010, 07:42 AM | #12 |
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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.
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02-09-2010, 08:49 AM | #13 |
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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.
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02-09-2010, 10:25 PM | #14 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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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