BMW Run Flat Tires

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BMW Run Flat Tires - Problems

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I recently bought a BMW 335xi with run flat tires. These run flat tires have really been a problem. I get a lot of vibration in the gas pedal and recently I've been looking for 18" all season run flats and they just don't exist. BMW's choice to not design room for a spare tire has also really challenged many new owners who have had problem with their run flat tires and have decided to get normal tires. If you are having problems with your BMW run flat tires post it here. This is out of control and BMW seems to be quiet on this topic. If you have not had any problems with your run flat tires also post it here so we can gauge just how big of an issue these BMW run flats are. Maybe we are all just over reacting?

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Posted by: Bones (male, mid-30s) (Posted 10/16/07)

Resource Links: Free (relevant links only) BMW Run Flat Forum, Tire Noise, Run Flat Problems, Replacing Run Flats, BMW Tire Noise

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How do you feel about your BMW Run Flat Tires?

Responses (62)

hans (11/25): its costly,but if you think about the safety issue,it might just save your life someday.tire feels hard on the surface,but no big deal for me...... (report)

thedude (1/25): Ohhh I feel so sorry for the poor BMW owners. (report)

samlr77 (4/22): I just got a brand new Z4 with flat run tires. I heard that if I get flat tires, I need to replace it with brand new tires. Is this ture? (report)

Anonymous (5/9): Sorry to see these issues for all of you guys. No one deserves this type of stuff with a premium sedean. I'm close to buying either an Infiniti G35xS or a 328xi/328i with the dreaded run flats. I've been doing my research and there still are not any available all season radials for the car. I'll take the bigger rims and 4 standard tires on the Infiniti (as well as the killer VQ engine). (report)

hbart (6/4): If you can afford a BMW, i'm pretty sure buying another tire wont kill you. (report)

erno (6/9): Erno, when you buy a BMW, and you drive the car where they are made for, you have to use them, they are perfect (report)

believer (7/17): Ever had a front tire failure at 110+ MPH? If I had conventional tires, I most likely would not be here to type this note! I was able to safely pull over to the side if the roadway and call roadside assistance. THe tire carcass was destroyed but it remained intact enough to allow me to control and slow the car. The safety benefits of runflats are numerous and are worthy considerations when deciding to either buy a car equipped with them or deciding to replace them. As for me, I'm a believer. I'll put up with shorter treadwear life and somewhat harsher ride as compared with conventional tires, but I will not compromise my family's safety to save a few bucks. I bought a BMW for its performance and handling characteristics. It is a well engineered car and the safety features built into the car are are too numerous to list, but one must not forget that no matter what car you are in, the only contact you have with the road is through the four little contact patches where the tire meets the road. Runflats are better able to maintain a flat contact patch even when deflated and will also remain attached to the rim. Conventional tires' sidewalls collapse and the tire will easily separate from the rim at highway speed. I no longer feel comfortable driving a car with conventional tires, especially when driving spiritedly. I will not compromise safety for $$$. If you are driving a BMW and the issue of replacing runflats comes up, and you choose the cheaper route rather than the safer route, you are doing a disservice to all who ride in the car with you. Would you inform your passengers that you have chosen to replace the runflats with cheaper conventional tires which are not as safe as runflats in event of a failure? I doubt you would. (report)

Anonymous (8/7): I wouldn't go so far as to say I love them but I have +38K on my set or OEM tires (Continental) on a 2007 328i sedan w/sport package. I am now doing my research on replacement tires but it is a little concerning to hear so many have had issues. (report)

Anonymous (9/7): I have a 650i convertible. Try 95k out the door. Although I understand how performance tires wear and usually cost more than conventional tires, the run flats have been a real source of aggrevation. When a run flat needs replacing because of a slow leak or a conventional puncture, we are beyond 'road performance' and into the area of 'product performance.' I was told that I had to replace a perfectly good tire at 11k miles (at $600/tire) because it has a slow leak...not even a puncture and the BMW service department took it upon themselves to replace another tire that had no problems at all, claiming that it was punctured. (bad boys....you'll pay for that one) The BMW dealer that put me into this vehicle failed to inform me of the issues related to run-flats (there are class-action suits in play right now over the matter) If a car mfg is going to support an OEM product/part, they need to make sure it is adding the right value mix for the customer. BMW, you missed the logic on this one.....find a tire mfg that can live with repairs and maintain the speed ratings of the run flats...and disclose the issues of cost and specifications to your prospective buyers in the mean time lest you face product disclosure issues from a litigation perspective. (report)

Anonymous (9/15): I have a 2007 BMW 328i coupe with sport suspension that has Continental ProContact SSR tires in 225/45R17 (H speed rated all season). You can get these from the Tire Rack for $162 each. My car has 12,000 miles on it and the tires still ride smooth and quiet at low speed and highway speed. The tire wear looks very even to me, maybe can go another 20k?. No feathering or cupping at all. I think for H rated tires they handle well. I'm thinking I must have gotten a set of good ones because I'm not having any of the problems you other poor folks are. (report)

Anonymous (9/27): I have a 2008 335xi with run flat tires, I don't love them but have had no problems in 10000 mies, also had a 2006 330xi with no problems in 25000 miles. To qualify this I'm 67 and a normal driver. (report)

Anonymous (10/9): I had the GoodYear F1 run flats they were awesome just to dam much $$$ so went with Kumo (report)

Anonymous (10/18): I have 2008 328i cov with RFT, they are not bothering me. Little rough but sporty, handles well. Cheers. (report)

switchback (10/20): I have a 320d (In Europe) and the run flats are great. I drive between 80 - 120 MPH on the high way all the time and would not consider doing this without the run flats. The winters are tough here so I bought winter run flats as well and they also perform much better then any all season radial I ever owned back in the State. (report)

luishrealty (10/22): TO LET YOU ALL KNOW. WHATEVER THE COST OF THESE TIRES... THERE IS NO PRICE ENOUGH TO SAVE A LIFE. MY MOM WAS ABLE TO WALK AND BE HERE BECAUSE OF GOD AND BECAUSE SHE WAS DRIVING THE 335 WITH RUNFLATS. She was driving in the highway here in Miami, with cars around but there was a steel rod almost 5 feet long that she could not avoid since to either side was a vehicle and behind as well. She almost lost control but she was able to drive the rest of the day as if nothing happened. Next morning we go and take her Honda to the dealership while I am driving, all I notice is the red tire light thinking it had no air. I asked her, she told me what had happened.... when I saw the tire and the rim I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW LUCKY AND BLESSED SHE WAS! The lip of the rim was bent as it was shot at close range while the wall of the tire was partially chiseled!!! The integrity of the wall was compromised but the this tire and this car saved one very important person in many people's lives, and my life... my mother. I guarantee that if it were any other tire, it would have exploded upon impact... the wheel probably would have broken off and/or the car would have definitely flipped over and this would be a different story. Thank God for this car and tire.... (report)

Anonymous (11/5): To switchback: If you endorse RFTs so much, what did you do before the technology became available. Surely you were driving on highways at highway speeds on conventional tires before. What are you lot saying about the majority of motorists who drive cars that don't even have the option of RFT technology? Think about it. (report)

Anonymous (11/9): Z4- no spare,no patch kit, no problem. (report)

Rnflat (11/14): Run flat are fine.The problem is people do not check the air pressure regularly.I bought a new 335i and 2 days after I took delivery I checked tire pressure and all tires needed to have air added. Be dilligent in checking your tire pressure and there are no problems. (report)

macclancy (11/17): BMW has been on the cutting edge and yes-bleeding edge over the years and they remain at the forefront of speed and safety technology. If you want a comfortable vibration and road feel free car you may want to look at the Pontiac, Cadillac, Lexus, or even a Mercedes (God forbid)! When you purchased your car I�m sure that you had done hours of research and you were fairly convinced that you really were purchasing �The Ultimate Driving Machine� and your salesperson went over the advantages and the disadvantages of not having a spare tire. Most of us live in an urban area and really when was the last time you actually got out and replaced your tire with your spare? The added room makes way for your extra set of clubs girlfriends luggage or groceries. Ever tried to go on a little excursion in your Z06? Unless you strapped your shit on the roof, you didn�t take the Vette. Seems to me that when you take everything into consideration you will end at the same conclusions that BMW did when they did away with the spare and began another innovative development with the Run Flat tires. As manufactures come online with new offerings the prices will fall and the product will become more refined� So quit yer bitchen and be content knowing that you really are driving The Ultimate Driving Machine! (report)

akwBMW (11/30): I have a 2006 325i and have not had any trouble with the run flat tires...yet. Had to replace one due to a nail puncture, which was costly at the dealer since I did not have the tire insurance package. But I found a tire replacement company nearby which has a much more reasonable price -first replacement of the rear ones was recent, at 56K miles. (report)

Anonymous (12/3): I feel it a little more when I hit pot holes, but besides that they do not bother me. I think the convenience is worth it. I am at 50,000 miles with the original tires (report)

daway4 (12/9): love them however the car runs extremely loud,with an appearance that the tires are out of line. These tires were just replaced for a quiet ride lasting about 2 mths 2months. (report)

LAmadness (12/12): I had mine repaired but the bloke explained me thatif the incident had been on the wall I needed to change the tire for me that was reasonably good but .. maybe if i had to change the tire it maybe not so cool (sorry for the crapy english) (report)

StevenB (12/31): I bought an extended policy for my BMW 300 series that insures my run-flats, so paying for them if one or all need replacing is not an issue. The cost of the aditional coverage is less than the cost of replacing one tire. (I did the math at the time I leased the car) The ties are expensive only if you have to pay for them. I've even filled them with Nitrogen to improve comfort and longevity! I'm 62 years old and live in Boca Raton, Florida and the thought of changing a flat on route 95 in 95 degree weather with trucks and maniacs whistling by at 85 mph is not something I'm interested in doing,. especially on a long trip away from home. To me the additional expense is justifiable considering the alternative. (report)

Anonymous (1/8): I own a 2006 330i and I replaced my standard 17in rims with 18s and got the Bridgstone RunFlats. I am at 20000 miles and still going. I did get my car aligned at the time of purchase but I have not had any problems. I had them rotated at 10000 miles and the tires wear wearing down evenly. I believe I will get another year's driving out of them (report)

411tbum (1/16): I bought a 135i in May and had to replace one run-flat tire in August. Now in early Jan. '09, I'm getting continuous low pressure indicator lights. Back to Performance BMW in Durham, NC. Room for a spare or not, I'm to replace these lemons. (report)

mm1028 (1/25): I recently purchased a pre-owned 2006 325XI with 35K miles. Car came with (relatively new)Continental run-flats. While there seems to be pronounced road noise at low speeds 35mph or less (almost like a slight grinding noise), the noise dissapears at highway speeds. I haven't had any issues with these tires and they seem to hold the road well so I'll post again in a few months. (report)

Anonymous (1/31): i love them, in fact i bought an extra set (on sale of course) and keep them at home and sometimes i will go out to the garage and look at them because, let's face it, they are downright sexy and having them around is SUCH a life saver because of the fact that if the ones on my baby get stolen or someone vandalized them or if they got paint on them (that i couldn't get off of course) then i have extras that didn't cost me as much as other people would charge me if they had to replace them in a pinch and you know how badly some bmw dealers are they charge so much for parts and service that it is almost better to just not have a bimmer at all because of how outrageous they can be but i am totally covered because of my great deal that i found and now people get jealous of me because of how lucky i am to have a complete spare set just in case of a disaster of some sort or type, you know? (report)

brokersml (2/8): I can't imagine it's not worth the additional cost to be able to get home safely & quickly should you have a flat. I did have to replace my set and I got damage within 12 months & the dealer replaced the damaged tire for FREE. I think they are great & wish there was wider availability for other cars as they make me want another BMW. (report)

notakid (2/10): No problems here with both the vehicles i have with run flats. Keep the pressure right in them and they will last. My wife had a blow out ( nail) at 80 miles an hour in the fast lane on the 5 freeway orange county. She did not know it happened until the light came on. She was able to pull over across 5 lanes safely. she then got to a spot where she felt safe. called raod side assitance and had the tire replaced. It wasn't cheap but neither is her life. Most front tires when they blow at 80 mph cause traffic accidents. I have had no problems with run flats what so ever. (report)

Anonymous (2/12): I don't have a problem with mine, but then again I came from an Infiniti G35 Coupe 6M, so I was so used to a rough riding car. I don't feel any vibrations and at speeds over 100mph, the car is smooth. I have a 2005 545i. (report)

2006z430si (2/13): I just purchased a certified/preowned 2006 z4 3.0si roadster with a sport package(produced 2006/03). The car had 11,500 miles when I got it, and I think the Bridgestone Potenza RFT's were still original. In 1 month I put 2,000 miles on the car driving aggresively, and the tires handle great! The tread wear is even, Both fronts 225/40/18 still measure 10/32 deep and look like new. I keep them inflated to 33 PSI (as the door sticker recommends). The rear left measures at 11/32 and the right rear at 8/32 (this is the only puzzle...). I keep them inflated to 38 PSI, but now since I noticed the difference in the tread wear in the rear, I will slightly deflate the tire that has more tread left. I agree that the ride is a little stiff, but the tires grip real well. I don't have any vibration, or excessive noise. The rigid side walls are very good for hard cornering. The tread wear factor on them is 140, which does not spell extra long life. Because I drive a lot I will probably experiment with something like Nitto Invo for the rear when the time comes. The rear tires wear faster on this car, so I think I will do 1 axle at the time. If the front's give me a couple of years worth of driving, I will probably replace them with the same tire, mainly for safety reasons. If I get standard and non-RFT for the rear, I will get the goo can, compressor, plug-kit, and a flashlight. In last 10 years I had to put on a spare only a couple of times, so I will take the risk. If it's non-fixable on the road, I can always get it towed to the house (my insurance covers that...) and then fix it on my terms... - TZ4 (report)

Oblivious (2/25): Not sure which column to put this in, but here goes. I just bought a 2009 335xi. It will be delivered sometime next month. I personally dont care much for the stock sport package wheels and was looking to get aftermarkets with run flats. A question to all those who have gotten replacements, What brand of tire did you buy? Are they any better than what come from BMW? (report)

cruiseforwork (3/1): I've had no problems with my factory RFT's. Have a 2007 BMW 328i. I am due to replace them due to standard ware; they are a bit loud closer to replacement I've noticed.. But no major issues other than noise (report)

azroadster (3/1): I've been pretty happy with mine (on a 2003 Z4 3.0i Roadster). I wish I had more choices in applicable tires, though, instead of the OEM Bridgestone Potenza RE050 Run-Flats. We use only Michelins on our other vehicles and they just seem to be a better brand of tire. Unfortunately, I just got to try out the run-flat feature today. However, on a car like mine, I like the extra space and convenience provided by NOT having to carry a spare. (report)

Anonymous (3/3): I own a 2007 BMW33i Coupe and I absolutely love my run flat tires. To have these tires will cost you a "premium" but for women who travel and having the piece of mind of safety that you can travel on these tires is worth every $$$$ spent. (report)

SROBMW (3/4): SROBMW - 3/1 - run flats are the only way to go. much safer, getting better with exper. - conti's are better than bridgestone (report)

Anonymous (3/11): i had a 2004 bmw 530 with run flats. great tires. no, you do not need to replace them if you get a flat as long as you do not drive more than 50 miles while flat. they are fixable like any tire (i am sure the dealer will try to bs you for money but a reputable tire shop will tell you the truth). they have very stiff sidewalls which give the car a rougher ride. but not a big deal. not having to stop for a flat is priceless. my 5 series would do wide cloverleafs at 70 mph before the autopilot kicked in. (report)

Anonymous (3/11): btw, i had my run flats repaired 3 times in three years on my 2004 530 and never had to replace a tire. i tunrned it in at the end of the lease with 36k miles and only lost $50 due to excessive wear. (report)

Anonymous (3/17): I love runflats on my BMW. They prevented me from being stuck on the shoulder of the highway, where I could be hit by a car or mugged by unscrupulous people. (report)

jpalmer1167 (3/21): I have only had issues when I hit HUGE pot hole that bent the rim of the car. Granted a major isssue with the rim but other than that the tire held up...considering the damage to the rim I was pretty impressed. It's a sports car look and ride that is pretty typical. The fact that they have survived Rochester, NY for 3 years is impressive in itself! (report)

stix (4/2): as a tire sales man and a run flat tire owner they are the best tire on the road. yes when they go flat you or they get a nail in it you have to replace the tire but it is one of the hottest items on a sporty car today. as long as you take care of them and you get a good name brand you will pay alot but you get what you pay for... (report)

stix (4/2): go to firestone they have some great deals and the tires are the best i have riden on so far on my z3 i payed more but it was worth it. (report)

Anonymous (4/3): I'm sorry to hear about all the problems. I haven't had any problems thus far and I've put about 20-25,000 miles on them. (report)

mickans (4/9): i wouln't say i love them, but i have a 320i with s/pack and have just clicked over 51k kms. I need to replace rft's in next few weeks. Lucky, I have not had any problems but they are noisy at low speed and i do worry late at night far from a dealer! (report)

Anonymous (4/12): My 3rd bmw is an e90 (2006) with RFT. my feedback - 20K miles for a performance tire is GOOD, rft or not; turn in and tire feel is pretty good, noticed it right away; not having a spare still worries me, taking a trip up I5 from CA to WA this summer, what happens in the middle of no where? Cost is very high, not happy about that but it is a BMW so what do u expect? Cornering is good, ride quality is ok, tracks a bit on uneven pavement but honestly no more than my s-03's on my old m3. IMPORTANT: KEEP RFT's AT HIGHER TIRE PRESSURE - I KEPT MINE AT 38-40 LBS AND WITH 15K MILES ON THEM I STILL HAVE 7/32-8/32 (NEW 10/32) ON THEM! Noise and feel are also improved. Read this on a review on tirerack.com, surprised BMW recommends 32-34 lbs, the higher pressure made a big difference. (report)

TOKION (4/18): I live in Tokyo and drive a 2006 model BMW 530 Touring with M-Sport package and run flat tires. My car also came with the active steering option installed. I am a keen driver of sports cars, as well as modified (tuned up) saloon cars. However, both the run flat tires and the active steering system is to my liking, and I am entirely satisfied with both. My car does not have any vibration problem what-so-ever, and it drives smoothly, sharply, and comfortably. (report)

Anonymous (4/24): I have a Z-4 with run flats. Never had any problem. I do pay attention to the tire pressure. (report)

TBoyd1973 (4/27): WOW!!! I feel I have to throw some defense out for these run-flats. I have a 2007 HUMMER H2 and a 2008 BMW 328i. The HUMMER is really like nothing else (as the motto goes), but I prefer to drive my BMW. My BMW drives much smoother, handles better and I feel safe with my boys in the car knowing that if I have a blow out on the freeway we aren't going to roll like we possibly could in the HUMMER. We take the BMW everywhere..it is now the "family car" instead of the HUMMER. My run-flats have over 16,000 miles on them in less than a year and (knock on wood) no problems! I never thought I would choose to drive anything other than my HUMMER... (report)

ladylover (5/10): Well, my car's tires are coated with Rhinotire's Technology in New York, and I love such excellent protection, my wife says she can't drive without Rhinotire. (report)

ccorrea (5/13): Well, I wouldnt say that I love them. They look nice, they feel nice on the car. My only issue is that I should probably keep a spare set when I go out to "burn rubber" in the country side. :-) My rear tires have only lasted about a year, new. While the front ends look un-touched. 128 i, Boise ID (report)

philmoore24 (5/16): I just bought my 2nd BMW with run flat tires. I had a 2006 BMW 325i, and I put almost 43000 miles on it without any problems with the tires. I just bought my new 328i Convertible the other day, and it also has run flats. I believe the safety benefits (by far) outweigh the potential problems with the tires. Also, in Car and Driver Magazine, they were noted as testing the new BMW 335i and getting a flat tire on their way to the testing grounds. They got the tire patched, and the tire gave them no problems. Now, I was told with the purchase of both of my cars that I needed to replace the tire anytime something happens, but Car and Driver's incident just goes to prove that you can get by with a patch if you have to. Happy motoring! (report)

Anonymous (5/27): Buy a tire protection package for an extra 20 bucks a month and if anything happens to the tire there is a zero deductable. Ive had 6 tires replaced on my 525 with no cost out of pocket. and yes they are run flats. (report)

Anonymous (5/27): hbart: BMW's aren't that much more expensive than any other car. When you work hard for your money you will see. (report)

Anonymous (6/5): This is especially respond to samlr77. This is true. So make sure you check the thread of the tires, especially the front ones are ware out faster. I have Z4 for more than 2 years and so far, I only bought 2 fronts(twice) and switch the old front tires to the back. Don't forget that. It makes your tires last longer. So, make sure to buy only 2 new, put at the front, and put the old ones to the back. After you do this routines, check the threads (if they are thinning) only the back tires because now the old tires are the rears. This is a very good tip!! Especially for bmwmadman, this is very good tip for you. I drive a lot, I mean a lot!!! For 2 years, I put more than 50,000 miles and only bought 2 tires (twice) I drove to Tahoe and Reno, LA and San Diego, Yosemithe, Sequoia, and drive about 300 miles a week. I drive my Z4 everywhere, to school and work. So, my advice is, buy only 2 at a time, put at front, and put the old ones at rear. It will last longer. (report)

LoveZ4 (6/5): Tip for run flat tire owners: Make sure you check the thread of the tires; especially the front ones are wearing out faster. For the first time of replacement, buy 2 new tires at a time, put the 2 new ones at the front, and leave the rear tires alone. The second time you buy 2 new tires, put the new one at the front, and put the old front ones on the back. Remember, put the new tires at front. I have Z4 for more than 2 years and so far, I only bought 2 fronts (twice) and switch the old front tires to the back. Don't forget that. It makes your tires last longer. So, make sure to buy only 2 new, put at the front, and put the old ones to the back. After you do this routines, check the threads (if they are thinning) only the back tires because now the old tires are the rear ones. This is a very good tip!! To answer samlr77 question, and especially for bmwmadman, this is very good tip for you. I drive a lot, I mean a lot!!! For 2 years, I put more than 50,000 miles and only bought 2 tires (twice). I drove to Tahoe and Reno several times, LA and San Diego twice, Yosemithe, Sequoia, and drive about 300 miles a week. I drive my Z4 everywhere, to school and work. So, my advice is, buy only 2 at a time, put at front, and put the old ones at rear. It will last longer. I hope this tip work for run flat tires owners because it works for me. Thank you. (report)

swampy_6 (6/9): does anybody know what tire pressure my run flat tires should have . I have a E46 coupe with 225 x 35 x 19 on the front and 255 x 30 x 19 on the back. thanks (report)

Allusive (6/10): Wow I am surprised to see how many people have had issues. I have 04 545i with Dunlop SP Sport 01 DSST Run Flat and have no problems. I see most people run Continentals so maybe give these a try and yes they are not cheap especially if you are in Canada. Good Luck! (report)

itserve (6/15): I have a late 2008 BMW 320D M Sport and I love my Bridgestone run flat tyres. No problems, 10000 miles and very little wear - should be good for 25,000 miles! (report)

Anonymous (6/19): I have a Mini Cooper S with Run flat tyres, and I must say that I am in two minds. I love the fact that if I get a flat I can still drive somewhere to have it fixed. I recently developed a small bubble on the sidewall of the tyre and NO I did not hit a curb or a pothole. So what now? Firstly there is absolutely no stock in the country of the Dunlop Runflat tyres and I do not want to replace 2 tyres, only done 9000 kms. (report)

Anonymous (6/29): I have an '07 328i Sports Wagon with Bridgestone RFTs. At 18,500 miles, I've experienced no problems. I won't say I love them but then I don't hate them either. (report)

Anonymous (7/2): No problem. One call and BMW service gets me to a tire place or out of trouble. We should not confuse issues due to optimistic profiles (roads are not race tracks) with run-flat tires. Bridgestone 3rd generation run-flats have acceptable lateral stiffness (no more wood tires) (report)

BMW Run Flats Suck

Responses (559)

bmwmadman (10/29): I agree. I have a 2006 325i special ordered and I needed a new tire within a week. That blows! Now at 20,000 miles I need a whole new set of tires. Thats seems a bit short. I live in SF and dont drive that much. Having no room for a spare blows as well. what should we do. (report)

Anonymous (11/2): i got a nail in my run flat and bmw and now I'm told they are unrepairable. crazy. (report)

Tng (11/6): Crazy !! cannot get the run flat tires, run flat tires is only can get from BMW dealer, hard to find and very expensive. 3 series is without spare tire and have to use run flat, no choice !! (report)

alferdaus (11/8): I changed the wheels and tires for 20" but no space for a spare. The run flat vibrate on highway and they are a little noisy too. Anyway if you want to buy run flat for 325 it has to be online. Go to www.tirerack.com (report)

sick (11/19): i have a 2006 325xi and of course run-flats. I had to replace the whole set with only 15000 miles on them, and as posted BMW holds you hostage with the price of the new ones. SICK, Love the car, hate the tires..! (report)

Anonymous (11/26): Can't drive without getting a head ache. Embarrassing. (report)

tmull (11/28): I have not yet had the car 2 years (about 20,000 miles) and have to replace all four tires ($275/each) because they are worn and "chopped" and make a lot of noise. I also have to pay for a wheel alignment (so much for four years of free maintenance-wheel alignments aren't considered maintenance). I'm told that this type of replacement is very common on these tires. I never would have bought the car if I knew I had to replace the tires every 2 years. Also, the first time I had a flat it took a week to get a new tire -- of course it couldn't be repaired. For the 4-tire replacement -- the dealership didn't have the tires (again) and my car is there waiting for a delivery. (report)

Anonymous (12/6): flat run tires on my 2006 bmw are terrible,and bmw seems like they don,t care Rich (report)

Anonymous (12/18): I have a 2006 325i with these tires, and honestly have had no problems with them. Until yesterday. I went to the dealership because I had a couple of little things for them to fix, and the guy tells me I need a new set of tires! At 24000 miles! Ridiculous! (report)

ssshhhh (12/21): Based on my current experience as of today, BMW will replace my RFT for 50% cost. Which is an insult as this is not a fix but a bandaid until I roll another 10-15k miles. This smells like a class action against mfg defect... (report)

Anonymous (12/27): I have a 2006 325xi and tire noise is major issue. BMW said was a balancing issue and rebalanced tires, but this solved nothing. (report)

Anonymous (12/28): they suck bad. I have a 2006 330 convertible performance package... yah, that's an expensive freaking car!!! 1 year = 3 tires changed. 2 flats and 1 (according to bmw) has an air-bubble? I was saving up for the 2008 M3 but I may back down if BMW are going standard with the run flats (report)

Anonymous (12/28): For my 2006 325xi BMW is replacing original Bridgestone Turanzas with Continental ContiProContact SSR - do these solve noise problem? (report)

Zane (1/5): I have had to replace all my tires and have been told by BMW that they do not know of others having the same problem Zane O'Donnell (report)

Anonymous (1/11): I refused to buy a new BMW due to the problems a co-worker had with run flats. They lasted less than 20,000 miles and ran with a horrible ride and vibration throughout the life of the tires. (report)

RFTsuck (1/11): The RFT are total Crap, and BMW better address the issue soon, or they might have to run flat (report)

moanamontes (1/15): Overall I have had no issues with the run flat tires on my 325i. Yesterday I took my car to the dealership for scheduled maintenance and the alignment seemed off. Well they called me this morning and informed me that the alignment is okay but my tires need to be replaced. $875 for the set. My car only has 16500k on it. It's been two years since I purchased the car, and as you can see I do very little driving in it. That's alot of money every two years to be spent on tires. (report)

FLtravelingman (1/31): I live in Orlando and have a 2006 330i which started making tire noises at 14k miles. Taking the car in, I was given "everything normal" by BMW service dept. By 17K, noise was so loud I took back in and BMW said that all my tires were out of alignment and were ruined and I had to buy all new ones. After strenuously protesting, dealer agreed to buy two, I bought two, at $350 each, plus mount, balance, etc. I now have 24K on car (8K on new tires) and just got a low tire light this week. I went in yesteday and was told I had picked up a screw on the road. This slow leak is going to cost me another $350 because they don't repair the tires. I said I'd find a place that did and they said I'd better have a new tire, not a repaired tire, when I turned it in at the end of the lease at the end of this year or they would charge me then since they now have a record of the leak. Talk about a racket. (report)

slosurf21 (2/1): Just bought a certified 06 325i. Best car I have EVER had, except the tires. I new the tires would be an issue before I bought the car. I read all the reviews!...it seems this is an epidemic!... I just reached 18k miles, and the noice at 0-40mph is horrible (only during slowing down though). Its crazy, the noice is nothing driving at 110mph! But at 20mph it seems so bad. I knew this was going to be an issue before I bought the car, and the dealership said they would replace them. So right now I am trying to get my monies worth, and a few thousand miles more out of these tires. Seriously though, is this going to go on forever?!!... To hell with the spare, and maybe just buy regular tires?.. What tires do people recommend here?... Like I said, LOVE THE CAR, tires suck though. Has anyone brought a lawsuit yet? (report)

BIGTENTAM (2/7): I HAD TO FIGHT TO GET MY RF REPLACED @ 11,000, NOW I AM AT 27,00 ALL HIGHWAY MILES AND THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE STUDDED SNOW TIRES...BWM NEEDS TO FIX THE TIRE PROBLEMS..THEY PRIDE THEMSELVES ON MAINTENANCE FREE LUXURY VEHICLE - THEY FORGET ABOUT HAVING TO PAY TO REPLACE THE TIRES EVERY YEAR!!! (report)

Anonymous (2/17): the worst tires ever. period. the worst. I have owned 8 bmw's and may be driving my last one if bmw doesn't find a way to fix this problem. the worst. (report)

Anonymous (2/18): The run flat tires are nothing but a problem. I purchased the warranty for the wheels and tires but this cars have an aligment problem and the warranty wont cover the tire for that problem even thouhg the car comes with that problem.I have replaced the tires 3 times already and tomorrow I am going to the dealer to replace 2 more that are not covered. (report)

Anonymous (2/19): 2007 335xi sedan. Bridgestone Turanza all-season tires. Runs rough, noise a bit bad at speed. No cupping or irregular wear yet, but only at 7000 of mostly highway driving. (report)

LoveCarRFTsuck (2/24): I agree. I have 335 cic and already replaced 2 tires in 8 month. Now 3 of my tires formed bubbles the size of a child's fist, and the 4th one keeps loosing pressure. I am at a loss, and BMW keeps denying that there is a problem. (report)

BeamerFan (2/25): I just purchased an 07 328xi from the US in December (Canadian). Don't get me started on BMW Canada and their pathetic money grab Anyway the car has 16K mi. on it and I did notice some noise, but I didn't really have much time to get a real sense as I had to put winters on it as we were getting a fair amount of snow. I bought regular winters as rft prices were just stupid. ...most of us have lived without rfts to this point in our lives. How often do we get a flat tires? I think the CAA backup plan is a perfect solution. Instead of living with rftS and hating the car, why not just buy regular tires and enjoy the car while you have it. (and of course continue to hate the dealer) (report)

Anonymous (3/1): RFt's are Complete Shit. Never will allow them on a vehicle of mine again. Switch to GFT's join AAA at once and save yourself the hassle and headaches. (report)

BMWorSemi (3/1): Have to warn people when I drive them that their experience will be similar to riding in a big rig truck... the noise in unbearable! (report)

Steven (3/1): RFTs suck! True story...I hit a very small piece of 2x4 while making a right turn yesterday. Within a second the tire monitoring light came on. I called my local dealer then went in for what I thought would be a simple reset. Instead I got the news that after only driving this 06 325i roughly 24K while ensuring that the tires were rotated and balanced, I needed a brand new set along with an alignment at a cost of 1,450 bucks...ouch! My father never had this problem with his Buick. I'm thinking about replacing the tires with a traditional set. Does anyone know what tire is a great replacement without compromising the ride and without the road noise? (report)

turner (3/1): Capt Lee I have a 330D with 255s on the rear which are only lasting 10,000 miles driving normaly. In addition they are taking a week to get hold of a new set of tyres. I cant get any answers or advise from BMW. Typical head in the sand (report)

knug5 (3/3): i have had 24 flat tires in 31 months. There is something wrong here. I have the 330i 2006 w/ sports package. A NIGHTMARE!!!! BEWARE, legal action is necessary.. Jglass6278@aol.com (report)

stevdc1 (3/4): 2006 BMW 325i with Bridgestone run flats and hate them!!! Only 25K miles and they are worn out and make such a loud noise that you can't hear anything! Called BMW and Bridgestone. They each blame the other and stil nothing has been done. (report)

stevdc1 (3/4): If anyone has a solution email me at scollier@triad.rr.com Thanks (report)

Anonymous (3/6): the first and last BMW I'll ever lease, if you're going to put really expensive tires on my car they better perform like really good tires (report)

bmwx5 (3/10): anyone got a rft problem with the new X5 E70 (report)

Anonymous (3/10): I recently bought a 530d M Sport Touring fitted with run flats. After just 3 weeks into ownership I have had wrong warnings of pressure loss. I feel that the i-drive system plus the run flat tyres should be replaced by BMW. I am already considering changing the car in view of these early problems. (report)

Anonymous (3/17): My mom has had her 328i for 8 months and already has her second flat ($368.00) tire with only 3,000 miles on the vehicle. She will now be putting four regular tires on her vehicle and never buying a BMW again!!! (report)

Anonymous (3/19): yes, i agree with everyone's post. The run-flat tires suck!!!!! They make a horrible noise that you can't hear yourself talk in the car. (report)

Anonymous (3/20): noisy and bumpy.... (report)

Anonymous (3/25): I have a 2006 330 in Dubai, UAE. I had a flat tire and had to stop the car immediately, as apparently the run flat system was "damaged". Had the car towed by BMW (charged) service. The car has been sitting at BMW for FOUR days now waiting for one replacement tire, and this cannot be found. BMW is even charging me for FREIGHT on the replacement tire (?!?). So my car is in perfect conditions and cannot be used simply because of a FLAT TIRE? Sorry, does not make sense... Still can't get an answer from BWM on when the tire will be available, so I have to rely on taxis. Never again RUN FLAT! HATE IT (report)

Anonymous (4/2): I want to run regular tires but here in Canada it will void roadside assistance... I think it is worth it to buy a CAA/AAA membership and go with regular tires. Tires have been around for years..... RFT will not save your life if you check your pressures every 2 weeks like your supposed to do anyways. (report)

Anonymous (4/6): I am on our second set of Bridgestone tires and we are having the same problems, cupping and loud road noise. The dealer says they will replace again for half the cost with continental tires, but there is some issues that BMW wont address. Whats up? (report)

sienna (4/12): I feel vindicated when I read the 43 posts on this subject. I have been a BMW owner for the past 24 years. But after my experience with the Bridgstone Turanza run-flats, I will be looking at alternatives. Apparently, there is no choice right now but to accept BMWs with these tires-which have been the worst tire experience I have ever had! Firstly, they are so noisy that when I go over a pothole, everyone in the car including me screams with terror. It sounds and feels like an explosion and vibrates through your body. I had the manager take a ride with me and, of course could not duplicate the experience in the neighborhood. It's much worse on the highway. They pretended, like another post said, that it must be the alignment. But one of the salesman admitted to me that they have had alot of complaints. One customer replaced all four tires with regular radials. But I was told of this option after I had paid to replace three run-flats-you can't mix and match. My first set were replaced free because it happened in under 15,000 miles and I gave them hell at the dealership (where I got my last four BMWs). The second time I had to pay for 2 out of 4, and months later another, and today another had to be replaced. I intend to visit the Edmund's town hall site that apparently has 1,500 such complaints, and I recommend we all do. CAN ANYONE SAY CLASS ACTION?? (report)

mikesievers (4/18): I have replaced two tires and the car is only 8 months old! Now I have to buy a rim! EL42 Turanza on a BMW 335xi are terrible! (report)

chrisy (4/18): I hate them. I have 325xi. Dealer first told me nothing wrong. Then He said he will replace for 50%. I paid 50% and asked for the tyres so I can keep. But he would not give me the old tyres then dragged for a month and then reimbursed me the 50%. But the car is very bumpy and the dealer didn't even take it for a test drive. Every manhole cover I cross I get a big bupm and it hurst my ass and back. (report)

hotz4 (4/20): i have a z4 3.0 si sports package. stiff ride and road noise is fine with me, but the RFT tend to tramline road irregularities and make the car dart across pavements with one hand on the wheel. this is a real problem b/c i have manual transmission. tramlining sucks, otherwise RFT is ok. (report)

Anonymous (4/24): 2006 330XI: I think it is garbage that a company like BMW would take a stance of silence, while everyday more and more people have this problem. This is my third and last BMW. (report)

tracydude (4/30): tracydude. I'm very disappointed with these tires. They are fragile! Massachusetts is laden with potholes, you can't drive without hitting them, and bammmm. There goes your rim and tire. Hundreds of dollars later...... (report)

Anonymous (5/2): BMW 2007 328xi with Bridgstone Turanza ("aka. terrible") tires. Started producing noticeable noise at around 15k km; tires and stiff suspension produces absolutely terrifying experience going through pot holes. Complained to service after 17k km, but dealer and BMW Canada would only cover 75% of replacement cost. Needless to say, "BMW" just lost another customer. (report)

RNFLTH8ER (5/7): Not only have I had to replace 2 run flats on my 2007 328xi, I also had to replace the wheels which were damaged when I hit two separate potholes. I wasn't going fast, yet the tires AND the wheels were destroyed! (report)

oliinla (5/9): I have had to replace 3 tires in 3k miles - the tires buckle under ANY pot hole pressure (causing bulges) - they are a disgrace - a costly one too. A class action needs to be filed against Bridgestone & BMW for not addressing the problems. (report)

Anonymous (5/12): Had 2006 325xi with Bridgestone Turanzas, replaced at 12k miles...just got 2008 335xi with Bridgestone Potenzas, my husband has on 08 335i with Michelin Pilots, we have a bet who's tires will last longer!!! This is my only complaint with this car, and BMW doesnt manufacture the tire!! (report)

Anonymous (5/13): Run Flat Tire noise is horrible on my 2006 325i. I'll replace with regular tires and carry a 12v air compressor. Have similar problem on BMW Mini Cooper S! (report)

Anonymous (5/15): I own a 2007 328I with 14,800 miles. My runflats are bald and now I need to replace all 4 tires. My husband has a 2004 F-350 dulley and is just now replacing his tires. Pretty sad the ultimate driving machine is beat by a truck! (report)

Ramsey1294 (5/15): My 2007 BMW 328xi started with loud road noise around 10K miles. I took it into the dealer this week only to find out that my tires need replacing. They said it's a known issie with the Bridgestone run flat tires called "cupping". BMW tried to tell me that the tires were not covered. WIth 11K miles I told them BS. My dealer told me they might be successful in getting BMW to cover at least half the cost cause they've done it before, but no guarrantee. Then he tried to tell me it's not a known issue. Apparently, it's a very well known issue. (report)

Anonymous (5/16): I own a 2006 330i and at 31,000 need a new set. I took my car to te dealership and they told me I could not replace run flats with regular tires. This is not true...sure you wont have a spare but usually when I have gotten a flat I have been able to make it to safety or I have called roadside assistance. I think BMW should offer free replacement and do away with run flats. You can get run flats from other tire places. BMW needs to step up to the plate. (report)

calcioman (5/17): I am a huge BMW fan. I currently have two (just sold the third) cars. I have a 2006 325xi with the plagued Bridgestone run flat tires. The tires make the car ride so hard and create a terrible resonating noise when you get a little over 1,000 miles on a set. At around 10,000 miles the dealer changes a set at no charge because the sound was terrible and the rubber was feathering on the tread. The claim was that bridgestone has created a new and improved model and that is what was installed on my car. I recently brought the car in at 22,000 miles becasue the same noise was occurring again but worse than before. The dealer tells me that they can change the tires but they will only pay half! I proceeded to call BMW of North America and place a claim. After three days they gave me the same line of garbage and opted to pay half of the cost. They also consider 10,000 miles on a set of tires a significant number. I have a big problem with BMW and there run flat specification on the 3-Series. I will no longer be purchasing BMW cars because of this. I cannot believe that they are leaving so many loyal BMW customers high and dry. I will buy the cheaper and better infinity or acura. They are not BMW's but at this rate BMW is not the same BMW we all know and love. (report)

Jdogg214 (5/19): 22k miles on a 2006 330i sport and my right rear blows out this Saturday night around midnight. Run flats right!?! I can drive 30 miles home at 25mph and then get the tire fixed tomorrow right?!? WRONG. The entire tire blows out about 15 miles into the trip stranding me on the side of the road. I get my pretty little BMW towed to the dealership on Monday for them to tell me that not only do I not have a warranty for the tires but I have a blister on the right front and it will be about $1100 for them to replace them!!!! (report)

blacktundra05 (5/22): Regarding the RFTs on BMW great concept bad reality. I have had my 2008 335i since Dec and already we have had two different tires have flats due to screws and nails. With the first flat I went back the dealer who told me they were unrepairable- wrong! I took it to my friends at Discount Tire and they instantly repaired them and I might add w/o cost and with a warranty! The guys at Discount Tire informed me that BMW is just too lazy to do the work to fix those tires and frankly its more $$ for them. Considering I have only 4k miles on them, I can't wait to get rid of them and take my chances w/o a spare! Praise the Lord for AAA and Discount Tire! Don't believe what they say - do your homework! (report)

Anonymous (5/24): Crap OEM to begin with Bridgestone Turanza EL42 RFT. No repair just plugs when you can find an independent to do the work. Too expensive through dealer. BMW does not caution merely attempts to hard sell tire insurance. (report)

egln498 (5/27): Have a 2006 325i not even 20,000. ITS LOUD and unbearable to drive because of the tires. I have a 1996 BMW that I'd rather drive. It's sad that BMW ruin a nice car potential nice car all around. BMW is known for the drive, this includes GREAT QUIET TIRES. (report)

Anonymous (5/28): I am a two time (and last time) BMW owner solely because of the run flat tires which cause excessive noise and vibration while driving. I was told the only remedy is to replace the four tires...I plan on replacing the whole car instead!! (report)

Anonymous (5/28): I have a 2007 328i and I have a flat already. Yes, safety is a plus, but I'm sure we have the technology to make run-flats that can be patched instead of purchasing a brand new tire just b/c it has a leak in it. The fact that supply is so limited and you're forced to purchase them at the dealership seems a bit fishy to me. Perhaps this is how they're making up for the free maintenance package which Mercedes got rid of. (report)

Anonymous (5/30): This is the 2nd time when we were on a road trip and had to replace a run flat tire. This time, we needed to buy two tires (for about $500 each) just because we had some superficial puncture holes in them. We were told that if they had been regular tires, we could have easily patched them. But, we were told you cannot patch run flats because taking them off the rim tears the tire. On top of that, the two BMW dealers near us (as well as a Bridgestone tire dealer-- our tires are Bridgestone) did not stock run-flats. We ended up having to be towed 200 miles to the nearest dealer that had them!! Got a very frustrating response from BMW when we complained. So, not only are you forced to spend a lot of money for each run flat tire that has a hole in it, but good luck in finding a BMW dealer that stocks them. We are now concerned about taking our very expensive BMW on any long road trips. Thank goodness we are leasing the car so that we can shop for another brand other than BMW next time. (report)

Anonymous (6/1): Ran over a pothole on a Socal freeway and tire bubbled up almost immediately. So fragile and useless... (report)

Anonymous (6/4): The noise from these tires are absolutely awful. I love my BMW but hate the tires. BMW replaced them at 10,000 miles, now at 27,000 miles the noise is so loud you can barely hear the radio. Guess we'll need new tires at 17,000 miles on the new set. We will probably not get run flats, will just sacrifice the room in the trunk for some sort of spare. (report)

scman (6/7): these are a piece of shit tire and bmw people are fools to put them on these cars.I'm switching to toyota. teddy doyle (report)

ripped (6/8): I hit a pothole and the rim went right through these tires.... is there something weaker in this sidewall as I have gone through the same potholes on my streets for years with earlier bmw models with normal "non run flat" tires! It also would be nice to have even a donought spare when I live quite a way from tire replacement.... Another way for BMW to cut costs but doesnt do customer service any help... (report)

Anonymous (6/9): Noisy at all speeds, deafening between 40 and 50 mph. Luckily, my 545i does have a spare - so as soon as I can justify the cost I will move to regular tires. (report)

sharpretail (6/12): We are based in the Uk and have numerous BMW's on our fleet, I run a 730Li, we have had BMW's on our fleet for over 20years with no problems until now We have 3 x 5 series models with run flat tyres and have had nothing but problems with them. It is costing us a fortune. We have rear tyres bursting on the inside wall, and unusual tread wear on the cars. BMW UK inform us that they are not aware of any issues, but feel sure they are keeping the problem quiet. We have Goodyear Tyres which BMW fitted from factory. Be pleased to hear from anybody in the UK with similar issues they have reported to BMW dealers. (report)

Anonymous (6/12): Hate these tires. I have had my 330i for 2 years and have had 3 flats and 2 bubbles. Tires are $400+ each to replace. They can't be repaired. Worst tires I have ever had. (report)

Anonymous (6/14): Own a 2006 330xi. The noise problem got worse over time, can't evne use if for a 20 minutes trip - I would go crazy by the deafening noise. probably will trade in the car for a different brand soon. (report)

Anonymous (6/15): I just bought my E63 630i and I hate the bumpy ride. Don't know what to do now. (report)

kduff (6/16): They have been nothing but a costly problem for me (report)

Roadster (6/16): Run flat tyres are one of the worse ideas that BMW have come out with, that and not being able to change the reversing bulb on 6 series without taking it to the dealership, but thats another story. RFTs are noisy they give a hard ride and wear really quickly as the compund in the middle (the main tread) is a soft compound to assist in grip. BMW forced the tyre manufacture to mass produce run flats, the maunfactures have taken leaps and bounds in this technology but are far from perfecting it. Changing your FRT for normal tires can be done - down side poorer handling and you are stuffed if you get a puncture - but by a mobile repair kit to get you home or hold the telephone number to mobile tyre repair service. The costs are also prohibiting as well. In the UK they are charging �300+ per tyre ($600+ ea)! Best thing to do go out and buy a set of new rims and tires that make your car not just look good but awsome and ditch the RFs! Its a pity BMW aren't listening to their customers (report)

Anonymous (6/16): i believe rft tires are more suceptible to flats than ordinary tires...I got two flats within three months...I hear that the run flat tires are heavier and harder...and somehow...more suceptible to flats when an encounter to road garbage.not to mention the noise is terrrible....its gonna be my first and last BMW purchase!!! (report)

Anonymous (6/17): I agree, I find the run flat tires make way too much noise. My old BMW was smooth, quiet and a great ride. However without a spare tire I guess I'm stuck with the run flats for my commute. I'm on my second set and they are pricey to replace. (report)

Tbone (6/18): My 2008 335xi is too new (less than 100 km) to tell if I will hate them (17" Continental tires). My question is: can RFT's be replaced with standard non tun-flat tires on the spec (manufacturer rims? (report)

Anonymous (6/19): try being in the UK. A 255 35 18 for a 2007 335i M Sport is �257!! About $500!!!! You think youve got it bad with $200 a piece!! BMW are ripping us off. I changed all 4 tyres for standard tyres, half the price, bought a space saver wheel from my dealer and gone are the bumpy rides and terrible road noise. Only downside is handling had been affected slightly but this is only at 80mph+ if you turn the wheel quickly, other than that its amazing! (report)

mark81 (6/21): 5000 km on my 328xi with Bridgestone RE050IIA. Tires are already severely scalloped and very noisy. Mostly highway miles. Love the car, but very disappointed in the tires! (report)

Anonymous (6/22): i hate them.. they are really junk.. I am on my next set BMW sucks.. don't buy their cars.. they don't stand behind their product. (report)

Anonymous (6/23): I've bought 5 new run flat tyres, all the tyres developed bubbles in the side wall. there is only 5,000 miles on the the tyres and they are fit for the bin. I contacted BMW and they told me that I was hitting large pot holes and they are causing the issues. I have bridgestone tyres on my BMW 325. I contact Bridgestone, but no one would listen to my complaint. (report)

Anonymous (6/23): We have a 2006 330i. Thus far we have replaced 5 ties on this car. 4 for road noise, and one for a flat, after we hit a pot hole. Now we have a bubble in one of the new tires we got, and BMW dealer in Fremont, CA, is saying that to go and deal with Bridgestone directly and that they want nothing to do with it as BMW did not make the tire, that this service department just repalced, and we paid for. The Service department is rude. This time the bubble developed, and we have not even hit any pot holes as the service department insists we did. BMW claims that this car has maintenance included, but what good is that when you have to spend thousands getting your tires changed. I hate this car. (report)

Airbus (6/23): They are absolute garbage in terms of how little wear on the mileage you get from them. I've had mine for 27,000 mi. and they're nearly worn already! Junk for a lot of money. Even though they handle well when new. (report)

Anonymous (6/23): I have a E60 530iA and 18" Star Spoke 123 with Dunlop SP01 - 245/40/18 - most terrible tires I�ve ever had - very loud and very hard after only 16.000 km. The problem is, that I�m not the first owner of this BMW, so I don�t think, that BMW can do something for me. (report)

Anonymous (6/24): My wife has gone through 6 tires in 13 thousand miles. All of them from bubbling on the side walls. One dealer told me it could be from hard cornering. So what thought!! I bought a 45K dollar ultimate driving machine. BMW needs to hold bridgestone accountable otherwise it will be the last BMW I purchase. (report)

gbeckowski (6/24): I have the Continental ContiProContact run flats on my 2007 328xi. I did not pay much attention to the repeated pressure loss warnings until recently when I would lose 10 psi sometime in a day and sometime in a week. The dealer says there is nothing wrong with the tire or the wheel but it continues to lose pressure even more frequently since I visited them. A NTB rep actually told me I needed to replace all four since the uneven tread from one new tire would damage the xDrive. I was skeptical. The dealer cannot seem to stop focusing on the tire I had plugged which is actually the one holding pressure. I didn't know about the no-repair policy. The dealer is disinterested in looking into the pressure loss or TPM alerts but repeatedly points out the tire with the plug (a cya move I am sure in case something happens). I have not experienced any of the problems you all have had but I will pay closer attention after reading about your experiences. (report)

Sanjay (6/25): I bought a 2007 328xi and i get humming sound by the tires. When asked in the showroom, they said the tires are feathered. This is reduculous as the car drove below 10000 miles.I am upset with this. (report)

al001 (6/25): i have just brought a 320m sport CONV on a 57 with 19inc run flats within 3 weeks i have had a blow out and 2 different holes so needed to replace 3 tires and bmw insurance sucks !!! bye bye bmw im puting the car up for sale NOW!!!! (report)

Anonymous (6/25): I have a 2007 328xi with ONLY 16000 miles on the car. I went in for service because I couldn't stand the noise - the car has gotten so loud around 40 mph. I was just told I need four new tires and alignment. I'm furious. (report)

rockinit99 (6/26): RUN FLATS STINK!! I bought a used 2007 BMW 328i two months ago. A week later my rear right tire was flat. I figured the used car lot sold me the car with nail in the tire...so I bit the bullet and bought a new tire for $450. Now a month later, my front left tire is flat! WTF?! Are you serious?? 2 flat tires in 2 months? They say these tires give you better traction and whatnot. Who cares?! I'm not Dale Earnhardt Jr. who is taking curves at 100mph! I've been driving for 20 years on regular radial tires with other cars, and if I ever got a nail in my car, I just take it to the tire shop and they fix it for ten bucks. Now I gotta shell out another $450 for another tire. This car is turning out to be a HUGE mistake! WTF BMW?! (report)

Musikane (6/27): If you have under 10,000mi. BMW will replace the tires for free. However, You must complain like crazy. Over 10,000 mi. maybe they will buy you 2. Replacements are the same noisy shitty tire. BMW is trying hard to lose customers. Very unhappy! (report)

ursula (6/27): I hate the run flat tires. I had to replace 2 tires at the 3,000 mile mark and another one at 7,000 miles. I just droped off my car this morning with BMW because again my tire warning light is lit and the pressure is down in two of the tires. Tires are noisy, cause vibration and just frustation and anxiety everytime I see the tire light come on. I have a 2006 330xi. I loved my 3 other BWM's... this one is for the birds and can't wait for my lease to end. BMW you made a big mistake on this one. I think my love affair with BMW has just ended. (report)

Newhouse (7/4): i had a nail in my tire and also was told that BMW is unable to fix the tire. I was forced to buy a new tire at $425 for my M3. I told BMW that I wanted the tire with the nail in it for future use. When I picked up my M3 BMW was nice enough to put my "bad" tire in my trunk and they plugged the tire! So why tell me that cannot fix the tire! I am selling my M3! (report)

Anonymous (7/6): After reading all the posts on the RFT's it is obvious that these tires are completely unacceptable. I own a 2007 335i with only 14k and the front tires are almost bald. I have already had them aligned at 7K. This is ridiculous. BMW you've got to do something for these owners or you're going to lose thousands of customers. (report)

dsteding (7/9): 2 years after purchasing my new 325i, I have spent > $1,330. in tire repairs on the RFTs. Let's start a class action against BMW of NA. (report)

watts20 (7/12): My 4th BMW. I have a 2007 328i I bought new. RFTires started making a noise around 9000 miles, thought it was a wheel bearing. Took it in and the dealership said it was the tires and that they were safe as long as I could just handle the noise. They acted like this was some unheard of issue (the cupping). I drive a lot for work and the noise is getting unbearable. If BMW does not fix this problem I am sad to say this will be my last one. I have talk to other owners in my state that have had the problem as well. (report)

twalkerw (7/13): We have a 2007 E93 with 16k miles on it. While driving back from a trip out of town I experinced a blowout while exiting I-68 onto I-70 in Maryland. It's a 90 degree turn in total, but smooth and, admittedly, I was doing about 75 at the time - there was nothing of any size in the road. The top was down so I heard the loud sound of the right-rear blowout and the run-flat took over. I lowered my speed to under 50 as recommended in the manual and proceeded the 5 miles or so to the next exit. Looking at the tire underneath the car, it was plain to see that part of the tire was actually off the rim, so my best explanation was that, due to the centrifugal G's in the turn the tire had separated from the rim and, hence, the blowout. In any event, the tire is trashed and I had to get the car towed some 90 miles to the BMW dealer near our home, but the BMW Roadside Assistance was both fast and completely free. It was only luck that we had our other car (trusty Yukon XL) there also and were able to offload luggage and provide me a ride back to our home. The BMW dealer told me that BMW does not warrant the tire. I have not heard what the replacement will cost yet, but I'm expecting around $350-400. Four lessons learned in this experience: 1) It was very nice not to have to change a tire on the shoulder of a major highway; 2) a blowout of this kind at 16k miles is inexcusable in a performance car of this type and I will be lobbying hard to get BMW to pick up the tab; 3) BMW Roadside Assistance was great; and 4) if you're out of town and have a run-flat issue on a Sunday or in a remote area, you will likely need to stay with the car until it can be repaired - as opposed to just putting on the spare and heading on down the road. It cost us a few hours and was hassle - I'm just hoping BMW will pay for the tire, but am not holding my breath. (report)

HadEnough (7/13): enough is enough. bmw is not going to do anything until they are forced to do so. i've gotten 4 flat tires within 10 months. so, i am going to mail the next flat tire to Jim O'Donnell (President of BMW of North America). i think if we all did so, it would send a clear message that they need to take this seriously. alternatively, you can send Jimmy a certified letter letting him know that as a loyal bmw owner you are seriously thinking about leaving the brand until they fix and stand by their product. Jim O'Donnell's corp address is BMW of North America, LLC; 300 Chestnut Ridge Road; Woodcliff Lake, NJ; 07677-7731. good luck and let me know how it goes. (report)

Anonymous (7/14): I own a 2007 X5, 15mls, and need the tires replaced due to noise, and gas pedal vibration. Paid for rotation which stopped the noise for one month, now the noise and vibration is back driving me insane. Am talking with BMW North America. Will post an update ... (report)

doctoro (7/14): I have a 07/328i and I hate these freaking run-flat tires ( high noise and runs like a truck), but I had changed for a (falken) 19" tires, with rims (Petrol). No problem and runs very smoothly. My question, did I violate my BMW Warranty after this tire change? Will appreciate your expertise. Thanks (report)

Meghan (7/15): I have a BMW 328i with run flat tires and I hate them. It sounds like I am driving a truck. BMW wants me to buy new tires , I don't think so. I am going to complain until they fix the problem. (report)

Anonymous (7/16): Two words - class action. It is shameful that BMW would sell a product it knows is defective. An insider informed me that BMW knew of the defect and instructed their dealerhips to deny, deny, deny and force customers to buy full replacement tires. I complained about tire noise and pull for about a year (service saw no problem) before blowing a tire yesterday. After much haggling, they finally offered to pay for two of the four BALD tires. Then...the refused to do anything unless I say I am "completely satisfied". Audi here I come. (report)

believer (7/17): Most complaints I read here are probably due to a misunderstanding of runflats and their underlying technology. Getting 20-25k miles out of ANY Z,W,Y,U "ultra-performance" tire is a feat in itself. The tires are designed with a bias toward handling, grip and water dispersion. After having numerous sets of runflats on my BMW, Carrera, and MINI, I am very aware of the faults ofter associated with the tires. One of the most common complaints I I know of is noise and harshness. This is usually attributed to the fact that the tire(s) were driven for an extended period of time in an underinflated condition. By this time, even when the tire pressure has been corrected, the damage was done to the tire internally and will be apparent as noise, vibration or harshness, especially at lower highway speeds. If you expect a soft ride, very long treadwear life or noiseless tires, you probably shouldn't be driving a BMW (or Porsche, Corvette, MINI or performance model Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, etc.). Nowadays, the auto manufacturers design the cars while collaborating with a select few tires manufacturers to achieve extreme handling, roadholding and braking levels that were never achieved in the past. It is understood that these special car and matched tire combinations are going to come at a price. After experiencing a blowout in the left front tire while driving over 110 MPH, I was able to safely control and slow the vehicle and get to the side of the roadway where I called roadside assistance. I was not upset that the tire was completely destroyed (only 5k mi). Instead I was grateful, VERY GRATEFUL, that the tire and car performed as designed and protected me. If it were a conventional tire, I most likely would have struck the concrete center barrier and would probably not be here today. I would like to say that I will NEVER drive a car equipped with conventional tires at those speeds again. In fact, I no longer feel comfortable with conventional tires at all. (report)

JohneeM (7/17): Just blew two run flat tires on my 2006 325i. Luckily, I had purchased the tire protection/replacement warranty but was almost 150 miles from the nearest BMW dealer and had to be towed. Talk about a long, bad day! (report)

Anonymous (7/20): Had three flat tires in 6 weeks and less than 20,000 kms on my 2006 325i. each time dealer said i picked up a nail and can't be repaired. driven for 30 years and never had a flat tire before. Its time for a class action against these tire bandits (report)

sjh9924 (7/21): I bought 2007 328i with 6500 miles (demo) at 9500 miles reare tires have severe wear. BMW said nothing is wrong with the car, at 12500 miles the rear are completely bald. Another dealer said the same thing. I am a first time BMW owner and can't believe this experience from BMW. (report)

kb622 (7/21): This is bullshit we should unite and tell BMW to change our damn tire for free and never put a run flat on another car. (report)

travelingman826 (7/25): less than 4,000 miles and tires have bubbles. Iam really bummed out. (report)

Anonymous (7/27): costly and worn out quickly. I bought 325 in 2006 and have had the front two runflat tires changed. (report)

mistresswillie (7/27): I also have a 2006 325i and at 21,000 miles I started noticing a loud roar in my right front tire. I thought it was the rotars or brake pads or such but as soon as I mentioned the noise to my service advisor, he told me it was my tires. I wondered how he knew this right away without even having the car checked out by a mechanic. When I questioned him as to why I would need new front tires at barely 21,000, he said I was lucky to have gotten as many miles as I had; most BMW owners only got 16,000-18,000 miles before they had to buy new tires. When I asked if perhaps we could try rotating the tires, I was told that the roar would just transfer to the back. I still could not believe what I was hearing. The service advisor told me that he knew without a doubt that it was my tires and had a BMW Bulletin spelling out the problem. When he faxed it to me, I then realized that this is a common problem with the run flat tire and wonder why in the world BMW continues to use Bridgestone Run Flat Tires when obviously this is a very costly problem for us BMW owners. I certainly will not buy another BMW as long as they continue putting these type tires on their vehicles. (report)

Mags (7/28): We have had more problems in the last 2 years with runflats than in our previous 25 years driving. About 6 punctures and very expensive replacements. (report)

Anonymous (8/4): Hello.... tell me about it. I am now on my fourth replacement in an 18 month period. When I originally purchased the car noone at BMW even mentioned that the RFT can only be replaced at about $400 a pop and not repaired. It wasn't until my third flat and flip out at the service center when a manager mentioned there was some type of insurance I could purchase for these tires??? Since I already had spent probably the cost of 4 brand new tires, reluctantly I asked to sign up only to find out that "unfortunately", it had to have been purchased at the time of buying the vehicle and when I bought my car it was not being offered??? What BMW is doing with these RFT is extortion and something should be done! I have a flat now and don't know what to do??? (report)

polo10 (8/5): Worst tires ever on my 2008 X5. Had to replace 2 tires, less than 10,000 miles due to bubbles on the sides of the tires. Bridgestone Duelers. Neither BMW or Bridgestone could care less. This could be my last BMW (have driven BMW's over 20 years) due to these run flat tires as original equipment. (report)

Ronald999 (8/6): I do not like them. They cost to much and the ones on my 325xi 2006 Are not good in snow,rain and hard ride and worn out at only 30,000miles. (report)

bmwtony (8/8): I have an 07 328XI w/5800 miles in 1 yr, runflats already cupping - dealer advised rotation and 15k if i'm lucky. These are Bridgestone, dealer suggests another brand for replacements. (report)

Anonymous (8/8): 2006 330xi. Four flats in a year and a half. The tires are terrible and I wish someone at BMW would acknowledge that fact and fix the problem. (report)

Anonymous (8/11): As a 325I owner, I just want somebody to tell us how to get rid of the RFT's and sensors. Can we still use the rims with conventional tires? I know someone out there works for BMW and knows what we can do to get rid of these problems. (report)

jmiz (8/13): I have a 2007 335i I leased in March 2007. Within 1 month, my front tire formed a bubble, even though I did not recall hitting a pothole. I replaced that tire at BMW - $450. Now, over one year later, all 4 tires have bubbles. Any suggestions? (report)

Anonymous (8/13): I hate them. The biggest reason I will never buy another BMW product or Pirelli product. They suck. I have owned BMW since 1969 but I am about to sell my Mini S and my 745i and never go there again. All because of tires. BTW... I will never sell my 2002tii. (report)

ericperkins (8/18): I just had a blow out this weekend. My 2008 335i convertible with 12K miles. Both rear tires worn to steel belts and dealership says I need $2200 in 4 new tires on a 10 month old car!!!! They claim they have not had many problems, but they are just "high performance tires" and vary from driver to driver. Am looking for a class action lawsuit...if there is not one then I'm sure there will be one soon....as these crappy bridgstone tires fall apart. (report)

Anonymous (8/18): RFTS are horrible. 2007 328xi in Canada. Had noise around 12k. Went to the dealer at 15K. They said it was because of underinflated tires. Told them I'd see them in court. They replaced for free. Tires need pressure checked every 2 weeks. First and last BMW. (report)

Anonymous (8/18): RFT's are very expensive ... $430 for a new 255X18 last year. Once punctured they are not recommended to be repaired. I may not buy another BMW because of lack of a spare and RFT's. Lifetime on high speed RFT's is low (don't know about non-high speed tires but you can't find those in run flats). This is a racket that we are paying for to BMW and the tire makers. (report)

Anonymous (8/26): I was just told by my SA that I have to change all 4 tires on my 2006 325xi with 23K miles. My tires started making very loud noise 6 months ago. The cost to replace them is $1370. I will join the lawsuit posted by ruperman. (report)

REGIS77 (8/28): I leased a BMV330 with run flat tires in 2006, and have approximately 26,000 miles on the car. So far I have had to replace 6 of the run flat tires. I took the car in for regular service at Santa Monica BMW, and was told there were bubbles on 2 tires and they required replacement. I was told that since it was my wife�s car, it was my wife's fault for hitting the curb, or a pothole. The next 3 tires had the same problem. Each time the dealer said it was road impact, or curb slamming that caused the "bubbles" to appear. Tires number 5&6 had the same issue; however I was not so inclined to believe it was my wife's driving. She is a 50 year old lady who has never had a ticket. She doesn�t drive at high speeds, even on the freeway, and is an excellent parker. I complained to the service manager at Santa Monica BMW. He told me that these tires were a problem. He gave me a goodwill discount of 50% on 2 new tires. I had to pay only about $300 per tire; however new tires require an alignment, which ate into the goodwill discount. So much for goodwill at Santa Monica. Today I received another call from the service dept, notifying me that there was another bubble, most likely from road impact, or curb hitting, and I had to replace tire number 7. I reminded the service manager that this is California, where the roads are pretty good and lacking potholes. (TO BE CONT�D DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS) (report)

REGIS77 (8/28): (Continued) I was advised that there was no goodwill discount. I would have to pay the full price of $550 for the new tire, plus the perfunctory alignment. I called the BMW, national, at 1 800 831 1117, and explained the situation. I was given the same party line story that road impact, or curb hitting must have caused the problem, in which case, no luck, no warranty, no courtesy discount. In summary. I believe these tires are a road hazard, unsafe, due to the lack of a spare and totally defective product, which qualifies for compensation under the California Lemon Law. I am willing to fund the litigation, and file a lawsuit to get relief. This is s problem that BMW knew, or should have known about and yet continued to sell cars with these defective tires to an unsuspecting public. Anyone interested in getting involved in a class action lawsuit please contact me by email at regis@cohibapartners.com. If nothing else, BMW will have a firestorm of bad publicity while trying to cover its tracks. Additionally, new car buyers might think twice about buying a defective, unsafe product that BMW does not warranty, or stand behind. When one buys an expensive car, supposedly one of the best examples of German engineering, one has the right to expect better quality. This issue must be addressed, and if BMW won�t handle it after notice, it is up to the courts to intervene and make them do the right thing. Please join me in the upcoming lawsuit. (report)

bimmer (8/28): i have 600km on my new 2008 328i..what the hell is that noise that sounds like crickets??? PLEASE tell me it's not my tires!!! (report)

Anonymous (8/29): I have them on my 2007 X5. They are so loud you can not have conversation in the car. Dealer says "we really can't do anything." (report)

buffalobob837 (8/31): I'll go one further, having bought the 325xi from Prestige BMW in Ramsey, NJ the "Business Mgr." Cesar Sanchez, who has proved to be "Montezuma's Revenge" convinced me to purchased the tire protection plan. He did this knowing the tires already had over 12k miles on them with irregular tire wear on them already. Then when I bring the car in for a nail in the tire Prestige says the tires are not covered by the plan because of excessive wear. Thank you BMW, Prestige of Ramsey, and thank you Cesar Sanchez the Prestige Business Manager. (report)

ames59 (9/1): I'm not in love with the run flat tires on my new 328i. So what else is new? Question is... don't I need to replace the rims if I opt to get regular tires. BMW sells the rims + tires as a $4000 option. I don't plan to pay that and wondered if it would be risky to just purchase tires. Has anyone done so. I'll probably stick with these since they're brand new, but I'm interested in any info. (report)

s003aac (9/2): I live in Alaska and my new 2007 335xi handles worse than my old 2004 325ci because of the tires. Now I've had the car exactly one year (12000 miles) and both front tires have air bubbles in them. Now I will probably have to drive 400 miles to the closest BMW dealer to get them replaced. (report)

Anonymous (9/4): I too, purchased a 2008 BMW 335XI, and have had two run flats fail due to hitting pot holes that with normal tires would not have been a problem. Recently I picked up a nail in my driver side front tire and am disappointed to hear that it can not be patched as a normal tire. Also the performance of the run flats is below the level of a normal tire (things like break away and ruff ride) and the increased expense with these tires make far less appealing than traditional tires no matter what they say about the ability to hobble home during a tire failure. (report)

Anonymous (9/4): They're pretty awful. I had the 1st set of Turanza's replaced, with a 30% discount, and the 2nd, revised Turanza turned out to be just as bad. The dealership is putting all of the blame on the manufacturer, but BMW needs to step up and take some responsibility for it, they chose these tires for their cars. I have a 328xi 2007, and spent $40,000 for it, and I feel slighted on the treatment that I've received from BMW and Bridgestone, which by the way I can never get anyone 'live' on the phone. I need another set of tires, and don't know what to get...any suggestions?? Thanks. (report)

Chochy (9/8): These tires suck! We have a 2006 325i, great car, however its very challenging to expierence the car while driving on a full set of bricks. They are a poor addition to a great car. (report)

jwk0721 (9/8): I have a 2004 525I with the Dunlop run flat tires and they had horrible road noise after 10,000 miles. In the past 1-1/2yrs I've had 6 flat tires (all repairable), but now the tires are bald after 20,000 miles. The dealer claimed they knew nothing about a problem with these tires, which is the reason why I will not buy another BMW. Take care of your customers while you still have them!!!!! (report)

Anonymous (9/11): I was very excited when I bought my first BMW, unfortunately that excitement ended a few weeks ago when I learned that there was an optional warranty for the run-flat tires that was never offered to me when I purchased the vehicle. This is the first vehicle I have owned that has these types of tires. A light come on, on the dashboard, and when I took it to the dealer to find out what was wrong with them, I was told I needed to replace the tire because I had picked-up a nail on the road and the tire could not be fixed, but instead replaced. The service guy told me that I did not have the service warranty on the tires so the price for a new tire was $350 + alignment and if I wanted to purchase the warranty, I had to pay an additional $850+ tax since it would not cover the current damage. I was furious, here I am thinking that I got a great deal for an awesome vehicle but instead I what I got was a headache. This vehicle only has 4200 miles on it and I already have to spend over one thousand dollars in order to get it fixed � what kind of deal is this? This is what BMW calls $0 maintenance for the first 4 years or 50K, c�mon !!!!!! I have done some research online and have come across several sites where people are posting these same problems with their run-flat tires. It�s amazing, none of the sales people mentioned anything about the tires nor the optional warranty when I was in the process of purchasing the car � I guess this is how they make their money? What is BMW going to do about this? I was a Honda lover, I have owned 5 to be exact, and NEVER, NEVER did I run into these types of problem. These cars were excellent � why on earth did I switch to a BMW??????? If this was not enough, the GAP insurance was also not included in my loan, so I had to go back and pay for this up front, instead of having it included in the finance. (report)

Anonymous (9/12): The Bridgestone Turanza runflats that came on my 06 325 wagon were absolutely horrible. At 12k miles one became distorted after going over a pothole. I replaced them all at 24k with the Continental. Also, the all-season tire selection is slim pickins. I love my car but the runflats are the weak point. This may be my last BMW if they continue to use runflats. (report)

shirleypops (9/16): since purchasing a 3 series 318 d I am sh&**&ng myself driving this car as I live in scotland and the roads are not exactly smooth as a babys bum here iykwim, I am taking it to the dealer this week as I think there has been excessive wear to the tyre - the motor hasnt even done 18000!!!!!!! PANTS Shirley (report)

Anonymous (9/18): I have a 2007 328xi. My tires make a constant groan type noise and it is driving me nuts! The only thing I can do is replace all 4 of my tires even though they still have plenty of wear in them. Really annoying! (report)

Anonymous (9/20): I had to replace 3 out of 4 tires because they had bulged at the sidewalls. The dealer claims I hit something like a raised sewer grate. They sold me 4 at a reduced rate. They were still DAMNED expensive. The sales rep told me it is easy to do this to the tire because of the run flat design. He said it happened to him on his car. Just wishing I had been warned. (report)

Rob14 (9/22): I have a 2007 328xi and the Bridgestone Potenza's are where garbage before last winter. They only had 20k on them and now they are toast. I am getting no satisfaction from BMW Canada or the dealership where I purchased. Is anybody getting satisfaction from BMW? What is everyone doing? Cheers, (report)

Anonymous (9/24): I had a flat tyre on my BMI 120d recently and thought that all I would need to do is pay a small fee to get the puncture repaired. To my disbeleif, I discovered that run flat tryes can't be repaired, and that every puncture means that the tyre needs to be replaced. It cost me $409.95! I'm very dissapointed with the running costs of these cars...it's the last BMW for me! Evan (report)

Keyshawn (9/24): Im getting uneven tire wear on the outer walls of the tire - is this normal?? My steering wheel also vibrates sometimes (report)

Anonymous (9/25): 2007 335xi sedan, have replaced passenger front tire 3 times in 14k miles. (report)

dansker (9/