Flat with runflats - BMW 3-Series Forum (F30 / F32)

Bmwphile · 06-17-2012, 04:15 AM

Have any of you experienced a flat with the runflats?

Does it feel different to a conventional flat?

In fact, did any of you have a flat and not realize it for awhile? LOL

CasZy NL · 06-17-2012, 04:31 AM

Two years ago a had a flat rear wheel tire. Initially I did not even notice the difference, besides the car showing a warning. I pulled over to see what was wrong. Very hard to see the difference.

You can almost drive like normal with a flat.

spark58 · 06-17-2012, 05:45 AM

Yes. It's happened twice to me. I seem to have a knack for getting punctures! The good news is car handles exactly the same. The bad news of cause it that you can't repair the tyre even with a minor puncture because the act of driving on it writes it off. You are also only meant drive on a 'flat' for 250 km (155 miles) and at the same time also reduce your speed to 80 km/h (50 mph). It is really easy to forget about reducing your speed because the car doesn't handle any differently.

The only other thing I noticed was the tyre which was 'flat' got incredibly hot after driving only 30 km (19 miles), so hot that you if you had touched it it would burn you!

Thekop5 · 06-17-2012, 07:28 AM

I had a flat not too long ago. Only thing to tell you is the run flat warning in the car. Would not know which is one has problem until you pump in the air. So now I carry a pressure gauge in the car to check!

dmontic71 · 06-17-2012, 07:37 AM

You will never get stranded, but they are expensive!

aarslan · 06-17-2012, 11:09 AM

Can a flat run flat tire be repaired? Or do we have to change the tire altogether?

Number · 06-17-2012, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aarslan

Can a flat run flat tire be repaired? Or do we have to change the tire altogether?

Some say that minor non-sidewall punctures are repairable. BMW says no puncture is repairable.

GR8DAY · 06-17-2012, 10:20 PM

Can we change just the tires with regular tires while keeping the rims?

huskercubfan · 06-18-2012, 12:26 AM

This is why you spend the sub-$500 (negotiated) on the 5 year/50,000 mile tire and wheel protection.

jgrasty · 06-20-2012, 05:19 PM

I had a screw in the tire of my F30 328i a few weeks ago. It was a slow leak and I never noticed a difference, even after the TPMS alarm went off. I drove slowly to a gas station, filled up with air (tire was at 25 psi), then drove home. The next day, the air was low again, about 25 psi, and took it to the dealer, where a screw was removed from the tire and, fortunately, repaired and not replaced.

jgrasty · 06-20-2012, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tremolo

Some say that minor non-sidewall punctures are repairable. BMW says no puncture is repairable.

Some run-flats are repairable, some are not. Pirelli P7 Cinturato All-Season run-flats can be repaired.

RASHID007 · 06-20-2012, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgrasty

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tremolo

Some say that minor non-sidewall punctures are repairable. BMW says no puncture is repairable.

Some run-flats are repairable, some are not. Pirelli P7 Cinturato All-Season run-flats can be repaired.

Can the summer version of the same Pirelli be repaired?

jgrasty · 07-05-2012, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RASHID007

Can the summer version of the same Pirelli be repaired?

Probably, but you'll need to check with either Pirelli or your BMW service dept.

CESIUM · 07-10-2012, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huskercubfan

This is why you spend the sub-$500 (negotiated) on the 5 year/50,000 mile tire and wheel protection.

What if you purchase the warranty the day you get the flat? Will it still work? My dealership let me buy it after the fact (25 days) and I now have a ruined tired. THe analytics will show the warning came up prior though I am assuming right?

tmehanna · 08-15-2012, 05:37 AM

As far as I know, RFTs are as repairable as any tubeless radial. The trouble is if you drive on it while flat you are consuming the "run flat" rated mileage. So I am assuming if you fix it as soon as the flat is detected, it should be ok. Please note however that any fix, even on a tubeless radial, be it a patch or a plug or both nullifies the speed rating of the tire.

JUSKIDN · 08-24-2012, 11:06 AM

very interesting.......I think I would rather have regular tires and a spare

L0UD0G · 09-01-2012, 06:28 PM

I bought my 328 on August 12th and I just had to have my passenger rear tire replaced this morning... $429 later... And that's with a discount they gave me because they felt bad!
Here's a picture of the bolt that somehow found it's way into my brand new tire...

I'm now looking to buy a set of wheels with normal tires and store the stock ones for when I go to turn the car in!

Kaitain · 09-03-2012, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L0UD0G

I bought my 328 on August 12th and I just had to have my passenger rear tire replaced this morning... $429 later... And that's with a discount they gave me because they felt bad!
Here's a picture of the bolt that somehow found it's way into my brand new tire...

I'm now looking to buy a set of wheels with normal tires and store the stock ones for when I go to turn the car in!

I hate to tell ou this, but even if you had a set of non run flat tires, you would have had to replace that tire. The bolt was on the inside edge of the tire, and is not able to be properly repaired. The outside edge is also susceptible to this. It is called bad luck. I had this happen to one of my tires, and I had to replace two of them since they were not brand new, and the wear would have been felt in the steering. So, be happy it happened early, if it was going to happen, since it cost you half as much as it could have.

L0UD0G · 09-03-2012, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaitain

I hate to tell ou this, but even if you had a set of non run flat tires, you would have had to replace that tire. The bolt was on the inside edge of the tire, and is not able to be properly repaired. The outside edge is also susceptible to this. It is called bad luck. I had this happen to one of my tires, and I had to replace two of them since they were not brand new, and the wear would have been felt in the steering. So, be happy it happened early, if it was going to happen, since it cost you half as much as it could have.

I know I would've had to replace it regardless, but I would rather have replaced a normal tire than a run flat. It is bad luck and I am fortunate I was able to just purchase one. I'm still looking to replace the run flats with a set of normal tires and then put the run flats back on before I return the lease.

fshubert · 09-03-2012, 10:46 AM

I had 3 tires and 2 wheels replaced by BMW on my 2009 335i. Thank God for wheel/tire insurance. But they said they could not fix the run flats. It was always a replacement.

06-17-2012, 04:15 AM	#1
Bmwphile Private First Class Drives: 2012 F30 328i Auto Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Melbourne Posts: 177 iTrader: (0)	Flat with runflats Have any of you experienced a flat with the runflats? Does it feel different to a conventional flat? In fact, did any of you have a flat and not realize it for awhile? LOL __________________ BMWphile 2012 F30 328i Mineral Grey, Auto, Sportline, Sunroof, BiXenon, Headlight washers
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06-17-2012, 07:37 AM	#5
dmontic71 Lieutenant Drives: 2012 F30 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 516 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW 328i [5.00] (retired) 2009 528i [5.00] (retired) 2006 325i [5.00] (retired) 2002 325ci [5.00]	You will never get stranded, but they are expensive! __________________ 2012 F30 328i, Melbourne Red, Premium, Sportline, Steptronic, Xenon, Harmon Kardon.

08-24-2012, 11:06 AM	#16
JUSKIDN Lieutenant Drives: 2013 EBII 328i M Sport Join Date: May 2012 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 469 iTrader: (0)	very interesting.......I think I would rather have regular tires and a spare __________________ It's not illegal. It's frowned upon, like masturbating on an airplane.

09-03-2012, 10:46 AM	#20
fshubert Second Lieutenant Drives: 2013 F30 335i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Andover, NJ Posts: 290 iTrader: (0)	I had 3 tires and 2 wheels replaced by BMW on my 2009 335i. Thank God for wheel/tire insurance. But they said they could not fix the run flats. It was always a replacement. __________________ 2013 F30 335i \| Sportline \| Imperial Blue Metallic \| Black Dakota \| 6-speed \| HK \| Cold \| Premium \| 19" Staggered Sports \| M-Performance Exhaust Previous loves: 2009 E90 335i 2007 E90 328xi

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06-17-2012, 04:31 AM	#2
CasZy NL Private First Class Drives: F30 335i \| E70 X5 \| Z1 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Netherlands Posts: 162 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW 335i [4.50] 2008 BMW X5 35d [5.00] 1991 BMW Z1 [5.00]	Two years ago a had a flat rear wheel tire. Initially I did not even notice the difference, besides the car showing a warning. I pulled over to see what was wrong. Very hard to see the difference. You can almost drive like normal with a flat.

06-17-2012, 05:45 AM	#3
spark58 New Member Drives: BMW 320d Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: UK Posts: 22 iTrader: (0)	Yes. It's happened twice to me. I seem to have a knack for getting punctures! The good news is car handles exactly the same. The bad news of cause it that you can't repair the tyre even with a minor puncture because the act of driving on it writes it off. You are also only meant drive on a 'flat' for 250 km (155 miles) and at the same time also reduce your speed to 80 km/h (50 mph). It is really easy to forget about reducing your speed because the car doesn't handle any differently. The only other thing I noticed was the tyre which was 'flat' got incredibly hot after driving only 30 km (19 miles), so hot that you if you had touched it it would burn you!

06-17-2012, 07:28 AM	#4
Thekop5 New Member Drives: 2008 E90 325i Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Singapore Posts: 5 iTrader: (0)	I had a flat not too long ago. Only thing to tell you is the run flat warning in the car. Would not know which is one has problem until you pump in the air. So now I carry a pressure gauge in the car to check!

06-17-2012, 11:09 AM	#6
aarslan Private First Class Drives: BMW 3.20i 2012 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Turkey Posts: 173 iTrader: (0)	Can a flat run flat tire be repaired? Or do we have to change the tire altogether?

06-17-2012, 10:20 PM	#8
GR8DAY Private First Class Drives: BMW 328i 2013 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Bedford Posts: 117 iTrader: (0)	Can we change just the tires with regular tires while keeping the rims?

06-18-2012, 12:26 AM	#9
huskercubfan STM TRPR Drives: 2012 335i MW Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 357 iTrader: (0)	This is why you spend the sub-$500 (negotiated) on the 5 year/50,000 mile tire and wheel protection.

06-20-2012, 05:19 PM	#10
jgrasty Second Lieutenant Drives: 2012 BMW 328i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 262 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW 328i [0.00]	I had a screw in the tire of my F30 328i a few weeks ago. It was a slow leak and I never noticed a difference, even after the TPMS alarm went off. I drove slowly to a gas station, filled up with air (tire was at 25 psi), then drove home. The next day, the air was low again, about 25 psi, and took it to the dealer, where a screw was removed from the tire and, fortunately, repaired and not replaced.

08-15-2012, 05:37 AM	#15
tmehanna New Member Drives: 335i f30 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Egypt Posts: 20 iTrader: (0)	As far as I know, RFTs are as repairable as any tubeless radial. The trouble is if you drive on it while flat you are consuming the "run flat" rated mileage. So I am assuming if you fix it as soon as the flat is detected, it should be ok. Please note however that any fix, even on a tubeless radial, be it a patch or a plug or both nullifies the speed rating of the tire.

09-01-2012, 06:28 PM	#17
L0UD0G New Member Drives: 2012 328i Sport Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 12 iTrader: (0)	I bought my 328 on August 12th and I just had to have my passenger rear tire replaced this morning... $429 later... And that's with a discount they gave me because they felt bad! Here's a picture of the bolt that somehow found it's way into my brand new tire... I'm now looking to buy a set of wheels with normal tires and store the stock ones for when I go to turn the car in!