Run flats - How harsh are they really?

Soldato
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I'm considering my options on the new car I want to get which is either going to be an E90 or an E92, leaning towards an E92 at the moment. One thing I am in doubt about are the relative ride quality issues ascociated with run flats on this car. The SE versions of the car seem to normally come with 17" wheels, which from what I can gather are not too bad given the suspsension is set up for run flats on these cars. I heard however that the 18" wheels on M Sports are getting towards the teeth loosening end of things. Now there is one near me which looks just the job but has 19" wheels. Prior to me actually seeing for myself how the ride varies between these cars, does anyone here have any experience of the effects of these different wheel sizes with run flats, partiularly the 19"?
 
Depends, there are a few generations now. I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole and a few of my friends with 1er and 3er BMWs have changed them to normal tyres because the run flats were so unpredictable.
 
My dad has a 3 series SE with the run flats, and doesnt seem to have a problem with them, and i havent found the ride to be hard or uncomfortable when i have been in it either.
 
My dad has a 3 series SE with the run flats, and doesnt seem to have a problem with them, and i havent found the ride to be hard or uncomfortable when i have been in it either.

That seems to fit in with what I've heard, i.e. 17" wheels being ok. I'll probably end up fitting non run flats myself when it comes to it. To those that do run with normal tyres, do you rely exculsively on tyre weld or do you keep a spare in the boot anyway?
 
That seems to fit in with what I've heard, i.e. 17" wheels being ok. I'll probably end up fitting non run flats myself when it comes to it. To those that do run with normal tyres, do you rely exculsively on tyre weld or do you keep a spare in the boot anyway?

I have no idea what he has in the boot with regards to tyre weld etc, sorry. but yes he has the standard 225/45/17 alloys. his is the 318i SE Business Edition
 
I changed the RFT's on the Z4 to regular tyres and it transformed the ride and handling of the car. Massively better. In the boot is a BMW M Mobility Pack, which is what the M cars without runflats or spares get - it's basically a pump and a can of sealant. It was £130 from BMW.
 
I currently have some "Pirelli EU Fori" Run Flat tyres on my Mini Cooper S.

When they have served there time I might move to non run flats if i can.

Lots of people say the feel a big improvement !

Wish i could try before i buy :p
 
Dad's got runflats on his LCI E60 M-Sport touring, and will be keeping them.

Lots of people will scream 'ZOMG Sport suspension + RFT = Bone Crunching' but I can't say I've noticed it being particulary bad (and the roads round here are crap) though maybe both of us are used to the rock-solid track suspension setup of the Westfield and ofcourse the BMW feels really soft in comparison...
 
Dad's got runflats on his LCI E60 M-Sport touring, and will be keeping them.

Lots of people will scream 'ZOMG Sport suspension + RFT = Bone Crunching' but I can't say I've noticed it being particulary bad (and the roads round here are crap) though maybe both of us are used to the rock-solid track suspension setup of the Westfield and ofcourse the BMW feels really soft in comparison...

The LCI 5 series had a fair amount of suspension revisions to improve ride quality. a lot of people find they ride worse with normal tyres which is the oposite to the pre LCI which was pretty crashy and could make people feel sick in the back.
 
The LCI 5 series had a fair amount of suspension revisions to improve ride quality. a lot of people find they ride worse with normal tyres which is the oposite to the pre LCI which was pretty crashy and could make people feel sick in the back.

I've heard this too. The runflats on my pre-LCI e60 seem to make the ride a bit crashy, although I haven't tried one without runflats to compare. It doesn't really bother me but my girlfriend starts complaining if the roads aren't perfectly flat.

I'll probably try non-RFTs somewhere along the line, mainly because they supposedly last longer and are much cheaper.
 
Our E60 has Goodyear NCT 5 RFTs and I can't say that the ride is particularly bad.
It's an SE on 17". The first set lasted 30,000 miles too..
 
Depends.

Run flats on 325ci, 535d and Audi TT I've experienced were fine. Nice smooth drive.

Run flats on a Mini Cooper gives it a REALLY harsh and bumpy ride. You feel every bump in the road. You could be doing 30mph and it feels like your doing 45!
 
[TW]Fox;16510821 said:
I changed the RFT's on the Z4 to regular tyres and it transformed the ride and handling of the car. Massively better. In the boot is a BMW M Mobility Pack, which is what the M cars without runflats or spares get - it's basically a pump and a can of sealant. It was £130 from BMW.

Does that kit work with any tyre? I had the dealer put 2 new Falkens on the rear of mine. Someone had obviously ditched the runflats prior to me.. but I would like a backup just in case.
 
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