[Kgerry59]

I took delivery of my 2023 X5 about 4 months and am not terribly thrilled with the Bridgestone Alenza tires it came with. On my previous GLE400 I put on Michelin Cross Climate II tires and really liked them. I looked into it but the Cross Climates are not available in a run flat version. Any ideas on a tire similar to the Cross Climates, which are a great All-Weather tire, that is available in a run flat version? I've had Pirelli's on a few Benz's I've owned and don't like them at all, so not a brand I would consider.

I ordered my X5 with the 20" 740M All Weather rims and tires.

[dream54ing]

probably helpful if you let us know your wheel size...we like the Nokian all weather for our 20s (our winter set), but I dont think they are not run flats... I like our 21 oem Pirellis run flats

[CaptPete43]

I was in Toronto with my 2020 X2 when my tire was damaged beyond repair. I contacted BMW Roadside Service to get transported to the nearest BMW repair facility, 2 miles away. After 45 minutes of being banged back and forth between BMW Roadside Service in Canada and the USA they finally arranged to get transport arranged that took another hour to arrive.

I expected to go to the dealership and get a repair done in perhaps 2 hours and be on my way back to the USA. I was wrong. The service person told me that my car would be seen to in 2 days provided the correct tire could be found. Later I was advised that the closest correct tire was in Winnipeg and would take 5 days to arrive. I rented a car and drove from Toronto to Cohasset, MA where I am awaiting notice that the tire has arrived. Had I had conventional tires and a spare, I could have been on my way in an hour.

The service adviser in Toronto told me that a significant percent of their clientele were immediately scrapping run flats and converting to conventional tires.

[Boardmember]

I have the Bridgestone run flats and will run them for a bit then will swap them for pneumatic tires - of which there are multiple options in my 20” size. I did order the spare tire kit and I seem to recall it was somewhere in the neighborhood of $250, jack included.

I’m running Michelin Defender LTX on my wife’s GX and appreciate the quality of that brand - though not convinced I like the appearance of the Cross Climates.

[jad03060]

Some of the problems with availability is the size of the tire in question. The larger the diameter, the less common they are. Now, that doesn't necessarily forgive BMW for not stocking spares, but also keep in mind that tires are a perishable commodity...as they get older, their utility decreases making it less desirable to keep them around like a loaf of bread, they don't last forever even sitting on the shelf.

[LOFT]

Originally Posted by CaptPete43

I was in Toronto with my 2020 X2 when my tire was damaged beyond repair. I contacted BMW Roadside Service to get transported to the nearest BMW repair facility, 2 miles away. After 45 minutes of being banged back and forth between BMW Roadside Service in Canada and the USA they finally arranged to get transport arranged that took another hour to arrive.

I expected to go to the dealership and get a repair done in perhaps 2 hours and be on my way back to the USA. I was wrong. The service person told me that my car would be seen to in 2 days provided the correct tire could be found. Later I was advised that the closest correct tire was in Winnipeg and would take 5 days to arrive. I rented a car and drove from Toronto to Cohasset, MA where I am awaiting notice that the tire has arrived. Had I had conventional tires and a spare, I could have been on my way in an hour.

The service adviser in Toronto told me that a significant percent of their clientele were immediately scrapping run flats and converting to conventional tires.

Welcome to Toronto and sorry for your experience. Horrible traffic and roads: Normal. BMW response: Unacceptable.

[bono]

I always switch to non run flats immediately after the original tires are done. Run flats are one of the bigger scams in auto industry.

[LDT]

I threw away new OEM RFT within 1,000 miles of getting my 2011 and 2017 X5s. Actually was able to get a couple hundred $ for them but I've always hated them. My 2024 has non RFT..

[mobilejo]

Originally Posted by LDT

I threw away new OEM RFT within 1,000 miles of getting my 2011 and 2017 X5s. Actually was able to get a couple hundred $ for them but I've always hated them. My 2024 has non RFT..

Same, took my 21" P zero RFTs off within 1000 miles, stored them in my shed for 3 years, forgot about them, then discovered them again and put them up for sale. Got £225 for them which ain't bad for 3 year old tyres that I was going to throw away.

[cellarrat]

Originally Posted by bono

I always switch to non run flats immediately after the original tires are done. Run flats are one of the bigger scams in auto industry.

and what do you do without a spare?

[LDT]

Originally Posted by cellarrat

and what do you do without a spare?

I've always included a space saver spare in my build. Obviously you cannot add a spare in the hybrid or if you have/had a 3rd row seat.

[cellarrat]

Originally Posted by LDT

I've always included a space saver spare in my build. Obviously you cannot add a spare in the hybrid or if you have/had a 3rd row seat.

Thx. I honestly don't know what I am going to do. I hate the idea of throwing a spare in the back of my 45e, taking up already limited space, but the idea that I could be out on the road at night (or my wife would find herself out there) with a blowout, simply unable to get something workable on the car is just unacceptable. I could grudgingly accept the cost and limited selection, but the "we can get you one next Thursday" unavailability is just a no-go for me.

[rmorin1249]

I replaced my 20" Pirelli runflats with a set of Pirelli goflats. The ride was markedly improved with no noticeable difference in performance. I ordered the OEM spare tire option because I knew I would be replacing the runflats. I sold the runflats with about 5/32 for $250.

[postbox1918]

I have 21" RFT's on my car and i hate those but now I'm hella confused between upgrading wheels to 22 and sell my 21" wheels 1st or should I tune the dme 1st

[mlurker]

Originally Posted by bono

I always switch to non run flats immediately after the original tires are done. Run flats are one of the bigger scams in auto industry.

Not when the tire is damaged, you're far from a tire center, has no replacement, compressor and a patch kit. run flats help a lot.

[bono]

For such situation you should use donut spare tire. Simple as that.

[jad03060]

In an emergency, you can usually patch a RFT. That isn't always possible, like with any tire that goes flat, but the tools and skills to do that are pretty cheap and easy to use, and may allow you to continue, likely faster than popping on a spare, assuming you have one. Depending on the tire and the puncture, it likely isn't a permanent repair. If the tire company allows any repairs, it must be from a plug patch from inside, which you're not going to do on the road. Note, Pirelli has a RFT warranty where within the first year, they'll replace a punctured RFT for free (at least in the USA). The dealership will just want to charge you for a new tire, so you'd have to go to the tire dealership to get that applied unless the BMW dealership was really on the ball.

There are places where you cannot stop if you have a flat until you reach a suitable turnout, like on some bridges or tunnels, otherwise, you're going to be holding up traffic, and likely preventing someone from easily getting to you to help. With a conventional tire, creeping to that next emergency turnout likely will not only damage the normal tire beyond repair, but could damage the wheel, and if the tire comes apart, mess up the suspension and steering mechanism...so, there are some good reasons for the use of a RFT.

There are some rear tire carriers, but they tend to get expensive, and unless it can swing out of the way, makes access to the rear nearly impossible...a problem if you want to tow something, or use a bike carrier. Then, the look isn't great IMHO...but, it does solve a problem.

[mlurker]

Originally Posted by bono

For such situation you should use donut spare tire. Simple as that.

plug-in hybrids don't come with a spare, there is no space in the trunk.

[bono]

I am well aware of this. My 50e arrives in two weeks or so. I will buy donat spare and for any trip in more remote place I will throw spare in the back. It doesn't take that much space. I will do this even when driving on run flats, i.e. until the first set of the tires is done. I find it not very clever to drive on run flat with zero pressure to kill the tire and spend $500 to replace it. I prefer to pay $20 to patch it.

Originally Posted by mlurker

plug-in hybrids don't come with a spare, there is no space in the trunk.

[jad03060]

Every flat I've had so far (maybe I'm lucky) has not gone flat immediately. So, I've been able to use a portable compressor to keep it up enough to not need to replace the tire, but repair it. Now, some places won't repair any RFT, but if it has not actually been run flat with zero pressure, it's often the same as a 'normal' tire to patch properly. A 12vdc compressor is cheap, and small...and, there are some out there with a built-in battery, but then, you have to ensure it is charged. Certainly, there can be situations where the hole is too big, and you can't keep adding air, but keep in mind, that type can quickly lead to some nasty handling situations that a RFT would likely prevent versus a 'normal' tire.

[LOFT]

Originally Posted by jad03060

Every flat I've had so far (maybe I'm lucky) has not gone flat immediately. So, I've been able to use a portable compressor to keep it up enough to not need to replace the tire, but repair it. Now, some places won't repair any RFT, but if it has not actually been run flat with zero pressure, it's often the same as a 'normal' tire to patch properly. A 12vdc compressor is cheap, and small...and, there are some out there with a built-in battery, but then, you have to ensure it is charged. Certainly, there can be situations where the hole is too big, and you can't keep adding air, but keep in mind, that type can quickly lead to some nasty handling situations that a RFT would likely prevent versus a 'normal' tire.

I agree with this approach. The major tool companies (DeWalt, Makita, Ryobi,Rigid) all make battery powered tire inflators which fit their tool portfolio. You may already have a line of tools, which you can simply add the tire inflator and keep one charged battery/inflator in the car. It's especially helpful for road trips. And stop worrying about cluttering up your trunk with a donut.

Here's a sample: