Thinking of changing to non RFTs

[beemerx]

Dear sifus,I'm contemplating on changing my tyres to non RTFs once they go bald. I've heard a lot of pros & cons of doing that but would like to seek the professional advice of the sifus here on this matter.At the same time, if I change to non RFTs, should I then purchase the tyre replacement kit (spare tyre + changing kit) or the mobility kit (I think that's what it's called) where a special liquid is pumped into the punctured tyre and inflating it. Which would be better?Appreciate the kind advice

 

[supergripen]

I'm planning to do the same once my RFTs go bald.I prefer a spare tyre kit over the mobility kit.This is cuz a mobility kit is only useful up to a certain extent..if the tyres go flat due to a small puncture ok la,but if u get a puncture and u don't realize it,u might damage the tyre beyond a mobility kit's usefulness.

My 2centimos

 

[beemerx]

I'm planning to do the same once my RFTs go bald.I prefer a spare tyre kit over the mobility kit.This is cuz a mobility kit is only useful up to a certain extent..if the tyres go flat due to a small puncture ok la,but if u get a puncture and u don't realize it,u might damage the tyre beyond a mobolity kit's usefulness.

My 2centimos

A very valid point there bro... my only concern for the spare tyre kit is that it will take up a lot of space in the boot

 

[saat]

Ive done it. Mobility Kit in the back and AAM membership in the glove box.

 

[supergripen]

A very valid point there bro... my only concern for the spare tyre kit is that it will take up a lot of space in the boot

The spare tyre kit is a spacesaver,meaning it pretty thin but with the same rolling radius as ur normal tyres.Ur bootspace won't be affected cuz the spare tyre will take up the space below ur boot floor panel.Ur useful bootspace is unaffected.

There are more cons to pros where RFTs are concerned.

 

[Schwepps]

Sorry to disagree Super. First when you get your unit, you'll find that there IS no space below the boot floor panel for the special spare. It'll have to sit in your boot. Secondly, in the event of a catastrophic loss of air, you won't feel any change in handling with RFTs. I speak from personal experience because I had a total loss of air from a rear tyre while drivng on a city highway at about 90kmh last year. My family didn't even know until I told them, when we reached home about 10km later.

Look at the most recent photos of the 3 doctors thread. There's a cracked rear rim and those tyres don't look like RFTs to me. Who knows, but that might have caused the crash. I think there are more pros to cons in RFTs. My 2 centimos.

 

[astroboy]

E90 below boot floor not enough space to keen a space saver tyre. The factory recommended way to keep the space saver tyre in our boot is:

 

[racheltoh]

*keep quiet* shhhhhhhhh

 

[astroboy]

If RFT is less PROs than CONs, then BMW might as well supply us with conventional tyre and stuff the boot with mobility kit, or like the new Passat CC, inject all 4 tyres with patch fluid and claim the car comes with self healing tyres!! .. such doing definitely improve profit margin because RFT is almost double the price of conventional tyres (in case u don't know.. ). So are we suggesting BWM is not profit-conscious? or have conflict of interest with tyre manufacturers to push their RFT? and not to mention BMW engineers spent painful hours to tune the suspension to suit the harsher RFTs.. what for?! Too free nothing better to do ka?

What is more important?

Safety vs Comfort vs Performance vs Cost.. I definitely know what ruler BMW is using... what ruler u using? And I surely won't say who is stupid... its just different ruler give different measurement.. :wink:

 

[E46Fanatic]

Until BMW puts RFT's on their flagship M performance cars, then only I'll be convinced on sticking to RFTs

 

[Schwepps]

Even if they put RFTs on all their M performance cars, I wouldn't have been convinced. I was only convinced when I had that total loss last June, and the ruined RFT took me and my family home without missing a beat. :wink:

 

[beemerx]

Thank you all for your comments.. I hope that it doesn't turn into a heated argument.

Like what Astroboy says, everyone uses different criteria to measure reliability vs cost & effectiveness vs practicality.. end of the day, there's no right or wrong :top:

I will most probably stick to RFTs since I usually need a lot of boot space to carry my family stuff especially when there's a toddler around :laugh:

With that settled, it brings me to my next question. Once a RFT is flat, it's not recommended to be repaired right? We should actually replace it with a new tyre. However, the rule of thumb is to never just change 1 tyre but at least 2. Is there any truth in that believe?

Fact or fiction??

 

[Schwepps]

Bro, it depends on the puncture. The hole in mine was too big to be repaired, and the tyre was obviously unusable (but I still drove it for a total of about 50km completely flat) If it's a small hole, I don't see why you can't do an inside patch like you would with a normal tyre. The difference is in the walls, not the thread of the tyres.

I changed only the right rear that was punctured, because the left still had something like 80% thread-depth left. No problems whatsoever, and now the wear is about equal for both.

 

[sharp]

but the ride on RFT really harsh ler... or is it the M suspension?

 

[astroboy]

Schwepps, I thought I asked u to send your brand new 18" RM1.8k RFT to the celup tyre place to grind 20% off to make it even with your other tyre?!

No worries beemerx! We seldom agree with each other anyway, but end of the day, you are the best judge as to which ruler suites u.. we are all matured adults who has all just past our 21st birthday recently.. :wink: and understand that basic concept of peaceful coexistence, to agree to disagree..

Back to your questions.. its all about understanding of what u are doing and the potential risk that comes with your decision.

Left/Right tyres ideally must be the same size, tread pattern, tread thickness, same manufacturing year, from the same factory. Reason being if they are not equal, there's a risk of traction/grip variance/gap between the 2 sides of the car and can potential put the car in a spin when all the elements for disaster tallies.. wet slippery road surface, high speed driving. If the max speed u ever travel is no more than 60kph in the dry, or 40kph in the wet.. I think any tyre combination will survive. The faster u drive, the more emphasis on these equation to be in check. Same goes with the next point..

To patch or not to patch an RFT.. this has been discussed many times. Ideally, one should never patch a tyre (not only RFT) because once a tyre is patched.. the "tear" which despite patched, is still a "tear" and is the weakest spot on the tyre... big tear, more weak lor.. small tear, less weak lor... but still weaker compare to a perfect surface. Common sense.

Patching also got 2 types. Interval patch or external rubber sticks.. I prefer the former which cost around RM25 compare to the RM5 sticks... The RM5 sticks is actually forcing the tear..

Put 2 tyres in stress test, one is never patched while another is patched, which one do u think will blow or disintegrate first. I'll put my money on the patched tyre.. sure habis one!

Know what u are doing, know your equipment's limit is very important when driving fast. I speed a lot in my MPV.. despite botak tyres.. all 4 tyres never patched before, and I only speed on dry surface. Wet surface, I never exceed 120kph. I know my limit, I know my equipment's limit.

When was the last time u check your tyres for hair line cracks? Ask yourself..

 

[king82]

wah...essay from astroboy (again)...what's your profession wor? like quite...f r e e geh?

 

[supergripen]

Sorry to disagree Super. First when you get your unit, you'll find that there IS no space below the boot floor panel for the special spare. It'll have to sit in your boot. Secondly, in the event of a catastrophic loss of air, you won't feel any change in handling with RFTs. I speak from personal experience because I had a total loss of air from a rear tyre while drivng on a city highway at about 90kmh last year. My family didn't even know until I told them, when we reached home about 10km later.

Look at the most recent photos of the 3 doctors thread. There's a cracked rear rim and those tyres don't look like RFTs to me. Who knows, but that might have caused the crash. I think there are more pros to cons in RFTs. My 2 centimos.

No need to be sorry brah..u're right,my bad.Just called Rishi@Ingress and he confirmed the spare tyre thingy.I assumed it was the same as my e60.

Tho I still think the cons far outweigh the pros when it comes to RFTs.

Thus I will change to non-RFTs at the soonest oppurtunity and get a mobility kit and an AAM membership - thanx 'bang Saat!!

 

[astroboy]

RFT ada jual murah ka? 17"? 18"? kekekeee....

 

[Traveler]

With that settled, it brings me to my next question. Once a RFT is flat, it's not recommended to be repaired right? We should actually replace it with a new tyre.

Officially, they always say don't repair RFT, but replace with new one. When I had a punctured RFT on my rental 520d in the UK, the tyre repair place will only replace it as they say it RFT can't be repaired. Even this local tyre shop in Damansara said the same thing... but right after that, he went and patched it anyway, lol. The patch lasted 1 1/2 years until it was time to get new tyres (botak already).

but the ride on RFT really harsh ler... or is it the M suspension?

I think it's a combination of both. Lowering the air pressure would help a bit. I would suggest using the recommended air pressure for your passenger/baggage combo, and only increasing it to the max recommended level (the setting for 4/5 people + full luggage) for highway drives (to improve fuel economy).

AB: Some places have decent RFT prices. I was surprised when Lim Tayar TTDI quoted me prices quite a bit lower than I found elsewhere (I changed all 4 tyres so I saved about RM300 in total). But they screwed up the alignment... so I don't trust them for alignment, but tyre prices are good.

My 520d rental experience also taught me the benefits of RFT, now imagine having a flat tyre at on a Fri night, in sub-zero temperatures, in the UK (where many places don't work on Sat/Sun). That RFT kept me going (with periodic reinflations every 2-3 hours as it was a slow leak) until I could get a new tyre 2 days (and 200km) later.

 

[supergripen]

Until BMW puts RFT's on their flagship M performance cars, then only I'll be convinced on sticking to RFTs

Well said..

While the idea might be good/noble,the tech is still in it's infancy plus the supply chain here has yet to catch up not to mention the crazy pricing(yes,I do know that fact..).

Till then,I'll stay away.Its not as if all normal tyres are all waiting to explode at the most inoppurtune time.What of the ///M-cars then??

Watch the classifieds as there will be a staggered set of 18" RFTs for sale as soon as I get my car.Threads are still deep,Michelin fronts and Bridgestone rears.

I just can't stand the super stiff jarring ride of the RFTs,combined with my Msport suspension,they just don't do justice to the car.My e60 on 19s and Bilstein B12s rides a million times better.