As long as they adhere to the manufacturer’s requirements, you can swap out four run-flat tires for four regular tires.
Remember that various tires are made to produce various outcomes. For a short distance following a puncture, a run-flat tire is intended to keep a car moving safely and steadily. RFTs can keep their shape and capabilities over a short distance without the use of air pressure.
A run-flat tire, as opposed to a conventional tire, features a thicker, more robust sidewall composed of unique heat-resistant rubber to withstand the weight of the car and its occupants for a short distance even when the tire has little to no air pressure.
When selecting conventional tires for a vehicle that originally had run flat tires, there are a few additional factors from the tire and vehicle manufacturers to take into account.
- Since the run flat tire is the answer, run flat vehicles often do not include equipment for emergency mobility. When switching from run flat tires to normal tires, drivers should be aware that their car might not come with a hand jack, spare tire, spare rim, or spare wheel.
- When run flats are replaced with regular tires, specifications like TPMS, alarms, and internal programming might be impacted.
- Pick conventional tires only if they satisfy your vehicle’s manufacturer’s specifications for size, speed rating, load capacity, and inflation pressure.
In This Article...
Can ordinary tires be used in place of run-flats?
You can, indeed! It’s advised but not necessary to swap out run flat tires for run flat tires. Here are some things to consider if you decide to switch your run-flat tires for regular tires.
- You should swap out all four tires at once when going from run flats to standard tires. Run-flat and regular tires shouldn’t be combined unless as a temporary measure. Combining regular tires and run flat tires can severely diminish a vehicle’s stability and handling because run flat tires are much stiffer than regular tires.
- Follow the tire manufacturer’s recommendations for size, speed rating, load capacity, and inflation pressure when choosing new tires.
- Many run-flat vehicles are not equipped with a spare tire or tire-changing tools. Check your car to see if you need to buy any new emergency supplies.
Recall that most leasing firms demand that vehicles purchased with run-flat tires be returned with them.
Change of Run Flat Tires
I can use standard tires in place of run flats, thus the answer to both queries is yes. As long as it complies with the manufacturer’s specifications, ordinary tires can totally replace flat running tires. A premium tire not only raises the standard of your car but also guarantees your safety.
One thing to bear in mind while getting ready to replace your run-flat tires is that each type of tire has a unique design and application. To ensure that every tire performs to its utmost potential, manufacturers carefully calculate every step of the production process.
When switching from run flat tires to ordinary tires, there are a few considerations to make.
Flat tires have the unique ability to keep you moving safely for a limited distance and time even after a puncture. Even under challenging circumstances, the weight of the vehicle may be supported more effectively because to the unique design’s thick walls composed of high-quality heat-resistant rubber.
When changing run flat tires for ordinary tires, it would be wise to have the appropriate backup equipment for emergency movement. Regular tire vehicles might not come equipped with a spare jack, rim, wheel, or tire because run flat tires are the emergency answer. Pay attention to these factors for your protection.
Specifications may change when moving from run flats to standard tires. You should select standard tires that adhere to standards for various factors, such as size, thickness, vehicle weight capability, etc., in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations to ensure consistency and prevent dangerous risks in the future.
Autoputzer
Undoubtedly, there is a gas mileage charge. With these heavy, stiff RFTs, I’ve been getting 31 in town and 39 on the highway. To save fuel, I might want to replace them.
I estimate that you would get roughly 31.3 MPG in the city and 39.4 MPG on the interstate with non-RFTs.
The alleged fuel economy gain from not having a spare tire is negated by the 1% decrease.
My 2014 535i was revolutionized after I swapped the factory Goodyear LS2 RFT tires for Michelin PSS (non-RFT) tires. I still carried a spare tire and jack even with the RFTs. Frau Putzer’s 2018 X3 xDrive 30i with the free, extra-optional non-RFTs was what I purchased. When ordering with RFTs, BMW generally charges $150 for the spare and jack kit.
Frau Putzer’s X3’s OE non-RFT tires should last between 55k and 60k kilometers because they will wear more uniformly. In order to get her to 100k miles, we will only need to purchase one set of replacement tires. That will result in a roughly $1,000 save.
Can run-flat tires on a BMW be converted to conventional tires?
More and more brand-new BMW cars leave the factory with run-flat tires installed. Others prefer conventional tires, despite the fact that many owners appreciate the piece of mind that comes with tires that can extend your driving distance by 50 to 100 miles when flat. So, if a BMW arrived with run-flat tires, can it be used with ordinary tires?
You can use ordinary tires on your run-flat equipped BMW, if you’re searching for a quick and simple solution to that query. Both standard tires and run-flat tires have advantages and disadvantages, and we want to assist you in making the choice that best meets your requirements. One word of caution, though: due to the handling and performance variations between the two tire types, if you’re thinking about switching the run-flat tires on your BMW to standard tires, you must do so on all four of them.
Why should a BMW move from run-flat tires to conventional tires? New BMWs no longer come with spare tires in order to minimize overall weight. Some models come with BMW Mobility Kits in place of spare tires, particularly in performance-oriented M vehicles. The majority of other models have run-flat tires. These tires, also referred to as zero-pressure tires, give you the peace of mind that, even on a long-distance road trip, nothing other than a complete tire failure would keep you from reaching your destination or a repair facility. Run-flat tires have have advantages and disadvantages, though.
Can a BMW with run-flat tires be plugged?
Run flats with sidewall support can be repaired like any other tire, but if you’ve traveled a significant distance on one while flat, the tire needs to be replaced. This. You should be fine as long as you haven’t used the “runflat” feature or driven on the tire with low pressure.
What is the price of replacing the run-flat tires on a BMW?
What is their price? For a passenger vehicle, Run Flat Tires typically cost $200 to $500 per tire, which is 50 to 200 percent more than regular tires. The fact that these tires can endure many tire changes provides the best financial benefit.
Run-flat tires: are they replaceable?
Yes and no, is the response. As with any tire, you will need to replace it if the puncture is in the sidewall or shoulder, or if it has been fixed more than once.
Some run flats are completely irreparable. There will be a “Do Not Repair” warning on the sidewall of these tires. If the tire is operated for an excessive amount of time with insufficient air pressure, run flats are also irreparable.
Do all four tires on my BMW need to be replaced?
Unless all four tires need to be replaced for other reasons, you might only need to replace a pair of the other tires, depending on how much tread they still have. They advise against placing a brand-new tire on the same axel as one that has just been used.
How long do BMWs’ run-flat tires last?
In the past, temporary spare tires that were lightweight and unreliable for performance and durability would be used on vehicles and crossovers. Temporary spare tires are designed to be simple to replace in emergency situations, but they only last for 50 miles and have a recommended top speed of 55 mph. They also take up important cargo room in the trunk of the automobile. Many luxury automakers, including Mercedes-Benz and BMW, have moved away from this technology in favor of regular run-flat or extended mobility tires, which offer a 50-mile driving range without the trouble of needing to change a tire.
Run-flat tires are more resistant to punctures and will help the tire maintain its shape in the event of a puncture because they have reinforced side walls or an inside ring of firm rubber. Pre-owned Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars with run-flat tires will provide you a 50-mile driving range if the tire is ruptured. When you get behind the wheel of a luxury vehicle with run-flat tires, a Tire Pressure Monitoring System will be installed to make sure you maintain a safe level of performance. This system will alert you when the tire pressure drops.
What kind of tires does BMW suggest?
- DriveGuard by Bridgestone.
- MXM4 ZP Michelin Primacy.
- RunOnFlat Goodyear Eagle LS-2 tires.
- Latitude Tour HP ZP from Michelin.
- Run-Flat Pirelli Scorpion Verde All-Season Tires.
- Pilot Sport A/S3 Plus ZP from Michelin.
- Run-On-Flat Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric
Do run-flat and regular tires mix well?
Only new vehicles equipped with a TPMS, or tire pressure monitoring system, can have run flats installed. Unlike an automobile with normal treads, which might not. Therefore, you might not be aware of a gradual puncture if it occurs.
It will cost you more money to replace a run flat with a typical tread, so you’ll need to buy five tires instead because you’ll also need a spare.
It is important to note that, despite their larger weight due to their stronger design, Continental estimates that four run flats still weigh less than five regular tyres. Weight gain impacts handling, accelerates tyre wear, and increases fuel consumption.
How frequently should BMW tires be replaced?
Generally speaking, when your tread is worn thin, you should replace your tires. While experts advise roughly 5/32 of an inch for winter tires and 4/32 of an inch for summer tires, the legal maximum tread depth is 2/32 of an inch.
How can you tell if your tires have adequate tread? The penny test is a simple approach to determine the depth of the tire tread. Lincoln’s head should be facing you as you insert the penny into the tread groove of your tire. Check all of the grooves on your tire, but pay close attention to the outer ones where the tread wears out most quickly. You have less than 2/32 inch left and should change your tires if you can see Lincoln’s entire head.
Many drivers are unaware that tires continue to deteriorate even when not in use. Temperature, humidity, and UV radiation all cause the material to deteriorate. For this reason, even if your tires still have plenty of tread left, you should replace them every eight years.
You should tighten the lug nuts on the wheel rims after every change of the wheels or tires and after traveling approximately 50 kilometers. This is done merely as a precaution, however under some conditions, it is possible for the nuts to become a little more brittle with use.
Run-flat tires—can they be repaired or plugged?
You can plug and patch some run-flat tires. However, the tire manufacturer is responsible for this. Some manufacturers advise against doing repairs on these tires, while others provide guarantees for tire replacement under certain circumstances. To find out whether you can fix the run-flat tire or not, you must first read your guarantee.
Run-flat tire maintenance recommendations vary between manufacturers. While some businesses advise against any repairs, others outline the types of damage that can be fixed and provide a warranty for that.
Can you, however, plug run-flat tires? One of the worries for drivers who have these installed on their cars is this.
A tire plug, which is typically a strip of leather wrapped with rubber compound and put into the puncture hole to seal the interior of the tire, is used to repair tires.
Some run-flat tires can be “plugged,” which is accomplished by covering the tire with a patch. The degree of the damage, the manufacturer’s policy, and the size of the hole or rupture all play a role in this.
Read your warranty carefully before plugging your tires because some manufacturers recommend drivers swap run-flats for splits or change the entire tire.
As a result, if you fix the tire, your warranty is voided. Additionally, if the speed rating is lost or the tire doesn’t work as intended, you might need to buy new tires and pay additional charges.
The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) also offers safety guidelines for tire repairs. Therefore, it is preferable to get advice from a tire expert or your manufacturer before attempting to plug or repair the run-flat tire yourself.