E90Post
 


 
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > Regional Forums > UK > Runflat availability in the UK



Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      06-01-2006, 05:16 PM   #1
webcoll
Enlisted Member
webcoll's Avatar
5
Rep
30
Posts

Drives: 320d SE
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: UK

iTrader: (0)

Runflat availability in the UK

Has anyone else in the UK had difficulty getting replacement runflats and finding someone that'll fit them?

I recently had to replace one of my Pirelli Euforia 225/45 R17 runflats due to a serious puncture but it wasn't easy to get hold of one.

I contacted all the large tyre fitting centres within 50 miles of where I live but no one stocked that particular tyre or any runflat in that size and in each case I was told it would take between 5 and 10 days to get one. What really surprised me was that none of the retailers I contacted were prepared to fit runflats either because they claimed they did not have the necessary equipment needed to remove or fit runflats or because they were worried that they might damage my alloy wheel!

After scouring the Web, I came across EventTyres who gave me a very reasonable online quote for the tyre I needed and followed up the quote with a phone call to me 10 minutes later to confirm my requirements. Their mobile fitter came to my place of work 2 days later and replaced the tyre in 20 minutes!

I was very impressed with their service but very unimpressed with the fact that the major tyre retailers in the UK haven't woken up to the fact that there are lots of BMWs with runflats out there!

Come on BMW..........give them a prod..............I can't be off the road waiting for a new tyre! :mad:

PS: I'm driving down to the French Grand Prix in July...........does anyone know if runflats are easier to get hold of in France (just in case I need to get a replacement over there)?
__________________
E90 320d SE, Steptronic, Sports suspension, 158s, poplar, Anthracite/cloth leather, Jet Black
Appreciate 0
      06-01-2006, 10:07 PM   #2
climkt
Bimmer Manual all the way
climkt's Avatar
Singapore
66
Rep
1,811
Posts

Drives: e90 320i manual
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: singapore

iTrader: (0)

well in singapore, getting 18 inch RFTS is a bit tricky. there are not that common. when i was considering a change from my stock 16s to 18s, i was told i had to place an order and wait. i made the smart move and changed to non RFTS. a move that i never regretted because RFTs costs twice as much as non RFTs and i could trade in my almost new RFTS and rims to offset price of new rims and tyres.
Appreciate 0
      06-02-2006, 12:17 AM   #3
Paul330d
Torque junky
Paul330d's Avatar
France
115
Rep
1,688
Posts

Drives: Remapped e90 330d
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: France (UK expat)

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2006 330d  [0.00]
2005 Fiat Panda 4x4  [0.00]
I have often wondered what will actually happen if & when I get a puncture: ok, so I can drive 50 miles or so with the runflat, but how many garages within a 50-mile radius are going to stock 255 x 18" tyres?

Re. France, I think RFTs are as rare here as they are in the UK.
__________________
www.greenkeepers.fr - spécialiste des tondeuses à gazon hélicoïdales atco qualcast ransomes lawnflite
Appreciate 0
      06-02-2006, 01:51 AM   #4
webcoll
Enlisted Member
webcoll's Avatar
5
Rep
30
Posts

Drives: 320d SE
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: UK

iTrader: (0)

I actually ended up doing 320 miles with the punctured runflat, simply because I had no choice but at a maximum of 50mph on a motorway I was upsetting more than a few truck drivers!

I'm sure many BMW drivers do more than 150 miles in a day or so, so the apparent non-availability of replacement runflats is quite frankly unacceptable.

Surely BMW must have researched this?? :mad:
__________________
E90 320d SE, Steptronic, Sports suspension, 158s, poplar, Anthracite/cloth leather, Jet Black
Appreciate 0
      06-02-2006, 09:42 AM   #5
330m
First Lieutenant
330m's Avatar
England
6
Rep
364
Posts

Drives: 330i
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Manchester

iTrader: (0)

I'm glad you found Event Tyres! They are the best tyre fitter and suppliers I have ever come across.

I've been using them for several years and have sung their praises on other forums too.

They seems cheaper than anyone else, and can get any tyre in 1 or 2 days (they even stock the 255/35/18 & 225/45/18 RFTs for my 330i in 3 brands)
__________________
330i M-sport SG + black leather :rocks:
Appreciate 0
      06-04-2006, 04:56 AM   #6
SoYank
Major General
SoYank's Avatar
United_States
569
Rep
7,519
Posts

Drives: 2009 E90 335i MT
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Vinton, Virginia

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by webcoll
I actually ended up doing 320 miles with the punctured runflat, simply because I had no choice but at a maximum of 50mph on a motorway I was upsetting more than a few truck drivers!
My heart bleeds purple Kool-Aid for them. Gives them a taste of their own medicine for when they blink once and pull into your lane just as you come up to their rear bumper 14+ mph faster than they. Prime example of use for Active Cruise.

After reading this thread I'm considering buying a spare RFT and storing it in the garage just so I don't fall into the trap you've encountered. All four of my tires are the same size so it wouldn't matter which got the puncture. My only concern would be deterioration of the tire in the garage.
__________________
2009 E90 335i Montego Blue · Black Leather · Burl Walnut · 6MT · US Spec
SatNav • ZPP • ZCW • 6FL • TPMS • iDrive • PDC • HWS • Xenons • BMW Assist • Power Rear Sunshade • Logic 7
European Taillights • Rear Foglamp • OEM Alarm • PicoTray • DataToys XM-DVR • Multi-view Processor
Quaife ATB LSD • Short Shift Knob • Hartge Anti-Roll Bars • AP Racing Front Brakes • 19" Style 269
Appreciate 0
      06-04-2006, 05:01 AM   #7
E90Fleet
Lieutenant General
South Africa
1311
Rep
10,185
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: South Africa

iTrader: (0)

Did you try your BMW dealer ?
Ours can source and fit runflats pretty quickly
__________________
BMW if you are reading, I need a job, Please.
Appreciate 0
      06-04-2006, 05:06 AM   #8
vivekk
THE Viv
vivekk's Avatar
England
184
Rep
4,743
Posts

Drives: 330i SE
Join Date: May 2005
Location: the North, UK

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Just for information- I took out 12months Barclaycard RAC tyre insurance: £50 for £1250 worth of tyre + fitment costs.

Hope I don't need it, but better safe than costly!

More info here.

Viv
__________________
[TiAg ▪ Dakota Black ▪ Active steering ▪ Sports suspension ▪ 162s ▪ Sports seats ▪ Al trim ▪ Bi-Xenons ▪ F&R PDC NavPro ▪ Voice control ▪ Bluetooth ▪ 6CD Logic7]


Appreciate 0
      06-04-2006, 11:37 AM   #9
wright761359
New Member
2
Rep
23
Posts

Drives: 320d M-Sport Edition,Auto,
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Northampton,U.K

iTrader: (0)

I had the same issues..had to replace both rears,B/stone Potenza's 255x35 18.Went to a local kwik-fot,they had never seen run-flats that big,although did find 2 after 5 days,still had to drive nearly 500 miles on two puncured tyres.have to say they performed really well.
Appreciate 0
      06-04-2006, 04:54 PM   #10
sysop
Fleet Owner
sysop's Avatar
3
Rep
73
Posts

Drives: 2005 320i A/T Idr
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: George, South Africa

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by E90Fleet
Did you try your BMW dealer ?
Ours can source and fit runflats pretty quickly
at a pretty extravagent price too... !!
__________________
Arctic 320i Steptronic I-drive and all extras including chrome window/grille mouldings.
Appreciate 0
      06-05-2006, 11:11 AM   #11
MattOz
Lieutenant Colonel
MattOz's Avatar
United Kingdom
342
Rep
1,826
Posts

Drives: Alpina F31 B3
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Midlands

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2011 E90 M3  [0.00]
I have a set of 4 x 18 inch RFT's for sale and nobody wants them! Shame on you all! LOL

Matt
Appreciate 0
      06-08-2006, 09:13 AM   #12
carl_d
General
carl_d's Avatar
United Kingdom
38
Rep
683
Posts

Drives: E90 335i M-Sport N55 6SP Nov10
Join Date: May 2005
Location: UK

iTrader: (0)

Just had two rear Bridgestones fitted by http://www.etyres.co.uk

Quote:
Originally Posted by webcoll
Has anyone else in the UK had difficulty getting replacement runflats and finding someone that'll fit them?

I recently had to replace one of my Pirelli Euforia 225/45 R17 runflats due to a serious puncture but it wasn't easy to get hold of one.

I contacted all the large tyre fitting centres within 50 miles of where I live but no one stocked that particular tyre or any runflat in that size and in each case I was told it would take between 5 and 10 days to get one. What really surprised me was that none of the retailers I contacted were prepared to fit runflats either because they claimed they did not have the necessary equipment needed to remove or fit runflats or because they were worried that they might damage my alloy wheel!

After scouring the Web, I came across EventTyres who gave me a very reasonable online quote for the tyre I needed and followed up the quote with a phone call to me 10 minutes later to confirm my requirements. Their mobile fitter came to my place of work 2 days later and replaced the tyre in 20 minutes!

I was very impressed with their service but very unimpressed with the fact that the major tyre retailers in the UK haven't woken up to the fact that there are lots of BMWs with runflats out there!

Come on BMW..........give them a prod..............I can't be off the road waiting for a new tyre! :mad:

PS: I'm driving down to the French Grand Prix in July...........does anyone know if runflats are easier to get hold of in France (just in case I need to get a replacement over there)?
Appreciate 0
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:45 PM.




e90post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST