[wright761359]

Well it's happened again,1000 miles on a new rear(255x35x18 Potenza),got a screw in it,late one night.Rang around Kwik-Fit and ATS to be told no tyres around,have 4000 on back order with Bridgstone!
Rang 4 BMW dealers to be told the same story,have had to have "2" rear replaced with Michelins,as you can't have two makes on the same axle.
What the f... is going on?.
Anybody else having problems?

320i,Msport.

[mighty chipster]

Originally Posted by wright761359

Well it's happened again,1000 miles on a new rear(255x35x18 Potenza),got a screw in it,late one night.Rang around Kwik-Fit and ATS to be told no tyres around,have 4000 on back order with Bridgstone!
Rang 4 BMW dealers to be told the same story,have had to have "2" rear replaced with Michelins,as you can't have two makes on the same axle.
What the f... is going on?.
Anybody else having problems?

320i,Msport.

Have you tried "Tyres Northampton" 01604 588599 ??

[txusa03]

you not considering patching it up? depends on where the puncture is.

[2GPP]

I can not understand why these tyres are still on back ordrer. I had exactly the same issue about 6 weeks back when my Bridgestones wore out and had to get some new rears. took me about 2 weeks to sort out some new ones. In the end had to get Michelins (better tyre in my opinion anyway) which were more expensive and I am sure I was paying a "premium" as they were in demand and I needed them. I paid £230 a tyre fitted! Same size as yours on a 330d sport. I raised the issue with BMW UK also as a number of dealers I contacted basically said they could not help, but BMW UK just said they were working with the suppliers to rectify the problem! good to see they have done that!
Very interested to see what happens when someone in a 335 coupe running on 19" runfalts needs some new rubber....those tyres must be quite rare and pricey!
Sorry to hear about the tyre incident. I assume you still have Bridgestones up front? I do and the ride is a tadge twitchy and "tramlines" more on rutted roads/motorways now...hacks me off!

[yellowg555]

It's not just a problem for you guys in the UK. There's extreme shortages in the states as well. I had to replace 1 tire a few weeks ago and the only people who had them were a couple dealerships, and they only had 1-2. This is just the Southern California area though.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by wright761359

Well it's happened again,1000 miles on a new rear(255x35x18 Potenza),got a screw in it,late one night.Rang around Kwik-Fit and ATS to be told no tyres around,have 4000 on back order with Bridgstone!
Rang 4 BMW dealers to be told the same story,have had to have "2" rear replaced with Michelins,as you can't have two makes on the same axle.
What the f... is going on?.
Anybody else having problems?

320i,Msport.

If this happens to me I am going to go to my dealer and ask them why they have sold me a car not fit for purpose - i.e. one without a spare tyre with OEM tyres that it is not possible to purchase.

I intend to ask for temporary non-runflat tyres or a courtesy car until they resolve the problem.

[wright761359]

Originally Posted by mighty chipster

Have you tried "Tyres Northampton" 01604 588599 ??

Cheers for the number but have had to go with Kwik-fit as the car is a personal lease.

[wright761359]

Originally Posted by 2GPP

I can not understand why these tyres are still on back ordrer. I had exactly the same issue about 6 weeks back when my Bridgestones wore out and had to get some new rears. took me about 2 weeks to sort out some new ones. In the end had to get Michelins (better tyre in my opinion anyway) which were more expensive and I am sure I was paying a "premium" as they were in demand and I needed them. I paid £230 a tyre fitted! Same size as yours on a 330d sport. I raised the issue with BMW UK also as a number of dealers I contacted basically said they could not help, but BMW UK just said they were working with the suppliers to rectify the problem! good to see they have done that!
Very interested to see what happens when someone in a 335 coupe running on 19" runfalts needs some new rubber....those tyres must be quite rare and pricey!
Sorry to hear about the tyre incident. I assume you still have Bridgestones up front? I do and the ride is a tadge twitchy and "tramlines" more on rutted roads/motorways now...hacks me off!

Yep,still got B/stones on the front,will report how the m/lins perform.

[carl_d]

In stock here http://www.etyres.co.uk/car-tyres-uk

[HDH]

Has anyone here got the Bridgestone's to last to the end of the natural life and if so what mileage did you get? My 320 has the standard 16" 205/55 Bridgestone Turanza ER300 and having done just over 9K they all look to have about half tread depth left - though since I've only had the car for the last 1000 miles I don't know the tyre history.

[ShereKhan]

My Bridgestones on the rear seem to be feathering away at the edges.

I need to stop having too much fun sliding around roundabouts

But then again I don't pay for my tyres so hey what the heck.

I'll let you all know how long I get out of my Bridgestones

[335d coupe]

My local tyre guy told me that the Bridgestone 19" RFs for my 335d coupe are all stacked up in Belgium waiting for some red tape beaurocracy shit to be sorted out before the tyres will be allowed into the UK. My local dealer supplied me with my car on the basis that I'll get their 335d coupe demo to use IF my own 335d coupe is off the road as a result of getting a flat and not being able to get BMW original equipment Bridgestone tyre - that'll do for me for now.

Mike

[ShereKhan]

Mike,

When I got my demo 320si I was told by the sales guy that they have to order a car of their choice and drive it for a set mileage. Once that mileage is achieved the car is then sold on the BMW approved car scheme.

That demo 335 will belong to a sales guy. It will shortly disappear from your local dealership once that mileage is achieved.

So I hope your dealer has another one coming to replace it!

[335d coupe]

ShereKhan,

I'm fairly sure that my local dealer runs most of its demos for a minimum of three months before selling them on and replacing them with new demos. They are just putting their third Z4M roadster demo on since March having ran the others as demos for three months each (and then sold them as secondhand cars). As far as I'm aware, once the current 335d coupe comes off demo on in December this year they'll replace it with another. Same with the 335i - I'd happily use a 335i for a coupla weeks if it came to it!

Mike

[ShereKhan]

Hmm I need to find a dealer like that

Woudn't mind having a 335 in exchange for my 320si

[agh!]

Bridgestone and Conti RFT's seem to have many reports around of premature tread wear on one or both edges greatly reducing the life on the tyre.
Not tried it myself but someone I know of is running higher pressures on his Bridgestones to try and reduce the wearing at the edges. Running 2.4 bar instead of 2.1 bar and the car seems to handle a whole lot better with no detriment in ride or grip.

RTF supply problems, the fact that 50 miles at 50mph is not an acceptable fall back position for a puncture and other RFT disadvantages motivated me to search around for tyre sealant products.
I like the sound of Ultraseal. It prevents punctures and seals the tyre eliminating the natural porosity of the tyre in the tread region meaning you do not loose pressure over time. Low tyre pressure and the resulting heat build up at motorway speeds is the primary cause of blowouts. It costs about £30 for 1.4Litres, enough to treat a car.
Of course if your tyre cannot get a puncture, you don't really need a RFT in the first place :rocks:

[carl_d]

Originally Posted by agh!

Bridgestone and Conti RFT's seem to have many reports around of premature tread wear on one or both edges greatly reducing the life on the tyre.
Not tried it myself but someone I know of is running higher pressures on his Bridgestones to try and reduce the wearing at the edges. Running 2.4 bar instead of 2.1 bar and the car seems to handle a whole lot better with no detriment in ride or grip.

RTF supply problems, the fact that 50 miles at 50mph is not an acceptable fall back position for a puncture and other RFT disadvantages motivated me to search around for tyre sealant products.
I like the sound of Ultraseal. It prevents punctures and seals the tyre eliminating the natural porosity of the tyre in the tread region meaning you do not loose pressure over time. Low tyre pressure and the resulting heat build up at motorway speeds is the primary cause of blowouts. It costs about £30 for 1.4Litres, enough to treat a car.
Of course if your tyre cannot get a puncture, you don't really need a RFT in the first place :rocks:

Master Technician at my local dealer said the same. It seems the Bridgestone 18" tyres are sensitive to LOW tyre pressures. He said they are seeing lots with the rear outer/inner edges worn prematurely. Apparently many people are not putting the correct pressures in the W rated tyres. Looking at the B pillar, on my 325, for 18" W rated tyres, the pressure spec is 2.4 and 2.7 but for Y rated its much less at 2.2 an 2.4. This is a cause of confusion and under inflation of W rates tyres. BE WARNED.

I also drove a loan 330 the other day with Michelin Y rated tyres. Comparing this to my 325 with Bridgestone W rate tyres over a 45 minute drive on both motorway and back roads showed big differences. I am sure it’s mainly the tyres and not the wheels/suspension as they were both M-Sport with 18" rims. The Michelin’s are slightly nosier but their ride is much better, with the dampers able to absorb bumps in one clean single motion. The Bridgestone’s were quieter but the ride was bouncy/rubbery and the damper needed TWO attempts to absorb a bump (fidgety ride by comparison). I also checked the pressures on both cars when cold and they were as shown on the sticker of both cars.

Based on this, I’m going to try the Michelin next time – can’t wait.

[red-max]

Just thought you guys might want to see my spare wheel. Not much space left in the boot (and it's quite heavy). Normally it will live in my garage at home, but I took it out for a ride today since I was visiting a customer almost 150 miles from home - beyond the range of the runflats.

[335d coupe]

You know, I really aren't too worried about the 50mph/50 miles R/F issue THAT only applies once the tyre has ZERO psi in it For example, in my 18" R/F-equipped Z4M Roadster (my previous car) I had the R/F sensor come on whilst approaching Callender in Stirlingshire - whilst travelling 300 miles from Oban in Scotland to home near Whitby in NE England I checked the tyre at a filling station in Callender which revealed a nail in one of my rear tyres and that the tyre had lost just 10% of its correct pressure. I corrected the pressure and drove home during which time the sensor never came back on. The next day the sensor lit again and the tyre had again lost just 10% of its correct pressure. I paid £200 for a new rear tyre and that was that. I was, however, reassured that even with a nail in the tyre I could easily drive 300-400 miles. Short of REALLY damaging a tyre in some way, I'm guessing 99% of punctures will be slow enough to allow one to get home as I did

Mike

[Driv3r]

Originally Posted by 335d coupe

You know, I really aren't too worried about the 50mph/50 miles R/F issue THAT only applies once the tyre has ZERO psi in it For example, in my 18" R/F-equipped Z4M Roadster (my previous car) I had the R/F sensor come on whilst approaching Callender in Stirlingshire - whilst travelling 300 miles from Oban in Scotland to home near Whitby in NE England I checked the tyre at a filling station in Callender which revealed a nail in one of my rear tyres and that the tyre had lost just 10% of its correct pressure. I corrected the pressure and drove home during which time the sensor never came back on. The next day the sensor lit again and the tyre had again lost just 10% of its correct pressure. I paid £200 for a new rear tyre and that was that. I was, however, reassured that even with a nail in the tyre I could easily drive 300-400 miles. Short of REALLY damaging a tyre in some way, I'm guessing 99% of punctures will be slow enough to allow one to get home as I did

Mike

oooooh ive been to whitby......THAT PLACE IS WINDY AND COLD!!! i went to that pier at the end of all the shops by the wharf.....i have NEVER been so cold.....they do however have THE BEST fish N Chips ive ever eaten..