Flat tire on the e90

[Optimus Prime]

The wife called after work yesterday. She said it sounded like something was banging around in the wheel well, so she pulled into a gas station and the noise went away. When she got out of the car she heard the drivers side rear leaking air.

I got there and it was out of air. We found the debris that caused the puncture, some sort of grey ABS plastic cylinder that had a nasty sharp edge on it. I imagine she picked it up (didn't see it because of the color) and it bounced around in the wheel well for a while.

Because you can't plug a run flat, I now have to buy two tires. I had planned on buying a set of non-run flat summer and winter wheels and tires, and now I have to decide exactly what I'm going to do. I have issues spending money on new run flats that I'm going to turn in at the lease end un-used. At the same time, if I keep using the OEM's and get another puncture... I'm going to have to buy a whole new set of tires.

To top it all off the Run flats have been getting louder and are driving worse all the time. We've got about 21,000 miles on them and they're driving me nuts. These run flats suck, IMHO.

[FC]

That sucks. BMW's obsession with runflats really bothers me.

Everytime I think of how badly the Z-rated Pirellis on the R suck, I realize I could be driving on runflats and I make myself feel better.

[JST]

Originally Posted by FC

That sucks. BMW's obsession with runflats really bothers me.

Everytime I think of how badly the Z-rated Pirellis on the R suck, I realize I could be driving on runflats and I make myself feel better.

Runflats do have their advantages.

I enjoyed not having to change this tire on the side of I95 today. OTOH, replacing it at the local Firestone dealer cost $360.

[SCA]

The new wheels look great!

[BahnBaum]

Originally Posted by JST

Runflats do have their advantages.

I enjoyed not having to change this tire on the side of I95 today. OTOH, replacing it at the local Firestone dealer cost $360.

Josh, thanks for posting that pic. I've always wondered how that Comfort Access thing worked.

Alex

[Optimus Prime]

Originally Posted by equ

ASA makes some neat wheels for the money. Congrats on the great choice of tire/wheel!

They're like BBS lite (or heavy as it were, since they appear to use cheaper alloy that requires more material cross section). The equivelant BBS wheel weighs 20.5 lbs from BBS and 24 lbs from ASA.


From Tirerack.com

In 1990, ASA decided to build a state-of-the-art alloy wheel manufacturing facility. Knowing the complexity and challenge this presented, ASA went to BBS in Germany to tap the best technical knowledge in facility design, manufacturing processes and quality controls for producing high quality alloy wheels. Production began at the new facility in Jeywon, South Korea in March 1992.

Their agreement with BBS, a world leader in wheel technology, engineering and manufacturing with over two decades of success in the racing community and the high-end aftermarket worldwide, is still in effect today. This cooperative agreement gives ASA valuable access to technical and product information that BBS gains from their motorsports and manufacturing involvement.

Originally Posted by JST

Runflats do have their advantages.
I enjoyed not having to change this tire on the side of I95 today. OTOH, replacing it at the local Firestone dealer cost $360.

that's pretty odd.
How many miles were on it? I was told by BMW that I was required to replace wheels in pairs?

Originally Posted by BahnBaum

Josh, thanks for posting that pic. I've always wondered how that Comfort Access thing worked.

Alex

[JST]

Originally Posted by Optimus Prime

that's pretty odd.
How many miles were on it? I was told by BMW that I was required to replace wheels in pairs?

5600.

I probably should replace the tires in pairs. On the other hand, there is a zero percent chance that I am going to lay out an extra $360 to replace a perfectly good tire with plenty of tread left on it unless someone can give me an absolute, iron-clad reason I have to.

Keep in mind that BMW is also the company that tells you not to rotate your tires, even in non-staggered applications.

[wdc330i]

Originally Posted by Optimus Prime

The wife called after work yesterday. She said it sounded like something was banging around in the wheel well, so she pulled into a gas station and the noise went away. When she got out of the car she heard the drivers side rear leaking air.

I got there and it was out of air. We found the debris that caused the puncture, some sort of grey ABS plastic cylinder that had a nasty sharp edge on it. I imagine she picked it up (didn't see it because of the color) and it bounced around in the wheel well for a while.

Because you can't plug a run flat, I now have to buy two tires. I had planned on buying a set of non-run flat summer and winter wheels and tires, and now I have to decide exactly what I'm going to do. I have issues spending money on new run flats that I'm going to turn in at the lease end un-used. At the same time, if I keep using the OEM's and get another puncture... I'm going to have to buy a whole new set of tires.

To top it all off the Run flats have been getting louder and are driving worse all the time. We've got about 21,000 miles on them and they're driving me nuts. These run flats suck, IMHO.

Might you buy some lightly used run-flats from someone who's switching to real tires? I'd check Bimmerfest's tire classifieds.

[FC]

Originally Posted by wdc330i

Might you buy some lightly used run-flats from someone who's switching to real tires? I'd check Bimmerfest's tire classifieds.

Good call. I'd imagine there's an army of people ditching the OEMs.

[SCA]

Originally Posted by FC

Good call. I'd imagine there's an army of people ditching the OEMs.

+2

Check out E90Post. I am certain someone there is selling some.