[admranger]

My 2018 330 was an exec demo and now has 10k on it. The 18” Pirelli run flats have 4 to 5/32nds left which seems kind of quick tread wear. They start at 10/32nds new.

I drive on some isolated roads so I’m going to keep runflats going forward. I also carry a plug kit and compressor. Trying to plan when I’ll need to replace them.

How many miles are you all getting before they hit the wear bars?

I’m thinking I have 5-6k miles left before they will need to come off.

[Billfitz]

My Contis are fine at 17k, but I doubt they'll get past 25k. By all accounts the best AS-RFT right now are Bridgestone Drive Guard, and they're reasonably priced.

[InVermont]

I too have a 2018 Exec with now 7000 mi. So, I’m good for the immediate future. But past experience tells me 20,000 would be worst case; 24000 best. I think I remember (maybe) as a kid long ago that tires went 30000 and even more.

[Billfitz]

30K is possible, and a lot more for that matter, but in general not with all seasons, nor run flats, and especially not all season run flats. The softer rubber that allows all seasons to work in winter doesn't hold up as well in hot conditions as summers, and it seems that the harder sidewalls of run flats also shortens tire life.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

My Contis are fine at 17k, but I doubt they'll get past 25k. By all accounts the best AS-RFT right now are Bridgestone Drive Guard, and they're reasonably priced.

I wish the drive guards were star tires that I could return the car with when the lease runs out. I think my miles/year will be much less starting at the end of the year going forward. I’ll have to do some predictions and some maths and see whether I’ll need a third set or not.

Thx for the responses.

[CajunBMW]

Do you have all seasons or ultra performance summer run flats? Like you I drive on lots of rural roads with kids so am keeping with run flats too. But in Louisiana our dealers keep performance summer on all year. Those tires definitely wear out fast, 20k would be great but it seems 15k is the limit on the conti high performance run flats that came with the car. I have looked at the all season mentioned above and maybe should seriously consider those tires when I need to change the tires. That was a good suggestion. I have kids and don't race the car. Yes we have 75 and 80 speed limits on some highways, but I should not and do not go much faster than the limit with kids in the car.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by CajunBMW

Do you have all seasons or ultra performance summer run flats? Like you I drive on lots of rural roads with kids so am keeping with run flats too. But in Louisiana our dealers keep performance summer on all year. Those tires definitely wear out fast, 20k would be great but it seems 15k is the limit on the conti high performance run flats that came with the car. I have looked at the all season mentioned above and maybe should seriously consider those tires when I need to change the tires. That was a good suggestion. I have kids and don't race the car. Yes we have 75 and 80 speed limits on some highways, but I should not and do not go much faster than the limit with kids in the car.

I have the all seasons. Since I have to cross the Guadalupe mtn range between Carlsbad and El Paso, I'm going to stick with all seasons. I frequently go to Santa Fe as well, so definitely need more than summer high performance tires.

[Redchicken]

Originally Posted by admranger

My 2018 330 was an exec demo and now has 10k on it. The 18" Pirelli run flats have 4 to 5/32nds left which seems kind of quick tread wear. They start at 10/32nds new.

I drive on some isolated roads so I'm going to keep runflats going forward. I also carry a plug kit and compressor. Trying to plan when I'll need to replace them.

How many miles are you all getting before they hit the wear bars?

I'm thinking I have 5-6k miles left before they will need to come off.

I'm at the 38,000 mark and have 3.5mm left so will be replacing them soon. Pirelli's on a 330D. Mines all motorway mileage though. Seems pretty good to me.

[jarbyjibbo]

I bought my 2016 328 3 months ago at 18k and the previous owner had just replaced the stock tires. Little old retired lady so I can't imagine that they were abused.

[kern417]

This is crazy. My summer tires tend to last 20-30k and my all-seasons last 50-60k. And I drive pretty aggressively. Are you guys not rotating your tires? Running proper tire pressures?

A 200tw performance summer tire is technically rated for 20k, so anything above that should run longer. Granted the tw rating isn't the holy grail, but 20k on all seasons is nuts.

[CajunBMW]

Originally Posted by kern417

This is crazy. My summer tires tend to last 20-30k and my all-seasons last 50-60k. And I drive pretty aggressively. Are you guys not rotating your tires? Running proper tire pressures?

A 200tw performance summer tire is technically rated for 20k, so anything above that should run longer. Granted the tw rating isn't the holy grail, but 20k on all seasons is nuts.

Unfortunately the BMWs with staggered setups don't allow tire rotations front to back of course, but also side to side. At least the no side to side is the recommendation of the BMW dealerships because after a few miles (not sure what the limit is), the tires get a directionality to them. My BMW dealership is recommending a different (few pounds higher) tire pressure up front on the run flats to get a longer service life. Seems to be working on set 2. Can't speak for what others do, but I check my pressure all the time and appropriately adjust. All I can say is I have had many cars over the years and have been a bit surprised at the short life span of the run flats. But since I really need them for security with my kids, I will use them until a different option comes along.

[cfm56d7b]

Originally Posted by admranger

My 2018 330 was an exec demo and now has 10k on it. The 18” Pirelli run flats have 4 to 5/32nds left which seems kind of quick tread wear. They start at 10/32nds new.

I drive on some isolated roads so I’m going to keep runflats going forward. I also carry a plug kit and compressor. Trying to plan when I’ll need to replace them.

How many miles are you all getting before they hit the wear bars?

I’m thinking I have 5-6k miles left before they will need to come off.

Are your tires Pirelli P Zero?

These tires will last on average 25K miles. 16K miles is a bit low. When was the last wheel alignment done?

[Billfitz]

The stiffer sidewalls of RFTs probably reduce tire life, as well as make them noisier and harder riding. Self sealing tires are a promising technology, but so far there's practically no sizing available.

[kern417]

Originally Posted by CajunBMW

Unfortunately the BMWs with staggered setups don't allow tire rotations front to back of course, but also side to side. At least the no side to side is the recommendation of the BMW dealerships because after a few miles (not sure what the limit is), the tires get a directionality to them. My BMW dealership is recommending a different (few pounds higher) tire pressure up front on the run flats to get a longer service life. Seems to be working on set 2. Can't speak for what others do, but I check my pressure all the time and appropriately adjust. All I can say is I have had many cars over the years and have been a bit surprised at the short life span of the run flats. But since I really need them for security with my kids, I will use them until a different option comes along.

You should 100% rotate your tires side to side for the longest tread life. There's nothing special about BMW that you can't rotate asymmetric tires. If they are directional, then that makes sense. But none of the OEM tires are directional.

If you're tires aren't wearing in the middle then extra pressure will help. If they aren't, then adding pressure will just make the middle of the tire wear faster. Do you have any pics of the worn tires? What were the tread height measurements across the width?

[CajunBMW]

Everyone thanks for the info. To answer the many questions I'm using the OEM conti RFTS. The ride for me is fine and with my many trips to Dallas and New Orleans, Memphis, etc that I have taken with many different cars/vans, I can't really say the RFTs are much louder than other cars tires. I have an 18" staggered set up and other than some large pot holes I don't notice a rough ride. My friend in 650 has the 20 or 21" set up and those things will rattle your teeth if you hit a pot hole. I drive with kids and family in the car so no tracking the car, thus the security forces the RFTs is important. I feel stable in the car and even when alone where I have pushed the car a bit on large lonely interstates I have had no problems. I feel as comfortable as when I drive on the autobahn in Germany during business trips. Thus for me the wear is the only issue, not the other things that people have mentioned with RFTs. My rear tires were replaced first because of a bed of nails in New Orleans (the tires were ruined), so I'd did need new tires. Insurance actually covered those. Set number 2 looks good after 10k. My fronts wore out, looked like racin' slicks. I had an alignment with the new set and with the added pressure they look much better after 7k. I certainly understand the rotation of the tires but the BMW dealership and the Indy place tell me that they do develop a directionality and wear could be worse if rotated. So I am going with their recommendations right now. I will be curious to see if set 2 works better. At this point I am just sort of experimenting with my options. I know about the drive guard tires and may look into them at some point. Thanks again.