[Hoss NY]

For all of you that remember my posts last June after I took delivery of my 535i Sport http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=394466, my enjoyment of the car has come to an end.

My car has been unusable for 26 days out of the last year. My dealer has replaced six tires and five rims after being damaged by potholes.

Yes, I got the tire and rim insurance. But it's not the money, it's the inconvenience. The car can not handle routine driving on NY area roads and highways.

I understand that the low profile package is more susceptible to road damage, but one replacement a month, on average, is ridiculous.

I'm taking it up with BMW and will post the results.

[Needsdecaf]

Wow. That's terrible to hear. Especially since your car is almost exactly like mine!

[radarguy]

Bad news and you don't even have the dreaded Goodyear 19" LS2 tires. The pictures on your link show 20" tires and there seems to be two different brands. What's the story there?

[ibimmer954]

WTF? I have never had a problem with tire or wheel damage from the roads. Did a war start in NY or something? Did Canada invade while I wasn't looking?

[dr.mba]

You bet, we claimed NY part of the great Canadian land, and we made a mess LOL

MBA

[dhirm5]

Originally Posted by ibimmer346

WTF? I have never had a problem with tire or wheel damage from the roads. Did a war start in NY or something? Did Canada invade while I wasn't looking?

No offense to the op - but I think it comes down to the driver. I watch the road closely when I drive and go around holes, adjust speed over bumps, etc.

Meanwhile, a good friend of mine never looks at the road and thus riding with him in NYC is a jarring experience.

For some people, an suv with 60 profile tires is the only option...

[Hoss NY]

alokdhir --

Thanks for the driving tips, pal...

Come on up to NY some time and enjoy the obstacle course.

[dhirm5]

LOL - I figured my post might ruffle your feathers. I drive up to NYC a few times a year - and agree it must be a pain to deal with that daily - but while I'm there I do have to watch the road - and indeed treat it as if it were an obstacle course. It's a game for me - a few times a year - but understand it must be a chore for you.

Fact is, though, that if you're willing to put in the time/concentration, you can get by. My buddy who lives up there doesn't bother, and so has already suffered the tire/wheel issue in his new Gran Cabrio.

Curious - what are you going to move to from the 5er? And no matter what you buy, how will you avoid the temptation of the low profile tires on large rims - they look so good.

[yogi799]

Originally Posted by Hoss NY

alokdhir --

Thanks for the driving tips, pal...

Come on up to NY some time and enjoy the obstacle course.

Bill Maher on HBO says the same thing about the LA roads, apparently they have not seen repairs in a few decades. I have to say, our GTA (Toronto Suburbs) roads ain't bad at all.

[Touring]

Sounds more like a wheel problem than a car problem. What are you going to buy now?

[EvolutionTheory]

Why would you not just replace the tires with non RFT's and make your life happier? Screw the money, enjoy your peace of mind. I know you *shouldnt have to* but you do.. so do it

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by EvolutionTheory

Why would you not just replace the tires with non RFT's and make your life happier? Screw the money, enjoy your peace of mind. I know you *shouldnt have to* but you do.. so do it

I have the same wheels with non-RFT's and just discovered I have two bent wheels. Tires are fine though.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by alokdhir

LOL - I figured my post might ruffle your feathers. I drive up to NYC a few times a year - and agree it must be a pain to deal with that daily - but while I'm there I do have to watch the road - and indeed treat it as if it were an obstacle course. It's a game for me - a few times a year - but understand it must be a chore for you.

Fact is, though, that if you're willing to put in the time/concentration, you can get by. My buddy who lives up there doesn't bother, and so has already suffered the tire/wheel issue in his new Gran Cabrio.

Curious - what are you going to move to from the 5er? And no matter what you buy, how will you avoid the temptation of the low profile tires on large rims - they look so good.

Really, spend some time on these boards and you will see that the issue is epidemic. There are guys with F10's in the DC area that have had multiple tire bubbles in as many months.

[krugerjq]

Maybe you should buy a Hummer

[RH512]

Terrible situation with multiple factors, all that have been well discussed.

NE Roads are in terrible shape (though slowly being patched), really unacceptable but it is the reality. Yes many times it is possible with vigilance to avoid them. But at night or in the rain when what appears to be a little puddle is a serious pothole-you're nailed!

245/40-19 have less than 4 inches of side wall, simply not enough to absorb what is out there. Seems the extra 1/2 inch all around the 245/45-18 provides has significantly less problems. At least based on the complaints on the forums.

The supporting structure for RFT on pothole impacts actually can then damage (cut) the sidewall creating the bubbles and require tire replacement. This has been the prevalent problem. Conventional tires are more forgiving though still of course subject to damage.

And of course no compact spare is available for this car, no dedicated place to stow it, if it was provided.

[Robin_NL]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Wow. That's terrible to hear. Especially since your car is almost exactly like mine!

+1

Hoss'car /wheelcombo was my-so to speak -rolemodel, more than a year ago.

Except mine is sapphireblack.

btw yesterday I traded in my 331's + GY RFT's for new alloys: Style 312 20" plus NON RFT Bridgestones RE050A. In about a week I will show you some pics.

[rexus300]

Guys, it all boils down to the fact that BMW rims are cheap quality and bend easily compared to Lexus and Mercedes rims and that is because it is designed to be light for efficiency. My Lexus 18 inch 245/40/18 rims have taken more beating than the F10 I have and they have not been bent at all while the BMWs have bent rims all of a sudden. Also, I drive very carefully and slow down and avert big bumps or holes or even rough patches along the road so its a matter of being more vigilance in certain areas and not be oblivious. However, I cannot attest to the NY roads since I have not been there for almost 6 years so I bet they have deteriorated badly now.

[givenst3k]

Originally Posted by alokdhir

No offense to the op - but I think it comes down to the driver. I watch the road closely when I drive and go around holes, adjust speed over bumps, etc.

Meanwhile, a good friend of mine never looks at the road and thus riding with him in NYC is a jarring experience.

For some people, an suv with 60 profile tires is the only option...

@ alokdhir if Hoss NY drives around NYC, which he did not specify, the pot holes are a major problem for any car. Let's keep this in perspective. BMW a German vehicle makes its cars with German roads in perpective. German roads are superior than that of New York City. I don't beleive any manufacturer ever builds cars with NYC roads in mind. Unless you have driven those raods Alokdhir, its hard to blame Hoss NY. Bear in mind there are over 8 Million people in NYC. Although all people don't drive cars, there is a lot more wear and tear on NYC roads than most in the WORLD!

[Soon ExAudi Guy]

My 535i (I am in Toronto, Canada) with Michelin fun flats picked up a nail. No problem, I have wheel insurance. I get a call late in the day...bad news, there isn't a replacement tire available. In fact, Michelin does not even list the tire in its system yet. They could not get one in Canada, and they said I would have to wait 1 week for one to be shipped from the US on special order (apparently, the tires I have are only in Michelin's system in Europe, but there were a few available in the US). I pressed hard, and they got BMW Canada to approve taking a tire of a new car on the lot.

So.....what happens when (not if) I get my next flat? What are others experiencing with respect to tire availability?

[BobRBob]

Wow. This is really getting bizarre. BMW sells a new car in Toronto that uses tires that are not available in Canada? Incredible. How did they get so screwed up on such a simple issue?

Which tire is it?

[DuneMan]

I used to have a tough time with my 19" GY RFTs. The pressure was always 40+ psi.

I lowered it to 35psi... and a week later i noticed the driving is much better. Better grip, better road feel, more comfy, and no more bubbles.

[EdM5]

Originally Posted by givenst3k

Bear in mind there are over 8 Million people in NYC. Although all people don't drive cars, there is a lot more wear and tear on NYC roads than most in the WORLD!

That is really not the problem. The metropolitan area of for example Ile de France (Paris) or the Rhein/Ruhr Region (Germany) are similar in both size and number of inhabitants. And still the roads are in a much better state.

It pains me to say that the once legendary american infrastructure is crumbling and right now probably the worst in the western world.
No offense, I love both NYC and the US.

The real problem is IMO a lack of government involvement to fund proper maintenance. And yes, infrastructure maintenance costs serious money.