View Full Version : TPM at work
Spyder
02-10-2008, 12:22 PM
A few days ago the TPM indicated that my left rear tire was low. Sure enough, it had 30# as opposed to the 36# it should have, so off it came...
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n181/Spyder_04/ResizeofIMG_2787.jpg
..whereupon the culprit was in clear view...
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n181/Spyder_04/ResizeofIMG_2788.jpg
I threw the tire in the back of the allroad--OK, not exactly "threw" since these puppies are heavy--and took it to Byron Woodley, a good shop in Santa Monica for a patch. All is well now.
FYI: one of the owners at Byron claimed that RFT's may be phased out (a short life!), or at least have their advertising changed by the DOT since running them flat usually ruins them. I was lucky that mine had a slow leak, which I discovered in my garage...and I could easily transport the tire to a shop.
Spyder
Richard in NC
02-10-2008, 12:30 PM
FYI: one of the owners at Byron claimed that RFT's may be phased out (a short life!), or at least have their advertising changed by the DOT since running them flat usually ruins them. I was lucky that mine had a slow leak, and I discovered in my gagarge...and I could easily transport it to a shop.
Spyder
Hence the reason for the switch to the TPM that can catch only a few pound difference. I had a similar recent experience. TPM showed the left rear was low, 28 psi. It was a cold day so I just added air. I saw no nails. The other tires were a bit low too (32ish) so off I went. 4 days later, the same thing. I added air and intended to stop at a tire dealer first thing but work prevented that. I didn't get around to it until yesterday. They found a nail and patched the tire.
One thing I always do is carry an air compressor and good guage in the car at all times. It may not be the smartest to drive around with a potentially leaking tire but is more convienent than pulling it off and taking it somewhere.
I have one on the rear left (Drivers side) on the 7er. I will take it to my favorite non-BMW Certified repair shop to patch it up.
Spyder
02-10-2008, 01:03 PM
One thing I always do is carry an air compressor and good guage in the car at all times. It may not be the smartest to drive around with a potentially leaking tire but is more convienent than pulling it off and taking it somewhere.
BMW's Mobility Kit (compressor, gauge and goo), which comes with the M6, custom fits into the empty slots in the 650 foam mold in the mini wheel well. In addition to this kit, I also carry Girot's excellent plug patch kit.
For my allroad, on ski trips and journeys into Mexico, I take a full sized spare, actually an OEM curb-rash wheel which was replaced by a new wheel off the Audi board. Along with my cordless impact wrench and lighter powered jack, swapping wheels on the road is a cinch.
Spyder
Yes, Spyder. Runflat tires (RFs) should now be called Run While Flat, then Discard tires (RWFDs).
Nice shot of the guilty nail, by the way. I guess you didn't notice me tossing them on your driveway as I left last week.
BMW's Mobility Kit (compressor, gauge and goo), which comes with the M6, custom fits into the empty slots in the 650 foam mold in the mini wheel well. In addition to this kit, I also carry Girot's excellent plug patch kit.
Spyder
This kit comes with the M5 too.
nealh
02-10-2008, 01:39 PM
Jeez..these RFT sound worse and worse everyday..ugh
They're not that bad. With any new introduction of things... Tires in this case will have some issues but this is why we have some measures from getting our cars and ourselves from getting hurt.
You should hear/read the stories other cars have...
Spyder
02-10-2008, 02:16 PM
Jeez..these RFT sound worse and worse everyday..ugh
I think that they have been oversold, but they seem to work well on the 650 (Bridgestone), ie, they handle well, have decent tread life for a performance tire, and IMO are not unacceptably harsh. OTOH, the Dunlap RFT's on my 535 are awful, ie, not as much grip, and very harsh ride. As for wear, if you run out of tread by 20k mi, BMW will replace the Dunlaps for free as per a TSB.
The main problem seems to be that if you run them while flat as advertised, you can look forward to ruining them, and potentially having to replace all 4 at big bucks...and a long wait.
Spyder
boxboss
02-10-2008, 02:24 PM
they seem to work well on the 650 (Bridgestone), ie, they handle well, have decent tread life for a performance tire, and IMO are not unacceptably harsh.
Cobradav would agree with you - He replaced the RFT's, with Michelin PS I believe, prior to last October's ToD and (seemed to) curse them the whole time. I don't think the Bridgestone RFTs get enough credit as a performance tyre.
Spyder
02-10-2008, 02:29 PM
they seem to work well on the 650 (Bridgestone), ie, they handle well, have decent tread life for a performance tire, and IMO are not unacceptably harsh.
Cobradav would agree with you - He replaced the RFT's, with Michelin PS I believe, prior to last October's ToD and (seemed to) curse them the whole time. I don't think the Bridgestone RFTs get enough credit as a performance tyre.
That is fascinating...and useful as I was planning on replacing the RFT's on my two BMWs with PS2's (the darling of bimmerfest posters :youbet: ) as soon as they wore down. I'll have to get the scoop directly from Cobradav at dinner tomorrow night.
Cool deal. Tell the Master I said hello.
AusBmw
02-11-2008, 07:57 PM
Hehe Spyder know were comming from my nail topic http://www.knightsoftheroundel.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=627
Hell the nail looks the same :-o My TPM,a good old fashion eye for detail :greenlaff:
Cool deal. Tell the Master I said hello.
He may be the master in a BMW, but put Cobradav in a rental car and he gets lost with the best of them. I'll let Spyder and Cobradav explain. :greenlaff:
BHR4CE1
02-11-2008, 09:18 PM
Cool deal. Tell the Master I said hello.
He may be the master in a BMW, but put Cobradav in a rental car and he gets lost with the best of them. I'll let Spyder and Cobradav explain. :greenlaff:
No fair, Mal. You're part Fox hound!