Would you put cheap tyres on a 740d?

[Stormbitch]

Hey

I am switching out my run flats and this is an experiment - mainly for noise I hate my noisy road noise car.

I have seen these Rotallas which are only £92.00 and noted at 69dB

That is half the price of a 69dB Michelin or Dunlop.

I assume they are Chinese.

This guy does a video expensive vs cheap tyres and he makes good points. Good watch tbf.

My worry is buyers remorse spending a grand on 69dB non run-flats if they don't make the car any quieter...

To be clear I rarely use my car even though it is good. I intend to keep the run flats just incase and I expect to sell it when this whole shortage thing is over and the market settles down.

.

[Markr]

Personally, I might consider going budget on an 80hp city car, but not on a 320hp beast like our 740d.

If I wanted to experiment, I would probably go buy the tyres I really wanted, try those and if they did not perform how I wanted, I would put them on eBay - better chance of moving on a good brand, rather than a budget brand for one of these cars. If they worked out, I then already have the tyres I want.

Even if the cheap ones gave you the noise improvement you wanted, would you really want to run long term with them on a high performance luxury car. I think it would be £400 wasted, as I think they would be difficult to shift on eBay afterwards.

[AlteBMW]

I wouldn't put cheap tires from an unknown company on any car, much less a 7 series. Even a 80hp anything. Maybe I am too conservative when when it comes to tires and brakes, but saving money is not my priority. Reliability is.

Less expensive tires from a known seller with a track record, yes. Cheap from a company nobody has heard of, no.

[Stormbitch]

Right.. very interesting points.

Normally agreeable but my friend has an XJ and put a low budget on there, it was his idea as he said he doesn't notice.

I think you might be right, I didn't think about eBay.

I don't plan on keeping it long term but with the markets as they are it literally might be another 8-12 months minimum until things settle down and I can move into something else.

For now I just wanted to want to go out in it more, it really does annoy me, you know when you get an idea in your head!?

I felt that the run flats might make it quieter and more enjoyable to drive again maybe prolonging my ownership of it a bit.

I don't fancy paying the £25,000 uplift to change into anything decent at these prices.

[Grizzle34]

Absolutely not i never have after my crash with cheap chinese tyres some 20 years ago

i just recently bought 4 new ps4s tyres

[zdbmw]

I wouldn't even put cheap tires on a bicycle lol

It's the only point of contact with the road!

[Stormbitch]

Ok thanks Grizzle.

[Stormbitch]

My next question is ---

Is there any point changing RUN FLATs to NON RUN FLATS. IF:

a. Run flats are not really that much more expensive any more.

b. The dB noise rating is the same on both tyres. i.e. 69dB.

c. Previous run flat discussions may be referring to older tyres on older cars such as those around 10 years old. Perhaps the compounds have improved since then.

[AlteBMW]

Originally Posted by Stormbitch

My next question is ---

Is there any point changing RUN FLATs to NON RUN FLATS. IF:

a. Run flats are not really that much more expensive any more.

b. The dB noise rating is the same on both tyres. i.e. 69dB.

c. Previous run flat discussions may be referring to older tyres on older cars such as those around 10 years old. Perhaps the compounds have improved since then.

I have had RF tires on several cars dating back to 2012 (2 F10's; 2 G12's; 1 G01)). Both ride quality and noise have improved IMHO dramatically as the technology has advanced. Quality also varies by manufacturer. The Pirellis on my current ('20) G12 are for example, way better than the Goodyears on my wifes' '20 E350 wagon. The latter's ride is much harsher (though reasonably quiet). Having had earlier E wagons, I cannot attribute this to the native suspension setup. My first set of RFs were also Goodyear but as noted that dates back almost 10 years now. The current Pirellis on my G12 are just fine. I am not talking about G forces etc., but simply noise and comfort. TireRack has tire reviews that you might want to consult even if not buying from them. All a matter of personal preference, so somebody elses opinion (including mine) is worth what you pay for it.

[Googsy]

A cheaper option still since it’s an experiment would be to buy some part worn tyres of a reputable brand .

[B-HQC]

My personal opinion as a fleet owner of multiple 7s since 2016 is to stick with the run flat tires but go with smaller wheels. The "harsh ride" people complain about has more to do with the lack of cushion with 20"+ wheels than the tires. And having run flats can literally save you from being stranded on the highway in the middle of the night, serious wheel damage, or worse, losing control of the vehicle. Our cars also don't have space for a full size spare, so you either pay for a donut (which also reduces trunk capacity), or ride around without a spare, which is highly irresponsible or illegal depending on the jurisdiction.

The best combination I've found is 18" or 19" wheels and Michelin MXM4 tires. If you are somewhere that is hot year round then I have also had a good experience with Pirelli PZ4s, but they obviously don't last as long as the Michelins.

[krautmeister]

I did the budget tire thing for years…. hankook seemed to have great value, sumitomos…. All with better Cache than no names… but ever since I bit the bullet on Michelin PS4S… I have been sold on the tire for the past decade.

I used to live in Akron, Ohio (rubber city). Knew several tire engineers that worked for Firestone/Bridgestone. They said the Japanese (who owned Firestone) were always shooting for Michelin, who was the benchmark. They would explain the mechanical design and all the intricate siping and grooves that have very specific purpose for grip performance and sound. They also at the time slammed the Koreans hard saying that their tires were aesthetic rip offs and did not have the technology beyond the tread patterns for marketing. Who knows…. Japanese have since been pretty much surpassed by the Koreans in the automotive space in the last 15 years!

Everyone does agree though Michelin's are worth the premium, it's not snake oil marketing.

[Melbourne_X5M]

On my 2018 750i Xdrive I switched to NRF Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 plus and absolutely love them!!! They are 20 inch and MUCH better than RFs.

I am not sure what you mean by “cheap” tires, but these Conti’s are significantly less expensive that Michelin’s and performance is excellent.

[Jagu]

I just changed mine to continental contact control sps and it’s phenomenal. All 4 were $1100 installed.

[Stormbitch]

Really?

Me too I just put Dunlops on there. Not sure what I think yet. It feels a bit like driving on sponge. The air is even more all over the place.

The tyre shop said that all 4 of my wheels are buckled on the insides, and that because I am not on non run-flats I will notice vibration - they suggested that before anything else the wheels need to be repaired.

Having spoken to another tyre shop he said that is not quite true and that one would feel buckles before and also after.

What say you?

Are they quieter... erm.... I think so... hard to tell at this stage.

[Googsy]

Bring it for a decent spin.

[Googsy]

I just bought 4 Michelin Pilot 4s to replace my Bridgestone Run flats. There’s at least 6mm of thread on the runflats but I want to get the Michelin’s on. Will report back , getting them fitted Friday.
Another question when is the last time you had a wheel alignment?

[AlteBMW]

Originally Posted by Stormbitch

Really?

Me too I just put Dunlops on there. Not sure what I think yet. It feels a bit like driving on sponge. The air is even more all over the place.

The tyre shop said that all 4 of my wheels are buckled on the insides, and that because I am not on non run-flats I will notice vibration - they suggested that before anything else the wheels need to be repaired.

Having spoken to another tyre shop he said that is not quite true and that one would feel buckles before and also after.

What say you?

Are they quieter... erm.... I think so... hard to tell at this stage.

I am extremely sensitive to wheel balance issues and have been through this with both non RFT and RFT. The roads here are sometimes like a cratered war zone, and even with 19's a pothole can cause damage. I had one pothole damage both front and rear. Wheels "buckled" or dented on the inside (or outside) can cause major problems in achieving wheel balance, regardless of tire fitted. There are reputable shops that will repair wheels. I've had it done several times, and here the cost is about $125 per wheel. If you have wheel/tire insurance, the cost is 0.

[Wills2]

My new LCI has come on Pirelli RFT which are much quieter than the awful Bridgestone's my old one had I also think there is a lot more sound proofing on the LCI as at 80mph its whisper quiet.

[Frupal]

I wouldn’t put cheap tires on a Hyundai. It’s all that’s between me and the road…

[Googsy]

Just had my Michelin’s fitted to replace the runflats. Had a mobile fitter do the dirty deed. Took it for a drive something wasn’t right lots of vibration . Sent a message to the fitter saying the wheels need to be rebalanced. Said he would drop by next week. I decided the check the wheel nuts . All was good until I got to the rear passenger side. All of the nuts were only finger tight Naturally I tightened them up properly and went for another spin. Apart from the fact I could have been in a serious accident , the car is transformed.

The car is smoother and more able to deal with uneven and bumpy road surfaces. It’s almost a pleasure going over speed bumps now due to the fact the std tyres have more flex and absorb more of the impact. I’m very happy,

[The7th]

Originally Posted by Stormbitch

Hey

I am switching out my run flats and this is an experiment - mainly for noise I hate my noisy road noise car.

I have seen these Rotallas which are only £92.00 and noted at 69dB

That is half the price of a 69dB Michelin or Dunlop.

I assume they are Chinese.

This guy does a video expensive vs cheap tyres and he makes good points. Good watch tbf.

My worry is buyers remorse spending a grand on 69dB non run-flats if they don't make the car any quieter...

To be clear I rarely use my car even though it is good. I intend to keep the run flats just incase and I expect to sell it when this whole shortage thing is over and the market settles down.

.

I always stick with OEM tyres and my case Pirellis RF PZ3. They're great. Again one thing to consider : buy them from Europe not from the Uk. You will understand why after 3k miles on uk roads.

Also ask the dealer with what tyres your car has left the factory. Other tyres will ruin the suspension and not safe to drive a 300bhp+ car with crap chinese tyres.