So I need a couple of rear tyres for my 120d, which happen to be run flats. I'm considering switching to non-run flats to help the ride, but I didn't realise until now that the mid-range tyre makers now make them too.

Anyone have any experiences with them? Mid-range run flats specifically.

 

Bloody awful idea, just get shot of them and enjoy a decent ride quality.

 

With Steve on this one, Dad had run flats on his 6 series, changed them to normal re50s and it was like a lightswitch for the handling, sooooooo much better!

 

It's the lack of a spare and toolkit/jack, and the assumed effort involved in cleaning up tyre gunk from the get me home tyre re-sealers that are the only down sides to ditching the run-flats.

 

You wont need a jack with the mobility kit either.

I have heard plenty of stories of people getting flats abroad and in UK with RFTS.... and not being able to source a new tyre for days.
So they are largely pointless these days

Once you drive on a 'flat' RFT its only fit for the scrap bin anyhow.
No percentage being able to drive 50km 'to safety' if you still cannot get home.
I just don't get them at all - sorry!

 

How good are the mobility kits? And what would you recommend?

If I go non-run flats I'll probably get Falken FK-452. They were OK (not great) on the M3, so should be spot on for the 120d.

 

Just get one that has some gunk that works of very low profile tyres, most do
I bought a Continental kit from an old Ford Galaxy, cheaper than the BMW option, about £30 on eBay.

 

The one time I had to rely on a mobility kit, a continental one, I ended up getting home at 1am with the car on a low loader. Not a good day out. I would never get another car that relied on this as a solution. (Hard to do these days as many manufacturers are deleting even space-savers).

My 123d came with Goodyear run-flats which were absolutely fine, to the extent I wondered what all the fuss was about (notwithstanding the usual internet forum hyperbole of course). I replaced them with Dunlops as I couldn't get Goodyears and was led to believe they were very similar. The Dunlops were as bad as the Goodyears were, well, good - crashy ride and poor grip.

 

My 5 series has the runflats, it's the M-sport suspension, and I can't say I find the ride harsh at all, in fact I like it.

Maybe I need to go out in the same version on non-runflats to see if I prefer it.

 

You can use runflats, get a flat, drive another 50m and STILL go home on a trailer. You just prolong the agony and pay twice for the tyres

Also you contradict yourself in the second paragraph.
"My 123d came with Goodyear run-flats which were absolutely fine"
"The Dunlops were as bad as the Goodyears were, well, good - crashy ride and poor grip"
?