[Yoksel]

Hi guys,

Planning to replace my totally worn-out run-flats with standard tires. I read topics about pros and cons. The question is if this is just as simple as order and get new tires installed or there're any gotchas? Any effect on TPMS or any other sensors?

[thkfast]

Your car won't "know" it has non-RFT's. Some people buy a spare kit to have just in case.

[Yoksel]

Thank you!

I think I'll take the risk of not having the spare. The trunk is too small already.

My indy suggested carrying some fix-a-flat to take me to the closest tire shop in case the damage isn't terrible. I'm just not sure if fix-a-flat isn't going to ruin TPMS - I recall reading something of this nature.

[thkfast]

Back when I had a set of dedicated winter wheels/tires, I'd just keep one (1) of those and an aluminum floor jack in the trunk - in case I got a flat. Now I really don't have a contingency plan!

[alfazrus]

http://www.fixaflat.com/faq/

[driverman]

Lots of good info in the Wheels & Tires forum.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=12

[Swish]

Originally Posted by Yoksel

Hi guys,

Planning to replace my totally worn-out run-flats with standard tires. I read topics about pros and cons. The question is if this is just as simple as order and get new tires installed or there're any gotchas? Any effect on TPMS or any other sensors?

...I never looked back. The Hankook Ventus 12s were awesome and I relied on my AAA membership in the unlikely event I got a flat. I went through 4 sets of Hankooks (had 169,000 miles on the car when I sold it) and never got a flat. Had a slow leak but it was due to a cracked wheel.

Your flat tire monitor will work the same way. Just check your tire pressure often. Buy a good gauge and use it weekly.

[MiniXP]

I keep a tire plug kit and a 12v air compressor in my trunk for a backup.

[Fundguy1]

Get AAA and enjoy the new tires. Best mod ever.

[lichtgelb]

The only time I've ever had a tire fail while on the road it was a 3 inch tear in the tread. Fix-a-flat, tire plugs, and a compressor weren't going to help with that. I don't have run flats but if I'm going far from home I carry a spare. I think it's stupid that my E46 coupe has room under the trunk for a full size spare but my E90 does not. Actually there is room for a spare well in the E90 but BMW simply chose not to include it and went with OEM runflats instead.

[jt335i]

When it was time to replace my OEM RFTs, I switched to non-RFT Michelin PSSs (per recommendation from a good friend and who’s also a professional race car driver) and was glad I did. The ride and handling is so much better with these PSS over the OEM RFTs. Will definitely go with them again when it's time to replace my current tires. Now since I don't have a spare tire, I bought a compact spare and car jack via LKQ online and the lug wrench at my local BMW.

As for the TPMS, it depends on the year of your 328. It is my understanding that earlier model BMWs had a tire pressure monitoring system that used wheel spin to determine low pressure. A tire with low pressure results in a lower diameter therefore it spins faster relative to ones with full pressure and so the TPMS would indicate which tire is low.
Some early 2011s built before 9/2010, in mid-year 2010, used the same pressure monitoring as the <'10 vehicles. After mid year 2010, 2011 through now have the actual TPMS sensors in the tires.
My 2010 does not have TPMS sensors in the tires and use the old wheel spin system. However, I still use the old trusty tire pressure gauge to ensure they are all at the right psi.

[Antetokounmpo]

Originally Posted by jt335i

When it was time to replace my OEM RFTs, I switched to non-RFT Michelin PSSs (per recommendation from a good friend and who’s also a professional race car driver) and was glad I did. The ride and handling is so much better with these PSS over the OEM RFTs. Will definitely go with them again when it's time to replace my current tires. Now since I don't have a spare tire, I bought a compact spare and car jack via LKQ online and the lug wrench at my local BMW.

As for the TPMS, it depends on the year of your 328. It is my understanding that earlier model BMWs had a tire pressure monitoring system that used wheel spin to determine low pressure. A tire with low pressure results in a lower diameter therefore it spins faster relative to ones with full pressure and so the TPMS would indicate which tire is low.
Some early 2011s built before 9/2010, in mid-year 2010, used the same pressure monitoring as the <'10 vehicles. After mid year 2010, 2011 through now have the actual TPMS sensors in the tires.
My 2010 does not have TPMS sensors in the tires and use the old wheel spin system. However, I still use the old trusty tire pressure gauge to ensure they are all at the right psi.

Careful with that non-digital pressure gauge, wouldn't want to be 1.5 psi off

[MetsFan]

My '07 doesn't have TPMS but I made the switch a couple of years ago. Price was my main reason for switching. I just keep an air compressor in the back and I have AAA to back me up.

[Wilt]

The very earliest YEAR of E90 (2006) had TPM (Tire Pressure Monitor), which used the rotational speed monitoring to indirectly detect loss of tire pressure. Then in 2007 US regs mandated the adoption of TPMS which directly measured tire pressure; but Canada continued to have TPM in its cars.

There are two types of TPMS (pressure measuring) systems in E90s, which both use the same radio frequency but different (and incompatible) means of sending the tire pressure data to the receiver in the car. That changeover happened about Sept 2010 production date.