Bridgestone G3 RFT Tires take the shock out of runflats

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Interesting Article .... Bridgestone G3 RFT Tires take the shock out of runflats ...

also ... comments at the end

informative video by Michelin (apples to RV's however to all cars as well) scroll down to the posts left after the main article for the Michelin video.

You may be wondering .... what Generation of Run-flats are on your car? Further you be wondering ... why are they (BMW and Bridgestone) not recalling the first and second generation (G1 & G2) Run-flats and give me a better, saver, smoother as they claim G3 Run-flat. Are you wondering? ... I do.

Someone said in the posts (left in the link below) July 2009 "I'd add that the 3G RFT is already in production in Japan and is set to debut later this year on an BMW product" when was your car build and what generation do you have G1 or G2 ... do you have G3 if so how do they feel .... care to share your comments?

Article Dated July 2009 G3 Bridgestone RFT

[HerrK]

My 2011 Z4 35i with Sport Package & 19" 296's completed build on 27 Apr 2010, Welt Delivery on 8 May. It is mounted with Potenza RE050A RFT, no II or III anywhere afterwards. So I guess they are 1st generation. I'll have to look at the build date on the tires when I get home.

The article is interesting to say the least. Like I've said previously sometimes the engineers need a few iterations to get it dialed in. Now there's procurement and financial who have to buy in.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by HerrK

My 2011 Z4 35i with Sport Package & 19" 296's completed build on 27 Apr 2010, Welt Delivery on 8 May. It is mounted with Potenza RE050A RFT, no II or III anywhere afterwards. So I guess they are 1st generation. I'll have to look at the build date on the tires when I get home.

The article is interesting to say the least. Like I've said previously sometimes the engineers need a few iterations to get it dialed in. Now there's procurement and financial who have to buy in.

HerrK,

You got that right

Just picked up my car, got 2 new wheels now First time in 20 years I paid $0.00 at BMW ... new wheel 2 wiring call backs.

Well I best get to work on that report and cracked 19 inch rear wheel TIR check in my friends vertical boring mill. Then post a letter to BMW Headquarters in Germany to get my $1,000- back for this cracked wheel now resting in my garage

Guess it's back to basics proving that the crack came first then the bend ... just like so long ago someone ancient philosophers, got stuck with the question about the first chicken or egg. It will be fun ... To me it is not the $1,000- it is the principal of it all.

I wonder if after all that effort this cracked wheel can be transformed into a nice flower pot and presented to BMW .... Hmmmmm have to think about that one some more

[Silver-Bolt]

All tires have a date code on the sidewall that will tell you when it was produced.

[fisherman]

I think the question is " how do you tell which gen your tires are, if the gen is not listed on the sidewall ? Can you go by the date code ? Is there another way of telling ?

[HerrK]

Originally Posted by fisherman

I think the question is " how do you tell which gen your tires are, if the gen is not listed on the sidewall ? Can you go by the date code ? Is there another way of telling ?

I don't think the date code is any answer. Checked my 2011 Z4 mfg on 27 of April 010 after work today, it has tires with a manufacture date of week 47 of 2009. They have no other designation on the sidewall other than Potenza RE050A RFT, so no telling what generation. I searched a few threads and the designation/markings of the 3rd Gen seems to be unkown or not yet for sale in US. It seems to be a mystery.

[rmorin49]

So, what's the point? No BMWs are being equipped with the latest generation RFTs. Yes, RFT technology is improving but so are most products. Until RFTs handle, ride and wear as well as non-RFTs, well you get the point.

[richard in NC]

Originally Posted by Rolf-Dieter

I wonder if after all that effort this cracked wheel can be transformed into a nice flower pot and presented to BMW .... Hmmmmm have to think about that one some more

Make a small table out of it with a glass top and tripod like legs. I've seen that at a BMW dealership

[HerrK]

Originally Posted by rmorin49

So, what's the point? No BMWs are being equipped with the latest generation RFTs. Yes, RFT technology is improving but so are most products. Until RFTs handle, ride and wear as well as non-RFTs, well you get the point.

The point is we all make our decisions per our personal preferences. My point is I'm just trying to figure out the difference between the generational RFT changes. I like the visual look of the 296's and hope to keep these rims rolling for years to come. Personally I still like the RFT concept. Now I understand it better. Looks like they are on a path forward. Hopefully these 3G RFT will be available, or maybe something better, when I wear the original RFT's out.

When I bough my first BMW MC in 1977, I asked the salesmen how come it doesn't have a mechanical kickstart as well (as most electric start mc's at the time had both). His reply was classic - "They don't put crank starters on cars anymore do they?"

Digging through the Bridgestone web site I finally found the main visible differentiating factor for the 3rd gen RFT. Some sidewall ribs to aid cooling of the sidewall. Probably other internal changes. Being the inquisitive, and sometimes anal engineer that I am, I found all this quite informative. As you stated - bottom line we do not have 3G RFT are on our Z's. If new concepts/designs are not pushed out with the occasional failure, it would be a dull world.

http://www.bridgestone.com/corporate...009030301.html

[siscobmw]

my 5/2009 z has 10-09 tires.....and they are first generation RFT I think....but I really think I will go to non RFT , despite progress and upgrades of rft.....
Francesco

[richard in NC]

What is the difference between the 1st gen and 2nd gen, and when did that change take place? My '09 Z4 has the same Bridgestone RFT's that my '06 650i did and I thin they are much improved with a much smoother more quiet ride.

BTW with the 650i, I hit a pothole and ripped the sidewall of a tire. It held air for 20 miles but then gave a low pressure warning. Due to the rip, I had no choice but to replace the tire while on vacation out of town for $550! In the 650i's case, the flower power wheels were certainly the strong link of that chain.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

FYI

Someone in another Forum (the UK Forum) wrote and I quote ...

"I actually rang Bridgestone to ask about these in June, as I needed new tyres for my 1 Series.

According to the person I spoke to in their technical department they're currently only available on a limited basis in Japan and he's not expecting them in the UK before early 2011, and possibly later than that."

End quote ...

From the above I assume the same might hold true for North America