Help a lady out with a few questions?

[Cinnamon]

[ronald_adi]

i feel your PAIN!! No one needs to suffer like this cause of damn tyres.

i was actually enquiring about your tyres cause i thought you didnt like them because RFT's are not as comfortable as normal tyres. I plan to switch out my RFT's for that reason. i was not aware that RFT's wore much faster than normal tyres.

But i will be getting the 3rd generation tyres so i will test them out first.

[Cinnamon]

[Vintage]

if you get the 3rd row you cannot have the spare tire. when the 3rd row folds down it takes up the storage space that would have housed the spare.

thanks for the nice comments about my wife - she is my awesome high school sweetheart

[baby huey]

Quick summary on the RFT's:
1) They're significantly overpriced
2) They result in an overly stiff ride
3) Because of the reinforced sidewall, they do not seem to perform as well as a conventional tire.
4) If you get a simple nail puncture, plan on replacing the tire (spelled $$$$$). Most repair centers will not simply fix the tire, since the condition of the sidewall (after driving on it X number of miles) is unknown.
5) There have been several class actiuon lawsuits over the RFT's, due to dealers' failure to disclose all the little nuiances about them.

[fun ticket]

Originally Posted by lgneub

Pain is a great word for RFT

So.... X5 has RFT with the third row...I think I know the answer but want to hear it from someone who knows....

All I can say is with my personal experience-the MOST I ever got out of my RFTs in the past 4 1/2 years on my car is 22K ---and when I say they were BALD at that point......I mean WAY bald. My husband made a joke about looking like those racing tires. Totally unsafe......put that with the price to replace the tires, the noise, and the need to really avoid pot holes (read RFTs are "sensitive" to getting leaks)....it is just too much for me!!

I just took a peak at my back tires (replaced a year ago to date, 10K miles on them so far)..and they look fine. I am not sure if the Bridgestone I have on now are "3rd generation" or what. I just know that I bought my car Aug '05 (2006) and have needed to replace my tires at 18 thousand or 22 thousand being smooth as glass. Too much!!

My dreams are gone! So sad...good-bye X5. Oh! Bummer! Come on BMW!

What now?? Darn it!

After reading your posts, you are obviously more in tune with cars than the average chick (this is refreshing

All I will say is this...my wife had an '06 X5 and got rid of it because she "had to have a Lexus". So, she got an EX350, no run flats, etc. Then the comments started, "doesn't feel as tight as my BMW did", "doesn't accelerate like my BMW did", "brakes feel squeshy". She now admits she wishes she had the X5 back.

If you want to leave the fold, your call. But based on the fact you are into cars, I think the other cars you are referencing will bore the crap out of you.....just like a Lexus.

Good luck. Let us know what you end up doing.

[matt_435xi]

Originally Posted by lgneub

Matt--I am on the right....dark hair...would three beers be enough!??? Not the case, right?? LOL!

figures, i didn't see your pic! repost please.

[Vintage]

a babe that can talk BMWs; is there anything hotter?

[ALPINE6SPD]

This thread is great. If a guy asked the same questions everyone would say search, try search button you moron and everything else instead of answering question for them but since its a lady everyone goes out of the way. I love it.

[Cinnamon]

:

[Stimulus]

My 2009 X5d came with Dueler 400 RFT. Three original tires have 28K miles, still 6/32 of tread.

I live in the Boston area, drive many miles for my job and prior vehicles have suffered several flats and trashed four rims. I bought the 5 year rim and tire insurance from the dealer ( CNA policy $900 ).

I recently picked up a nail in one of the rear tires. I was still able to make a crucial 500 mile trip ( with stops to keep the pressure topped off ) on this punctured RFT.

The insurance replaced the bad tire no questions asked, saving $300.

I have read dozens of threads on RFT pros and cons, and honestly I have considered getting the space saver spare and going with some Vredestein Ultrac SUV for the summer and Blizzaks for the winter. Or perhaps a set of all season Goodyear Fortera TripleTred, which I have run on two other SUV.

But for now I will stay with the RFT. Also, my wife has taken the X5 on several long trips to visit her family and I feel better knowing she will not be stranded on the side of the road.

[Cinnamon]

[archwerks]

To reduce RFT replacement costs:

Opt for the standard rim size, they r usually 1" diameter smaller wheel, better handling if u have to drive in the snow, & a set of 4 will be less when it's time to replace,

Drive slower, b/c u now have momentum of a 5,000 lbs of X5, not 3 series, especially when turning (Fast turns wears out the outside rib faster). You'll get better gas mileage, less wear & tear on suspension & brakes will last longer,

When u slow down, U'll see better from behind the bigger A pillars on the sides of the front windshield with the side curtain air bags built into them.

Don't get the 3rd row seats if u don't ever need them as they become deadweight that kills ur mileage.

Buy road hazard wheel & tire warranty/insurance if possible.

Stay back from the car in front so u can see & avoid potholes.
I find that I can avoid sideswiping the cars in the next lane over by steering the wheel just slightly to 1 side of my own lane, to ride 1/2 tire width over the pothole & 1/2 on the side of the pothole rim, the tires r so wide that 1/2 the wheel rides over pothole & does not fall completely into the pothole.
This obviously will not work if the pothole is the size of ur vehicle!

[Cinnamon]

[Vintage]

dealer actually gave some good advice - once you go above 19" tires, the price for 20"+ tires jumps dramatically

[Cinnamon]

[Vintage]

on tirerack.com, a set of 4 Bridgestone RFTs for the 19" wheels are about $950 plus shipping and installation; so I think the total installed would be about $1,100 a set every 18k to 25k miles.

[Cinnamon]

[Vintage]

someone posted they have over 36k on there X5 installed Bridgestone RFTs; I only have 12k on my RFTs and they look good. so, maybe 30k+ miles is in my future I just do not know yet - I am sure a lot depends on your driving style but I am counting on getting at least 20k out of my tires maybe 30k. for me, that would be a set about every year

[Cinnamon]

[aas5]

I know I am late to post this but there is no way you will like driving MDX after BMW. You should take a look at used Infiniti FX - less room than MDX and probably comparable to BMW or even better trunk space and drives probably closer to a bmw than other makes. I think price wise you can get a good deal, too.

[Cinnamon]