Shredded feet
My wife's BMW 330 convertible (purchased new and now 18 months old) developed a puncture in the nearside rear tyre, which is a Dunlop 'runflat'. The car has covered less than 15,000 miles and tread depth is still good on all 4 tyres. After driving to my local trusted tyre fitters (Kingston Tyre Services) I was surprised to be told that the inner edge had worn away to the point where air simply escaped through the casing. They suggested checking the offside rear and, to my horror, this had a long split in the sidewall through which you could see the inner casing. This tyre had not deflated and, without removal of the wheel, I would have no idea it was in such a dangerous condition. KTS then told me that this was not uncommon with runflat tyres on BMW vehicles. I have attached a picture on the tyre showing the crack and would appreciate your views. If this is not a manufacturing defect that has affected our vehicle, there could be thousands of drivers with tyres in a similar condition.
Asked on 1 August 2009 by
![](http://images.honestjohn.co.uk/imagecache/file/pad/120x120/media/16477727/537450_458533677529584_1473549666_n.jpg)
That's caused by straddling metre-wide speed cushions. What happens is the weight of the car forces the tyres down and outwards on the chamfered edges of the speed cushions. February frost and snow left many of them broken and jagged on the chamfered edges causing even more damage. Not just to runflats but to all tyres. Though, of course the wider and lower profile the tyre, the more damage is likely to occur. Everyone urgently needs to inspect the inner (hidden) shoulders of their tyres. Instead of straddling it’s better to risk spring damage by driving one side over, one side on the flat. There is some news on runflats. I've just been experiencing Bridgestone's third generation runflats, all 245/40 R18s. By allowing 'softer' sidewalls and new polymer, ply and cooling technology to allow the tyres to 'run flat' they have finally managed to achieve the ride quality of a conventional tyre, thus overcoming the principal customer objection. The new runflats can also run without air for up to around 80kms and usually remain repairable, overcoming another objection.
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